NASA to Test Advanced Space Wireless Network and Device for Returning Small Spacecraft to Earth

ISS - International Space Station logo.

27 November 201

NASA launched the Technology Educational Satellite, or TechEdSat-6, to the International Space Station on Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Nov. 12. This bread loaf-sized satellite is part of a continuing series to demonstrate the "Exo-Brake" parachute device, advanced communications and wireless sensor networks.

TechEdSat-6 was released into low-Earth orbit from the NanoRacks platform on Nov. 20, to begin a series of wireless sensor experiments which will be the first self-powered tests, expanding the capabilities of sensor networks for future ascent or re-entry systems. This is the fourth TechEdSat satellite carrying an updated version of the Exo-Brake that will demonstrate guided controlled re-entry of small spacecraft to safely return science experiments from space.

“The Exo-Brake’s shape can be changed to vary the drag on the satellite. With the help of high-fidelity simulations, we will demonstrate a low-cost, propellant-less method of returning small payloads quickly, and to fairly precise locations, for retrieval,” said Michelle Munk, NASA’s System Capability Lead for Entry, Descent and Landing. “We are excited about tracking TechEdSat-6 as it re-enters the atmosphere.”

While the goal of returning samples from the space station and orbital platforms is integral to the project, NASA seeks to develop building blocks for larger-scale systems that might enable future small spacecraft missions to reach the surface of Mars and other places in the solar system.

NASA to Test Advanced Space Wireless Network and Device for Returning Small Spacecraft to Earth

Video above: The TechEdSat-6 ExoBrake deployment on November 20, 2017. Video Credits: NASA.

The Exo-Brake is funded by the Entry Systems Modeling project within the Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Game Changing Development program. Additional funding for the Exo-Brake is provided by NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley and the agency's Engineering and Safety Center in Hampton, Virginia.

The TechEdSat series is a science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, collaborative activity that involves NASA early-career employees, interns and students from several universities including San Jose State University, California; the University of Idaho in Moscow; the University of California at Riverside; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; the University of Georgia in Athens; and Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Game Changing Development program: https://gameon.nasa.gov/

CubeSats: http://www.nasa.gov/cubesats/

Small Satellite Missions: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats

Ames Research Center: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/home/index.html

Space Station Research and Technology: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/index.html

International Space Station (ISS): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html

Image, Video, Text, Credits: NASA/Kimberly Williams/Ames Research Center, Silicon Valley, California/Kimberly Minafra.

Greetings, Orbiter.ch

Hubble and Gaia team up to measure 3D stellar motion with record-breaking precision

ESA - Hubble Space Telescope logo / ESA - Gaia Mission patch.

27 November 2017

Hubble’s view of the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy (pointing 1)

A team of astronomers used data from both the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and ESA’s Gaia satellite to directly measure the 3D motions of individual stars in a nearby galaxy. The achieved accuracy is better than anything previously measured for a galaxy beyond the Milky Way. The motions provide a field test of the currently-accepted cosmological model and also measure the trajectory of the galaxy through space. The results are published in Nature Astronomy.

Hubble’s view of the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy (pointing 2)

Astronomers from the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute and Leiden Observatory, both in the Netherlands, used data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and ESA’s Gaia space observatory to measure the motions of stars in the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy. The Sculptor Dwarf is a satellite galaxy orbiting the Milky Way, 300 000 light-years away from Earth.

Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy (ground-based view)

Only by combining the datasets from these two successful ESA missions — produced more than 12 years apart — could the scientists directly measure the exact 3D motions of stars within the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy [1]. The is the first time this has been achieved with such accuracy for a galaxy other than the Milky Way [2].

Wide-field image of the sky around the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy

Davide Massari, lead author of the study, describes the precision of the research: “With the precision achieved we can measure the yearly motion of a star on the sky which corresponds to less than the size of a pinhead on the Moon as seen from Earth.” This kind of precision was only possible due to the extraordinary resolution and accuracy of both instruments. Also the study would not have been possible without the large interval of time between the two datasets which makes it easier to determine the movement of the stars.

