Daily Archives: December 26, 2020

Technology has evolved rapidly since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first walked on the moon in 1969. Even the technology that landed NASA's Pathfinder mission on Mars in 1997 wouldn't stand up to the smartphone computers we now carry in our pockets.

NASA's Artemis program plans to send more astronauts to the moon in 2024 and eventually progress to Mars. Engineers have spent years developing and refining technology to ensure that these missions safely and efficiently gather the information we need for further exploration.

The future of space exploration will heavily rely on software systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict conditions, object movements and make the technology we've spent so many years developing gather more information in less time.

Let's take a look at some of the ways AI and ML will play a role in the future of space exploration. More specifically, looking at how AI will enable humans to establish permanent colonies on Mars and beyond.

Space Weather Prediction

Mars is a very hazardous environment. It has no magnetic field, which means there's very little protection from solar flares and cosmic rays. This also means that it doesn't retain heat energy like Earth, causing extreme temperature changes from day to night. According to NASA, the average temperature on Mars is about minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In the wintertime, the poles can drop as low as minus 195 degrees Fahrenheit, while, in the summer, it can reach up to 70 degrees near the equator.

Such drastic temperatures demand an accurate weather model that can alert and prevent the crew from adverse exposure. Today it's relatively easy for anyone to predict weather patterns on Earth because we have centuries of meteorological experience to reference. We don't have that luxury at Mars. For several years, orbiting Martian probes and rovers have been collecting vast amounts of weather data. Still, there's no way for a human to analyze the data fast enough to understand how the weather patterns change confidently. That's why we need AI.

Similar to how we have a weather app on our phones with predictions about how the day will unfold, AI and ML programs can analyze the weather data and make accurate predictions about how the weather on Mars changes and where and when it will be safe for humans.

Launch Window Prediction

There is a need for more accurate launch windows on the same token as predicting weather patterns to create safer space exploration. Even today, this is an issue on Earth with a relatively stable and forgiving climate, but still, we witness a high frequency of scrubbed or delayed launches. To mitigate the chance of leaving supplies or humans stranded on Mars, we need a highly robust and reliable system. It should determine, many weeks in advance when we can or cannot launch on demand. Drones, rovers and satellites are already making consistent trips to space, and humans may be soon to follow as we learn more about where to travel and land.

Launch Window Prediction is a developing technology that uses AI in conjunction with a weather prediction model to safely determine critical launch conditions and give launch commands like GO/NOGO.

Years in the future, if rockets are traveling between the Earth and Mars, the same technology is even more important for return trips from the red planet. This is why it's so critical that AI and ML are busy analyzing weather data on and around Mars to accurately predict when it's safe for a rocket to be there.

Systems Control Automation

One of the driving factors to further space exploration is efficient communication with the rovers in space. Right now, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is doing a lot of computer vision and autonomous driving with the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Mission. There's roughly a 20-minute communication time delay between the rover and NASA scientists, which slows down their research.

If the best a robot can do is 20 minutes, imagine the communication delay with people on Mars instead of a robot. Flight surgeons, mission directors and the entire support team will not have real-time instant communications with Martian astronauts like we do today with the Space Station.

To streamline research, all communication between Martian astronauts and NASA would require some kind of automation. The chance of failure amid uncertainty is so high; we can't risk letting a single person manage and maintain the crew's livelihood. Eventually, we can bring flight surgeons, mission directors and the entire support team to Mars, where they work with field researchers and astronauts. However, we cannot afford to bring 5 to 10 times the number of people that style of familiar collaboration would require in the near future. Instead, we must look to AI companions and support robots.

An example of this AI robot/human relationship can be found in 2001: A Space Odyssey film. HAL 9000 (perhaps SAL 9000, the friendly version) is a robot-human companion that monitors the crew and colony's health and activities. It manages food production, task and repair management, and science goals and directives.

Innovative technology is what landed us on the moon over 50 years ago. The same mindset will get us to Mars. Still, it requires a shift in how we employ technology to help us make missions safer and deliver faster results, focusing on developing programs to inform launches first and then hardware to house them.

