Latest news with #NASA-led
DW
14 hours ago
- Science
- DW
The moon: Why we want to go back – DW – 06/02/2025
Almost six decades since humans walked on the moon, space agencies and commercial companies want to use it as a gateway to Mars. But that's not all. What you need to know: The prospect of humans returning to the moon looks more likely than ever, with NASA and ESA collaborating on the Artemis program There have been a number of recent, successful moon missions by China and India Space agencies and commercial companies want to use the moon for scientific research and as a base to get to Mars A growing interest in moon missions The Artemis program is a North American, NASA-led human spaceflight program, involving 55 international collaborators, including the European Space Agency (ESA). NASA aims to establish a permanent base at the moon's South Pole and call it Artemis Base Camp. It also aims to launch a new space station, called Gateway, into the moon's orbit. Meanwhile, a joint China-Russia project, involving 13 international partners, aims to build a moon base called The International Lunar Research Station by 2035. Both the Artemis Base Camp and the International Lunar Research Station are proposed as scientific in nature. They will, if successful, host astronauts for short stays and house permanent robotic equipment, which could be operated from Earth. But the moon has also always been of strategic value, too. During the Cold War, the US and Soviet-era Russia fought out their ideological differences on the moon as well as on Earth. And so it is today, except there are more players. The US, for one, has stated publicly that it considers itself to be in a new space race, which America wants to win. Here are more reasons why. The moon is rich in resources Part of the moon's appeal lies in its abundant resources. These include: Iron Silicon Hydrogen Titanium Rare earth elements While the costs of extraction and transportation are high, some of these resources could be brought back to Earth, where resources are dwindling in supply. Mining operations on the moon could pave the way for extracting an immense mineral wealth held in asteroids, and the moon will be the first place this will be tested. Mining asteroids To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Most material extracted from the moon will be used to replace materials that would otherwise be needed to be brought from Earth, essentially making lunar bases self-sufficient. Regolith (lunar soil), for example, could be used as radiation protection and construction material for lunar bases. Water, which was first discovered on the moon in 2008 by the Indian mission Chandrayaan-1, will be important for drinking, growing food, and cooling equipment. Missions since Chandrayaan-1 have shown there are high concentrations of ice at the lunar poles, which is partly why the first lunar colonies are likely to be built at the poles — and probably at the moon's South Pole, even though it is difficult to land there. These bases could also be used as "transit lounges" for astronauts on their way to Mars. For energy, solar radiation is already used to power some spacecraft and satellites, but regolith and water ice could also be used to make rocket propellant. The moon also contains significant amounts of helium-3, a potential fuel for nuclear fusion power. So, that's another reason future Mars missions are landing for a stopover on the moon and refuel. Scientific research on the moon Scientific research is at the core of ESA's Moon Exploration Programme, as it is for all space agencies, said Sara Pastor, ESA's Lunar and Gateway Program Manager, in an email to DW. Humans have had a continued presence in space for the past 20 years aboard the International Space Station. But the ISS is only 250 miles (~400km) away in low-Earth orbit, which is as little as four hours after launching from Earth. The moon is 250,000 miles away — about three days' spaceflight — and a far riskier journey for astronauts. The first research on the moon aims to make that journey safer and easier. Then there is environmental science: "[Scientists] will investigate the nature of lunar environments, how their unique conditions affect human health and performance, and robotic exploration systems, and how human activity affects these environments," Pastor said. Researchers will want to determine how water, metals, and other lunar resources can be used to sustain lunar bases for the long term, and how best to extract them. "ESA is developing instruments for radiation environment measurements, drilling and in-situ sample analysis, geophysics and lunar space weather," Pastor said. Moon tech benefits us all on Earth It's often claimed that we owe mobile phones to the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s. While our mobile phones are not direct descendants from space tech, the Apollo missions did help miniaturize electronic and telecommunication devices. Dozens of modern technologies originally developed in the R&D labs of space agencies bring benefits to people on earth — including home insulation, memory foam (used in mattresses), freeze-dried foods, robotic sensors and limbs, and telemedicine. Scientists are developing medical equipment and health tracking methods to protect astronauts' health when they spend long periods in the extreme conditions of space, especially the human immune system. For example: portable, lightweight diagnostic equipment needed for spaceflight crews without medical training to monitor their health. These technologies could be used on Earth, too. From a lunar hub to a second (or third) home for humans on Mars? The long-term goal of building surface and orbital moon bases is to serve as a staging post for more distant space travel. "A colony on the moon will be extremely useful and a key training ground for Mars surface human exploration," said Pastor. NASA plans to send astronauts to Mars in the 2030s. Edited by: Zulfikar Abbany
