Feed aggregator
The journey of Juice – episode 1
ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice), is on an epic eight-year journey to Jupiter. This first episode of ‘The journey of Juice’ tells the story of Juice’s first months in space, from its launch on 14 April 2023 to its lunar-Earth gravity assist (LEGA for short) in August 2024. This flyby was not only the first double gravity assist manoeuvre of its kind, it was also a perfect opportunity to test out the spacecraft’s cameras and science instruments.
In this episode, Juice’s Mission Manager Nicolas Altobelli explains how the spacecraft will become the first ever human-made machine to orbit a moon of another planet, in this case Jupiter’s largest moon Ganymede.
You’ll also hear from Claire Vallat and Marc Costa at the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) near Madrid, Spain. Juice will perform incredibly complex measurements once it reaches Jupiter, and the Science Operations team at ESAC is making sure we get the most out of every instrument.
Meanwhile, the Flight Control team at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, makes sure Juice is and stays on the right path. This episode shows what happened ‘behind the scenes’ before and during the lunar-Earth flyby, and stars Ignacio Tanco, Angela Dietz and members of the Juice Flight Control team as they do what they do best.
Finally, we highlight the ESA tracking station network (Estrack), another crucial component for Juice. Maintenance and Operations Engineer Belén Goméz gives a tour of the facility at Cebreros.
Following the very successful lunar-Earth flyby, Juice is now on its way to planet Venus for its next flyby. On 31 August 2025, this flyby will give Juice its second gravity boost. Tune back in next year for episode two of this series!
This series follows on from ‘The making of Juice’ series, which covered the planning, testing and launch of this once-in-a-generation mission.
Hubble Captures Stellar Nurseries in a Majestic Spiral
- Hubble Home
- Overview
- Impact & Benefits
- Science
- Observatory
- Team
- News
- Multimedia
- More
2 min read
Hubble Captures Stellar Nurseries in a Majestic Spiral This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the spiral galaxy IC 1954. ESA/Hubble & NASA, D. Thilker, J. Lee and the PHANGS-HST Team
This image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope features the spiral galaxy IC 1954, located 45 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Horologium. It sports a glowing bar in its core, majestically winding spiral arms, and clouds of dark dust across it. Numerous glowing, pink spots across the disc of the galaxy are H-alpha regions that offer astronomers a view of star-forming nebulae, which are prominent emitters of red, H-alpha light. Some astronomers theorize that the galaxy’s ‘bar’ is actually an energetic star-forming region that just happens to lie over the galactic center.
The data featured in this image come from a program that extends the cooperation among multiple observatories: Hubble, the infrared James Webb Space Telescope, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, a ground-based radio telescope. By surveying IC 1954 and over 50 other nearby galaxies in radio, infrared, optical, and ultraviolet light, astronomers aim to fully trace and reconstruct the path matter takes through stars, mapping the interstellar gas and dust in each galaxy. Hubble’s observing capabilities form an important part of this survey: it can capture younger stars and star clusters when they are brightest at ultraviolet and optical wavelengths, and its H-alpha filter effectively tracks emission from nebulae. The resulting dataset will form a treasure trove of research on the evolution of stars in galaxies, which Webb can build upon as it continues its science operations into the future.
Download this image
Facebook logo @NASAHubble @NASAHubble Instagram logo @NASAHubble
Media Contact:
Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
Since its 1990 launch, the Hubble Space Telescope has changed our fundamental understanding of the universe.
Hubble’s Galaxies
Science Behind the Discoveries
Universe Uncovered
Will Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Be the Brightest of the Year?
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) could soon shine very bright in Earth’s skies
Europe will launch a satellite in 2027 just to watch it burn
Breaking Down What Math Really Is with Drag Queen Kyne Santos
Mathematics communicator and drag queen Kyne Santos guides you through the ongoing debate about what math really is.
Jet contrails may cool the planet by day and warm it by night
Jet contrails may cool the planet by day and warm it by night
Earth from Space: Northern Territory, Australia
HURRICANE HELENE - Latest Images From Space
NASA Hosts Two Workshops for Consultation on LEO Microgravity Strategy
As part of NASA’s effort to advance microgravity science, technology, and exploration in low Earth orbit (LEO), the agency conducted two stakeholder workshops in London and Washington to solicit feedback from the international community, including NASA’s international partners, American industry, and academia on Sept. 6 and Sept. 13, respectively.
