Dear Lagrangian,

Get ready for what was an intense week in space exploration! In this edition, we dive into Martian auroras, reverse aging in space, star clusters, US Military spending, China's lunar dust mission, and so much more.

Read on!

General Space News

Rare Nova explosion will be visible in the night sky this summer.

Astronomers are anticipating a rare nova event this summer, that will be visible to the naked eye, in a dark spot among the seven stars of Corona Borealis, the "Northern Crown” constellation. The event involves T Coronae Borealis, aka the “Blaze Star”, which is a binary system 3,000 light-years away, consisting of a white dwarf, similar in mass to our Sun and a red giant.

The white dwarf’s gravity gradually draws hydrogen from the red giant, which accumulates on the dwarf’s surface, building up pressure and heat, and eventually leading to a large thermonuclear explosion.

This is a nova event where the dwarf star remains intact, unlike a supernova where some dying stars are destroyed. The accumulated material is sent into space in a blinding flash, and the cycle typically repeats itself over time. This recurring event, is expected every 80 years.

Astronauts experienced a temporary reversal in the aging of their DNA during their stay in space, a study has revealed.

The four crew members of SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission, the first all-civilian space mission, conducted biological research during their three-day trip in September 2021, taking fingerpick blood samples and skin swabs. The age reversal was observed through a decrease in markers known as telomeres, which are caps that protect chromosomes and are known to shorten with age and due to environmental factors and stress.

The results, published in the journals Nature and Nature Communications, showed that the space environment has fast-acting and profound effects on the human body, detectable in blood markers after only a few hours in orbit. However, the effects did not last long, and scientists are now trying to understand how the space environment affects human DNA.

Read the three papers here:

• The Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) and international astronaut biobank

• Molecular and physiologic changes in the SpaceX Inspiration4 civilian crew

• Single-cell multi-ome and immune profiles of the Inspiration4 crew reveal conserved, cell-type, and sex-specific responses to spaceflight

Auroras over Mars observed by NASA’s Mars rovers and orbiters, caused by a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the Sun.

The most significant event occurred on May 20, 2024, with a solar flare later estimated to be an X12 (X-class solar flares are the strongest of several types.) This flare sent out X-rays and gamma rays toward Mars, followed by a subsequent coronal mass ejection launching charged particles.

The event was closely tracked by analysts at the Moon to Mars Space Weather Analysis Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The radiation next to NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover was equivalent to receiving 30 chest X-rays or a radiation dose of 8,100 micrograys. This was the biggest surge measured by Curiosity’s Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) since the rover landed 12 years ago.

Water frost patches detected by an international team of planetary scientists on the Tharsis volcanoes on Mars, the tallest volcanic mountains in the solar system.

This discovery, published in a study in the Nature Geoscience journal this week, marks the first time frost has been spotted near the planet’s equator, challenging existing perceptions of the planet’s climate dynamics. The frost is present for only a few hours after sunrise before it evaporates in sunlight. Despite being incredibly thin, the frost constitutes at least 150,000 tons of water that swaps between the surface and atmosphere each day during the cold seasons. The researchers propose that the way the air circulates above these mountains creates a unique microclimate that allows the thin patches of frost to form.

The frost was detected in images taken by the European Space Agency’s Trace Gas Orbiter, using the the Color and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) and was validated using another camera on board the ESA’s Mars Express orbiter.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is providing scientists with their first detailed look at supernovae from a time when the universe was just a fraction of its current age.

A team of astronomers using Webb data has identified 10 times more supernovae in the early universe than previously known, including some of the most distant examples used to measure the universe’s expansion rate. Christa DeCoursey, a third-year graduate student at the Steward Observatory and the University of Arizona, called Webb a “supernova discovery machine,” noting the numerous detections and vast distances as the survey's most exciting outcomes.

The team discovered supernovae by analyzing imaging data from the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) program. They compared images taken up to a year apart to identify transients, objects with varying brightness, which include supernovae. In total, the JADES Transient Survey Sample team uncovered about 80 supernovae in a patch of sky only about the thickness of a grain of rice held at arm’s length.

NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has captured a new image of Westerlund 1, the largest and closest “super” star cluster to Earth.

This cluster is a galactic factory where stars are vigorously produced. The Extended Westerlund 1 and 2 Open Clusters Survey (EWOCS), led by astronomers from the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics in Palermo, has released its first data.