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Solar storms are killing SpaceX's Starlink satellites and making them re-enter Earth sooner; says NASA
Source: A recent NASA-led study, highlighted by New Scientist, reveals that this accelerated re-entry is caused by increased solar activity during the solar maximum—a period of intense solar storms and radiation. These storms heat and expand Earth's upper atmosphere, increasing atmospheric drag on satellites and hastening their descent. This shift poses new challenges for satellite operators, especially those managing large constellations, as space weather increasingly influences satellite lifespans and orbital dynamics. The Sun also has an about 11-year cycle characterised by varying degrees of activity. At its peak, known as the solar maximum, solar storms intensify and become more intense. The last solar maximum was achieved in late 2024 when the Sun was most active in more than a decade. The Sun releases powerful outbursts of charged particles and electromagnetic radiation during this time, causing geomagnetic storms on Earth. These storms have long-range impacts beyond the northern lights. They disrupt the upper atmosphere of Earth and greatly enhance atmospheric drag, which is now being recognised as an essential factor speeding up the re-entry of satellites. NASA scientist explains geomagnetic storms speeding up satellite re-entry Dr. Denny Oliveira, a scientist at NASA who conducted the research, confirmed that satellites in LEO are re-entering the Earth's atmosphere much more rapidly during geomagnetic storms. "We found that when we have geomagnetic storms, satellites re-enter faster than expected [without solar activity]," Oliveira said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Lifetime Office 2024 License for Thane [Order] prime software Undo Usually, a decommissioned Starlink satellite can sit in orbit for about 15 days before atmospheric drag pulls it down. But over the past few months, that timeframe has been significantly reduced. In one reported incident, 37 Starlink satellites re-entered Earth's atmosphere just five days after launch—well short of the expected orbital lifetime. This hastened decay presents special challenges for massive satellite constellations like SpaceX 's Starlink initiative. Already more than 7,000 Starlink satellites occupy space, with tens of thousands more planned for launch, the impacts of heightened solar activity may become amplified operational challenges and risk. NASA has followed 523 Starlink satellite re-entries from 2020 to 2024—a figure set to increase dramatically. "For the first time ever, we are experiencing so many satellites re-entering at once," Oliveira commented. "Soon, we'll be observing satellites re-entering on a daily basis." Environmental scientists warn of long-term effects from satellite re-entry Although the removal of malfunctioning satellites through a quick de-orbiting can decrease space debris in the short term, it poses another group of problems. When satellites re-enter, not everything is totally burned away. Pieces from heavier materials will survive and penetrate lower atmospheric layers. Environmental scientists are also sounding the alarm over the possible chemical effect. Satellite combustion emits substances such as aluminum oxide, which may build up in the mesosphere and potentially affect atmospheric chemistry and climate control over a period of time. Aside from the environmental concerns, more satellite activity also raises the threat of collisions in orbit. With more satellites being launched into comparable orbital lanes, the room for mistake closes in. There was one reported incident in 2019 when the European Space Agency performed a maneuver to move one of its Earth-monitoring satellites out of the way of an imminent collision with a Starlink satellite. Space agencies and industry players are now being called upon to create more resilient traffic management systems and to take space weather forecasting into account in operational planning. Also Read | Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore emerge stronger following recovery from Starliner mission extended until March
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA issues warning after sudden change in the ocean surprises scientists: 'Getting faster and faster'