Modern AI and ML technologies push the limits of what was previously thought possible for space exploration. These are just a few examples of concepts and programs in development today. It's not so much about embracing the unknown as it is teaching ourselves about it before we conquer it.

Michael Limotta is the co-founder and an AI Architect for Aerospace and Physics at Proximai.

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How AI Will Help the U.S. to Mars and Beyond - Nextgov

Dr. Michaela Musilova is the director of Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) program, which conducts analog missions to the moon and Mars for scientific research at a habitat on the volcano Mauna Loa. Currently, she is in command of the two-week Sensoria M3 mission and contributed this report to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

Commander's Report for the Sensoria M3 Mission at HI-SEAS Lunar Mission Day 14 (Dec. 17, 2020)

The time has come for our mission to end. Tonight is our last night together on the moon and we can't stop ourselves from feeling sad. Something as intense as a space mission, even though only an analog lunar mission, is difficult to digest. We have overcome a number of challenges on our mission, such as dust storms, narrow escapes with power outages, a limited water supply and some health issues too. Some crewmembers also experienced personal issues related to their families, friends and job situations back on Earth. Nevertheless, it feels like those problems were just obstacles. They did not leave a scar on the memories we'll keep from our mission.

If there is one thing that I'm taking away from this mission, it's the very pleasant environment that we've created for one another. The HI-SEAS habitat was our home, office, laboratory, gym and many other things in one 1,200-square-foot (110 square meters) dome. We can only coexist there as a team if we respect each other's needs, tolerate people's strange habits and strive to make it a fun place to live in. Not every crew can achieve a harmonious balance between all of those many variables. Sometimes, there are crewmembers who focus too much on their research or artistic projects and neglect to invest time in bonding with the crew. Alternatively, I had crewmembers who wanted to spend so much time with the others in the team that they were ultimately disturbing their work. I have also had crewmembers who missed their loved ones on Earth in such a way that they could not fully integrate themselves into the crew.

Related: The start of the Sensoria M3 lunar mission is like Groundhog Day Commander's report: lunar day 2

I can't say that I have found the perfect recipe for putting a crew together and for us to bond during a mission. However, there are definitely personal experiences and personality traits that can make a crewmember be a great asset to an analog space mission. The main ones are being empathetic and communicating openly within the team. These are skills that people usually have to acquire by working with others, especially under stressful conditions. One has to learn to put themselves into other people's shoes and to give people the benefit of the doubt. Being open with crewmembers also requires tact and consideration, as you don't want to say anything that could offend and provoke someone. Patience goes hand in hand with the key values a crewmember should possess as well, in order to succeed during a space mission.

All members of the Sensoria M3 crew had those needed skills. While there were some situations, from time to time, which made certain crewmembers a bit grumpy, they were always handled in a polite and delicate way. No voices were raised during our mission. We always discussed all issues as a team and individually, if it was needed. Most of the issues became an inside joke for the crew and we quickly dismissed them as a silly matter. I am very proud of how everyone handled all our troubles and disagreements or more precisely, the lack thereof. This mission sure was a smooth ride.

Related: When traditions bring the crew together on the moon Commander's report: lunar day 6

Our last dinner on the moon is actually very representative of just how pleasant our mission has been. I have not had so much fresh salad on a mission before, especially not on our last night. Chief Science Officer Emily Seto was able to harvest several bowls of astro arugula and encore baby lettuce mix through our LettuceGrow hydroponics system. Emily and Chief Engineer Niko Blanks also baked tasty fresh garlic knots, while Science Communication Officer Gianna McLaren combined our leftovers into juicy bean-quinoa-vegetable patties. Gianna also prepared some gluten-free brownies and Vice Commander James Ward topped all of this off with cornbread. Our squeaky toy, Cookie Chicken, then made sure to "guard" these treats.

