Monday, 7 September 2015
indian private space assets: ISRO to Launch Satellite For Strategic Application...
indian private space assets: ISRO to Launch Satellite For Strategic Application...: India will launch an advanced communications satellite (GSAT-6) in July or August for strategic applications, its space agency chief said. ...
Space Tech in governance: ISRO scientists to help govt depts gain tech edge
In a first of its kind exercise, senior scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will sit down with more than 80 top officials of Central and state governments Monday to assess how they can help them in improving the functioning of their respective departments through use of space technologies or applications.
The one-day meeting has been organised on the initiative of the Prime Minister’s Office, which controls the Department of Space and is said to be keen to ensure that the advances in space technology are utilised to more useful effect in governance and development activities.
Secretaries of almost every government department and chief secretaries of all the states are scheduled to attend the meeting that will have discussions around nine themes including Agriculture, Energy and Environment, or Infrastructure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the closing session during which presentations would be made to him summing up the day’s discussions.
Other themes on which the discussions will be held are Water, Development Planning, Communication and Navigation, Weather and Disaster Management, Health and Education, and Technology Diffusion. Each of these sessions would involve presentations from 5-10 Secretaries of relevant ministries and departments and one state government and it would be followed by discussions. Each session will be moderated by an ISRO scientist. The ministries, departments or state governments will talk about their schemes and programmes and ISRO representatives will suggest the possible interventions that space technologies can make.
The meeting comes in the wake of one-on-one meetings that ISRO chairman A K Kiran Kumar had with more than 70 Secretaries of the Central government, and CMs and officials of almost every state government.
The idea to prod government departments to utilise space technologies originated last year after Modi visited the ISRO headquarters in Bangalore to witness the entry of Mangalyaan in Mars orbit.
Thursday, 28 May 2015
ISRO to Launch Satellite For Strategic Applications
India will launch an advanced communications satellite (GSAT-6) in July or August for strategic applications, its space agency chief said. "We will launch GSAT-6 for strategic applications in July-end or August beginning, with a special antenna that will have a capability to use a handheld device to communicate from anywhere," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman AS Kiran Kumar told reporters in Bengaluru.
ISRO will use a heavy rocket - geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLVA Mark II) to launch the 2-tonne GSAT-6 with 10 special transponders from its spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
"The six-metre diameter antenna will be one of the scientific instruments onboard the satellite. We are making optical instruments for measurements using optimal techniques," Mr Kiran Kumar said on the margins of a function.
The instruments are also used in telescopes of 1.2 metre and 0.7 metre mirrors, which are measured to nanometer accuracy.
Though the space agency was to launch the satellite earlier for the city-based Devas Multimedia Services Ltd under a pact with its commercial arm Antrix Corporation, the government cancelled the $300 million deal in February 2011 invoking sovereignty and decided to use it for strategic needs.
Under the annulled deal, Antrix was to lease transponders of GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A to Devas for allowing it to offer digital multimedia services using S-band wavelength (spectrum), reserved for strategic use of the country.
Earlier, the ISRO chief flagged off a three-day seminar, symposium and expo on metrology at the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), organised by the Metrology Society of India, southern region on the occasion of 'World Metrology Day', celebrated on May 20
ISRO will use a heavy rocket - geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLVA Mark II) to launch the 2-tonne GSAT-6 with 10 special transponders from its spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
"The six-metre diameter antenna will be one of the scientific instruments onboard the satellite. We are making optical instruments for measurements using optimal techniques," Mr Kiran Kumar said on the margins of a function.
The instruments are also used in telescopes of 1.2 metre and 0.7 metre mirrors, which are measured to nanometer accuracy.
Though the space agency was to launch the satellite earlier for the city-based Devas Multimedia Services Ltd under a pact with its commercial arm Antrix Corporation, the government cancelled the $300 million deal in February 2011 invoking sovereignty and decided to use it for strategic needs.
Under the annulled deal, Antrix was to lease transponders of GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A to Devas for allowing it to offer digital multimedia services using S-band wavelength (spectrum), reserved for strategic use of the country.
Earlier, the ISRO chief flagged off a three-day seminar, symposium and expo on metrology at the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), organised by the Metrology Society of India, southern region on the occasion of 'World Metrology Day', celebrated on May 20
China ranked 4th among world space powers
China's space capabilities are ranked the fourth in the world, and the gap between the leading powers is narrowing, according to a report issued recently by a Chinese research organization.
China is at a crucial period developing from a major power to a great power in space, says an evaluation by the Beijing Institute of Space Science and Technology Information, affiliated to the China Academy of Space Technology.
Last year saw a record 92 launches around the world, with 262 spacecraft put into orbit. The institute for the first time evaluated the space capabilities of 20 countries and regions across six aspects: strategy, product systems, infrastructure, industrial scale, innovation and international influence.
It rated the United States, Europe, Russia, China, Japan and India as the leading powers in space.
The United States' status as the only super power in space is unshakable, but the gap between the United States and its followers is narrowing, says the report.