The agency released a draft set of 42 objectives in late August, seeking input from U.S. industry, academia, international communities, NASA employees, and others to ensure its framework for the next generation of human presence in low Earth orbit, set to be finalized this winter, includes ideas and contributions from a range of stakeholders. The objectives span six categories: science, exploration-enabling research and technology development, commercial low Earth orbit infrastructure, operations, international cooperation, and workforce and engagement.
“As we chart the future of human exploration, it’s vital that we harness the insights and expertise of our diverse stakeholders,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “These workshops provide an invaluable platform for stakeholders to share their insights, helping us create a strategy that reflects our shared ambitions for the future of space exploration.”
Consultation is a fundamental aspect of NASA’s LEO Microgravity Strategy, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and the integration of diverse perspectives in advancing scientific research and technology development in low Earth orbit. By actively engaging with stakeholders –including scientists, industry partners, and educational institutions –NASA aims to gather valuable insights and align its objectives with the broader goals of the space community.
“Engaging with a wide array of voices allows us to tap into innovative ideas that will enhance our missions,” stated Robyn Gatens, director of the International Space Station and acting director of Commercial Spaceflight. “This collaborative approach not only strengthens our current initiatives but also lays the groundwork for future advancements in space exploration.”
To contribute to NASA’s low Earth orbit microgravity strategy, visit: www.leomicrogravitystrategy.org
What voice assistants like Alexa know about you – and how they use it
What voice assistants like Alexa know about you – and how they use it
How to watch SpaceX's Crew-9 astronaut launch for NASA on Sept. 28
Headquarters and Center Chief Counsel Contacts
Headquarters
General Counsel
Iris LanDeputy General Counsel
Christine Pham (Acting)Director of Legal Operations
Bryan R. Diederich (Acting)Associate General Counsel for Commercial and Intellectual Property Law Practice Group, Headquarters
Karen ReilleyAssociate General Counsel for Contracts and Acquisition Integrity Law Practice Group, Headquarters
Scott BarberAssociate General Counsel for General Law Practice Group, Headquarters
Katie SpearAssociate General Counsel for International and Space Law Practice Group, Headquarters
Rebecca BresnikAgency Counsel for Ethics, Headquarters
Adam F. GreenstoneDirector of the NASA Acquisition Integrity Program (Fraud Remedies) and the Agency Counsel for Acquisition Integrity, Headquarters
Monica Aquino-ThiemanAgency Counsel for Intellectual Property, Headquarters
Trenton Roche
Field Centers
Chief Counsel, Ames Research Center
Dan Hymer (Acting)Chief Counsel, Armstrong Flight Research Center
Brett SwansonChief Counsel, Glenn Research Center
Callista M. PuchmeyerChief Counsel, Goddard Space Flight Center
Dave G. BarrettChief Counsel, Johnson Space Center
Randall T. Suratt (Acting)Chief Counsel, Kennedy Space Center
Alex VinsonChief Counsel, Langley Research Center
Andrea Z. WarmbierChief Counsel, Marshall Space Flight Center
Pam A. BourqueChief Counsel, NASA Management Office at JPL
James T. MahoneyChief Counsel, NASA Shared Service Center
Ron BaldChief Counsel, NASA Stennis Space Center
Ron Bald
Medical Sleuthing Identified the Dangers of Thalidomide
FDA medical examiner Frances Oldham wanted data that would show that thalidomide was safe to use during pregnancy. It wasn’t
Another Building Block of Life Can Handle Venus’ Sulphuric Acid
Venus is often described as a hellscape. The surface temperature breaches the melting point of lead, and though its atmosphere is dominated by carbon dioxide, it contains enough sulfuric acid to satisfy the comparison with Hades.
But conditions throughout Venus’ ample atmosphere aren’t uniform. There are locations where some of life’s building blocks could resist the planet’s inhospitable nature.
Among the rocky planets, Venus has by far the largest atmosphere by volume. So, while its surface is inhospitable, its atmosphere has regions that are the most Earth-like of anywhere else in the Solar System. Scientists have wondered if life could survive in parts of the planet’s upper atmosphere, and the discovery of the potential biomarker phosphine (though it was later disproved) generated more interest.
Some research suggests that life could exist within Venus’ voluminous clouds. Image Credit: Abreu et al. 2024.One reason Venus keeps coming up in discussions around habitability is that it’s accessible, whereas exoplanets aren’t. Venus is easily reached, and we currently have one orbiter in place, the Japanese Akatsuki spacecraft. Three other missions to Venus are planned for the mid-2030s: NASA’s Veritas and DAVINCI and the ESA’s EnVision.
