Monthly Archives: July 2022

After exploring Mars for more than a year, Chinas Tianwen-1 space probe has successfully taken images covering the entire Red Planet, Chinas National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on June 29.

Tianwen-1, which translates to quest for heavenly truth, consists of six separate spacecraft:

The images in question were taken by the orbiter while circling Mars 1,344 times, capturing images of the Red Planet from every angle while Zhurong explored the surface. In the statement, CNSA said the probe has now completed all of its tasks, which included taking medium-resolution images covering the entire planet.

Tianwen-1 was launched on July 23, 2020, amidst the turmoil of the Covid-19 global pandemic. Whats unique about this mission is China was attempting to become the first nation to successfully send an orbiter and rover to Mars on the first try.

Upon successful orbital insertion and landing, Tianwen-1 became a historic victory for the CNSA and space exploration. Before Tianwen-1, the only two successful missions to send an orbiter and lander to Mars were NASAs Viking 1 and 2 missions in 1975. Prior to that, the Soviet Union had attempted this feat with their Mars 2 and 3 missions in 1971 and Mars 6 in 1973.

Mars 2 was an outright failure, with the lander being destroyed and the orbiter sending back no data. On Mars 3, the orbiter obtained approximately eight months of data, and while the lander touched down safely, it only returned 20 seconds of data. On Mars 6, the orbiter produced data from an occultation experiment, but the lander failed on the descent.

During its time exploring the Red Planet, Tianwen-1 showed a Mars weve come to both love and admire: dusty dunes, shield volcanoes, impact craters, and even the north pole. While the orbiter was taking these amazing images, Zhurong was gathering data and information about Mars geological structure, atmosphere, environment, and soil.

An image of dunes on Mars, taken by the Zhurong rover of the Tianwen-1 probe shortly before it entered dormancy in May 2022. CNSA

Overall, the probe has collected 1,040 gigabytes of raw scientific data, which the CNSA said has been processed by scientists back on Earth and handed over to researchers for further study.

While the probe entered Mars orbit on February 10, 2021, the Zhurong rover didnt touch down on Mars until May 14 of that same year. It landed in Utopia Planitia, the current home of NASAs Viking 2 spacecraft, which landed in the vast Martian plain in 1975.

In June 2022, Zhurong successfully found hydrated minerals in sediment dating to Mars most recent geologic period, which are likely associated with groundwater. Hydrated minerals include substances such as olivine, pyroxene, and feldspar, which were likely altered as they integrated water into their chemical structures.

Unfortunately, Zhurong had to enter its dormant mode starting on May 18, 2022, due to dropping temperatures during the Martian winter, along with poor sand and dust conditions. This dormant mode ensures the rover's long-term survivability, which will be reawakened sometime in December.

While Tianwen-1 makes China only the third nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the surface of Mars, the European Space Agency (ESA), India, and the United Arab Emirates have successfully sent their respective spacecraft to orbit the Red Planet. Tianwen-1 also demonstrates Chinas strong aspiration to explore Mars, as it recently announced plans to return Mars samples to Earth in 2031, a full two years earlier than NASA and the ESA.

An image of a mountain on Mars was taken by Chinas Tianwen-1 probe. CNSA

Along with their ambitious robotic missions, the CNSA announced last year that they plan to send its first crewed mission to the Red Planet in 2033 with a goal to send regular missions to Mars and eventually build a base there.

This 2033 timeframe is in stark contrast to NASA, which announced earlier this year that they plan to launch astronauts to Mars in the late 2030s or early 2040s.

China seems very serious about human space exploration, as their Tiangong space station currently houses three astronauts on six-months stays, with the most recent crew arriving just last month.

Where will space exploration take us in the coming years? Which country will land the first humans on Mars? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!

This article was originally published on Universe Today by Laurence Tognetti. Read the original article here.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY.

Read the rest here:

Chinas Tianwen-1 Mars probe just completed its number one goal - Inverse

Imagine a car on the highway. The driver has collapsed on the wheel, their foot still on the accelerator, while more cars keep joining the same lane.

Thats how we currently decommission small spacecraft we just leave them in orbit.

According to the European Space Agencys last Space Environment Report, we launched over 1,200 satellites in 2020 three times as many as the year before. SpaceX alone plans to add tens of thousands more satellites in the coming years.

But all this comes at a cost.

Right now, more than 8,000 tons of potentially lethal space debris orbits the Earth. A paint flake that gouged out a chip from the window of the International Space Station is a threat to spacecraft, just like the bus-sized zombie satellite Envisat that cannot be commanded to deorbit. All space debris, big or small, travels with a velocity of 7.5 km per second. A gram-sized particle in space has the same momentum as a fist-size rock hitting your windshield on the motorway.

