Latest news with #OSIRIS-APEX
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's Budget for NASA Is Absolutely Horrifying
Earlier this year, the Trump administration revealed its proposed budget for NASA's fiscal year 2026, indicating brutal cuts of unprecedented proportions are coming. Now, the agency has released new data about the proposal, painting a dire picture of its future. As SpaceNews reports, the documents reveal that thousands of jobs would be cut, and dozens of science missions would be on the chopping block. The cuts — which would drag the budget to its lowest point since 1961, SpaceNews points out, when adjusted for inflation — would result in the firing of roughly one-third of all civil servants. The budget would also slash the space agency's science budget in almost half, "nothing short of an extinction-level event for space science and exploration in the United States," as Planetary Society chief of space policy Casey Dreier told Ars Technica in March. The extent of the proposed cuts is truly baffling, with the Trump administration basically looking to give up on space science altogether in favor of militarizing the Earth's orbit and sending humans to Mars. The so-called "skinny" budget would result in the cancellation of several key space exploration missions, including NASA's Mars Sample Return mission. Other Earth observation programs would also be ripped up, including missions to monitor the planet's gravity field or study tropical cyclones, per SpaceNews. The budget would also cancel planned missions to explore the surface of Mars, as well as existing operations such as OSIRIS-APEX, which is headed to an asteroid called Apophis. While NASA's next major landmark space observatory, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, wouldn't be entirely canceled, it would be allocated less than half of its previously outlined budget. Meanwhile, the space agency would be doubling down on establishing commercially funded ways to get to the Moon and Mars, highlighting the Trump administration's sometimes-cozy relationship with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, whose space company is bound to reap the benefits. The budget would clear up north of $1 billion for projects connected to sending humans to the Red Planet, indicating the president is willing to closely follow Musk's lead. The proposed 2026 fiscal year budget is now headed to Congress, where it's likely to meet ample opposition. "No one is eager to cut NASA science," Dreier told SpaceNews. "No one is out there openly defending and saying that this is a great idea." In short, if it were to make it through Congress unaltered — which is unlikely, since the agency is supported by many lawmakers — Trump's NASA budget could deal the country's leadership in space an existential blow, allowing adversaries, most notably China, to race ahead. "It sends a signal that America is stepping back from leadership in virtually every science area, including NASA," former NASA associate administrator for science John Grunsfeld told PBS. "The proposal for the NASA science budget is, in fact, cataclysmic for US leadership in science." "What we see is a full-scale assault on science in America," representative George Whitesides (D-CA) added. "It is probably the biggest attack on our scientific establishment in history." "It's a poorly wielded chainsaw," he added. More on NASA's budget: NASA Disgusted by Elon Musk's Disrespect
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
An Asteroid Will Fly By Earth in 4 Years. Scientists Are Racing to Uncover Its Secrets.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The asteroid 99942 Apophis is headed for a close flyby with Earth on April 13, 2029, and space agencies are coordinating efforts to study the object during this the once-in-a-lifetime experience. NASA's extended asteroid mission, now called OSIRIS-APEX, will reach the asteroid after its flyby. ESA's complementary RAMSES mission will study the asteroid with a different suite of instruments before and during Apophis' approach. Earlier this month, JAXA also detailed efforts for its DESTINY+ mission to possibly swing by Apophis on its way to 3200 Phaethon (another asteroid). Science is a collaborative process, and for evidence of this fact, look no further than 99942, the doomsday-asteroid-turned-scientific-opportunity, Apophis. Named for the Egyptian serpent god, Apophis will make a rendezvous with Earth on April 13, 2029. It will pass even closer to Earth than some geosynchronous satellites, and space agencies around the world are gearing up to visit the object as it passes by. NASA's mission, in a way, is already in progress. The agency's OSIRIS-REx mission—having successfully visited the asteroid Bennu in 2020 and returning a sample three years later—has now evolved into OSIRIS-APEX (Apophis Explorer) as it gears up for a visit with Apophis in June of 2029. Simultaneously, the European Space Agency's Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (RAMSES…nice acronym work there) will complement NASA's mission. Set for launch in April of 2028, RAMSES will contain a suite of distinct scientific tools—including a low-frequency radar, gravimeter, and lander—and will actually arrive at Apophis before and during its buzz by Earth. OSIRIS-APEX, on the other hand, will be one hour behind Apophis on April 13th. It will officially reach its target in June, and will study the asteroid for 18 months. ESA and NASA aren't the only ones interested in this flyby event. As New Scientist reports, the Japanese space agency JAXA is planning its Demonstration of Space Technology for Interplanetary Voyage with Phaethon Flyby Dust Science (DESTINY+...this acronym is more tortured) also has plans for Apophis. As its name suggests, DESTINY+'s primary mission is the 3200 Phaethon, but on the spacecraft's journey toward this asteroid, it'll make a flyby of Apophis in 2029 as well. This trio of space missions arrives as space agencies have gotten serious about investigating planetary defense strategies—just in case one of the thousands of near-Earth objects comes within a threatening range. NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was a major success on this front, altering the path of Dimorphos, which is a minor planet-moon of the asteroid Didymos. This work was further complimented by OSIRIS-REx, which gave scientists an unprecedented glimpse of an asteroid's composition. Interestingly, the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) is also developing methods for planetary salvation. Although not visiting Apophis directly, China plans to swing by another asteroid—2015 XF261, which stretches some 30 meters wide—and will perform a 'kinetic impactor' approach similar to the DART mission. According to Space News, Li Mingtaon (director of the space science system engineering at the CNSA) said that 2029 will be the year of 'asteroid awareness and planetary defense.' Science is getting serious about protecting Earth from one of its largest celestial dangers, and it'll take worldwide cooperation to protect the planet we love. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Opinion - NASA's asteroid mission to Apophis: Key for Earth's defense
On Friday the 13th (yes, really) of April 2029, Earth will avoid an apocalyptic event by an astronomical hair's breadth as the asteroid Apophis, streaks by. It will come closer to Earth than the Moon — much closer in fact. It will come between us and the satellites that bring us radio, television and military intelligence. Apophis is named after an Egyptian god of chaos and evil. If it were to hit Earth, chaos would be the least of our trouble. It's 1,000 feet across, the size of a football stadium, and it's going 69,000 miles an hour. Apophis won't hit us — at least, we're pretty certain it won't. But it does offer us an historic opportunity to closely observe it and improve our ability to defend against future asteroid threats. Unfortunately, our government is blowing the chance. OSIRIS-REx (Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Regolith Explorer) has been in space almost 10 years, and it has already returned bits of another asteroid named Bennu. With clever rocket science, NASA redirected OSIRIS-Rex so that it will catch up with Apophis just days after its closest encounter to Earth. Using the same billion-dollar instrument suite designed for its original asteroid, the spacecraft will be able to closely study the surface, shape and gravity of Apophis. It's a fantastic deal for the taxpayer: two missions for the price of one, and we already paid for the first one. Now rechristened OSIRIS-APEX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security — Apophis Explorer), the project needs only some annual funds to pay its science and engineering team. Led by the University of Arizona, this team will prep the spacecraft for its new encounter. The money needed to support the team is far less than the cost of one of the fighter jets that Jim Bridenstine used to fly or that Bill Nye worked on as young engineer. But recently, due to overall budget cuts, much of that modest funding was taken away. If those cuts remain in place, the science team of OSIRIS-APEX will have to stand down. Crucial years of planning and coordination will be lost. We won't learn as much and will be less prepared for future asteroid encounters. There are a bevy of commercial and private sector options that could help, too. Instead of reaching Apophis after its close flyby of Earth, they could get there months beforehand. This would allow us to map Apophis in its pristine state, before Earth's gravity potentially alters the asteroid. Comparing the before and after maps would provide clues to how asteroids like Apophis are assembled — vital information if we ever need to deflect one. NASA also has perfectly good asteroid spacecraft sitting on the shelf. The twin JANUS spacecraft, originally designed for another asteroid mission, were put in storage, their mission cancelled, when their parent spacecraft was delayed. These could be easily repurposed and launched toward Apophis within the next few years. Engaging our private space sector in a dress rehearsal for saving the world, at little cost to NASA, is a no brainer. But budget cuts may prevent these crucial investments. This is our chance to demonstrate American leadership in the defense of our planet. While we wait for the confirmation of the next NASA administrator, Congress can take action to ensure that NASA has the funding to, at a minimum, support the OSIRIS-APEX mission. When we have new NASA leadership, we urge them to act decisively on this opportunity to leverage small dollars into big meaningful outcomes for the nation. There are few clearer justifications for public spending than our common defense, perhaps especially from asteroids. Even in our current divided political environment, we are confident this is a topic that unites us all. In fact, as we were writing this piece, astronomers discovered another heretofore unknown asteroid, '2024 YR4.' Right now, it's estimated to have a 1 in 71 (1.4 percent) chance of striking Earth in 2032. That might seem like a small probability, but it's not zero. Further observations will likely confirm that 2024 YR4 will miss us. But how will the world react, if it is indeed on a collision course? It's a vivid reminder of what's at stake for our species. Kids of all ages love two things: space and dinosaurs. It turns out these two areas of study are intimately connected, or at least, one impacted the other. You know the history: 66 million years ago, a massive asteroid struck Earth, leading to the extinction of the ancient dinosaurs. The ancient dinosaurs did not have a space program. But we do; let's use it wisely. Jim Bridenstine served as NASA administrator from 2018-2021. He is the managing partner of The Artemis Group, a strategic consulting firm. The University of Arizona is a client of the company. Bill Nye is a science educator and a New York Times bestselling author. He is Chief Executive Officer of The Planetary Society. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