Hubble observing the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy

The Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy, which are among the most dark matter dominated objects in the Universe. This makes them ideal targets for investigating the properties of dark matter. In particular, understanding how dark matter is distributed in these dwarf galaxies allows astronomers to test the validity of the currently-accepted cosmological model. However, dark matter cannot be studied directly.

ESA’s Gaia satellite

“One of the best ways to infer the presence of dark matter is to examine how objects move within it,” explains Amina Helmi, co-author of the paper. “In the case of dwarf spheroidals, these objects are stars.”

The information gathered about the 3D motion of stars in the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy can be translated directly into knowledge of how its total mass — including dark matter — is distributed. The new results show that stars in the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy move preferentially on elongated radial orbits. This indicates that the density of dark matter increases towards the centre instead of flattening out. These findings are in agreement with the established cosmological model and our current understanding of dark matter, taking into account the complexity of Sculptor’s stellar populations.

Hubble Space Telescope

As a side effect of the study, the team also presented a more accurate trajectory of the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy as a whole as it orbits the Milky Way. Their results show that it is moving around the Milky Way in a high-inclination elongated orbit that takes it much further away than previously thought. Currently, it is nearly at its closest point to the Milky Way, but its orbit can take it as far as 725 000 light-years away.

Zoom on a a part of the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy

“With these pioneering measurements, we enter an era where measuring 3D motions of stars in other galaxies will become routine and will be possible for larger star samples. This will mostly be thanks to ESA’s Gaia mission,” concludes Massari.

Notes:

[1] The team measured the proper motions of roughly a hundred stars in the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy. For a smaller subset of ten stars, chosen among those with the smallest errors, the astronomers could also retrieve from the literature an estimate of the radial velocity, which quantifies the stellar motion along the line of sight. Using the proper motion and radial velocity measurements, they were able to reconstruct how these stars move in three dimensions.

[2] The data used contain images taken with Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys in 2002. Newer positions of individual stars were taken from the Gaia, which was observed between 2014 and 2015.

More information:

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA.

Gaia is an ESA mission to survey one billion stars in our Galaxy and local galactic neighbourhood in order to build the most precise 3D map of the Milky Way and answer questions about its structure, origin and evolution. A large pan-European team of expert scientists and software developers, the Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC), located in and funded by many ESA member states, is responsible for the processing and validation of Gaia's data, with the final objective of producing the Gaia Catalogue.

The international team of astronomers in this study consists of D. Massari (University of Groningen, The Netherlands), M. A. Breddels (University of Groningen, The Netherlands), A. Helmi (University of Groningen, The Netherlands), L. Posti (University of Groningen, The Netherlands), A. G. A. Brown (Leiden University, The Netherlands) and E. Tolstoy (University of Groningen, The Netherlands).

Links:

Images of Hubble: http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/archive/category/spacecraft/

Gaia webpage: http://sci.esa.int/gaia/

ESA Gaia release: http://sci.esa.int/gaia/59806

Science paper: http://www.spacetelescope.org/static/archives/releases/science_papers/heic1719/heic1719a.pdf

Images, Animation, Video, Text, Credits: ESA/Hubble & NASA, ESA/ATG medialab, Digitized Sky Survey 2.

Best regards, Orbiter.ch

First light for pioneering SESAME light source

CERN - European Organization for Nuclear Research logo.

Nov. 24, 2017

Image above: SESAME XAFS/XRF beamline scientist, Messaoud Harfouche, points out SESAME’s first monochromatic light. (Image: SESAME).

At 10:50 yesterday morning scientists at the pioneering SESAME light source saw First Monochromatic Light through the XAFS/XRF (X-ray absorption fine structure/X-ray fluorescence) spectroscopy beamline, signalling the start of the laboratory’s experimental programme. This beamline, SESAME’s first to come on stream, delivers X-ray light that will be used to carry out research in areas ranging from solid state physics to environmental science and archaeology.

“After years of preparation, it’s great to see light on target,” said XAFS/XRF beamline scientist Messaoud Harfouche. “We have a fantastic experimental programme ahead of us, starting with an experiment to investigate heavy metals contaminating soils in the region.”