An abrupt rise in global sea level last year has raised concerns. The increase was more than what scientists had been expecting, a NASA-led analysis revealed. A higher-than-usual amount of ocean warming, along with meltwater from land-based ice, caused a jump in sea level that surprised scientists. The rate of rise in 2024 was 0.23 inches per year, more than the rate of 0.17 that forecasters had projected. "The rise we saw in 2024 was higher than we expected," said Josh Willis, a sea level researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, per ABC News. "Every year is a little bit different, but what's clear is that the ocean continues to rise, and the rate of rise is getting faster and faster." NASA blamed the rise mostly on the expansion of ocean water as it warms, a process known as thermal expansion. In recent years, approximately two-thirds of sea level rise resulted from land-based ice melt, while one-third was due to thermal expansion. However, in 2024, this trend reversed — thermal expansion accounted for two-thirds of the rise. The average yearly rise in sea level has more than doubled since NASA started using satellites to measure global sea level rise in 1993, with the global sea level increasing by a total of 4 inches. Officials in Northern California have warned that environmental changes from rising sea levels are already being experienced in the region. A Central American Indigenous community is at risk of relocation because of the threat of flooding from rising sea levels on their small island. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has said rising seas will worsen storm surges as water levels climb along coastlines. "Higher background water levels mean that deadly and destructive storm surges, such as those associated with Hurricane Katrina, 'Superstorm' Sandy, and Hurricane Michael, push farther inland than they once did," according to a NOAA report. "Higher sea level also means more frequent high-tide flooding, sometimes called 'nuisance flooding' because it isn't generally deadly or dangerous, but it can be disruptive and expensive." Bringing awareness to critical climate issues, including the impacts of rising sea levels, by talking with friends and family can help people see the importance of cooling down our overheating planet. Another way to help is by voting for candidates who pledge to fight for the future of Earth. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
How will life end on Earth? Study rules out meteorites and climate change
A NASA-led study has now confirmed that the end of life on planet Earth will be through the lack of oxygen, and not by an extraterrestrial occurrence. According to a Toho University study that tries to understand how the planet would see the end of life, the slow fade of life on Earth won't come all of a sudden. Instead, it will happen with a lack of oxygen in the air, the most necessary element of human existence on the planet. How is the loss of life going to happen on the Earth? (AFP) The study done by Toho University in Japan is powered by NASA modelling, and it hints at oxygen loss as a subtle reason for annihilation of human life. ALSO READ | Facing the heat? ICE officials see protest after 150 Nashville traffic stops However, the study also suggests that it will not happen anytime soon, but is instead billions of years away. How did they come to this conclusion? Toho University researchers used planetary and atmospheric simulations to try and understand how Earth's climate and chemical build-up will look like year-by-year. They found that in a billion years, the Sun will grow even more luminous, causing a major change in the Earth's balance of gases. This would then lead to a disruption of oxygen levels on Planet Earth, resulting in the loss of human lives. With rising temperatures on the planet, the Earth's carbon cycle will be hampered, leading to the loss of flora and fauna. This would directly impact the process of photosynthesis, which is necessary to maintain the oxygen levels of the Earth. Earth will slowly emerge into a planet that be rich in methane and greenhouse gases, but short on oxygen supply. The end, therefore, would be inevitable at that stage. Eventually, the remaining oxygen is used up, and aerobic organisms, those that depend on oxygen for survival, begin to die off. The only survivors might be anaerobic bacteria and microbes that do not need to rely on oxygen for their existence on the planet.
Cision Canada
02-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
MDA SPACE PROVIDES MARKET UPDATE
BRAMPTON, ON, May 2, 2025 /CNW/ - MDA Space Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a trusted mission partner to the rapidly expanding global space industry, today issued the following statement in response to share price fluctuations. "MDA Space is monitoring fluctuations in its share price that appear to be related to publication of the preliminary FY2026 NASA budget recommendations made by the White House and potential implications for the NASA-led Gateway project. MDA Space management reiterates that the company's Canadarm3 program associated with the Gateway project is under a contract with the Canadian Space Agency and not with NASA. The Canadarm3 contract serves multiple purposes including both space agency and commercial opportunities. There has been no change to any MDA Space contract as a result of these US budget deliberations. MDA Space management will provide a full update on its business outlook as part of its next regular earnings release, scheduled for May 8, 2025." ABOUT MDA SPACE Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space (TSX: MDA) is a trusted mission partner to the global space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure. The MDA Space team of more than 3,400 space experts in Canada, the US and the UK has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission – bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that's been in our DNA since day one. For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, we'll take you there. For more information, visit SOCIAL MEDIA SOURCE MDA Space
