#Planetary_Exploration

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Titan exploration tentatively pushed back to 2028 NASA's Dragonfly mission, aimed at exploring Saturn's moon Titan, will be delayed: the next stage of development has been postponed by a year, and the launch is scheduled for July 2028. The official reason for the delay was budget uncertainty, which delayed official confirmation and determination of the cost and schedule of the Dragonfly mission. The Dragonfly team will continue to work on the next phase of development, Phase C, which will develop a rotary unmanned vehicle the size of a car. This vehicle will fly over Titan's dunes and will be able to land to study Titan's abundance of organic molecules. [caption id="attachment_85385" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Dragonfly mission[/caption] On November 28, at a meeting of NASA's External Planetary Assessment Group (OPAG), Laurie Glaze, director of the agency's planetary science division, announced the reasons for the delay in the launch, which was originally scheduled to take place in 2027. Funding and budget uncertainties for 2024 and 2025 were the main reason for the delay in official confirmation of the Dragonfly mission. Glaze also noted that the Dragonfly mission design will be presented again to the program management council (APMC) in the spring of 2024, following the preliminary readiness of the fiscal year 2025 budget proposal at NASA. Dragonfly mission to Titan: launch delayed by a year due to budget uncertainty The Dragonfly team will replan the mission, and once all necessary changes are completed and verified, NASA will assess the mission's readiness for launch in mid-2024. As a result, some elements of the Dragonfly mission will be delayed while other aspects continue to be developed. Dragonfly is the only NASA mission planned to explore the surface of Titan. When the device arrives on Titan, it will look for signs indicating the possibility of life. Dragonfly will also study how advanced prebiotic chemistry is on Saturn's moon, and even look for signs of water or hydrocarbon-based molecules. In addition to traveling further on Titan than any other alien rover on its missions, Dragonfly will also land on Saturn's surface in different regions, collecting samples to determine the composition of surface materials in different regions. Studying Titan is a high priority for planetary scientists because it is the only moon in the solar system known for its thick atmosphere and hydrological cycle similar to Earth's. It is also an oceanic world with clouds of methane, rain, and liquid on the surface that forms lakes and seas. The discovery of oceans and the potential presence of organic matter frozen in Titan's ice increases the potential for viability on this moon. The Dragonfly mission is being developed and will be managed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland. To carry out the research on board the device, cameras, sensors and sample collection tools will be used. “Dragonfly is a fearless engineering concept that is one of a kind. I am inspired by how our team has repeatedly overcome obstacles by working together and thinking outside the box,” said Dragonfly Principal Investigator Elizabeth Turtle. Several Dragonfly components, including control and navigation systems, have already been tested over California deserts chosen for their similarity to the dunes on Titan - as well as in wind tunnels at NASA's Langley Science Center. The full-scale model was also tested in the Titan Simulation Chamber at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory—which recreates the cold temperatures and atmospheric pressures similar to Titan's methane environment. For now, the Dragonfly mission remains the only NASA mission planned to study the surface of Titan. It represents an important step in exploring the potential viability and organic chemistry of other planets and moons in the solar system. “Team Dragonfly has demonstrated readiness for the next phase of our journey to conquer Titan. We are relentlessly moving forward without losing the curiosity and creativity that are key to the success of the Dragonfly mission,” said Turtle.