This feast was definitely memorable, as I have also experienced last mission meals that were composed of quinoa and mashed potatoes only. That's it. I'm not joking. The reason why some crews have less varied meals at the end of their mission is partially that they don't manage their supplies of food well throughout the mission, leaving them with very little to cook with at the end. Some crews also face food shortages, which are integrated into a mission on purpose as an extra challenge. There have been crews that have excelled at being creative despite the limitations in ingredients, while for others the food-related problems are what drove them apart from one another.

I truly enjoyed this last supper that most of the crew prepared not only because of how delicious it was, but mostly because of the company of my crew. Dad jokes were mixed with serious conversations about politics on Earth; Cookie Chicken got squeezed endlessly, whether because of the bad jokes or due to the treat consumption; and I kept on being on a rollercoaster of laughter and nostalgia thinking that this must come to an end. The meal was followed by the classic dishwashing show, performed by Habitat Operations Officer Lea Smart Miller and myself. We always put on some fun tunes from my "Vengabus" playlist, start dancing away and the dishes almost clean themselves.

Related: Avoiding digestive problems is part of daily activities on the moon for the Sensoria M3 crew Commander's report: lunar day 6

I'm very grateful to the crew for having been such wonderful space family members and for making this mission be as enjoyable as it was. I'll also reminisce fondly about all the projects that we successfully completed, such as Emily's varied experiments, Lea and Niko's testing of the Hexoskin smart shirts, Gianna's writing, night moonwalks for James's astrophotography and my astrobiology lava cave sample collection in collaboration with NASA Goddard. Altogether, we completed what we hoped to achieve. However, there's always more research that needs to be done on the moon and Mars in order for humans to be able to settle there. I'm looking forward to what my next mission to Mars, VALORIA I, will be like in January 2021.

Commander Musilova signing off to one last game of fiber-pong and nerdy discussions about sci-fi movies with the crew. I will miss them a lot and I hope to be on another space mission with them again.

Follow Michaela Musilova on Twitter @astro_Michaela. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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What makes a great crew on the moon Commander's report: lunar day 14 - Space.com

Advisers to Joe Biden have been encouraging him to work with China on space exploration, according to reports, but such coordination has never worked out for the United States in the past and the move could prove dangerous because China is trying to militarize space, foreign affairs and China expert Gordon Chang said Friday.

They are ahead in certain critical technologies, Chang told Fox News Americas Newsroom. They will try to exclude other nations from getting to the moon. Thatyou can learn from the comments of the head of Chinas lunar exploration program. They want to keep everybody else out. That is why they want to get there first.

Earlier this week, Politico reported that Bidens top advisers said that a limited space partnership between Washington and Beijing could both reduce tensions and the likelihood of a fierce race for space. Almost all of the two dozen former astronauts, space experts, and government officials interviewed by Politico agreed that if the United States shuts out Beijing, it could lose its place as the worlds space exploration leader.

Chang, however, pointed out that China tries to steal $150 billion to $160 billion in intellectual property, or even more, every year, so he doesnt see how cooperation would work.

You can put limited safeguards in place and all sorts of things but we know at the lower levels, scientists like to cooperate, said Chang. They like to share. That is where we lose our technology and where they purposely go after low-level scientists on these cooperation projects. So all these safeguards that we say are putting in place, they really dont mean very much.

Chang added that we are certainly being naive as a nation about China.

We dont understand the militancy of the Chinese regime, he said.We are afraid to talk out loud about (their) nuclear goals. Clearly, we do not understand it. As Ronald Reagan said, you have to understand the nature of these regimes. Yes, the American people are just like the Chinese people, but that doesnt mean the American government is like the Communist Party of China. It certainly is not.

2020 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

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Gordon Chang: Cooperation With China on Space Will Not Work - KMJ Now

If youve ever heard someone refer to the idea of working in space, youd be forgiven for thinking they were describing a science-fiction plot. But the number of humans actively working beyond Earths atmosphere and living significant chunks of their lives there, too is about to start growing at a potentially exponential rate. Given how small that population is now, the growth might look slow at first but its happening soon, and plans are in place to help it start ramping up quickly.

