#space_programs

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The data could help guide future lunar landings as part of NASA's Artemis program. NASA engineers have simulated the effects of landing on the lunar surface in preparation for sending astronauts to the Moon on upcoming Artemis missions. The animation, created on NASA supercomputers, shows the effects of the Apollo 12 landing on the Moon, namely the effect caused by kicking up lunar dust. Using supercomputer models, the interaction of lunar regolith and hot gas jets ejected from the spacecraft engine during landing and takeoff was studied. Landing on the Moon is a complex mission in which the spacecraft uses rocket engines to control and smoothly descend to the lunar surface in defiance of gravity. The model shows how Apollo 12's engine jets interacted with the lunar surface during landing in November 1969. The lateral force causing shear stress on a flat surface caused the regolith to "ripple" on the lunar surface. [caption id="attachment_83305" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] NASA supercomputers show how Apollo 12 landing kicked up lunar dust The animation shows the last half minute of the vehicle's descent before the engine shuts down. The changing radial patterns reflect the intensity of shear stress, with lower levels indicated in dark purple and higher levels indicated in yellow. As the craft descends, the animation shows the rapid increase in shear stress exerted on the lunar surface. This can cause mixing of layers of regolith - fine loose dust and rocks on the surface of the Moon, and as a result lead to erosion. https://youtu.be/7keqE6zhQYM In addition to visual obstructions and possible damage to equipment, dust plumes can also complicate navigation and the operation of scientific instruments. As part of the Artemis program, which aims to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon, NASA aims to explore wider areas of the lunar surface than ever before. This involves the use of larger vehicles and more powerful engines than those of the Apollo program. Although Apollo craft did not create craters, larger craft may have erosive effects and cause cratering at the landing site, which could pose risks to the stability of the craft and crew. As mission planners strive to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon, they will need to consider how future vehicles will interact with the lunar surface in uncharted terrain. NASA officials emphasize that these computer simulations can be used to predict the consequences of landing future missions in order to minimize risks to vehicles and crew.

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UFOs and The Secret Space Program with Author and Researcher, Walter Bosley

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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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NASA is considering cutting the budget of the Chandra and Hubble space telescopes in favor of other projects amid general cuts in costs and the age of telescopes NASA is considering possible budget cuts for its two largest space telescopes as part of overall spending cuts on its astrophysics programs. In a presentation to the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mark Clampin, director of NASA's astrophysics division, said he was considering unspecified cuts to the operating budgets of the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope in favor of funding other priority missions. [caption id="attachment_69268" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] The expected cuts, he said, are driven by the assumption that his department will not receive the full requested funding of nearly $1.56 billion for fiscal 2024 due to a recently passed bill that sets the maximum non-core spending for 2024 at the 2023 level, with growth of 1% in 2025. We are working with the expectation that 2024 budgets will remain at 2023 levels. Therefore, we decided to reduce the budget for some missions within the framework of extended operations, and these are Chandra and Hubble / Didn't you name Clampin? exactly how much the budget for these two telescopes would be reduced and did not indicate the specific impact of the cuts. He noted that the proposed cuts were still under review and that it was only last week that he was able to make a “positive adjustment for Chandra.” Chandra and Hubble are two of NASA's most expensive missions after the James Webb Space Telescope. NASA has asked for $93.3 million for Hubble and $68.7 million for Chandra for 2024, in line with previous years. Together, this represents just over 10% of NASA's fiscal year 2004 astrophysics budget request. These telescopes are also two of NASA's oldest missions—the Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990 and Chandra in 1999. Clampin pointed out that this is one of the reasons why their budgets have been cut. NASA plans to reduce funding for the Chandra and Hubble space telescopes Chandra has some breakdowns: the insulation of the telescope body is destroyed, and it heats up, which complicates the work. While Hubble does not have such problems, it has been operating for a long time and takes up a large part of the budget Clampin said two “mini assessments” of the cost of maintaining each telescope are planned, most likely in May 2024 after the release of the 2025 budget proposal. NASA is conducting evaluations to determine whether and how to extend the science missions of spacecraft that have completed their initial missions. At the last evaluation in 2022, Chandra and Hubble were effectively eliminated—separate teams examined each mission to look for effective programs and other improvements, rather than to determine whether extending the mission itself would be worthwhile. “Hubble and Chandra occupy the top tier because of their enormous influence on astronomy. Both missions operate at extremely high efficiency, and although they are increasingly showing signs of aging, they are likely to continue to provide world-class science data over the next half-decade, working together with JWST,” reads the final 2022 Astrophysics Division assessment report. Clampin said any proceeds from savings on Chandra and Hubble will go toward other NASA priority astrophysics projects. Priorities include the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, astrophysics missions based on data from the Small Explorer program (SMEX), and NASA's participation in foreign-led missions such as the LISA gravitational wave detector and the Israeli Ultraviolet Space Telescope. Ultrasat.