Europe and Russia are ranked as the next two great powers. With its technological advantages and alliances with the United States, Europe has made a giant leap in its space capability. Russia has curbed its decline, showing signs of recovery thanks to its medium and long-term plans and reform of its space industry, the report says.
China, Japan and India are major powers in space. Pursuing an independent development path, China has made remarkable accomplishments in space technology, showing strong momentum and potential. Driven by technological innovation, active international cooperation and an alliance with the United States, Japan has made rapid developments.
India became the first Asian country to successfully send a probe to Mars in 2014, marking a breakthrough in its space capability, says the report.
The report also mentions emerging countries in space represented by Canada and the Republic of Korea, which closely follow China, Japan and India.
Space has become a "high frontier" as nations jostle for political, economic, military and science and technological advantages. Driven by the needs of national security and economic interests, more countries are vying to flex their muscles in space, says the report.
China is at a crucial period developing from a major power to a great power in space, says an evaluation by the Beijing Institute of Space Science and Technology Information, affiliated to the China Academy of Space Technology.
Last year saw a record 92 launches around the world, with 262 spacecraft put into orbit. The institute for the first time evaluated the space capabilities of 20 countries and regions across six aspects: strategy, product systems, infrastructure, industrial scale, innovation and international influence.
It rated the United States, Europe, Russia, China, Japan and India as the leading powers in space.
The United States' status as the only super power in space is unshakable, but the gap between the United States and its followers is narrowing, says the report.
Europe and Russia are ranked as the next two great powers. With its technological advantages and alliances with the United States, Europe has made a giant leap in its space capability. Russia has curbed its decline, showing signs of recovery thanks to its medium and long-term plans and reform of its space industry, the report says.
China, Japan and India are major powers in space. Pursuing an independent development path, China has made remarkable accomplishments in space technology, showing strong momentum and potential. Driven by technological innovation, active international cooperation and an alliance with the United States, Japan has made rapid developments.
India became the first Asian country to successfully send a probe to Mars in 2014, marking a breakthrough in its space capability, says the report.
The report also mentions emerging countries in space represented by Canada and the Republic of Korea, which closely follow China, Japan and India.
Space has become a "high frontier" as nations jostle for political, economic, military and science and technological advantages. Driven by the needs of national security and economic interests, more countries are vying to flex their muscles in space, says the report.
Japan to land first unmanned spacecraft on moon in 2018
Japan is planning to deliver its first lander on the surface of the moon in three years, local media reported on Sunday, citing sources with close knowledge of the project.
Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is expected to unveil its plan to a governmental space policy committee on Monday, according to the Sankei Shimbun daily. A more detailed project to land the unmanned SLIM space vehicle is expected in the summer.
The publication added SLIM will be launched with the help of JAXA's Epsilon-5 carrier rocket and will be key in accumulating technology for future explorations on Mars.
The project is estimated to cost from $8 billion to $12.5 billion and JAXA is slated to start drawing from the state budget next fiscal year.
Previously, Japan launched the Selenological and Engineering Explorer (SELENE, better known in Japan as Kaguya) into the Lunar orbit in 2007, allowing to study the Moon's surface in close detail.
SLIM's landing spot will be identified based on data sent by Kaguya over its two-year service.
The publication goes on to say the new SLIM probe will demonstrate an ability to rapidly assess surface topography and identify possible obstacles to landing.
The former Soviet Union, the United States and China are currently the only countries to have landed a mission on the moon.
Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is expected to unveil its plan to a governmental space policy committee on Monday, according to the Sankei Shimbun daily. A more detailed project to land the unmanned SLIM space vehicle is expected in the summer.
The publication added SLIM will be launched with the help of JAXA's Epsilon-5 carrier rocket and will be key in accumulating technology for future explorations on Mars.
The project is estimated to cost from $8 billion to $12.5 billion and JAXA is slated to start drawing from the state budget next fiscal year.
Previously, Japan launched the Selenological and Engineering Explorer (SELENE, better known in Japan as Kaguya) into the Lunar orbit in 2007, allowing to study the Moon's surface in close detail.
SLIM's landing spot will be identified based on data sent by Kaguya over its two-year service.
The publication goes on to say the new SLIM probe will demonstrate an ability to rapidly assess surface topography and identify possible obstacles to landing.
The former Soviet Union, the United States and China are currently the only countries to have landed a mission on the moon.
Russia Invites China to Join in Creating Lunar International Space Station
Russia and China are currently in talks on inviting the latter to become one of the main partners in creating a lunar station, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Tuesday.
"The question is being discussed with Roscosmos on bringing China in as the main partner in creating a lunar scientific station. We have told China of our plans on the possibility of creating a Russian national orbital station," Rogozin told journalists after a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang in Eastern China.
Rogozin added that both parties share "deep mutual understanding and mutual interests" in this area.
In February, China's Vice Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping said that Beijing is planning to boost its cooperation with Russia in a number of spheres, including space.
Exploration of the Moon and Mars is a priority for the Russian space program. In mid-April, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia plans to launch its national orbital station by 2023. The station is to serve as a base for Russia's lunar program. Spacecraft will be delivered first to the station, then proceeding to the Moon.
