Serpent in the sky captured with ESO telescope

 

ESO - European Southern Observatory logo.

Jan 4, 2023

The Sh2-54 nebula in the infrared with VISTA

A myriad of stars is revealed behind the faint orange glow of the Sh2-54 nebula in this new infrared image. Located in the constellation Serpens, this stunning stellar nursery has been captured in all its intricate detail using the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) based at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile.

When the ancients looked up at the night sky they saw random patterns in the stars. The Greeks, for instance, named one of these “constellations” Serpens, because of its resemblance to a snake. What they wouldn’t have been able to see is that at the tail end of this constellation there is a wealth of stunning astronomical objects. These include the Eagle, the Omega and the Sh2-54 nebulae; the last of these is revealed, in a new light, in this spectacular infrared image.

The Sh2-54 nebula in visible light with the VST

Nebulae are vast clouds of gas and dust from which stars are born. Telescopes have allowed astronomers to identify and analyse these rather faint objects in exquisite detail. The nebula shown here, located about 6000 light-years away, is officially called Sh2-54; the “Sh” refers to the US astronomer Stewart Sharpless, who catalogued more than 300 nebulae in the 1950s.

As the technology used to explore the Universe progresses, so too does our understanding of these stellar nurseries. One of these advances is the ability to look beyond the light that can be detected by our eyes, such as infrared light. Just as the snake, the namesake of this nebula, evolved the ability to sense infrared light to better understand its environment, so too have we developed infrared instruments to learn more about the Universe.

The star cluster NGC 6604 in the constellation of Serpens

Whilst visible light is easily absorbed by clouds of dust in nebulae, infrared light can pass through the thick layers of dust almost unimpeded. The image here therefore reveals a wealth of stars hidden behind the veils of dust. This is particularly useful as it allows scientists to study what happens in stellar nurseries in much greater detail, and thus learn more about how stars form.

This image was captured in infrared light using the sensitive 67-million-pixel camera on ESO’s VISTA telescope at Paranal Observatory in Chile. It was taken as part of the VVVX survey — the VISTA Variables in the Via Láctea eXtended survey. This is a multi-year project that has repeatedly observed a large portion of the Milky Way at infrared wavelengths, providing key data to understand stellar evolution.

More information

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) enables scientists worldwide to discover the secrets of the Universe for the benefit of all. We design, build and operate world-class observatories on the ground — which astronomers use to tackle exciting questions and spread the fascination of astronomy — and promote international collaboration in astronomy. Established as an intergovernmental organisation in 1962, today ESO is supported by 16 Member States (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom), along with the host state of Chile and with Australia as a Strategic Partner. ESO’s headquarters and its visitor centre and planetarium, the ESO Supernova, are located close to Munich in Germany, while the Chilean Atacama Desert, a marvellous place with unique conditions to observe the sky, hosts our telescopes. ESO operates three observing sites: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope and its Very Large Telescope Interferometer, as well as survey telescopes such as VISTA. Also at Paranal ESO will host and operate the Cherenkov Telescope Array South, the world’s largest and most sensitive gamma-ray observatory. Together with international partners, ESO operates ALMA on Chajnantor, a facility that observes the skies in the millimetre and submillimetre range. At Cerro Armazones, near Paranal, we are building “the world’s biggest eye on the sky” — ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope. From our offices in Santiago, Chile we support our operations in the country and engage with Chilean partners and society.
 
Links:

Photos of the VLT: http://www.eso.org/public/images/archive/category/paranal/

Photos of VISTA: http://www.eso.org/public/images/archive/category/surveytelescopes/

For journalists: subscribe to receive our releases under embargo in your language: https://www.eso.org/public/outreach/pressmedia/#epodpress_form

For scientists: got a story? Pitch your research: http://www.eso.org/sci/publications/announcements/sciann17463.html

Images Credits: ESO/VVVX/IAU and Sky & Telescope/Text Credits: ESO/Juan Carlos Muñoz Mateos.