The initial research programme will be carried out at two beamlines, the XAFS/XRF beamline and the Infrared (IR) spectromicroscopy beamline that is scheduled to join the XAFS/XRF beamline this year. Both have specific characteristics that make them appropriate for various areas of research. A third beamline, devoted to materials science, will come on stream in 2018.

Image above: Inside SESAME's ring (Image: Noemi Caraban/CERN).

“Our first three beamlines already give SESAME a wide range of research options to fulfil the needs of our research community,” said SESAME Scientific Director Giorgio Paolucci, “the future for light source research in the Middle East and neighbouring countries is looking very bright!”

First Light is an important step in the commissioning process of a new synchrotron light source, but it is nevertheless just one step on the way to full operation. The SESAME synchrotron is currently operating with a beam current of just over 80 milliamps, while the design value is 400 milliamps. Over the coming weeks and months as experiments get underway, the current will be gradually increased.

“SESAME is a major scientific and technological addition to research and education in the Middle East and beyond,” said Director of SESAME, Khaled Toukan. “Jordan supported the project financially and politically since its inception in 2004 for the benefit of science and peace in the region. The young scientists, physicists, engineers and administrators who have built SESAME, come for the first time from this part of the world.”

Among the subjects likely to be studied in early experiments are environmental pollution with a view to improving public health, as well as studies aimed at identifying new drugs for cancer therapy, and cultural heritage studies ranging from bioarcheology – the study of our ancestors – to investigations of ancient manuscripts.

“On behalf of the SESAME Council, I’d like to congratulate the SESAME staff on this wonderful milestone,” said President of the Council, Rolf Heuer. “SESAME is a great addition to the region’s research infrastructure, allowing scientists from the region access to the kind of facility that they previously had to travel to Europe or the US to use.”

Note:

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world’s largest and most respected centres for scientific research. Its business is fundamental physics, finding out what the Universe is made of and how it works. At CERN, the world’s largest and most complex scientific instruments are used to study the basic constituents of matter — the fundamental particles. By studying what happens when these particles collide, physicists learn about the laws of Nature.

The instruments used at CERN are particle accelerators and detectors. Accelerators boost beams of particles to high energies before they are made to collide with each other or with stationary targets. Detectors observe and record the results of these collisions.

Founded in 1954, the CERN Laboratory sits astride the Franco–Swiss border near Geneva. It was one of Europe’s first joint ventures and now has 22 Member States.

Related link:

SESAME: http://www.sesame.org.jo/sesame/

For more information about European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Visit: http://home.cern/

Images (mentioned), Text, Credits: CERN/Harriet Kim Jarlett.

Best regards, Orbiter.ch

CASC Long March 2C launches Yaogan Weixing-30-02 trio

CASC - China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation logo.

Nov. 24, 2017

 Long March 2C launches Yaogan Weixing-30-02 trio

Continuing its frenetic launch activity for the end of the year, China conducted another secretive launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Sichuan province. The Yaogan Weixing-30-02 mission – involving three satellites – was launched by a Long March-2C launch vehicle at 18:10 UTC on Friday from the LC3 Launch Complex.

As is usual for the Chinese media, this mission once again classed as involving new remote sensing birds that will be used to “conduct electromagnetic probes and other experiments.”

Yaogan 30-02 satellite

As was the case in previous launches of the Yaogan Weixing series, analysts believe this class of satellites is used for military purposes.

For more information about China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, visit: http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/index.html

Images, Text, Credits: CASC/News.cn/Günter Space Page/NASA /Spaceflight.com/Rui C. Barbosa.

Greetings, Orbiter.ch

Geneva scientist questioning dark matter

University of Geneva logo.

Nov. 23, 2017

André Maeder, professor at the University of Geneva, questions the theory of dark matter and dark energy.

Image above: André Maeder, Honorary Professor, Department of Astronomy, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva (UNIGE). (Photo: Screenshot RTS).

Dark matter and dark energy haunt the minds of physicists for a long time. These mysterious and elusive elements explain the movement of stars in galaxies and the acceleration of the expansion of the Universe. A researcher from Geneva questions this approach.