On April 22, Russia's space agency Roscosmos head Igor Komarov said that Russia is expected to carry out a manned mission orbiting the Moon in 2025 and conduct a manned landing on the surface of the Moon in 2029
"The question is being discussed with Roscosmos on bringing China in as the main partner in creating a lunar scientific station. We have told China of our plans on the possibility of creating a Russian national orbital station," Rogozin told journalists after a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang in Eastern China.
Rogozin added that both parties share "deep mutual understanding and mutual interests" in this area.
In February, China's Vice Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping said that Beijing is planning to boost its cooperation with Russia in a number of spheres, including space.
Exploration of the Moon and Mars is a priority for the Russian space program. In mid-April, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia plans to launch its national orbital station by 2023. The station is to serve as a base for Russia's lunar program. Spacecraft will be delivered first to the station, then proceeding to the Moon.
On April 22, Russia's space agency Roscosmos head Igor Komarov said that Russia is expected to carry out a manned mission orbiting the Moon in 2025 and conduct a manned landing on the surface of the Moon in 2029
UAE eyes "first Arab unmanned probe" to Mars by 2021
The United Arab Emirates on Monday kicked off a strategic framework for its newly founded space agency that aims to launch satellite missions and the "first Arab unmanned probe" to Mars by 2021.
The launch of the strategy comes ahead of a two-day Gulf Space and Satellite Forum, which starts here on Monday.
The UAE agency has scheduled total direct investments of 20 billion dirham (5.45 billion U.S. dollars).
Setting up the Gulf Arab state's official body to explore the orbit was in line with the government's policy to invest in talent and science, to diversify the economy and to boost research and innovation in the UAE, a major oil supplier, the agency's officials said.
Having already sent two satellites into space, the UAE plans to send the third home-made satellite, Khalifa Sat, named after President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, by 2017.
The UAE's first observation satellite was brought into space in July 2009.
The UAE space agency, based in Abu Dhabim works closely with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center in Dubai, which was launched in April this year.
A strategic objective of the agency is to establish a space facility in the UAE desert from where vehicles carrying satellites and probes could be launched into orbit.
The launch of the strategy comes ahead of a two-day Gulf Space and Satellite Forum, which starts here on Monday.
The UAE agency has scheduled total direct investments of 20 billion dirham (5.45 billion U.S. dollars).
Setting up the Gulf Arab state's official body to explore the orbit was in line with the government's policy to invest in talent and science, to diversify the economy and to boost research and innovation in the UAE, a major oil supplier, the agency's officials said.
Having already sent two satellites into space, the UAE plans to send the third home-made satellite, Khalifa Sat, named after President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, by 2017.
The UAE's first observation satellite was brought into space in July 2009.
The UAE space agency, based in Abu Dhabim works closely with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center in Dubai, which was launched in April this year.
A strategic objective of the agency is to establish a space facility in the UAE desert from where vehicles carrying satellites and probes could be launched into orbit.
European Space Agency Director Wants to Set Up a Moon Base
The successor to the International Space Station (ISS) should be a permanent moon base, says incoming European Agency Space leader Johann-Dietrich Worner.
The Space Foundation's National Space Symposium, held in Colorado, is a gathering for global civil, military, and "new space" leaders to discuss and plan the future of space. One of those plans, according to the next European Agency Space director general, should be establishing a moon colony as the next-step outpost beyond the International Space Station (ISS).
"It seems to be appropriate to propose a permanent moon station as the successor of ISS," Worner said. Following a similar model to the ISS, he added that "different actors can contribute with their respective competencies and interests," to the lunar base.
A key advantage to having the international base would be the opportunities it would offer in the exploration of deep space. The base would additionally equip astronauts to use on-site resources instead of having them transported over.
"In any case, the space community should rapidly discuss post-ISS proposal inside and with the general public, to be prepared." He added.
Worner proposed a base on the lunar far-side, arguing it would provide a number of "drivers" for the space community, including cosmological research. The far-side is additionally shielded from Earth's radiation-chatter broadcasts, allowing radio telescopes to survey the universe without background noise interruptions.
Speaking to Space.com, Worner said that the idea for a lunar far-side base is not new, but stressed that "now we have to do it as opposed to study it."
"We have to look into the future about what are the next destinations, what to do after the International Space Station...and we better know what to do afterwards."
The Space Foundation's National Space Symposium, held in Colorado, is a gathering for global civil, military, and "new space" leaders to discuss and plan the future of space. One of those plans, according to the next European Agency Space director general, should be establishing a moon colony as the next-step outpost beyond the International Space Station (ISS).
"It seems to be appropriate to propose a permanent moon station as the successor of ISS," Worner said. Following a similar model to the ISS, he added that "different actors can contribute with their respective competencies and interests," to the lunar base.
A key advantage to having the international base would be the opportunities it would offer in the exploration of deep space. The base would additionally equip astronauts to use on-site resources instead of having them transported over.