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New research shows how comets could be the source of life on planets outside our solar system Scientists theorize that comets may have spread the organic ingredients necessary for the emergence of life on Earth. New research suggests that comets may also deliver these elements to exoplanets. During the formation of the solar system, the Earth was bombarded by asteroids, comets and other space objects. How the planet obtained the water and molecules necessary for life is still controversial, but comets are considered the most likely sources of these substances. [caption id="attachment_83089" align="aligncenter" width="650"] planet[/caption] But if comets could potentially bring the seeds of life to Earth, could they serve a similar function for exoplanets in other parts of the universe? To explore this question, a team of researchers from the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge developed mathematical models that helped reveal how comets could transfer similar vital elements to other planets in our galaxy. While the study's findings do not yet provide a definitive answer about the presence of life on other planets, they may help narrow the search for exoplanets that may support life. “wandering” from planet to planet, spread life throughout the Universe? “We continue to learn more about the atmospheres of exoplanets, so our goal was to find out whether there were planets where complex organic molecules could also be delivered by comets. It's possible that the molecules that enabled life on Earth were brought in by comets, and the same may be true for planets in other galaxies,” said Richard Enslow, one of the study's authors, who works at the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge. Over the past decades, scientists have learned more about the prebiotic molecules found in comets. For example, NASA's Stardust mission discovered samples of glycine, an amino acid and building block of proteins, in Comet Wild 2 (81P/Wild), and the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission discovered organic molecules in the coma of Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P). However, these organic molecules can be destroyed by strong comet impacts on the planet. So Enslow and his colleagues had to find scenarios in which a comet-planet collision occurs slowly enough to preserve the ingredients of life intact. The study, based on simulations, found that the slowest impact velocities occur in solar systems where planets are densely packed. Comets moving through such systems are slowed down by the gravitational influence of the planets. The simulations also showed that conditions for the emergence of life may be suitable on rocky planets orbiting red dwarfs. They are the most common type of star in the galaxy and are of interest to astronomers searching for exoplanets. However, planets in such systems are subject to more frequent high-speed collisions with comets and the likelihood of life appearing there is low, especially if the planets are located at significant distances from each other. “We can identify the types of systems that could be the subject of research to test different models for the origin of life. And this is another way to look at the amazing diversity of life on Earth and look for its analogues on other planets,” Anslow commented.

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From live broadcasts to science series and space music videos The American Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA announced the launch of the NASA+ video streaming service with a selection of content about space. A kind of “space” online cinema, like Netflix, Apple TV+ or Okko. [caption id="attachment_80897" align="aligncenter" width="760"] NASA[/caption] As NASA emphasized, the new NASA+ is a free, ad-free streaming service that includes live broadcasts and original video series. No subscription required to view. NASA launched “space Netflix”: the NASA+ streaming service is free, without advertising or subscription [caption id="attachment_80898" align="aligncenter" width="760"] NASA[/caption] NASA+ is available on most major platforms through the NASA app on iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as Roku and Apple TV. Users can also watch the webcast online at plus.nasa.gov . Users are offered live broadcasts, a collection of documentaries about NASA missions, as well as scientific series, educational videos for children and space music videos .

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Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch in 2024 The US Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) asked users to submit their names to be sent to Jupiter since it is unlikely that they will personally make it to the largest planet in the solar system.  [caption id="attachment_76986" align="aligncenter" width="600"] NASA[/caption] NASA plans to send the Europa Clipper robotic probe to Jupiter's icy moon in 2024. The contract to launch the station was signed with SpaceX several years ago.  Broken dreams: NASA admitted that humans will never go to Jupiter. As part of the mission, the space agency invites those wishing to send their engraved names to the moon of Jupiter. The official blog on the social network X (formerly Twitter) reports:  Is visiting Jupiter on your bucket list? Let's face it: that's not going to happen. But we have an offer almost as great! Send your name aboard Europa Clipper when this intrepid spacecraft sets off to explore Jupiter's icy moon in 24. The publication also invites you to register on the official Message in a Bottle page to have it engraved on the spacecraft.  [caption id="attachment_76987" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption]

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India plans to build a space station by 2035 India plans to send astronauts to the moon by 2040 and build a space station in the middle of the next decade. The announcement came after a meeting chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assess the progress of the Gaganyaan mission to send humans into space. “The Prime Minister indicated that India should strive for new and ambitious goals, including the establishment of the Indian space station Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035 and sending the first Indian to the Moon by 2040,” the government statement said. India plans the first manned flight in 2025. [caption id="attachment_72165" align="aligncenter" width="780"] robot missions[/caption] Meanwhile, NASA plans to send a manned mission to the Moon's South Pole in December 2025 as part of the Artemis program. China has also announced a goal of sending two taikonauts to the moon by 2030. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is preparing for the unmanned test flight of Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) from the Satish Dhawan Launch Center on October 21. The mission will be conducted to test the crew rescue system. It will be launched to test the separation of the crew capsule from the test apparatus. The capsule with the crew will be lowered by parachute to the sea about 10 kilometers off the coast of Sriharikot. The announcement of lunar plans follows India's successes with the landing of the robotic mission Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon and the launch of the Aditya L1 solar observatory. The statement also outlines India's plans for space exploration beyond the Moon. ISRO will develop an action plan for lunar exploration. This plan will include a series of Chandrayaan missions, the development of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), the construction of a new launch complex, and establishment of laboratories. The Prime Minister also called for work on interplanetary missions, including a Venus orbiter and a Mars lander. India sent its first interplanetary mission, the Mission to Mars (MOM), in 2013. It entered Mars orbit in September 2014 and operated for almost eight years. This year, India also introduced reforms aimed at increasing private companies in the space sector and attracting global capital.