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NASA's plans to acquire SLS services will not result in expected cost reductions, according to a report from the Office of Inspector General. It is recommended to leave the option of using alternative media for cost savings and flexibility. NASA's plans to acquire future Space Launch System launches will likely not result in the expected cost savings, the Office of Inspector General (NASA OIG) has concluded, recommending that NASA remain open to alternative launch vehicles.  The report said the agency concluded that the projected 50% reduction in SLS launch costs that NASA announced when moving to a services contract was "highly unrealistic" and the rocket's cost would likely remain above $2 billion. throughout the near future. [caption id="attachment_69153" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA's[/caption] In July 2022, NASA announced its intention to move to a services contract called the Exploration Production and Operations Contract (EPOC) for missions starting with Artemis 5 in the late 2020s. The contract will be awarded to Deep Space Transport and a joint venture between Boeing and Northrop Grumman, which are the primary contractors for the rocket elements. NASA has previously stated that it intends to achieve "substantial savings of 50% or more on current market costs" by moving to an EPOC contract. Additionally, it would open up the possibility of using SLS for missions unrelated to the Artemis lunar program. In the report, the Office of Inspector General concluded that both reducing costs and attracting additional customers for SLS launches is implausible. The Block 1B version of SLS, which will be used starting with Artemis 4, will initially cost $2.5 billion to launch, according to the report. A 50% cost reduction under EPOC would mean the cost of SLS would drop to $1.25 billion per launch. NASA officials acknowledged that the 50% cost reduction goal was "a dream not supported by actual analysis," and the agency expressed skepticism about the achievability of this goal.  NASA's cost-cutting plans with SLS rocket unlikely to deliver expected savings Although Boeing believes that a 50% cost reduction under EPOC is an achievable goal, our audits conclude that this goal is unrealistic The skepticism stems from estimates of ongoing cost-cutting efforts that have fallen short of expected savings, such as center-stage assembly for the SLS and the resumption of RS-25 engine production. The report also found that the lack of competition would make it difficult for NASA to negotiate cost reductions. Based on its assessment of existing contracts and availability programs, the Office has concluded that the cost of SLS will remain above $2 billion per launch for the first 10 launches under the EPOC contract. It is also noted that the extent of savings may increase with fixed-price contracts compared to variable-cost contracts for EPOC. Part of the cost-cutting strategy is to attract additional customers for SLS to increase launch frequency and reduce costs per launch. However, the report notes that attempts to find other clients for the SLS launch, including the Pentagon, were unsuccessful, and potential customers preferred existing or new rockets being developed by Blue Origin, SpaceX, and ULA. The agency indicates that SLS is currently the only launch vehicle capable of launching the Orion spacecraft, but that could change in the future.  Other commercial alternatives may become available over the next 3-5 years. In our opinion, NASA should continue to monitor the commercial development of heavy-lift space systems and begin a discussion about whether it makes financial and strategic sense to consider these options as part of the agency's long-term plans to support its ambitious space goals The Office of Inspector General's report was the second in as many months to be critical of the cost of the SLS, a key element of NASA's Artemis lunar program. A Sept. 7 Government Accountability Office report criticized NASA for its lack of transparency about the cost of SLS at a time when those costs are rising under existing contracts. “Senior agency officials have advised us that at current cost levels, the SLS program is unaffordable and exceeds the budget that will be available to NASA for the Artemis missions,” the Government Accountability Office report said.

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The British Space Agency announced a $79 million contribution to early-stage space technology projects. Officials are distributing the funding through the new National Space Innovation Program (NSIP). The new wave of investment will prioritize high-risk, high-return UK programs, with funding distributed between established projects and start-ups. The first tranche will be $41.5 million, the remaining funds will be provided in installments over the next four years. [caption id="attachment_63381" align="aligncenter" width="750"] space projects[/caption] NSIP's primary goal is to support the development and scaling of commercial products, bringing space technologies to market, and creating domestic jobs. British startups will receive $79 million for the development of space projects “Investing in these projects not only strengthens the UK's position in the international space community but also provides opportunities for business development and job creation, helping to accelerate the growth of the space sector,” said Science, Innovation and Technology Minister George Freeman. The NSIP program has already committed $30.5 million since its launch in 2020. Previous recipients include SatVu, which launched its first satellite in June; startup Space Forge; Northumbria University Newcastle, whose plant creates miniature laser terminals for inter-satellite communications. Of the total global space investment since 2015, British space companies have received 17%, making the country the second largest investment in space after the United States. There are more than 1,500 space businesses in the UK. Space products and services account for 18% of UK GDP.