As Earths orbits get crowded, the risk of collisions increases increasing the number of debris particles. This could lead to a phenomenon known as the Kessler Syndrome, where a thick cloud of tiny particles eventually surrounds the Earth, preventing future space flight.

Currently, we care about the economic returns of space exploration, so we flood space with satellites. We care about consumer data, so we launch expensive, carefully built satellites on strategic orbits. But we are not focusing enough on the physical space environment. For example, over recent decades agencies have chosen not to study the science of near-Earth space, preferring to focus on distant galaxies instead even though our society critically depends on it.

Keeping the space highway open

Space physics has a critical role in the sustainable use of space. Conditions in space determine how long satellites remain operational, sometimes even when they return to the atmosphere. In February 2022, Starlink lost 40 satellites due to a phenomenon called Joule heating. Current quantitative understanding of Joule heating is so poor that there is no way to predict when and where it can occur. The same is true for dozens of other potentially critical space weather effects.

We need to start thinking about the physical environment of space such as our orbits as an asset: something we care about, rather than a common-pool resource to be recklessly exploited. Big spacecraft should not be allowed to become zombies; they should be deorbited safely before the end of mission. Small satellites should not simply be left in orbit.

We dont build a new car every time another breaks we send it for servicing. We need such servicing technologies for spacecraft, so they can continue their missions. We also need technologies to clean up the existing debris, and prevent new debris from the increasing numbers of new launches.

Durable spacecraft for sustainable space

Frustrated by the lack of action from space agencies on this issue, I established the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space, which builds and launches CubeSats, or nanosatellites. Our aim is to prevent new space debris. The centre studies near-Earth space physics, and develops innovative deorbiting technologies. The open-source results can be used by anyone wishing to build durable spacecraft. In June, we launched our first CubeSat demonstrating resilient design and deorbiting technology, with the aim of making a lasting impact in sustainable use of space and orbit safety.

As we mark the anniversary this Wednesday of the first moon landing on July 20, 1969, we must remember that missions like this pushed open the door of space to all humanity. We need to make sure this door does not fall shut for future generations. As we continue exploring and commercializing space, we must rethink our current approach and adopt a more sustainable way to use space so that we can improve the well-being of people all over the world.

Minna Palmroth leads the Space Physics Research Group at the University of Helsinki, and is chair of the board at the Technology Academy Finland.

Visit link:

Space now contains so much junk, its a danger to human life and future exploration. Heres what we should do about it - Toronto Star

Few subjects will inspire as much awe, wonder, and reverence as space. From the dazzling first photos of the James Webb Space Telescope to reports on every Hubble happening, theres something about looking out onto the edges of the universe that inspires hope and beauty in the worlds collective imagination. NASA has recently revealed its Photographer of the Year winning images. Though the news may have been eclipsed by the JWST, this behind-the-scenes look at the agency shows some of the people and places making space exploration possible.

In its fourth year, the competition is exclusively for the agencys photographers, with NASA recognizing four categories: documentation, portrait, people, and places. The winners feature the dramatic, official portrait of astronaut Tom Marshburn, exercises at Johnson Space Centers Rock Yard, a giant torque, and the Blue Angels.

When astronauts need to give something a test run, they go to the Rock Yard. Norah Moran won the Documentation category with this photo of Kelsey Young and Tess Caswell evaluating lunar field geology tasks at Johnson Space Center.

The winner of the Portrait category was Josh Valcarcel, who took the official portrait of astronaut Tom Marshburn suited up in the Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuit at the Johnson Space Center. From the deep shadows and harsh light to the fog of the helmet, many elements lean into the mystery of space.

Denny Henry scooped up the People category trophy with a photograph of Engineering Technician Ryan Fischer. Here, Fischer uses a torque to adjust the Force Gauge Ring in preparation for vibration testing of the PACE spacecraft at the Goddard Space Flight Center.

Dominic Hart took the winning image for Places with this picture of the Blue Angels, the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron. Here, the group is shown walking through the inlet of a wind tunnel test section at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex (NFAC).

The yellow glow of the moon and the harsh white lights of the testing site create an otherworldly feel. Is this Earth? Who are they, what are they doing, what do they want?

Another heroic astronaut portrait, but with a different angle. Gone is the mystery, but the possibilities remain.