The main company leading those plans in the near-term is Axiom Space, a private space station service provider, and eventual operator. Axiom is founded and led by people with International Space Station experience and expertise, and the company already operates R&D missions on behalf of private clients on the ISS with the help of NASA astronauts. Its planning to begin shuttling entire flights of private astronauts to the station starting in 2021, and its also building a new, commercial space station to ultimately replace the ISS on orbit once that one is decommissioned.

Axiom Spaces Chief Business Office Amir Blachman joined us at TC Sessions: Space last week on a panel that included NASA Chief of Exploration and Mission Planning Nujoud Merancy, Sierra Nevada Corporation senior vice president and former astronaut Janet Kavandi, as well as Space Exploration Architecture (SEArch+) co-founder Melodie Yashar. The panel was focused on how public and private entities are preparing for a (relatively near) future in which humans spend more time off Earth and further away from it, too.

Its now, its been now for a couple years already, Blachman said, in response to a question about how far off humans beyond NASA astronauts living in space actually is. Axiom, sends crews to the International Space Station today on our own missions, while were building the new commercial space station that will succeed ISS when its decommissioned. Our first mission with a crew of four astronauts launches 12 months from now, and the four crew members have already gone through medical, theyve done their suit fittings, weve already integrated our medical operations and training team with our launch provider. Well launch that crew in 2021, another crew in 2022, two crews and 2023, four in 2024 and it grows from there.

Both Blachman and Merancy talked about the importance of automation and robotic systems on both Axioms future commercial space stations and on NASAs future habitats on the lunar surface, and on the lunar Gateway that will remain in orbit around the moon and act as a staging ground for lunar missions.

ISS was meant to be tended all the time, Merancy said. Its not meant to be an uncrewed station. And while the flight controllers on the ground do a lot of the actual operation of it, its meant to have people there to perform maintenance. We dont have that luxury, when you start talking about the lunar architecture, the Gateway will be tended only when the crew arrives, and the stuff on the surface will be tended only for, you know, a week at first and then longer over time. But you still want to have all of those things be capable of doing useful science or useful exploration even without the crew. So the ability to do tele robotics, maintain things via ground command and things like that so that when the crew arrives, they can just throw the hatch open and get to work would be the ideal state.

Weve been working under the assumption that these habitats and critical infrastructure on Mars, and now more recently on the moon should be constructed, and should be thought of as being constructed, as autonomously as possible, Yashar added. So we typically design for precursor missions, which would happen even before a crew arrives, hoping that almost all of the systems through construction, materials, excavation, materials handling and all of the other systems that weve been looking at would more or less happen as autonomously as possible.

Kavandi, too, echoed the sentiments of the others with regards to the degree to which modern human space systems will incorporate automation. I asked whether that would introduce complexity, but she said that rather, it should accomplish the opposite. Somewhat ironically, the path forward for human activity in space actually involves a lot less human activity at least when it comes to the business of operating and maintaining in-space infrastructure.

Advanced technology things can sometimes add simplicity, Kavandi said. As weve increased our capabilities over the years, with computers, for instance, theyve become easier to use, not harder to use. The objective is to try to minimize crew time and crew maintenance so that you can concentrate your time, your time for doing research, or whatever it is that youre supposed to do up there, whatever your mission happens to be. So the more we can simplify the interfaces, the more that we can have automation, where the crew only has to intervene when something is going wrong, but generally things go smoothly, and they dont have to do anything, that is an ideal situation. And in that case, you have a lot more free time available to then actually do the work that youre up there for.

More here:

Dedicated commercial human in-space operations are coming sooner than you may realize - TechCrunch

While the planet continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, an Auckland astronomer says space is increasingly becoming a place of hope for many.

Great Conjunction phenomemon, which would see Jupiter and Saturn appear close together in the sky. Source: istock.com

Stardome Observatory and Planetarium astronomy educator Josh Kirkley said 2020 space exploration was surprisingly really successful despite the pandemic.