André Maeder, Honorary Professor in the Department of Astronomy of the Faculty of Science at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) believes that the commonly accepted model of the Big Bang followed by an expansion, which uses dark matter and black energy, does not take into account the "scale invariance of the vacuum".

This expression means that the vacuum and its properties do not change as a result of expansion or contraction. "When we add the hypothesis of the scale invariance of the void, we see a very very small term of outward acceleration that opposes the gravitational force," explained Maeder.

Low density media

On Earth, this term is insignificant, but in very sparse environments, like the edges of a galaxy or clusters of galaxies, it becomes relatively important, continued the professor. It thus makes it possible to account for the high speeds of stars on the borders of a galaxy.

He also explains why, in clusters made up of hundreds of galaxies, the movements observed are faster than what the visible mass would allow. Professor Maeder also finds that his model predicts the acceleration of the expansion of the Universe without any particle or ounce of dark energy being needed.

Image above: The M81 spiral galaxy, photographed by Subaru and Hubble telescopes. Image Credits: Roberto Colombari & Robert Gendler.

To be able to dispense with dark matter or dark energy to explain certain cosmological phenomena would constitute a scientific upheaval. For decades, researchers have been trying to identify dark matter through the establishment of very important means, such as at CERN, for example.

Encouraging beginnings

The hypothesis of André Maeder opens a way to raise issues and controversies, admits the UNIGE in a statement. The Geneva astronomer wants for the moment modest. The first confrontations with the observations are very encouraging, but nothing is ever acquired, he said.

The results of Dr. Maeder's research have been published in the journal The Astrophysical Journal.

University of Geneva, Astronomical Observatory - article: http://www.unige.ch/sciences/astro/en/news/natural-material-and-natural-energy-request/

University of Geneva: http://www.unige.ch/sciences/astro/en/

Images (mentioned), Text, Credits: Nxp/ATS/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.

Best regards, Orbiter.ch

Weekly Recap from the Expedition Lead Scientist, week of November 6, 2017

ISS - Expedition 53 Mission patch.

Nov. 23, 2017

(Highlights: Week of November 6, 2017) - Crew members aboard the International Space Station contributed to research dedicated to topics ranging from human health to robotics to astrophysics.

NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei set up the Airway Monitoring system in the US Laboratory module, Destiny, and powered on the Enhancement Unit and the Portable Pulmonary Function System (PFS) for a software upgrade from the ground. Using the PFS, Vande Hei later performed calibrations and conducted high and low nitric oxide (NO) measurements in Destiny. With dust particles present in the space station atmosphere, Airway Monitoring studies the occurrence and indicators of airway inflammation in crewmembers, using ultra-sensitive gas analyzers to analyze exhaled air. This could help to identify health impacts and support maintenance of crewmember well-being on future human spaceflight missions, such as to the moon and Mars, where crewmembers will have to be more self-sufficient in identifying and avoiding such conditions.

Image above: A view of Madagascar from the International Space Station. Image Credit: NASA.

At the start of the week, Vande Hei collected saliva samples and completed a questionnaire for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Multi-Omics experiment. The samples will be placed into the Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). The Multi-omics investigation evaluates the impacts of space environment and prebiotics on astronauts’ immune function. It examines changes in gut microbiological composition, metabolite profiles, and the immune system.

At the end of the week, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Paolo Nespoli initiated the first of four sampling phases of the JAXA Probiotics investigation by collecting fecal samples and immediately stowing the samples into the MELFI. The sampling phases include fecal and saliva sample collections, a questionnaire, and a Probiotic capsule intake. Some species of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella grow stronger and more virulent in the microgravity environment of space. At the same time, the human immune system is weaker in space, leading to increased health risks. The objective of the Probiotics investigation is to study the impact of continuous consumption of probiotics on immune function and intestinal microbiota in astronauts under a closed microgravity environment.

Image above: Crew members tested out footpads that were designed by High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) students. The pads are designed to protect the tops of astronauts’ feet when they hook them under handrails as they move and work aboard the International Space Station. Image Credit: NASA.