No, this isnt a new movie set for Wes Anderson, but it very well could be. That is, if Anderson is looking for a giant antenna at the Johnson Space Center. We spy an outer space feature film in his future?

The rest is here:

Space rocks and fighter jets: NASA shares its photographers best images - Popular Photography

HOUSTON, Texas

For all eternity, the US will lay claim to being the first country to put a man on the moon.

Fifty-three years ago, on July 20, 1969, NASA spacecraft Apollo 11 landed on the moon with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins aboard.

All three became iconic figures around the world, with Armstrong becoming the first human to set foot on the moon's surface.

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," he exclaimed on that glorious day.

"Obviously, firsts are usually the ones we remember the most, and Neils accomplishment certainly ranks among the most notable firsts of all time," said Brian Odom, the US space agencys acting chief historian. "His calm, cool demeanor during the mission also became legendary and made him the subject of many documentaries, films, and stories."

"The reaction to Apollo 11 was tremendous both in the US and internationally," Odom told Anadolu Agency. "Once the astronauts returned home, they became instant celebrities, as the landing was understood to be one of the greatest of humanity's accomplishments."

Space Race

The triumph of that historic day was the result of the US battling the Soviet Union during the 20th century in what became known as the Space Race.

"In May 1961, President John F. Kennedy committed the US to the Moon program. The decision followed a series of notable firsts for the Soviets, including Sputnik in 1957 and Yuri Gagarins orbital flight in April 1961," Odom explained.

"At the time, the Cold War magnified these defeats, as communism and democracy were locked in what appeared to many to be an existential battle around the world."

This competition between the two global giants propelled both countries to press forward with the Space Race with the goal of letting the world know which nation was number one. That meant countless resources being poured into NASA's space program.

"Kennedy believed technological achievements were important to the Cold War race but also that the investment in the Apollo program would have implications back home in terms of national capabilities in research and development," said Odom. "Kennedy believed this investment would also have implications on the American economy and society. The success of Apollo 11 in 1969 was the culmination of that process."

That first mission to the moon intensified America's focus on the space program and immediately impacted the scientific community worldwide.

Shuttle, Hubble, Mars Rover

"More missions returned to the lunar surface, expanding science and exploration," Odom explained. "These accomplishments allowed the US and international partners to build upon that success by returning to low Earth orbit to understand the microgravity environment, planetary science, astrophysics, and Earth science."

Less than three years after the US put the first person on the moon, President Richard Nixon declared in 1972 that NASA would develop a space transportation system featuring a vehicle capable of shuttling "repeatedly from Earth to orbit and back."

Then, on April 12, 1981, another nine years later, the first space shuttle, Columbia, blasted off, beginning a 30-year run of 135 shuttle missions, which carried more than 350 crew members into outer space, traveling more than 804 million kilometers (500 million miles) during that period.

"Following Apollo, NASA dedicated its human spaceflight efforts to the space shuttle," said Odom, praising its ability to allow us to learn valuable lessons in low-Earth orbit and to live and work in space."

Exploring the vast unknowns of space did not end there. From the space shuttle program to the Hubble Space Telescope to the Mars Rover, the first moon landing has been an important catalyst in America's commitment to space exploration more than a half-century later.

Webb Telescope, return to the Moon, and manned Mars mission

"The moon landing continues to inspire NASA and its workforce, commercial and international partners to dream big," emphasized Odom. "One important example is the recent success of the James Webb Space Telescope. This telescope is the largest and most complex space science observatory ever built to transform our view of the universe and deliver world-class science."

"Like Apollo before it, Webb is one of the great engineering feats of humanity," Odom stressed. "The recently revealed first images brought us together to wonder at our shared cosmic origins."

Over the decades since the first moon landing, many space enthusiasts have wondered when the US will send another crew of astronauts to the moon.

Wonder no more.

"NASA is going back to the Moon and beyond with the Artemis Program," said Odom. "With Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before for the benefit of all."

NASA continues to test the Artemis human landing system and its next-generation spacesuits, with a target date for that first mission sometime in 2026.

"We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon," explained Odom. "Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars."

As is evidenced by the amount of space travel and technological breakthroughs over the past 53 years, landing the first human on the moon will continue to motivate space exploration and allow scientists to believe dreams can come true.

"I think it really means there is nothing humanity cant accomplish if we work together across both human space exploration and scientific discovery," said Odom. "People will never look at the sky the same way again."