Nobody is convinced we’ll find life on Venus. But the planet can teach us a lot about chemistry and biology and their limits.
In new research, a team of scientists tested different building blocks under Venus-like conditions to see if they can withstand the planet’s perilous nature. The research is “Simple lipids form stable higher-order structures in concentrated sulfuric acid.” The lead author is Daniel Duzdevich from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago. The paper is in pre-print now and has been submitted to the journal Astrobiology.
Venus’ surface isn’t a candidate for habitability. But regions in its atmosphere may be. The issue is that much of Venus’ sulfuric acid is concentrated in discrete clouds rather than diffused throughout its atmosphere.
“The Venusian surface is sterilizing, but the cloud deck includes regions with temperatures and pressures conventionally considered compatible with life. However, the Venusian clouds are thought to consist of concentrated sulfuric acid,” the authors explain.
Cloud structure in the Venusian atmosphere in 2016, revealed by observations in the two ultraviolet bands by Akatsuki. Credit: Kevin M. GillThey wanted to test if any of life’s “fundamental features” could withstand Venus’ challenging environment. Can any of life’s chemistry resist sulfuric acid?
“Organic chemistry in concentrated sulfuric acid is rarely studied yet surprisingly rich, with recent work supporting the notion that complex organic molecules, including amino acids and nucleobases can be stable in this unusual solvent,” the authors write.
If simple organic molecules can remain stable in sulfuric acid, it’s an interesting observation in favour of life. But it takes more complexity than that, and that’s what this research focuses on.
“One fundamental feature of life is cellularity: the differentiation of “inside” (the contents of a cell, including information, molecules, and all their interactions) and “outside” (the environment), in addition to a mechanism for communication and exchange between the two,” Duzdevich and his co-researchers write.
The researchers focused on lipids, the membranes that define cells. Lipids are the foundation of cellular structure, not only as membranes between cells but also as membranes that create distinct parts of the interior of cells. “The cell membrane is especially important in extreme environments because it must help maintain the homeostasis of the intracellular environment against otherwise harsh external conditions,” the authors write.
The researchers performed lab experiments to determine whether lipids can withstand Venus’ harsh environment. They asked two questions: Can simple lipids resist decomposition by sulfuric acid, and can the lipids form stable higher-order structures like they do in cells?
The researchers placed masses of lipids in vials and exposed them to different concentrations of sulfuric acid and measured each vial at specific intervals. Their results show that some lipids can survive exposure to the acid and even form structures.
This figure from the research shows the vesicle-like structures that formed after concentrated sulfuric acid was added to solid lipids. Each panel is a different region of the same sample taken on the same day. Subsequent images showed that the structures remained intact even after seven days. Image Credit: Duzdevich et al. 2024.Interested readers can explore the detailed chemistry for themselves.
In summary, the results suggest that stable membranes can form and persist in the presence of sulfuric acid. Life uses water as a solvent because it’s a polar molecule, can form networks of hydrogen bonds, has a high heat capacity, and, of course, is abundant on Earth. But it’s not abundant everywhere.
Critically, this study shows that some aspects of the chemistry of life don’t require water as a solvent. Instead, they can tolerate and use sulfuric acid as a solvent. “Here, we show the unexpected stability of complex membranous structures in another polar solvent: concentrated sulfuric acid,” the authors write.
What does this mean for exoplanet habitability and astrobiology?
“Concentrated sulfuric acid as a planetary solvent could be widespread on exoplanets, either on exo-Venuses or on other rocky planets that are desiccated as a result of the stellar activity of their host star,” the researchers explain.
And, of course, sulfuric acid is present in large amounts at Venus.
“Concentrated sulfuric acid is also present in our immediate planetary vicinity as a dominant liquid in the clouds of Venus, further emphasizing its importance for planetary science, planetary habitability, and astrobiology,” the authors write.
The question of whether life could somehow survive in Venus’ clouds is one that won’t go away. We’re new at the astrobiology game, and we’re simply not in a position to rule things out. It might seem far-fetched, but science is an evidence game, and evidence can be surprising.
This study doesn’t present evidence that can answer the question—big questions like this are answered incrementally—but it does present an intriguing result.
“By demonstrating the stability of lipid membranes in this aggressive solvent, we have taken a significant step forward in exploring the potential habitability of the concentrated sulfuric acid cloud environment on Venus,” the authors conclude.
The post Another Building Block of Life Can Handle Venus’ Sulphuric Acid appeared first on Universe Today.