Space News Roundup: August 20th-26th

The stars are ours, and we’ll reach them, not in search of conquest, but in search of knowledge. — Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

source: pinterest

1. Russia’s Recent Lunar Mission Ends in Crash

source: space.com

• The Luna 25 mission was Russia’s first lunar mission in nearly half a century.
• The spacecraft was launched on August 10, 2023, from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia.
• The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on August 16, 2023.
• The lander was scheduled to touch down on the lunar south pole on August 21, 2023.
• However, the lander crashed into the lunar surface on August 19, 2023, due to a technical malfunction.
• The Luna 25 mission was intended to study the composition of the lunar soil and the very thin lunar exosphere, or the moon’s scant atmosphere, for one year. The mission would have also searched for water ice in the lunar south pole region.
• The failure of the Luna 25 mission is a setback for Russia’s space program. However, Russia has said that it will continue to pursue its lunar exploration ambitions.

2. India’s Chandrayaan-3 Lands Near Moon’s South Pole

source: nature

• The Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14, 2023, from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
• The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on August 5, 2023.
• The lander, Vikram, touched down in the lunar south pole region on August 23, 2023, at 12:32 UTC.
• This made India the fourth country to successfully land on the Moon, and the first to do so near the lunar south pole.
• The lander is equipped with a number of scientific instruments, including a camera, a spectrometer, and a magnetometer.
• The lander will spend one lunar day (14 Earth days) exploring the lunar surface.
• The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a major milestone for India’s space program and will help scientists learn more about the Moon’s origin and evolution.

3. The Crew-7 mission

The Crew-7 mission is the seventh crew rotation mission to the International Space Station (ISS) by SpaceX.

• The mission launched on August 26, 2023, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
• The crew consists of four astronauts: Jasmin Moghbeli (NASA), Andreas Mogensen (ESA), Satoshi Furukawa (JAXA), and Konstantin Borisov (Roscosmos).
• The Crew-7 mission will deliver new crew members to the ISS, as well as supplies and equipment.
• The crew will conduct a variety of scientific experiments and maintenance tasks during their time on the ISS.
• The Crew-7 mission is expected to last for about six months.

Here are some of the specific scientific experiments that the Crew-7 astronauts will be conducting:

• Studying the effects of microgravity on the human body.
• Investigating the formation of crystals in space.
• Testing new technologies for future space exploration.

source: CNN

The Crew-7 mission is a critical part of NASA’s plan to continue human presence on the ISS. The crew will help to ensure that the ISS remains a safe and productive environment for scientific research and exploration.

4. Chinese firm STAR.VISION launches WonderJourney satellite with AI-powered “brain”

source: Reddit

• A Chinese company called STAR.VISION has launched a new satellite called “WonderJourney”.
• The satellite is equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and can process data in situ, rather than sending it back to Earth for analysis.
• This makes the satellite more autonomous and allows it to make decisions in real-time.
• The satellite’s primary task will be to conduct system testing and validate various intelligent applications for efficiency in orbit.
• These applications could include connecting with future smart cars and drones and monitoring environmental conditions like forest fires, soil moisture, and pest diseases.
• The satellite is also equipped with high-resolution cameras, near-infrared cameras, and VR panoramic cameras, allowing it to perform various image-processing tasks.
• Compared to traditional satellites, “WonderJourney” can analyze 3,861 miles2 (10,000 km2) and track objects in just a few hours, which takes roughly 180 days for traditional satellites.
• The satellite is also equipped with communication functions and is being updated to become an AI assistant in space. Ground users will be able to speak to it, similar to ChatGPT.
• “WonderJourney” is the first satellite in a constellation of 20 satellites that STAR.VISION plans to launch by the end of 2024.

5. SpaceX tests Starship Super Heavy booster

source: space.com

• SpaceX has conducted two static fire tests of the Starship Super Heavy booster.
• The first test was on February 9, 2023, and the second test was on August 25, 2023.
• Both tests were successful, with all 33 Raptor engines firing for several seconds.
• The static fire tests are a critical step in the development of the Starship Super Heavy booster.
• They help to ensure that the booster is capable of firing its engines safely and reliably.
• The next step for the Starship Super Heavy booster is a test flight.
• SpaceX is targeting a test flight very soon.

6. NASA X Air Pollution

• NASA released the first data maps from its new instrument, the Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO), which was launched into orbit earlier this year.
• TEMPO is the first satellite instrument that will measure air quality over North America hourly (during daylight hours) and at a resolution of a few square miles.
• The images released by NASA show concentrations of nitrogen dioxide pollution over North America. Nitrogen dioxide is a gas that is produced by burning fossil fuels, such as gasoline and diesel.
• The images show that nitrogen dioxide pollution is highest in urban areas, such as Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago.
• The data from TEMPO will be used to help decision-makers track air pollution and develop strategies to reduce it.

source: NASA

Here are some of the specific features of TEMPO:

• It is a spectrometer, which means that it can measure the absorption of light by different gases in the atmosphere.
• It is mounted on a satellite that orbits Earth at an altitude of about 400 miles.
• It can measure nitrogen dioxide pollution at a resolution of about 2.5 miles.
• It can measure air quality hourly during daylight hours.

The release of the first data maps from TEMPO is a significant step forward in the effort to monitor and reduce air pollution.

7. XRISM and SLIM

• Launch Date: 28th of August, 2023
• XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) is an international collaboration between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It is a space telescope that will study the universe in X-rays.
• SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) is a Japanese lunar lander that is designed to demonstrate precise landing techniques. It will also carry a variety of scientific instruments to study the Moon.

Here are some of the specific goals of XRISM and SLIM:

• XRISM will study the hot, dense regions of the universe, such as galaxy clusters and the centers of galaxies. It will also study the earliest stars and galaxies that formed in the universe.
• SLIM will land on the Moon within 100 meters of its intended target. It will also carry a variety of scientific instruments to study the Moon’s surface and subsurface.

8. Advancements in the Roman Space Telescope: Integration and Testing of the “Nervous System”

source: NASA

• NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team is making strides in its preparation process.
• They have initiated the integration and testing of the spacecraft’s “nervous system,” which refers to its electrical cabling or harness.
• This harness plays a vital role in facilitating communication among different parts of the observatory, ensuring their effective collaboration.
• It also provides power to various components and enables the central computer to monitor observatory functions through a network of sensors.
• A key phase of the testing process involves moving the flight harness from a mock-up structure to the actual spacecraft flight structure.
• This significant milestone contributes to the Roman Space Telescope’s readiness for upcoming tasks.
• The telescope is equipped to explore and observe celestial phenomena with heightened efficiency and precision.

The universe is vast and mysterious, and we are only beginning to explore it. — Interstellar

Resources

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

New 'AI-brained' Chinese satellite has just been launched

Russia's first lunar mission in decades crashes into the moon | CNN