There seems to be a lot more public interest in what's going on in space, he said.

Kirkley attributed the increased interest in space on the circumstances of this year.

I think [space] brings a lot of people a lot of hope and joy and excitement. Its something that brings a lot of people together.

Big players of the year included the US, China, Japan and India, as well as private companies like Elon Musks SpaceX and New Zealand-owned Rocket Labs.

I think it has been their most successful year, he said of the companies.

1 NEWS spoke to Kirkley about some of the most memorable moments in space this year and what he expected to see in 2021.

The 'once-in-a-lifetime' Great Conjunction

From Saturday until tomorrow night, Kiwis can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon known as a Great Conjunction. Itll see Jupiter and Saturn appear at their closes in almost 400 years on the western horizon shortly after sunset.

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'Once in a lifetime' Jupiter, Saturn to appear at their closest in almost 400 years tonight

Planetary conjunctions themselves arent rare, but the rarity of this one is the closeness between the two planets from our perspective, Kirkley said.

Planets often pass by each other because all the planets orbit on the same plane. But, to see them this close is really rare.

So, itll still be really exciting.

The launch of Crew Dragon by SpaceX

On May 30, Elon Musks SpaceX became the first commercial rocket to take astronauts into Earths orbit. NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken spent two months on the International Space Station before safely returning to Earth.

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Two NASA astronauts splashed down this morning after the first commercially funded, manned mission to the International Space Station. Source: 1 NEWS

Moving to privatise some space trips was exciting because it would free governments up to focus on planetary missions, Kirkley said.

Its becoming so much more accessible and cheaper not just for NASA, but the entire industry to send people up to space.

Its a really positive thing all round.

Discovering water molecules on the moon

In October, NASA announced it had officially found water on the Moon.

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Nicholas Rattenbury explained the significance of the NASA discovery on TVNZ1's Breakfast. Source: Breakfast

Scientists have known for a while there was water on the moon, but they werent sure if it was just confined to the poles or some craters, for example, Kirkley said.

He said the discovery could have major impacts on future space travel.

For example, if we had lunar bases or rockets that are landing, they can actually use that as a natural resource.

Finding that resource, it's just invaluable the more you can actually be kind of self-sufficient, thats really useful.

Japan retrieves rock samples from asteroid Ryugu

December saw Japans space agency JAXA retrieve a small sample of rock from the asteroid Ryugu, which is some 300 million kilometres away from Earth.

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A Japanese spacecraft has spent a year investigating the Ryugu asteroid. Source: 1 NEWS

Kirkley said the mission was significant because it gave scientists more clues about how the universe began and the origins of life on Earth.

What we know about asteroids is that theyre kind of the leftovers of the solar system.

The more we can understand what it was like when the solar system formed 4.5 billion years ago, it helps us to better understand how the Earth formed, how the Sun and all the other planets in our solar system formed, and eventually how life formed because we dont know that yet.

Looking ahead to 2021 Apollo era excitement and privatisation, but no space tourism yet

Kirkley said 2021 would bring much of the same, but just so much more.

Space tourism would continue to progress quickly in 2021, but it probably wont take off on a larger scale for another few years, he said.

Weve got all the missions going to Mars next year and a bunch of new planetary missions, he said.

We are kind of at a really pivotal point.

He said the move towards privatisation would also continue next year, with companies like SpaceX and New Zealand-based Rocket Lab at the forefront of innovation.

The high levels of excitement about space was probably something many hadnt felt since the Apollo era, he said.

But 2020 had a different flavour to it, he added.

When you look at Apollo, for example, the first Apollo mission to the moon literally had nothing to do with science they were kind of political statements.

Today, theres just a lot more effort towards science and discovery and exploration and cooperation between nations. ... Its a lot more positive, really.

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Space exploration brought 'hope and joy' during pandemic-devastated 2020 - 1News

For the first time since 1623, Jupiter and Saturn's alignment created the "Christmas Star," and ASU's scientists livestreamed a telescopic view of it

A screenshot of Jupiter and Saturn through Ted Blank's telescope taken during the livestream by ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration on Dec. 21, 2020.