"In any case, the space community should rapidly discuss post-ISS proposal inside and with the general public, to be prepared." He added.
Worner proposed a base on the lunar far-side, arguing it would provide a number of "drivers" for the space community, including cosmological research. The far-side is additionally shielded from Earth's radiation-chatter broadcasts, allowing radio telescopes to survey the universe without background noise interruptions.
Speaking to Space.com, Worner said that the idea for a lunar far-side base is not new, but stressed that "now we have to do it as opposed to study it."
"We have to look into the future about what are the next destinations, what to do after the International Space Station...and we better know what to do afterwards."
Rover Restored to Normal Operations After a Reset
Opportunity is on the west rim of Endeavour Crater at the 'Spirit of St. Louis' crater near the entrance of 'Marathon Valley.' The rover had been exploring the outcrops inside the Spirit of St. Louis crater.
On Sol 4018 (May 14, 2015), the project attempted to restore the rover to master sequence control after an unexplained reset on Sol 4017 (May 13, 2015).
However, an operational error prevented the use of the high-gain antenna (HGA), and the rover did not receive subsequent recovery commands.
The rover was successfully restored to normal operations on Sol 4020 (May 16, 2015).
On that sol, Opportunity executed a very small turn-in-place of only 4.6 degrees to position a surface target within reach of the robotic arm instruments. That evening, an overnight atmospheric argon measurement using the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) was made.
Another amnesia event occurred on the evening of Sol 4021 (May 17, 2015), but it was benign with no loss of data. On Sol 4023 (May 19, 2015), the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) was used to brush a surface target for in-situ (contact) investigation.
After the brushing, a Microscopic Imager (MI) mosaic was collected, followed by the placement of the APXS for a multi-hour integration.
As of Sol 4023 (May 19, 2015), the solar array energy production was 536 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 1.105 and a solar array dust factor of 0.727.
Total odometry is 26.28 miles (42.30 kilometers), more than a marathon
On Sol 4018 (May 14, 2015), the project attempted to restore the rover to master sequence control after an unexplained reset on Sol 4017 (May 13, 2015).
However, an operational error prevented the use of the high-gain antenna (HGA), and the rover did not receive subsequent recovery commands.
The rover was successfully restored to normal operations on Sol 4020 (May 16, 2015).
On that sol, Opportunity executed a very small turn-in-place of only 4.6 degrees to position a surface target within reach of the robotic arm instruments. That evening, an overnight atmospheric argon measurement using the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) was made.
Another amnesia event occurred on the evening of Sol 4021 (May 17, 2015), but it was benign with no loss of data. On Sol 4023 (May 19, 2015), the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) was used to brush a surface target for in-situ (contact) investigation.
After the brushing, a Microscopic Imager (MI) mosaic was collected, followed by the placement of the APXS for a multi-hour integration.
As of Sol 4023 (May 19, 2015), the solar array energy production was 536 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 1.105 and a solar array dust factor of 0.727.
Total odometry is 26.28 miles (42.30 kilometers), more than a marathon
NASA's LRO Moves Closer to the Lunar Surface
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has completed a maneuver that lowered the spacecraft's orbit to within 20 kilometers (12 miles) above areas near the lunar South Pole, the closest the spacecraft has ever been to the lunar surface.
On Monday, May 4, 2015 flight controllers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland performed two station keeping burns to change LRO's orbit. The new orbit allows LRO to pass within 20 km (12 miles) of the South Pole and 165 km (103 miles) over the North Pole.
"We're taking LRO closer to the moon than we've ever done before, but the maneuver is similar to all other station keeping maneuvers, so the mission operations team knows exactly what to do," said Steve Odendahl, LRO mission manager from NASA Goddard.
To optimize science return, team members made the decision to change the orbit after determining that the new orbit configuration poses no danger to the spacecraft. LRO can operate for many years at this orbit.
The new orbit enables exciting new science and will see improved measurements near the South Pole. Two of the instruments benefit significantly from the orbit change. The return signal from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) laser shots will become stronger, producing a better signal. LOLA will obtain better measurements of specific regions near the South Pole that have unique illumination conditions. Diviner will be able to see smaller lunar features through the collection of higher resolution data.
"The lunar poles are still places of mystery where the inside of some craters never see direct sunlight and the coldest temperatures in the solar system have been recorded," said John Keller, LRO project scientist at NASA Goddard. "By lowering the orbit over the South Pole, we are essentially magnifying the sensitivity of the LRO instruments which will help us understand the mechanisms by which water or other volatiles might be trapped there."
Launched on June 18, 2009, LRO has collected a treasure trove of data with its seven powerful instruments, making an invaluable contribution to our knowledge about the moon. LRO is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington
On Monday, May 4, 2015 flight controllers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland performed two station keeping burns to change LRO's orbit. The new orbit allows LRO to pass within 20 km (12 miles) of the South Pole and 165 km (103 miles) over the North Pole.
"We're taking LRO closer to the moon than we've ever done before, but the maneuver is similar to all other station keeping maneuvers, so the mission operations team knows exactly what to do," said Steve Odendahl, LRO mission manager from NASA Goddard.