Westerlund 1, aged between 3 and 5 million years, has a mass between 50,000 and 100,000 Suns and is located about 13,000 light-years from Earth. The new deep Chandra dataset has more than tripled the known X-ray sources in the cluster, increasing from 1,721 to almost 6,000, including fainter stars with lower masses than the Sun. The X-rays detected by Chandra show young stars (mostly represented as white and pink) as well as diffuse heated gas throughout the cluster (colored pink, green, and blue, in order of increasing temperatures for the gas), while many stars picked up by Hubble appear as yellow and blue dots.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a NASA space telescope that observes the universe in the X-ray portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to study high-energy processes such as supernova remnants, black holes, and galaxy clusters.

Asia

China’s Chang’e 6 is on its way back to Earth with lunar samples.

Earlier this month the Chang’e 6 mission landed on the far side of the moon and is now enroute to marking the first-ever return of samples from this region. The mission, which launched on May 3, saw its lander-ascender combination touch down in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin on June 1, gathering samples over two days. The ascender then left the lunar surface with the samples on June 3, to attach with the orbiter on June 5. The samples are currently in lunar orbit, awaiting their journey back to Earth. The return capsule, carrying the lunar samples, is expected to land at Siziwang Banner in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on June 25.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is supporting China’s Chang’e 6 mission, with its ground stations tracking the spacecraft and receiving signals from the return module.

India’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft, the country’s first-ever solar mission, captured images of the Sun’s disk a week after the strongest auroras witnessed in May.

India’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft, stationed at the Lagrangian point (L1) roughly 1.5 million km from Earth, has captured significant solar activities using its Solar Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) and Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) instruments. The spacecraft recorded dynamic events, including X-class and M-class flares with associated Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), during May 2024. These events were captured by two of the remote sensing payloads on board Aditya-L1 (SoLEXS and HEL1OS) during May 8-9, 2024, while the two in-situ payloads (ASPEX and MAG) captured this event during May 10-11, 2024.

NASA recorded 82 “notable” solar flares mostly from two active equatorial regions on the Sun, called AR3663 and AR36641. At least seven coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, toward Earth were recorded.

Japanese Private On-orbit servicing satellite company tracks incremental progress in space debris management by successfully approaching unprepared space junk.

Astroscale-Japan’s ADRAS-J satellite (Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan) successfully approached an abandoned rocket upper stage, to a relative distance of approximately 50 meters. As part of this operation they collected images and data while maintaining a controlled fixed point relative position from the unprepared debris. According to Astroscale, the ADRAS-J mission is the world’s first attempt to safely approach, characterize, and survey the state of an existing piece of large debris through Rendezvous and Proximity Operations.

China’s experimental reusable spaceplane has been conducting proximity operations with a smaller spacecraft, potentially even capturing the object.

The reusable spaceplane was launched for the third time via a Long March 2F rocket on December 14, 2023. It released an object, “Object G,” into orbit, first cataloged by U.S. Space Force on May 24. The spaceplane used Object G to test rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) on June 7-8, which could aid in satellite retrieval, repair, maintenance, or counterspace operations. After ejecting the object, the spaceplane performed avoidance and additional maneuvers, re-approaching the object on June 8. Data from private firm LeoLabs suggests that previously, it conducted similar capture/docking operations during its second flight in 2022-2023. China has also performed RPOs in geostationary orbit.

Australia

Australia-based Myriota is developing an compact communications payload to support IoT services in harsh off-world environments.

A $1.5 million investment from the Australian Space Agency's Moon to Mars Initiative Demonstrator Mission Grants has been secured for the project. This initiative is set to stimulate job growth and enhance sovereign capabilities. The payload will play a crucial role in global space missions by providing space-enabled intelligence to sectors such as agriculture, which are affected by climate change.

In addition to the funding announcement, Myriota unveiled its Habitat, an immersive experience center showcasing advanced IoT solutions addressing critical challenges such as water scarcity, CO2 emissions, and infrastructure resilience. The Myriota Habitat intends to serve as a demonstration site and operational hub.

North America

The Crew Flight Test (CFT) - Boeing’s first Starliner astronaut mission, extended through June 18, 2024.

The mission, which launched on June 5, carried NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station (ISS). The extension allowed the crew to perform a spacewalk on June 13, while engineers completed Starliner systems checkouts. Despite minor issues, such as small helium leaks and a few malfunctioning thrusters, the mission has been successful so far. If all goes well, Starliner will be certified to fly six-month astronaut missions to and from the ISS for NASA.

DARPA has unveiled six new designs for uncrewed vertical-takeoff military aircraft, with test flights expected as early as 2026.