This week, NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik created a photo panorama of the interior of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) to prepare for the Astrobee investigation. Astrobee is set to arrive in spring 2018, and consists of three self-contained, free flying robots and a docking station for use inside the station. The robots are designed to help scientists and engineers develop and test technologies for use in microgravity, to assist astronauts with routine chores and to give ground controllers additional eyes and ears on the space station. The autonomous robots, powered by fans and vision-based navigation, perform crew monitoring, sampling and logistics management.

At the start of the week, the AMS-02 laptop hard drive failed. Astronaut Joe Acaba replaced the drive and installed software. AMS-02 has collected and analyzed billions of cosmic ray events, and identified millions of these as electrons or positrons (anti-matter). Solving the origin of cosmic rays and antimatter increases understanding of our galaxy.

Image above: Documentation of the Airway Monitoring Kit following replacement of components from Resupply Kit 1. Image Credit: NASA.

The crew also worked on Microbial Tracking-2, Veg-03, Earth Imagery from ISS, Meteor, ISS HAM, Story Time from Space, Biochemical Profile, Fine Motor Skills, Lighting Effects, Space Headaches, ACE-T-6, and Two-Phase Flow investigations.

Related links:

Airway Monitoring: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1172.html

JAXA - Multi-Omics: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1949.html

Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/58.html

JAXA - Probiotics: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2314.html

Astrobee: https://www.nasa.gov/astrobee

AMS-02: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/742.html

Microbial Tracking-2: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1920.html

Veg-03: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1294.html

Earth Imagery from ISS: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2617.html

Meteor: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1323.html

ISS HAM: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/346.html

Story Time from Space: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1287.html

Biochemical Profile: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1008.html

Fine Motor Skills: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1767.html

Lighting Effects: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2279.html

Space Headaches: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/181.html

ACE-T-6: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1968.html

Two-Phase Flow: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1083.html

Space Station Research and Technology: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/index.html

International Space Station (ISS): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html

Images (mentioned), Text, Credits: NASA/Michael Johnson/John Love, Lead Increment Scientist Expeditions 53 & 54.

Best regards, Orbiter.ch

Muscle Research and Science Cargo Work Ahead of Thanksgiving

ISS - Expedition 53 Mission patch.

November 22, 2017

The six-member Expedition 53 crew heads into Thanksgiving observing how living in space affects the human body and packing the Cygnus cargo craft. The orbital crewmates are also preparing for next month’s arrival of the SpaceX Dragon resupply ship.

Veteran space station residents Paolo Nespoli and Sergey Ryazanskiy were back inside the Columbus lab module today examining what microgravity is doing to their leg muscles. The duo took turns strapping themselves in a unique exercise chair and attaching electrodes to their knees. Next, the pair used magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound devices to observe the changes taking place in their legs in space.

Image above: Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei swaps out a payload card from the TangoLab-1 facility and places it into the TangoLab-2 facility. Image Credit: NASA.

NASA astronaut Joe Acaba transferred the TangoLab-1 multi-use science facility into the Cygnus space freighter for a demonstration today. TangoLab-1 is being tested inside Cygnus to determine the viability of using a cargo craft as a laboratory while docked at the International Space Station.

The next cargo craft to visit the station will be the SpaceX Dragon when it launches Dec. 4 aboard the Falcon 9 rocket from Florida. Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei trained today for the rendezvous and capture of Dragon when it arrives two days after its launch. Dragon will carry new science experiments to explore the Sun’s impact on Earth and improve the accuracy of a new diabetes implant device.

Related links:

Leg muscles: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/738.html

Sun’s impact on Earth: https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/tsis-1

New diabetes implant device: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2636.html

Expedition 53: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition53/index.html

Cygnus cargo craft: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/11/14/cygnus-installed-on-station-with-new-science-experiments/

SpaceX Dragon: http://www.nasa.gov/spacex

Space Station Research and Technology: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/index.html

International Space Station (ISS): https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html

Image (mentioned), Text, Credits: NASA/Mark Garcia.

Best regards, Orbiter.ch