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Information is being circulated in the scientific community about NASA's plans to put the New Horizons spacecraft into hibernation mode. The decision will temporarily halt all scientific research in the Kuiper Belt and is causing confusion among scientists and space enthusiasts around the world. What is especially surprising in this case is that the New Horizons program was included in the list of “plans for the next decade” with a mission to Pluto and the Kuiper belt. The billion-dollar New Horizons spacecraft is at risk of shutting down due to a minor funding shortfall of several million dollars. Moreover, there is no clear plan yet as to when and whether the device’s operation will be resumed. The scientific community and leaders in the field of space exploration have expressed their concerns, but no comments have yet been received from NASA. [caption id="attachment_53534" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] NASA plans to shut down New Horizons spacecraft Earlier this year, information emerged about the possible existence of a second Kuiper belt in the Solar System, which opens up new opportunities for further research. Although scientific research is underway in this area, NASA wants to suspend the spacecraft until new data is obtained or other discoveries are made. As noted, there was previously a proposal to turn the New Horizons mission into a heliophysics mission and disband the current team. Currently, such an idea has lost its relevance, and, without an alternative plan, NASA wants to simply turn off New Horizons and disband the team responsible for this project. Missing opportunities to make significant scientific discoveries is a major concern for the astronomical community. They hope that watchdogs such as GAO, the Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) will begin to scrutinize this decision. Additionally, it is important that the Office of Science and Technology of the President (OSTP) and the NASA Council participate given the potential consequences of NASA's actions. The future of the New Horizons spacecraft remains in doubt. Both the scientific community and space fans are awaiting a resolution to this situation.

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The mission will conduct scientific research on the Moon, including collecting regolith samples, testing global navigation systems, radiation resistance, and protection from lunar dust Firefly Aerospace announced the completion of the development and assembly of the Blue Ghost lunar lander. This will be Firefly's first lunar mission, scheduled to take place in 2024 as part of NASA's CLPS program to commercially deliver payloads to the Moon. In total, Firefly won three orders from NASA in this program, the total amount of which exceeds $230,000,000. [caption id="attachment_64122" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA's[/caption] Blue Ghost lander for NASA's CLPS lunar mission planned for 2024 The team conducted extensive qualification testing of the Blue Ghost rover and each of its components to ensure that the module will withstand all the stresses during launch, en route to the Moon, and during landing. The next major milestones for the Blue Ghost 1 mission will be payload integration and testing ahead of the mission's launch in 2024. At the same time, Firefly is already preparing for its second lunar mission, Blue Ghost Mission 2, which will first launch a satellite into lunar orbit in 2026 and then deliver several payloads to the far side of the Moon. The second mission will consist primarily of payloads from commercial customers.

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On October 14, NASA will launch sounding rockets into the shadow of the annular solar eclipse to measure changes in the ionosphere. The mission is named after the Egyptian god of darkness On October 14, an annular solar eclipse will be visible in the western United States. While eclipse hunters can enjoy the show, NASA scientists will be hard at work. The mission is called Atmospheric Perturbations around the Eclipse Path (APEP), which is not coincidentally the same name as the Egyptian deity of darkness. Apep pursued the sun god Ra, his sworn enemy, and when Apep caught up with Ra, a solar eclipse occurred. [caption id="attachment_64061" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] The sounding rockets will be launched from the White Sands test site in New Mexico and will be aimed at the ionosphere. During an eclipse, the ionosphere experiences a decrease in temperature and density, which creates disturbances and can affect satellite communications. Sounding rockets, also known as exploration rockets or suborbital rockets, are designed to conduct scientific experiments and measurements in suborbital space. They are launched to a height of 48 to 145 km above the Earth's surface. “If you imagine the ionosphere as a pond with small ripples on the surface, then an eclipse is like a motorboat cutting through the water. It creates strong ripples directly in front of it and behind it,” said Aro Barjatya, a professor of physics at the Aerospace University. He is leading a mission in which three sounding rockets will measure changes in the atmosphere during the eclipse. After the annular eclipse, the sounding rockets and their sensors will be sent to NASA's Wallops Flight Center, from where they will be relaunched during the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. This pair of solar eclipses will be the last major eclipses visible in the United States until 2044.