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The Psyche mission marks the beginning of NASA's use of the Falcon Heavy rocket for major science and exploration missions this decade. The Falcon Heavy flight is scheduled for October 13 and will take the Psyche mission to the metal asteroid of the same name SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket is preparing to launch its first mission with NASA on October 13. Falcon Heavy was flown to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the launch of NASA's Psyche asteroid mission, scheduled for October 12. However, NASA and SpaceX delayed the launch by one day due to bad weather on the Space Coast. If all goes according to plan, Psyche will launch on October 13th. [caption id="attachment_66960" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] Falcon Heavy consists of the first three stages of the Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX's flagship rocket. The central booster is mounted on top of the upper stage and cargo bay. It is the second most powerful rocket currently flying, after NASA's SLS rocket. She has already made seven flights, the last of which was in July of this year. However, none of these missions were for NASA. Falcon Heavy is preparing for its first launch for NASA this decade. The two side boosters that will help launch NASA's Psyche mission are experimental spacecraft, with traces of soot showing that they were part of three of the seven previous Falcon Heavy flights. Both side boosters are expected to successfully return to and land on landing pads in Florida shortly after launch. But the central accelerator will make its first and only flight. After participating in the launch of Psyche, he fell into the Atlantic Ocean. [caption id="attachment_66961" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] The Psyche mission will conduct a detailed study of the metallic asteroid of the same name and provide key information about the early stages of the solar system and the process of planet formation. Astronomers speculate that the Psyche asteroid may be the exposed core of an ancient protoplanet. The Psyche asteroid, with a diameter of 280 kilometers, is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Observations of Psyche are planned for 2029 when the probe will arrive at the object and study it from orbit for 26 months. According to the latest forecasts, there is a 50% chance that the weather will allow the launch on October 13. Additional launch windows for Psyche will be available until October 25th.

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Ingenuity has flown more than 100 minutes on Mars The American Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA announced that the Ingenuity helicopter made a new record flight on Mars. The 59th flight of the device took place on September 16, 2023. [caption id="attachment_57445" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] During the flight, Ingenuity rose to a record height of 20 meters above the surface. The “flight” was carried out in hovering mode - the helicopter simply rose and descended without covering any distance horizontally. In total, he stayed “in the air” for 142.59 seconds. A new height is reached: NASA Ingenuity helicopter makes a record flight on Mars Recall that the Ingenuity helicopter was delivered to Mars and attached to the bottom of the Perseverance rover, which landed in the Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. Ingenuity's main goals include demonstrating technology, conducting the first flights to Mars, and conducting exploration for Perseverance. Throughout all 59 flights, Ingenuity stayed in the air for a total of more than 106 minutes and covered 13.3 km. The 100-minute mark was surpassed during the 57th flight, performed on September 3.

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The last flight took place a few days ago On Sunday, September 3, the 1.8 kg Ingenuity helicopter flew for the 57th time, covering a distance of 217 m in 129 seconds. This increased Ingenuity's cumulative flight time on Mars to 102.4 minutes, according to the mission's flight log. [caption id="attachment_53586" align="aligncenter" width="780"] helicopters[/caption] In February 2021, the Perseverance rover landed inside the 45 km wide Jezero Crater. Perseverance is searching for signs of ancient Martian life at the bottom of Jezero, where a large lake and river delta were located billions of years ago. He is collecting dozens of samples for future return to Earth. Ingenuity flew over 100 minutes on Mars. It will be followed by larger and more functional helicopters Ingenuity's initial mission was to show that aerial exploration of Mars was even possible. The small helicopter successfully completed this mission after a month-long campaign of five flights. NASA then extended the mission. [caption id="attachment_53587" align="aligncenter" width="780"] helicopters[/caption] Ingenuity's success will pave the way for future Mars helicopters. NASA plans to send two Ingenuity-type helicopters to the lander, which will deliver samples collected using Perseverance. The agency is working on larger, more capable helicopters that could explore Mars on their own, collecting data in hard-to-reach places and covering large swathes of the Red Planet.