Best regards, Orbiter.ch

Apollo Astronaut Walter Cunningham Dies at 90

 

R.I.P. - Rest In Peace. 

January 04, 2023

Former astronaut Walter Cunningham, who flew into space on Apollo 7, the first flight with crew in NASA’s Apollo Program, died early Tuesday morning in Houston. He was 90 years old.

Image above: NASA astronaut Walter Cunningham, Apollo 7 lunar module pilot, is photographed during the Apollo 7 mission. Image Credit: NASA.

“Walt Cunningham was a fighter pilot, physicist, and an entrepreneur – but, above all, he was an explorer. On Apollo 7, the first launch of a crewed Apollo mission, Walt and his crewmates made history, paving the way for the Artemis Generation we see today,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “NASA will always remember his contributions to our nation’s space program and sends our condolences to the Cunningham family.”

Cunningham was born March 16, 1932, in Creston, Iowa. He graduated from Venice High School, in Venice, California, before going on to receive a Bachelor of Arts with honors in physics in 1960 and a Master of Arts with distinction in physics in 1961 from the University of California at Los Angeles. He then completed a doctorate in physics with exception of thesis at the Advanced Management Program in the Harvard Graduate School of Business in 1974.

The Cunningham family offered the following statement: “We would like to express our immense pride in the life that he lived, and our deep gratitude for the man that he was – a patriot, an explorer, pilot, astronaut, husband, brother, and father. The world has lost another true hero, and we will miss him dearly.”

He joined the Navy in 1951 and served on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring with the rank of colonel. He flew 54 missions as a night fighter pilot in Korea. He worked as a scientist for the Rand Corporation for three years. While with Rand, he worked on classified defense studies and problems related to the Earth's magnetosphere. Cunningham has accumulated more than 4,500 hours of flying time in 40 different aircraft, including more than 3,400 in jet aircraft.

Cunningham was selected as an astronaut in 1963 as part of NASA's third astronaut class.

“On behalf of NASA's Johnson Space Center, we are beholden to Walt's service to our nation and dedication to the advancement of human space exploration,” said Vanessa Wyche, center director. “Walt's accomplished legacy will continue to serve as an inspiration to us all.”

Prior to his assignment to the Apollo 7 crew, Cunningham was on the prime crew for Apollo 2 until it was cancelled and the backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 1.

On Oct. 11, 1968, Cunningham piloted the 11-day flight of Apollo 7, the first human flight test of the Apollo spacecraft. With Walter M. Schirra, Jr. and Donn F. Eisele, he tested maneuvers necessary for docking and lunar orbit rendezvous using the third stage of their Saturn IB launch vehicle. The crew successfully completed eight tests, igniting the service module engine, measuring the accuracy of performance of all spacecraft systems, and providing the first live television transmission of onboard crew activities. The 263-hour, 4.5-million-mile flight splashed down Oct. 22, 1968, in the Atlantic Ocean.

Cunningham’s last assignment at NASA Johnson was chief of the Skylab branch of the Flight Crew Directorate. In this capacity, he was responsible for the operational inputs for five major pieces of manned space hardware, two different launch vehicles and 56 major experiments that comprised the Skylab Program.

Cunningham retired from NASA in 1971 and would go on to lead multiple technical and financial organizations. He served in senior leadership roles with Century Development Corp., Hydrotech Development Company, and 3D International. Cunningham also was a longtime investor and entrepreneur, organizing small businesses and private investment firms. He also was a frequent keynote speaker and radio talk show host.

His numerous awards include the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and NASA Distinguished Service Medal. For his service he was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, International Space Hall of Fame, Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame, San Diego Air and Space Museum Hall of Fame, and Houston Hall of Fame. Cunningham and the Apollo 7 crew also earned an Emmy in the form of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Special Trustee Award.