An end-of-the-year treat for the naked-eye is something everyone needs to finish 2020.

Planets Jupiter and Saturn aligned with Earth forming the Great Conjunction Monday evening for the first time in hundreds of years.

This planetary alignment occurs every 20 years, but was last visible in the sky in 1623. What makes this sighting so rare is how close the two planets are coming together.

ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration livestreamed the event to over 700 watchers across the globe Monday evening, where scientists within SESE shared shots of their telescopes and explained the science behind this conjunction's significance.

This planetary alignment occurs every 20 years but was last visible in the sky in 1623. What makes this sighting so rare is how close the two planets are coming together.

"It's like two race cars on a track, and one passes the other," said Robert Alling, manager of SESE's community outreach program.

Just past sunset once the sky darkened, everyone around the world with a clear sky and a southwest view was able to witness Jupiter on the inside lane, approaching Saturn and finally overtaking it for nearly an hour.

Alling said tonight is special as Jupiter and Saturn are meeting at the same "ecliptic longitude," which is what makes two planets appear join together from Earth.

"They happen to be at parts of the orbit of what we call the meeting node, that means they are passing through the plane of the solar system," Alling said. "So they're in line for us together and they are very, very close together."

NASA explained in a post on their website that though the planets will appear to have merged, they will remain hundreds of millions of miles apart in space.

While year marks Earth completing an orbit around the sun, Jupiter's orbit takes 12 years and Saturn's takes 30 years.

While the the Great Conjunction is viewable to the naked eye, 2020's planet alignment marks the first viewing with modern telescopes.

"I think this is a good time for us to kind of just take a step back and really enjoy and appreciate how wonderful the universe is," said Claude Haynes, observatory manager of the East Valley Astronomers club during the livestream. "We can do it with our own naked eye, just like humans have done for thousands and thousands of years.

Its a pretty spectacular universe, and we should celebrate that as often as we can."

Reach the reporter at Lizbet.Flores@asu.edu and follow @florelizbet on Twitter.

Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.

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Jupiter and Saturn aligned with Earth to form the 'Great Conjunction' - The State Press

Jan. 4-5

Online Job-Search Survival Workshop:

A free two-part workshop will be held via Zoom. 5:45-8:30 p.m. Registration: https://sugarcreek.net/event/job-search/. Information: E-mail jobhelp@sugarcreek.net or call 281-242-2858, ext. 1083.

Jan. 5

How to Hit the Ground Running in the Current Job Search Market:

Free online class hosted by JS101. 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Registration: https://www.js101.org/workshops.

Jan. 7

Build a Profitable E-mail List and Turn Subscribers into Customers:

Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Information: http://www.sbdc.uh.edu.

Jan. 9

Online Webinar: How To Start and Run a Business:

SCORE will host a two-part seminar on Jan. 9 and Jan. 16. 9 a.m.-noon. Information and registration: http://www.houston.score.org.

Jan. 26

Greater Houston Partnership 2021 Annual Meeting:

Virtual broadcast. Noon-1 p.m. Incoming Chair Amy Chronis, Deloitte Houston managing partner, outlines how the organizations strategic plan, Houston Next, has been reframed to address the greater Houston regions key challenges. Bob Harvey, president and CEO, will dive deeper into key strategic initiatives designed to build a strong economy. Outgoing Chair Bobby Tudor, chairman, Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. will highlight the organizations 2020 accomplishments. Registration: Houston.org/events.

Feb. 4-6

Space Exploration Educators Conference:

Virtual conference hosted by Space Center Houston. Theme: Perseverance Through Innovation. From Apollo 13 to launching the next Mars Rover, NASA is no stranger to innovating under pressure. To register, visitspacecenter.org/seecor contact SEEC atSEEC@spacecenter.orgor 281-244-2149.

katherine.feser@chron.com

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Business calendar: Upcoming events in the area - Houston Chronicle