To optimize science return, team members made the decision to change the orbit after determining that the new orbit configuration poses no danger to the spacecraft. LRO can operate for many years at this orbit.
The new orbit enables exciting new science and will see improved measurements near the South Pole. Two of the instruments benefit significantly from the orbit change. The return signal from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) laser shots will become stronger, producing a better signal. LOLA will obtain better measurements of specific regions near the South Pole that have unique illumination conditions. Diviner will be able to see smaller lunar features through the collection of higher resolution data.
"The lunar poles are still places of mystery where the inside of some craters never see direct sunlight and the coldest temperatures in the solar system have been recorded," said John Keller, LRO project scientist at NASA Goddard. "By lowering the orbit over the South Pole, we are essentially magnifying the sensitivity of the LRO instruments which will help us understand the mechanisms by which water or other volatiles might be trapped there."
Launched on June 18, 2009, LRO has collected a treasure trove of data with its seven powerful instruments, making an invaluable contribution to our knowledge about the moon. LRO is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington
Science Drives NASA's Journey to Mars
"Repeat after me: Mars matters," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden told the auditorium of participants at the May 5, 2015 Humans to Mars Summit organized by the non-profit Explore Mars, Inc. "Mars matters!" everyone agreed.
But why does Mars matter? "?Because it's there' isn't good enough," stated Bolden. Luckily, summit presenters had a host of compelling reasons for humans to venture to Mars, ranging from political, economic, and at the forefront, scientific reasons.
Bolden explained that Mars' formation and evolution was similar to Earth's, so by studying Mars we can learn more about the Earth and how these two neighboring planets took such different paths. Since Mars once had habitable conditions similar to the Earth, it's possible life arose on both planets. The search for evidence of alien life aims to answer the fundamental science and human question of "Are we alone?"
"We are currently further along than ever before in human history on our Journey to Mars," Bolden announced.
John Grunsfeld, Associate Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, emphasized that "humans are on Mars today." Our fleet of robotic ambassadors has been collecting Mars science throughout the past four decades. But the value of having humans on the surface making real-time decisions would be priceless.
According to Grunsfeld, Steve Squyres - the Principal Investigator for the Mars Exploration Rovers - once noted that if he were personally on Mars, he could have performed Spirit's and Opportunity's 90-day primary mission in 20 minutes.
Speed is just one advantage humans have in conducting Mars science. During a panel titled "The Extraordinary Science of Mars," planetary scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center discussed what they'd like to look for on the red planet.
Astrochemist Danny Glavin wants to search for biosignatures in Martian rocks. He would be most excited to see a limited set of amino acids and nucleobases, because biology selects and uses only a few of all the available compounds.
Even more interesting would be if we found a different set of these compounds than life uses on Earth, because that would be evidence that life originated independently on Mars. It would be extremely helpful to have human missions on Mars because people could provide a much greater variety of rock samples than solely robotic missions could provide.
Astrobiologist Jennifer Eigenbrode has reason to believe that Mars is more habitable just under its surface, where material is protected from Mars' extreme radiation and chemical oxidation. She dreams of humans drilling into the rock and collecting and mapping cores. With real-time cognitive responses, astronauts could say, "There, that's the sample we want, that's where we want to look for evidence of life," and be able to immediately fine-tune their observations and get the best possible information.
Pamela Conrad, the Deputy Principal Investigator for the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite, has searched high and low on Earth for some place where there is no life - unsuccessfully. Life here is ubiquitous, even in the most extreme environments. She wishes she could do the same search on Mars.
The opportunities for science are limited with robotic rovers, partly because of constraints in communicating with Earth. And, they are too expensive to risk by moving too quickly or by sending them into precarious, though interesting locations. "If I were there," said Conrad, "I would be doing this, this, and this, and this pace [of the robotic rovers] is just way too slow for those of us who are used to working in the field ourselves."
Science is not only the motivation for going to Mars; it is also essential knowledge to have in order for humans to get to Mars. John Grunsfeld explained that before we send humans, it is important to understand Mars' weather and climate cycles, and to know where on Mars there is accessible water to be used for in-situ propellant production. This critical data is coming from current missions like the Mars Science Laboratory and Goddard's MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) orbiter.
Upcoming Mars missions include InSight launching in 2016, the European Space Agency's ExoMars mission launching in 2016 and 2018, and NASA's Mars 2020 rover.
Science is an integral if not driving part of human space exploration. Said Conrad, "Exploration without science is just adventure. There's no return. Exploration is great, but the tools we have at our disposal to bring back societal benefit to all of us, those tools are vested by science."
But why does Mars matter? "?Because it's there' isn't good enough," stated Bolden. Luckily, summit presenters had a host of compelling reasons for humans to venture to Mars, ranging from political, economic, and at the forefront, scientific reasons.
Bolden explained that Mars' formation and evolution was similar to Earth's, so by studying Mars we can learn more about the Earth and how these two neighboring planets took such different paths. Since Mars once had habitable conditions similar to the Earth, it's possible life arose on both planets. The search for evidence of alien life aims to answer the fundamental science and human question of "Are we alone?"