14-02-2025
- Science
- The Hill
NASA's asteroid mission to Apophis: Key for Earth's defense
On Friday the 13th (yes, really) of April 2029, Earth will avoid an apocalyptic event by an astronomical hair's breadth as the asteroid Apophis, streaks by. It will come closer to Earth than the Moon — much closer in fact. It will come between us and the satellites that bring us radio, television and military intelligence. Apophis is named after an Egyptian god of chaos and evil. If it were to hit Earth, chaos would be the least of our trouble. It's 1,000 feet across, the size of a football stadium, and it's going 69,000 miles an hour. Apophis won't hit us — at least, we're pretty certain it won't. But it does offer us an historic opportunity to closely observe it and improve our ability to defend against future asteroid threats. Unfortunately, our government is blowing the chance. OSIRIS-REx (Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Regolith Explorer) has been in space almost 10 years, and it has already returned bits of another asteroid named Bennu. With clever rocket science, NASA redirected OSIRIS-Rex so that it will catch up with Apophis just days after its closest encounter to Earth. Using the same billion-dollar instrument suite designed for its original asteroid, the spacecraft will be able to closely study the surface, shape and gravity of Apophis. It's a fantastic deal for the taxpayer: two missions for the price of one, and we already paid for the first one. Now rechristened OSIRIS-APEX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security — Apophis Explorer), the project needs only some annual funds to pay its science and engineering team. Led by the University of Arizona, this team will prep the spacecraft for its new encounter. The money needed to support the team is far less than the cost of one of the fighter jets that Jim Bridenstine used to fly or that Bill Nye worked on as young engineer. But recently, due to overall budget cuts, much of that modest funding was taken away. If those cuts remain in place, the science team of OSIRIS-APEX will have to stand down. Crucial years of planning and coordination will be lost. We won't learn as much and will be less prepared for future asteroid encounters. There are a bevy of commercial and private sector options that could help, too. Instead of reaching Apophis after its close flyby of Earth, they could get there months beforehand. This would allow us to map Apophis in its pristine state, before Earth's gravity potentially alters the asteroid. Comparing the before and after maps would provide clues to how asteroids like Apophis are assembled — vital information if we ever need to deflect one. NASA also has perfectly good asteroid spacecraft sitting on the shelf. The twin JANUS spacecraft, originally designed for another asteroid mission, were put in storage, their mission cancelled, when their parent spacecraft was delayed. These could be easily repurposed and launched toward Apophis within the next few years. Engaging our private space sector in a dress rehearsal for saving the world, at little cost to NASA, is a no brainer. But budget cuts may prevent these crucial investments. This is our chance to demonstrate American leadership in the defense of our planet. While we wait for the confirmation of the next NASA administrator, Congress can take action to ensure that NASA has the funding to, at a minimum, support the OSIRIS-APEX mission. When we have new NASA leadership, we urge them to act decisively on this opportunity to leverage small dollars into big meaningful outcomes for the nation. There are few clearer justifications for public spending than our common defense, perhaps especially from asteroids. Even in our current divided political environment, we are confident this is a topic that unites us all. In fact, as we were writing this piece, astronomers discovered another heretofore unknown asteroid, '2024 YR4.' Right now, it's estimated to have a 1 in 71 (1.4 percent) chance of striking Earth in 2032. That might seem like a small probability, but it's not zero. Further observations will likely confirm that 2024 YR4 will miss us. But how will the world react, if it is indeed on a collision course? It's a vivid reminder of what's at stake for our species. Kids of all ages love two things: space and dinosaurs. It turns out these two areas of study are intimately connected, or at least, one impacted the other. You know the history: 66 million years ago, a massive asteroid struck Earth, leading to the extinction of the ancient dinosaurs. The ancient dinosaurs did not have a space program. But we do; let's use it wisely. Jim Bridenstine served as NASA administrator from 2018-2021. He is the managing partner of The Artemis Group, a strategic consulting firm. The University of Arizona is a client of the company. Bill Nye is a science educator and a New York Times bestselling author. He is .