View original post here:

53rd anniversary of US putting 1st man on the moon - Anadolu Agency | English

One of The Chainsmokers latest hits is "High and theyre hoping to live up to their lyrics. The duo of Drew Taggart and Alex Pall have signed up to get into a pressurized capsule tethered to a stratospheric balloon in a few years and perform about 20 miles above the Earth. (Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, file)

Willy Sanjuan

NEW YORK One of The Chainsmokers latest hits is High and they're hoping to live up to their lyrics.

The hit-making duo of Drew Taggart and Alex Pall have signed up to get into a pressurized capsule tethered to a stratospheric balloon in a few years and perform about 20 miles above the Earth.

The feat would make Taggart and Pall the first musical artists to perform at the edge of space, said Ryan Hartman, chief executive officer at fledgling space tourism company World View, to The Associated Press.

World View says The Chainsmokers will be on one of the companys inaugural flights slated for 2024 and will record a performance from inside the capsule, giving viewers the ability to experience the music and the trip firsthand.

We have always dreamed of going to space and are stoked to collaborate with World View to have this adventure and experience, said The Chainsmokers in a statement. We know the views of both Earth and space are going to be incredible and inspiring and we hope to leverage this flight for creativity on future projects.

The Chainsmokers have had five Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits, including Closer Paris, Dont Let Me Down and Something Just Like This with Coldplay in 2017.

Hartman said that while most of the people who have made space flights are scientists and engineers, World View hopes sending up artists might inspire them to do something different than they would have otherwise done.

We think about inspiring new perspectives and how those new perspectives can lead to a radically improved future for our Earth, he said. To be able to reach the audience of The Chainsmokers through Alex and Drews work contributes to our mission as well. Its something that Im personally inspired by and excited about.

World View is part of a new wave of private space exploration firms offering seats to the public, a list that includes Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic and SpaceX. Each World View balloon capsule is planned to seat eight passengers and reach a peak altitude of 100,000 feet. Each flight will last six to 12 hours.

Picking The Chainsmokers for the honor was, in part, a personal decision as well as an attempt to excite a younger audience. Hartman said he watched as his youngest son belted out lyrics from the duos songs and was inspired by the bands popularity. He explained the flight to the pair over dinner.

I have just seen firsthand and personally how their music reaches a lot of different groups, a lot of different age groups and just how passionate they are about their music and their art. It matches our passion for what we do, he said.

See the article here:

The Chainsmokers to perform at the edge of space - The Durango Herald

The UAE and France have signed a series of key agreements aimed at boosting the fight against climate change, strengthening partnerships in space exploration and defence and furthering co-operation in higher education.

Ten deals were struck on Monday to enhance bilateral ties, as part of President Sheikh Mohamed's state visit to France.

Emirati and French ministers set out plans to work closely together across a number of fields.

1. A letter of intent regarding granting permission to family members of staff of diplomatic missions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation to engage in business.

This was signed by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna.

2. A joint declaration on co-operation between the UAE and France in the higher education field, signed by Sheikh Abdullah and Ms Colonna.

3. An agreement between the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and Avnor Group for co-operation in the field of standardisation.

4. An agreement between the Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change and the French government in the field of climate action, signed by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Agnes Pannier-Runacher, French Minister of Energy Transition.

5. A road map for co-operation between the UAE's Tawazun Economic Council and the General Directorate of Armaments in the French Ministry of Defence, signed by Ahmed Al Harmoudi, chief executive of the council, and Thierry Carlier, director of international development in the French General Directorate for Armaments.

6. An agreement between the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and France's National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) focusing on lunar exploration. It was signed by Salem Humaid Al Marri, director general of the MBRSC, and Philippe Baptiste, president of the CNES.

7. A letter of intent on Earth observation between the MBRSC and the CNES.

8. Letter of Intent regarding human spaceflight activities between the MBRSC and the CNES.

9. An agreement establishing co-operation between the Pasteur Institute and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre was signed by Matar Saeed Al Nuaimi, director general of the ADPHC, and Prof Stewart Cole, president of the institute.

10. The founding contract of NT Energies between Technip and the National Petroleum Construction Company. It was signed by Ahmed Al Dhaheri, chief executive of NPCC, and Arnaud Pieton, chief executive of Technip.

In addition, President Sheikh Mohamed and French President Emmanuel Macron witnessed the signing of two major energy agreements in Paris.

The first was a comprehensive strategic energy partnership between the UAE and France, and the second a strategic partnership agreement between Adnoc and TotalEnergies.

The CSEP focuses on enhancing energy security, affordability and decarbonisation, and progressive climate action before Cop28, which is set to take place in the UAE in 2023, state news agency Wam reported.

