Astronomy

A scathing report from NASA's Office of Inspector General has highlighted several critical issues related to the development of the next version of the agency's SLS moon rocket.

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The effects of the climate crisis are felt more acutely in the Arctic than anywhere else on the planet. The weather in the Arctic is not only severe, but it changes extremely quickly. More frequent data are urgently needed to improve weather forecasts for this susceptible polar region.

Enter ESA’s Arctic Weather Satellite: a brand new prototype mission to show exactly how this can be achieved. The satellite will provide precise, short-term weather forecasts for the Arctic region. It is equipped with a 19-channel cross-track scanning microwave radiometer which will provide high-resolution humidity and temperature soundings of the atmosphere in all weather conditions.

The Arctic Weather Satellite is the forerunner of a potential constellation of satellites, called EPS-Sterna, that ESA would build for Eumetsat if this first prototype Arctic Weather Satellite performs well.

To some, they look like battlements,

What makes this storm cloud so colorful?

The Maugean skate (Zearaja maugeana) is only found in one habitat in Australia, which is under threat from human activity. Now the species has been saved from extinction by hatching in captivity

The Maugean skate (Zearaja maugeana) is only found in one habitat in Australia, which is under threat from human activity. Now the species has been saved from extinction by hatching in captivity

We know that modern humans took one of two routes to first reach Australia, and now an ancient chunk of plant resin has tipped the evidence towards the northern option

We know that modern humans took one of two routes to first reach Australia, and now an ancient chunk of plant resin has tipped the evidence towards the northern option

ESA scientists recall highlights of the historic Rosetta comet-chasing mission on its 10th anniversary.

Space exploration has led the world in that wonderful human ability to co-operate, alas history shows we don’t do it quite as much as we should! Recently NASA has put a request out to the wider community for ideas for their VIPER rover which was designed for lunar exploration. The exact purpose of VIPER was to hunt for volatile minerals in the polar regions of the Moon. The big question, will NASA get any takers?

Lunar exploration has really kicked up a gear again in recent years. NASA have developed a new rover known as VIPER standing for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover. The 430 kilogram vehicle planned to explore the southern polar region on the Moon and had been scheduled for launch toward the end of 2024. The main purpose of VIPER was to try and locate water ice and other resources crucial for human lunar exploration. It has a suite of scientific instruments including a drill and will explore the polar region, mapping volatile elements on route. 

An artist’s concept of the completed design of NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER. VIPER will get a close-up view of the location and concentration of ice and other resources at the Moon’s South Pole, bringing us a significant step closer to NASA’s ultimate goal of a long-term presence on the Moon – making it possible to eventually explore Mars and beyond. Credits: NASA/Daniel Rutter

Discovering the location of water deposits and other volatile, essential substances on the Moon is crucial to future human exploration. Water can not only sustain life through providing drinking water and oxygen through electrolysis but can be separated into hydrogen and oxygen to produce rocket fuel. Suitably located reserves will drive down exploration costs and make long term habitation on the Moon far more sustainable. 

On 17th July however NASA announced its intention to discontinue VIPER and to identify different methods for locating water and other volatiles at the lunar south pole. Claiming budgetary issues, it seemed VIPER was doomed however they are still committing to getting it to the Moon. As part of the announcement NASA requested for interested American companies and institutions to come forward if they would like to use VIPER for lunar exploration. The move supported NASA’s intent to support sustainable lunar exploration for the benefit of all. 

Between 17 July and the 1 August, NASA have been accepting expressions of interest to use the VIPER rover. They now have the challenge of working through the information to see how the interested groups and organisations would use VIPER and how the proposal would come at no cost to the US Government. It is not just American organisations though, NASA are going to be looking at any proposals from international groups to although this will be through a separate channel. 

The window is now closed for accepting proposals and NASA will see just how potential partners will look to achieve NASA science and exploration goals using VIPER. NASA has of course built up technological and science expertise and wants to build upon this with future projects as we further our knowledge of lunar exploration. 

Source : NASA Explores Industry, Partner Interest in Using VIPER Moon Rover

The post NASA is Looking for a Commercial Partner to Save VIPER appeared first on Universe Today.

On 19 and 20 August, the JUICE mission will make the first ever attempt to get a gravitational boost from both Earth and the moon on its way to Jupiter

On 19 and 20 August, the JUICE mission will make the first ever attempt to get a gravitational boost from both Earth and the moon on its way to Jupiter

SpaceX plans to make more spaceflight history late this year, by launching the first crewed mission to explore Earth's polar regions.

The sun's stormy weather is supercharging auroras on Earth this week, due to a series of intense geomagnetic storms triggered by recent solar flares.

Axiom Space's next astronaut mission will be delayed due to the approval process required for International Space Station crews, according to NASA.

If we want to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from food production, we have to make it more efficient as the global population grows – and that isn't happening

If we want to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from food production, we have to make it more efficient as the global population grows – and that isn't happening

Satellite data has helped scientists to begin tracking a key air pollutant previously absent from a national database, marking a crucial step forward in monitoring differences in air quality across the U.S. and identifying groups whose health is unfairly affected.

Astronauts on China's Tiangong space station recently reenacted some of the sports that athletes of the just-completed 2024 Paris Olympics competed in here on Earth.

Wastewater, which is full of pollutants that contain nitrogen, can be directly fed into a new chemical reactor that converts it into ammonia, with purified water and oxygen as by-products