According to the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the designs are part of the Advanced Aircraft Infrastructure-less Launch And Recovery (ANCILLARY) program, which aims to develop X-planes capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) like a helicopter that can operate from aircraft carriers. The term “X-plane” is used by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) as a categorization for experimental aircraft.

The designs come from a variety of entities, including AeroVironment, Griffon Aerospace, Karem Aircraft, Method Aeronautics, Northrop Grumman, and Sikorsky. DARPA plans to use these aircraft to support the U.S. Navy ships to identify vessels beyond their line of sight.

The US Senate Armed Services Committee, a group of lawmakers responsible for defense-related matters, has approved a new defense policy for the year 2025.

This policy outlines the country’s defense strategies and budget allocations. The bill includes key provisions:

1. Air National Guard Space Functions: The U.S. Air Force is required to transfer certain space functions to the U.S. Space Force, resolving a dispute over the integration of Air National Guard space units.

2. Private Equity Firms: The Department of Defense (DoD) is to engage private equity firms to discuss competition space opportunities and address adversarial investment strategies.

3. Contractor Performance: The DoD is authorized to identify and require approval for additional contracts from poor-performing contractors.

4. Space-Based Indication: A Program Executive Office for space-based air and ground moving target indication is to be designated.

5. Space Reserve Program: The establishment of a Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve program is authorized, with a report on commercial insurance for DoD space support services required.

6. Space Command Integration: The DoD is to designate a Program Executive Officer for Space Command, Control, and Integration to support a combined operations center at the National Space Defense Center.

These are some of the provisions in the bill, with full details yet to be released.

These changes in space policy are poised to exert significant influence on the international space sector. The bolstering of the U.S. Space Force is likely to intensify global competition in space initiatives, promote international collaborations and partnerships, and potentially drive modifications in international space regulations. Additionally, this policy could affect the global commercial space industry by potentially providing U.S. companies with a competitive advantage and creating opportunities for international enterprises. Furthermore, the incorporation of Air National Guard units into the Space Force may be interpreted as a move towards the militarization of space, thereby affecting international security and defense strategies.

The U.S. Department of Defense plans to integrate over 100 of SpaceX’s Starshield satellites into its new satellite communications framework.

Starshield, a militarized version of SpaceX’s Starlink, features enhanced encryption and security. Unlike the commercial Starlink, Starshield will be owned and managed by the U.S. government.

Colonel Eric Felt, the Director of Space Architecture within the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, indicated that the goal is to establish a Starshield constellation by 2029, pending Congressional funding. This move highlights the shift towards large constellations of smaller satellites, owing to the proliferated nature of the Starshield architecture in low-Earth orbit, offering greater resilience compared to traditional large geostationary satellites in times of conflict.

Research Paper Spotlight

What was initially interpreted as water beneath the Martian south pole’s ice cap, may just have been compacted layers of ice, according to simulations run at Cornell University.

Researchers at Cornell University have provided a simpler explanation for bright radar reflections initially interpreted as liquid water beneath the ice cap on Mars’ south pole. Their simulations show that small variations in layers of water ice can cause constructive interference between radar waves. Such interference can produce reflections whose intensity and variability match observations to date.

The findings are based on simulations of 10,000 layering scenarios, and for each, 1,000 variations in the ice layers’ thickness and dust content. However, none of the unusual conditions or exotic materials that would be necessary for liquid water to exist were found.

Daniel Lalich, a research associate in the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science (CCAPS), stated that while it’s not impossible that there’s liquid water down there, there are much simpler ways to get the same observation.

Read the full paper here.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo are investigating how to process lunar regolith, into usable materials for life support, energy generation, and construction.

A team of researchers from the Laboratory for Emerging Energy Research (LEER) at the University of Waterloo is exploring the use of defunct satellite material as a fuel source when mixed with lunar regolith - the top layer of soil and dust on the moon. Lunar regolith contains metallic dust embedded with oxygen, which can be utilized to produce thermal energy through a thermite reaction. The team conducted experiments using simulant “lunar” regolith supplied by NASA, testing different fuel and oxidizer compositions and particle sizes to control the energy release rate of a space-based thermite for heating or manufacturing. The results demonstrate the potential of the moon’s topsoil to power lunar development and support the circular space economy.

Read the findings in two papers, both published by the International Astronautical Federation here:

• Leveraging the use of Novel Lunar ISRU and ISRP Processes with Space Based Solar Power

• In-situ Regolith based Nanothermite Heating for Lunar Rovers and Equipment during the Lunar Night

And that’s a wrap for the week. See you next Sunday.
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