"We are currently further along than ever before in human history on our Journey to Mars," Bolden announced.
John Grunsfeld, Associate Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, emphasized that "humans are on Mars today." Our fleet of robotic ambassadors has been collecting Mars science throughout the past four decades. But the value of having humans on the surface making real-time decisions would be priceless.
According to Grunsfeld, Steve Squyres - the Principal Investigator for the Mars Exploration Rovers - once noted that if he were personally on Mars, he could have performed Spirit's and Opportunity's 90-day primary mission in 20 minutes.
Speed is just one advantage humans have in conducting Mars science. During a panel titled "The Extraordinary Science of Mars," planetary scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center discussed what they'd like to look for on the red planet.
Astrochemist Danny Glavin wants to search for biosignatures in Martian rocks. He would be most excited to see a limited set of amino acids and nucleobases, because biology selects and uses only a few of all the available compounds.
Even more interesting would be if we found a different set of these compounds than life uses on Earth, because that would be evidence that life originated independently on Mars. It would be extremely helpful to have human missions on Mars because people could provide a much greater variety of rock samples than solely robotic missions could provide.
Astrobiologist Jennifer Eigenbrode has reason to believe that Mars is more habitable just under its surface, where material is protected from Mars' extreme radiation and chemical oxidation. She dreams of humans drilling into the rock and collecting and mapping cores. With real-time cognitive responses, astronauts could say, "There, that's the sample we want, that's where we want to look for evidence of life," and be able to immediately fine-tune their observations and get the best possible information.
Pamela Conrad, the Deputy Principal Investigator for the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite, has searched high and low on Earth for some place where there is no life - unsuccessfully. Life here is ubiquitous, even in the most extreme environments. She wishes she could do the same search on Mars.
The opportunities for science are limited with robotic rovers, partly because of constraints in communicating with Earth. And, they are too expensive to risk by moving too quickly or by sending them into precarious, though interesting locations. "If I were there," said Conrad, "I would be doing this, this, and this, and this pace [of the robotic rovers] is just way too slow for those of us who are used to working in the field ourselves."
Science is not only the motivation for going to Mars; it is also essential knowledge to have in order for humans to get to Mars. John Grunsfeld explained that before we send humans, it is important to understand Mars' weather and climate cycles, and to know where on Mars there is accessible water to be used for in-situ propellant production. This critical data is coming from current missions like the Mars Science Laboratory and Goddard's MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) orbiter.
Upcoming Mars missions include InSight launching in 2016, the European Space Agency's ExoMars mission launching in 2016 and 2018, and NASA's Mars 2020 rover.
Science is an integral if not driving part of human space exploration. Said Conrad, "Exploration without science is just adventure. There's no return. Exploration is great, but the tools we have at our disposal to bring back societal benefit to all of us, those tools are vested by science."
NASA testing new Mars lander for 2016 landing
Washington: In March 2016, NASA will send a unique Mars lander to explore the Red Planet's deep interior to find clues about how all rocky planets, including the Earth, formed and evolved.
The lander called InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) is about the size of a car and will be the first mission devoted to understand the interior structure of the Red Planet.
The current testing will help in ensuring that InSight can operate and survive in deep space travel and the harsh conditions of the Martian surface.
The spacecraft will lift off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and land on Mars about six months later, the US space agency said.
"Today, our robotic scientific explorers are paving the way, making great progress on the journey to Mars. Together, humans and robotics will pioneer Mars and the solar system," said Jim Green, director of the NASA's Planetary Science Division.
The technical capabilities and knowledge gained from InSight, and other Mars missions, are crucial to NASA's journey to Mars, which includes sending astronauts to the Red Planet in the 2030s.
During the environmental testing phase at the Lockheed Martin's Space Systems facility in Denver, the lander will be exposed to extreme temperatures, vacuum conditions of nearly zero air pressure simulating interplanetary space, and a battery of other tests over the next seven months.
The first will be a thermal vacuum test in the spacecraft's "cruise" configuration, which will be used during its seven-month journey to Mars.
Other tests include vibrations simulating launch and checking for electronic interference between different parts of the spacecraft.
The testing phase concludes with a second thermal vacuum test in which the spacecraft is exposed to the temperatures and atmospheric pressures it will experience as it operates on the Martian surface.
The lander called InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) is about the size of a car and will be the first mission devoted to understand the interior structure of the Red Planet.
The current testing will help in ensuring that InSight can operate and survive in deep space travel and the harsh conditions of the Martian surface.
The spacecraft will lift off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and land on Mars about six months later, the US space agency said.
"Today, our robotic scientific explorers are paving the way, making great progress on the journey to Mars. Together, humans and robotics will pioneer Mars and the solar system," said Jim Green, director of the NASA's Planetary Science Division.
The technical capabilities and knowledge gained from InSight, and other Mars missions, are crucial to NASA's journey to Mars, which includes sending astronauts to the Red Planet in the 2030s.