Related links:

Astronaut Walter Cunningham: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Cunningham

Apollo 7: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo7.html

Image (mentioned), Text, Credits: NASA/Cheryl Warner/JSC/Dan Huot.

R.I.P.; Orbiter.ch

SpaceX Transporter-6 launch

 

SpaceX - Falcon 9 / Transporter Mission patch.

Jan 3, 2023

Falcon 9 carrying Transporter-6 liftoff

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched Transporter-6, SpaceX’s sixth dedicated SmallSat Rideshare Program mission with 114 small spacecraft, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on 3 January 2023, at 14:56 UTC (09:56 EST).

SpaceX Transporter-6 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing

Falcon 9’s first stage landed on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Falcon 9’s first stage (B1060) previously supported fourteen missions: Transporter-2, GPS-III Space Vehicle 03, Turksat-5A, Intelsat G-33/G-34 and ten Starlink missions.

Falcon 9’s first stage landing on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1)

SpaceX: https://www.spacex.com/

Images, Video, Text, Credits: SpaceX/SciNews/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.

Greetings, Orbiter.ch

New types of rocks discovered on the Moon by the Chinese rover

 

CLEP - China Lunar Exploration Program logo.

Jan 3, 2023

We are still only at the beginning of the exploration of the Moon and many surprises about it still await us. But already, before the future return to Earth of samples from the Artemis mission, cosmochemists and lunar planetologists believe they have discovered new lunar rocks in samples from the Chinese Chang'e 5 mission.

Image above: The Mons Rümker region, in the Stormy Ocean, landing site for the Chang'e 5 mission. Image acquired by NASA's LRO probe. Image Credits: NASA/LRO.

The return of Man to the Moon is imminent with Artemis and even instantaneous if we consider the geological time scale which is counted with a million years as a unit of time. The Apollo missions brought back to Earth samples of lunar rocks that we continue to study today. Magically, it is not necessary 50 years after the Apollo (USA), Luna (USSR) and Viking missions to be a member of a world-class research laboratory to possess lunar or Martian meteorites nor to be millionaire. It is possible to acquire some for a few tens of euros.

Image above: Exotic clasts identified in regolith samples from Chang'e 5. Image Credit: Chinese Academy of Sciences.

On the other hand, you still have to be to have the chance to analyze the lunar samples brought back to Earth by the Chinese Chang'e 5 mission, as evidenced by an article published in Nature Astronomy and resulting from the work carried out by a team of the Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The material taken by the probe comes from the regolith that can be found in the Mons Rümker region north of the Ocean of Storms, in Latin Oceanus Procellarum, the largest of the lunar seas. Stretching more than 2,500 kilometers along its north-south axis, it is located west of the visible side of the Moon.

Unknown Lunar Volcanism?

The lunar regolith is believed to be the product over the past billion years of ejecta of material produced by collisions of small celestial bodies of all sizes with the surface of the Moon. It is generally estimated that a core in one meter of regolith covers a billion years of its deposit. Regolith samples must therefore make it possible to highlight fragments from several lunar regions and over a certain time range. We can also roughly estimate the age of a lunar terrain according to its cratering rate, the lower it is, the older the region is on average.

Selenologists found in samples from Chang'e 5 that the probe landing zone was rich in a type of basalt formed two billion years ago, which is younger than samples from the Apollo missions and Luna.

Image above: A diagram explaining how the exotic Chang'e 5 clasts likely formed. Image Credit: Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Technically, as the abstract in the published paper explains, researchers studied in the regolith samples brought back to Earth in December 2020 more than 3,000 particles less than 2 mm in diameter. They classified them into seven exotic igneous clasts, that is to say that these particles were themselves assemblies of rock fragments of different natures but related to volcanic and magmatic processes.