President Sheikh Mohamed gives a speech during a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Versailles Grand Trianon in Paris on Monday. All photos: Presidential Court

Updated: July 20, 2022, 7:11 AM

Read the original here:

UAE and France to work together to combat climate change and explore space - The National

A2Z Market Research published new research report on Global Satellite Remote Sensing Market covering the micro-level of analysis by competitors and key business segments (2022-2027). The Global Satellite Remote Sensing market report explores a comprehensive study on various segments like opportunities, size, development, innovation, sales, and overall growth of major players. Listed companies are the largest Satellite Remote Sensing companies in the world by market cap. The primary market for listed companies is the New York Stock Exchange, where they trade shares. The secondary market is where investors can buy and sell shares. The Satellite Remote Sensing market is dominated by large cap companies, with the largest 30 companies alone making up more than half of the market cap.

Get Sample Report With Table And Graphs: http://www.a2zmarketresearch.com/sample?reportId=278545

The market was studied across External Satellite Remote Sensing and Internal Satellite Remote Sensing based on Category. Report provides a basic overview of the Software industry including definitions, classifications, applications and Satellite Remote Sensing industry chain structure. Top Companies in this report are: Airbus S.A.S, Ball Corporation, Boeing, Space Exploration Technologies, Thales Group (French), China Aerospace Science and Technology, Lockheed Martin, Mitsubishi Electric (Tokyo), Orbital ATK, Planet Labs (US)

The Global Satellite Remote Sensing Market size was estimated at a reasonable million USD in 2021 and expected to reach a healthy million USD in 2022, and is projected to grow at a steady CAGR to get a prominent million USD by 2027.

Satellite Remote Sensing Market Overview:

Various factors are responsible for the Satellite Remote Sensing markets growth trajectory, which are studied at length in the report. In addition, the report lists down the restraints that are posing threat to the global Software competitors. This report is a consolidation of primary and secondary research, which provides Satellite Remote Sensing market size, share, dynamics, and forecast for various segments and sub-segments considering the macro and micro environmental factors. It also gauges the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, threat from new entrants and product substitutes, and the degree of competition prevailing in the Satellite Remote Sensing market. Our report offers a comprehensive account of the current state of the Software market and describes its future prospects as well. We also illustrate how to make future business plans based on our predictions.

Segmentation

The report offers an in-depth assessment of the Satellite Remote Sensing market strategies, geographic and business segments of the key players in the market, also provides insights on current and future market trends, prominent regional market analysis and industry chain analysis of the global and regional Satellite Remote Sensing markets.

Type

SATCOM, Radar, EO/IR

Application

Earth Observation, Telecommunication, Meteorology, Mapping and Navigation

The Satellite Remote Sensing market was studied across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa based on region. The Americas is further explored Satellite Remote Sensing report across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied Satellite Remote Sensing report across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further analyzed Satellite Remote Sensing report across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Finally, Europe, the Middle East & Africa is further studied. Satellite Remote Sensing report across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Get Discount: http://www.a2zmarketresearch.com/discount/278545

Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 on Satellite Remote Sensing report:

Our ongoing Satellite Remote Sensing report research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. In addition, the updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the Satellite Remote Sensing market.

The Porter Matrix evaluates and categorizes the Satellite Remote Sensing vendors in the market based on Business Strategy (Industry Coverage, Business Growth, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Satellite Remote Sensing Product Satisfaction (Ease of Use, Product Features, Value for Money, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.

Satellite Remote Sensing Market Share Analysis: Knowing Satellite Remote Sensings market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the Satellite Remote Sensing market characteristics in accumulation, dominance, fragmentation, and amalgamation traits.

The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the Satellite Remote Sensing market size and forecast of the Global Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Satellite Remote Sensing Market during the forecast period?

3. Which products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Satellite Remote Sensing Market?

4. What modes and strategic moves are suitable for entering the Global Satellite Remote Sensing Market?

Buy Exclusive Reports: http://www.a2zmarketresearch.com/buy?reportId=278545

If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.

Contact Us:

Roger Smith

1887 WHITNEY MESA DR HENDERSON, NV 89014

[emailprotected]

+1 775 237 4147Related reports:

Military Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybernetics Market To Reach A Good Rating As Discussed In The New Report

Orthopedic Braces & Support Devices Market See Huge Growth for New Normal

Wind Turbine Operations Market to See Booming Growth GE Wind Turbine, Suzlon Group, Siemens Wind Power GmbH

See the rest here:

Global Analysis on Satellite Remote Sensing Market With Airbus S.A.S, Ball Corporation, Boeing, Space Exploration Technologies, Thales Group (French)|...