During the environmental testing phase at the Lockheed Martin's Space Systems facility in Denver, the lander will be exposed to extreme temperatures, vacuum conditions of nearly zero air pressure simulating interplanetary space, and a battery of other tests over the next seven months.
The first will be a thermal vacuum test in the spacecraft's "cruise" configuration, which will be used during its seven-month journey to Mars.
Other tests include vibrations simulating launch and checking for electronic interference between different parts of the spacecraft.
The testing phase concludes with a second thermal vacuum test in which the spacecraft is exposed to the temperatures and atmospheric pressures it will experience as it operates on the Martian surface.
China, Russia plan joint landing on the Moon
Moscow and Beijing are planning to enhance their cooperation in space research and conduct joint manned space missions, particularly, to the moon. The US does not trust these plans, fearing that China and Russia could work on an anti-satellite weapon.
China and Russia are planning to set up an alliance in the aerospace industry and conduct joint space missions to the moon, DWN wrote.
The initiative is aimed at establishing common uniform standards which will be used in the production of space travel technology. In particular, it concerns docking devices and electrical equipment, the newspaper wrote.
During his visit to China last year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that Moscow and Beijing were ready to conduct joint manned space projects to explore the solar system "hand in hand". These should also include a joint manned flight to the moon, he said.
Earlier, US Air Force Space Command John E. Hyten announced that the US has more than 500 satellites in space and that it is exposed to a major threat as China's and Russia's activities in the space field are allegedly aimed at the developing of an anti-satellite weapon.
China and Russia are planning to set up an alliance in the aerospace industry and conduct joint space missions to the moon, DWN wrote.
The initiative is aimed at establishing common uniform standards which will be used in the production of space travel technology. In particular, it concerns docking devices and electrical equipment, the newspaper wrote.
During his visit to China last year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that Moscow and Beijing were ready to conduct joint manned space projects to explore the solar system "hand in hand". These should also include a joint manned flight to the moon, he said.
Earlier, US Air Force Space Command John E. Hyten announced that the US has more than 500 satellites in space and that it is exposed to a major threat as China's and Russia's activities in the space field are allegedly aimed at the developing of an anti-satellite weapon.
ISRO 'makes in India' sophisticated multi-object tracking radar
The MOTR designed and developed by Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) will be tested next month during a PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket flight. The formal commissioning of the system is expected to happen three months down the line," SDSC director M Y S Prasad told reporters here.
The space scientists with justifiable pride were showcasing the state-of-the art radar that can track 10 objects simultaneously objects up to 30cm by 30cm at distance of 800 km.
In case of objects of 50cm by 50 cm size, the radar can track at a slant range of 1,000 km.
"The Rs.245 crore MOTR can be termed as the classic example of a 'Make in India' project," Prasad said.
According to him, a similar radar would cost around Rs.800 crore in the international markets and is mainly used for defence purposes.
"The software for operating the system and analysing the data was developed in-house and around Rs.100 crore value could be put for that," said V Seshagiri Rao, the former project director.
To the best of his knowledge only select group of countries have the capacity to build such radars in the world, Prasad said.
Prasad said Raythaeon, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, of the US, Thales, Canada-Europe, Elta of Israel and NEC of Japan have the capability to make such systems.
With this radar, ISRO acquires the capacity to handle its future missions involving atmospheric re-entry of space modules, having a protective eye on its space assets and track space debris.
Currently ISRO uses the space debris data provided by US space agency NASA. The commissioning of MOTR would provide real time data for ISRO.
"The project got the green signal in 2012 with a target to get the radar ready by February 2015 which was achieved," Prasad said.
Excepting the radome that houses the radar, all other systems were domestically sourced.
"The radome which is radio frequency transparent was not available in the country," said P Vijaya Saradhi, group director, management system area.
Elaborating on the features of the radar, S V Subba Rao said the phased array radar antenna is stationary while its beam generated by 4,608 radiating elements can be steered.
He said the radar weighing 35 ton, 12 metre long and 8 metre tall rectangular could be turned in different directions and will be used to meet the range safety purposes during a rocket launch here.
According to Subba Rao, it is important to track all the targets of a rocket simultaneously for which MOTR would be used. The radar can also be used for vertical wind profiling and also be used at airports
The space scientists with justifiable pride were showcasing the state-of-the art radar that can track 10 objects simultaneously objects up to 30cm by 30cm at distance of 800 km.
In case of objects of 50cm by 50 cm size, the radar can track at a slant range of 1,000 km.
"The Rs.245 crore MOTR can be termed as the classic example of a 'Make in India' project," Prasad said.
According to him, a similar radar would cost around Rs.800 crore in the international markets and is mainly used for defence purposes.
"The software for operating the system and analysing the data was developed in-house and around Rs.100 crore value could be put for that," said V Seshagiri Rao, the former project director.
To the best of his knowledge only select group of countries have the capacity to build such radars in the world, Prasad said.
Prasad said Raythaeon, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, of the US, Thales, Canada-Europe, Elta of Israel and NEC of Japan have the capability to make such systems.