We thus distinguish, for example, a vitrogenic component with a high titanium (Ti) content, a basaltic component with a low Ti content, one of the olivine-pyroxenite type, one of the magnesian anorthosite type and in the end three of the clasts presented petrological characteristics. and unusual composition. The high-titanium vitrophilic clast, with larger crystals embedded in glassy rock, has mineralogy that has never been seen before on the Moon, and likely represents a new type of moon rock according to Chinese selenologists.

Chang'e 5 lunar rover. Animation Credit: CNSA

Volcanic glass from a volcanic eruption on the Moon with a unique chemical composition has also been identified. It suggests the presence of additional and as yet unrecognized past lunar volcanic eruptions.

Related links:

Nature Astronomy: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-022-01840-7

Chinese Academy of Sciences: https://english.cas.cn/

China National Space Administration (CNSA): http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/index.html

Images (mentioned), Animation (mentioned), Text, Credits: Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)/Futura/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.

Greetings, Orbiter.ch

Station Science Kicks Off New Year Promoting Deep Space Exploration

 

ISS - Expedition 68 Mission patch.

Jan 3, 2023

The Expedition 68 crew kicked off the new year with an array of microgravity research aboard the International Space Station aimed at sustaining future crews farther away from Earth. The seven orbital residents from the United States, Japan, and Russia explored a wide variety of phenomena including space nutrition, dexterous manipulation, and microbe samples collected from inside the orbiting lab.

Providing adequate nutrition for crews is critical as NASA and its international partners plan expeditions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The BioNutrients-2 investigation is using genetically engineered microbes to provide nutrients, and potentially other compounds and pharmaceuticals, on demand in space. NASA Flight Engineer Nicole Mann nourished and incubated genetically engineered yeast samples for the study in the Space Automated Bioproduct Laboratory on Tuesday.

Image above: Astronauts Koichi Wakata and Nicole Mann pose with a pair of Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs), or spacesuits, aboard the space station. Image Credit: NASA.

The way humans adapt to the lack of an up-and-down reference in weightlessness is also important as researchers study how astronauts grip and manipulate objects. NASA Flight Engineer Josh Cassada seated himself in a specialized chair in the Columbus laboratory module and performed different tasks using a controller device. Scientists may gain insights and use the observations to design intelligent spacecraft interfaces benefitting future astronauts as they venture into deep space visiting planets, moons, and asteroids.

Understanding the microbial environment on the space station is another vital activity to ensure healthy crews and safe, successful missions. NASA Flight Engineer Frank Rubio analyzed microbe samples on Tuesday morning that were collected from the station’s atmosphere and surfaces and grown in an incubator. Those samples will be returned to Earth next week on the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft for additional analysis. Roscosmos Flight Engineers Dmitri Petelin and Anna Kikina performed their own analysis of a separate set of microbe samples adding to the knowledge of how bacteria and fungi adapt and thrive in microgravity.

International Space station (ISS). Animation Credit: NASA

Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) tended to research samples being observed to understand bone regeneration on Earth and in space. Wakata later took a robotics test on a computer measuring his performance, behavior, and cognition while living in space. Station Commander Sergey Prokopyev from Roscosmos set up an experimental 3-D printer to demonstrate the ability to print parts and tools supporting spacecraft and space habitat maintenance.

Related links:

Expedition 68: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition68/index.html

BioNutrients-2: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8521

Space Automated Bioproduct Laboratory: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Facility.html?#id=1148

Grip and manipulate objects: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1188

Columbus laboratory module: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/europe-columbus-laboratory

Bone regeneration: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=8846

Performance, behavior, and cognition: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7537

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

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

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

Greetings, Orbiter.ch

ispace - Hakuto-R Lunar Lander Successfully Performs Maneuver

 

ispace - Hakuto-R M1 logo.

Jan 3, 2023

ispace, inc., a global lunar exploration company, has announced that its HAKUTO-R Mission 1 lunar lander has successfully carried out its second orbital control maneuver in accordance with its mission operations plan. The maneuver happened shortly after midnight on January 2, 2023 (Japan Standard Time), with the operations management coming from ispace’s mission control center in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.