With this radar, ISRO acquires the capacity to handle its future missions involving atmospheric re-entry of space modules, having a protective eye on its space assets and track space debris.
Currently ISRO uses the space debris data provided by US space agency NASA. The commissioning of MOTR would provide real time data for ISRO.
"The project got the green signal in 2012 with a target to get the radar ready by February 2015 which was achieved," Prasad said.
Excepting the radome that houses the radar, all other systems were domestically sourced.
"The radome which is radio frequency transparent was not available in the country," said P Vijaya Saradhi, group director, management system area.
Elaborating on the features of the radar, S V Subba Rao said the phased array radar antenna is stationary while its beam generated by 4,608 radiating elements can be steered.
He said the radar weighing 35 ton, 12 metre long and 8 metre tall rectangular could be turned in different directions and will be used to meet the range safety purposes during a rocket launch here.
According to Subba Rao, it is important to track all the targets of a rocket simultaneously for which MOTR would be used. The radar can also be used for vertical wind profiling and also be used at airports
Newly spotted 'rare quadruple quasar' is first of its kind ever seen
The quartet resides in one of the most massive structures ever discovered in the distant universe and is surrounded by a giant nebula of cool dense gas. Because the discovery comes with one-in-ten-million odds, perhaps cosmologists need to rethink their models of quasar evolution and the formation of the most massive cosmic structures.
The four quasars are surrounded by a giant nebula of cool dense hydrogen gas, which emits light because it is irradiated by the intense glare of the quasars. In addition, both the quartet and the surrounding nebula reside in a rare corner of the universe with a surprisingly large amount of matter.
Principal investigator J Xavier Prochaska of the University of California Santa Cruz said that there are several hundred times more galaxies in this region than one would expect to see at these distances.
Given the exceptionally large number of galaxies, this system resembles the massive agglomerations of galaxies, known as galaxy clusters that astronomers observe in the present-day universe, but because the light from this cosmic metropolis has been travelling for 10 billion years before reaching Earth, the images show the region as it was 10 billion years ago, less than 4 billion years after the big bang. It is thus an example of a progenitor or ancestor of a present-day galaxy cluster, or proto-cluster for short.
Piecing all of these anomalies together, the researchers tried to understand what appears to be their incredible stroke of luck. If you discover something which, according to current scientific wisdom should be extremely improbable, you can come to one of two conclusions: either you just got very lucky, or you need to modify your theory, lead researcher Joseph Hennawi said.
The four quasars are surrounded by a giant nebula of cool dense hydrogen gas, which emits light because it is irradiated by the intense glare of the quasars. In addition, both the quartet and the surrounding nebula reside in a rare corner of the universe with a surprisingly large amount of matter.
Principal investigator J Xavier Prochaska of the University of California Santa Cruz said that there are several hundred times more galaxies in this region than one would expect to see at these distances.
Given the exceptionally large number of galaxies, this system resembles the massive agglomerations of galaxies, known as galaxy clusters that astronomers observe in the present-day universe, but because the light from this cosmic metropolis has been travelling for 10 billion years before reaching Earth, the images show the region as it was 10 billion years ago, less than 4 billion years after the big bang. It is thus an example of a progenitor or ancestor of a present-day galaxy cluster, or proto-cluster for short.
Piecing all of these anomalies together, the researchers tried to understand what appears to be their incredible stroke of luck. If you discover something which, according to current scientific wisdom should be extremely improbable, you can come to one of two conclusions: either you just got very lucky, or you need to modify your theory, lead researcher Joseph Hennawi said.
First plane to fly through Venus in the offing
Gearing up to enter NASA's New Frontiers planetary science competition, Northrop Grumman Corporation is developing the inflatable, propeller-powered aircraft for a years-long cruise in the skies of Venus, Space.com reported. The plane, that will have almost twice the wingspan of a Boeing 737, is part of the Venus mission concept called Venus Atmospheric Manoeuvrable Platform (VAMP).
It will sample the acidic alien atmosphere on Venus.
The firm aims for $1 billion of NASA funding to get its inflatable propeller aircraft off the ground.
Vamp would have a wingspan of 46 metres - almost twice the size of a Boeing 737 - with an estimated top speed of 220 kms an hour.
On board would be up to 200 kg worth of instruments such as cameras and atmospheric samplers.
It would be flown 50-70 km above the surface of Venus, in a region of the atmosphere where the pressure is roughly equal to that on the Earth.
The plane would be carried to Venus by a spacecraft. The ground temperature on Venus - Earth's superheated sister planet - hovers around 460 degrees Celsius.
"Surviving on the surface for any longer than four hours and getting high-resolution data is a challenge," Constantine Tsang from Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado was quoted as saying.
A series of Russian probes sent to the planet in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, known as the Venera spacecraft, were able to survive no more than a few hours on the surface.
The next New Frontiers competition is set to begin in the 2016 fiscal year that starts from October 1.
"The winning mission would have to be ready for launch around 2021," Jim Green, NASA's director of planetary science, had said in an earlier statement.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)