Illustration: ispace Hakuto-R M1 on the way to the Moon

This orbital control maneuver is the second maneuver to happen as the lander continues its journey to the moon. The lander completed its first orbital control maneuver in December. 15, 2022. The second maneuver occurred farther from Earth and lasted longer than the first. According to the Company, this verifies the Company’s capability to carry out orbital maneuvers under various conditions.

As of January 2, 2023, the lander has traveled approximately 1.24 million kilometers from the Earth and will be at its farthest point of roughly 1.4 million km from the Earth by January 20, 2023. Once the lander reaches its most distant point from Earth, a third orbital correction maneuver may be performed, depending on its navigational status.

Flight Profile of HAKUTO-R Mission 1 (click on the image for enlarge)

Since its launch on December 11, 2022, the lander has maintained stable navigation per the mission plan. Once the lander has navigated deep space for one month, it will have achieved Mission 1 Milestone Success 5, at which point ispace will make an announcement. The Company set 10 Milestones for Mission 1, ranging from launch to landing. As a result, ispace will weigh and evaluate the results against the criteria and incorporate them into future missions expected to launch by 2025.

Related article:

SpaceX - Falcon 9 launches HAKUTO-R M1 and Lunar Flashlight
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2022/12/spacex-falcon-9-launches-hakuto-r-m1.html

Related link:

ispace: https://ispace-inc.com/

Images, Text, Credits: ispace/Spacewatch Asia Pacific.

Best regards, Orbiter.ch

Virgin Orbit receives U.K.'s first orbital launch licence; All launcherone system green for upcoming mission

 

Virgin Orbit logo.

Dec 31, 2022

The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority has issued launch and range control licenses to Virgin Orbit (Nasdaq: VORB) to undertake the first satellite launch from UK soil. The granting of these licenses represents a major step forward for the historic Start Me Up mission, and reflects the CAA’s concurrence that all reasonable steps have been taken by Virgin Orbit to ensure the desired safety, security, and environmental stewardship of what is expected to be the first orbital launch ever conducted from western Europe.

Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne system is currently at Spaceport Cornwall in the U.K. and preparing to roll out to mate to its 747-400 carrier aircraft for final launch rehearsals and, ultimately, for the Start Me Up mission itself. In the past week, Virgin Orbit’s engineering and technician team has re-established and verified the system’s health and readiness for spaceflight. Working with the mission’s payload customers, batteries onboard several satellites were re-charged late last week, keeping the nine satellites on the manifest in good condition to launch to orbit and begin operations.

With these licenses in hand, Virgin Orbit is now working in close collaboration across all mission stakeholders with the aim of opening the first orbital launch window in western European history, targeting a window start date in the coming weeks.

In the words of our CEO, Dan Hart, “receiving Virgin Orbit’s range and launch licenses takes us one step closer to the first satellite launch take-off from U.K. soil. This is a major milestone for the CAA, and represents the successful completion of an enormous effort, which has included the construction of new regulations, new processes, and new teams. 

“At this time, all of Virgin Orbit’s systems are green for launch. Our team is laser-focused on execution of final checkouts, launch rehearsal, and ultimately launch, and we will continue working with our friends and partners across agencies and governments to be ready to light this candle once a launch window is finalized.”

ABOUT VIRGIN ORBIT

Virgin Orbit Holdings, Inc (Nasdaq: VORB) operates one of the most flexible and responsive space launch systems ever built. Founded by Sir Richard Branson in 2017, the Company began commercial service in 2021, and has already delivered commercial, civil, national security, and international satellites into orbit. Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rockets are designed and manufactured in Long Beach, California, and are air-launched from a modified 747-400 carrier aircraft that allows Virgin Orbit Holdings, Inc to operate from locations all over the world in order to best serve each customer’s needs. Learn more at https://virginorbit.com/

Image, Text, Credit: Virgin Orbit. 

Best regards, Orbiter.ch