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- Breaking Space News: July 21 - 27, 2024
Breaking Space News: July 21 - 27, 2024
ESA's concerns over Sustainability of Space Exploration, China Tests new Engine for Lunar Missions, Climate Change will make the Earth Wobble, Signs of Ancient Life on Mars, and US charting New Military Strategies for the Arctic and Smaller Satellites Networks.
Lagrangian Despatch
July 28, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 25 minutes
Dear Lagrangian,
Thanks for joining us this week!
Exciting week in Space Science. Have questions? Talk to us, we talk back. Also feel free to join our Discord and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIN, and TikTok.
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Table of Contents
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
A Study by ETH Zurich shows how Climate Change Influences Earth’s Rotational Speed More Than the Moon
Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered that climate change is altering the Earth’s axis of rotation and the length of the day. As ice masses melt due to global warming, the Earth’s rotation changes due to the shift in mass. This shift is affecting the Earth’s rotation similar to a figure skater slowing down when stretching out their arms. As a result, climate change is also minimally altering the length of the day on Earth.
The team used AI methods for the most comprehensive modelling to date, showing that climate change will have a greater influence on the Earth’s rotational speed than the effect of the moon. The researchers suggest that the shift in mass due to the melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica and the flow of water into the world’s oceans, especially into the equatorial region, is affecting the Earth’s rotation. This study demonstrated that the accumulation of water near the equator is causing a shift in Earth’s rotational axis. Consequently, this shift is causing the magnetic poles to deviate further from the axis each year.
Polar motion refers to the movement of Earth's spin axis (orange) in relation to its geographic poles (blue). As climate change impacts the planet, it induces a wobble in the Earth's magnetic poles (blue) around the spin axis (yellow). (Credit: NASA/GSFC Scientific Visualization Studio, ETH Zurich)
These findings are crucial for understanding historical climate shifts and future scenarios, highlighting climate change's extensive impacts beyond temperature rises and extreme weather to fundamental planetary movements.
These studies were published in Nature Geoscience and Nature.
Dark Oxygen: Deep-Sea Minerals Could Reshape Our Understanding of Origins of Life on Earth, study finds
Scientists have discovered that metallic minerals on the deep-ocean floor produce oxygen in total darkness, “dark oxygen”, a finding that challenges previous beliefs that only photosynthetic organisms generate oxygen. The discovery was made by an international team of researchers, including Prof. Andrew Sweetman of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), while conducting ship-based fieldwork in the Pacific Ocean.
The team found that polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor produced voltages of up to 0.95 V, suggesting that when clustered together, they can reach the 1.5 V required to split water into oxygen and hydrogen through a process called seawater electrolysis. This discovery could have major implications for deep-sea mining, highlighting the need for sustainable practices to protect these newly discovered oxygen sources. It also raises questions about the origins of aerobic life on Earth.
Polymetallic nodules on the seafloor. (Credit: NOAA)
The study has been published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
New Insights into the Nearest Millisecond Pulsar: The Most Accurate Clock That You’ve Never Heard About
The nearest millisecond pulsar, PSR J0437-4715, has been precisely measured by a team of researchers led by the University of Amsterdam. A millisecond pulsar is a type of a rotating neutron star, with a rotational period less than about 10 milliseconds. Located about 510 light-years from Earth in the southern constellation of Pictor, this neutron star emits electromagnetic radiation and has a white dwarf companion. It spins 174 times per second, sending a beam of radio waves and X-rays toward Earth every 5.75 milliseconds. The brightest millisecond pulsar, due to its proximity to Earth, it is also a more stable clock than man-made atomic clocks.
Animation of the millisecond pulsar PSR J0437-4715. On the left as seen from Earth. On the right as seen from the star's equatorial plane. The purple-pink color indicates the temperature of the hot spots at the poles. White is relatively cool. Purple is hot. The hot magnetic poles are not exactly opposite each other. Because the star is so dense, the animations also show the effect of light bending caused by extreme gravity. For example, both the rotational poles of the star in right panel are visible simultaneously. (Credit: NASA/Sharon Morsink/Devarshi Choudhury et al)
Using data from NASA’s Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the researchers found that PSR J0437-4715 has a radius of 11.4 kilometers and a mass 1.4 times that of the sun. They also discovered that the hot magnetic poles of the neutron star are misaligned and not directly opposite each other.
These findings, computed on the Dutch national supercomputer Snellius, reveal more about the composition and magnetic field of this neutron star. The findings of the research were disseminated as a collection of pre-peer-reviewed papers on the arXiv repository site and also featured in the Astrophysical Journal.
SPACE SCIENCE
Perseverance Rover Discovers Rock That Might Hold the Secrets of Ancient Martian Life
NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered an intriguing rock on Mars, nicknamed “Cheyava Falls”, which exhibits chemical signatures and structures that could possibly have been formed by life billions of years ago. The rock was found in Mars’ Jezero Crater and is characterized by markings akin to leopard spots. These spots have captivated scientists as they may indicate that the chemical reactions in this rock could have supported microbial life.
NASA’s Perseverance rover discovered “leopard spots” on a reddish rock nicknamed “Cheyava Falls” in Mars’ Jezero Crater in July 2024. Scientists think the spots may indicate that, billions of years ago, the chemical reactions in this rock could have supported microbial life. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)
On Earth, these types of features in rocks are often associated with the fossilized record of microbes living in the subsurface.
On July 23, 2024, NASA's Perseverance Mars rover took a selfie on its 1,218th Martian day. The image features the "Cheyava Falls," the arrowhead-shaped rock, to the left of the rover near the center of the image, which could provide clues about past microscopic life on Mars. Perseverance took a core sample from the rock, now stored in the rover, and used an abrasion tool to study the rock's composition. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)
However, other explanations for these observed features are being considered and further research is needed. The rock was collected on July 21, as the rover explored the northern edge of Neretva Vallis, an ancient river valley. This discovery could bear significantly on the question of whether Mars was home to microscopic life in the distant past.
Read more about NASA’s findings here.
Rada, a Tanzanian space tech innovator, and SatNav Africa JPO have formed a partnership to utilize Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in Africa’s agricultural sector. The collaboration aims to integrate GNSS technology into farming practices, potentially leading to increased efficiency and reduced costs.
SatNav Africa JPO brings its expertise in GNSS and Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) services to the partnership, using European solutions like EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, is Europe’s regional Satellite-based Augmentation System) and Galileo to enhance the precision of satellite navigation signals.
Using GNSS in precision agriculture can improve resource management, reduce farming's carbon footprint, and support food security and economic growth in Africa.
ESA Report Raises Concerns Over the Sustainability of Space Activities Amid the Growing Threat of Space Debris
The 2024 ESA’s Annual Space Environment Report has raised significant concerns about the sustainability of space activities. The report highlights that despite efforts to mitigate the accumulation of space debris, the junk continues to pile up, creating an "unsustainable environment in the long-term".
Our planet is surrounded by spacecrafts studying climate, providing communication and navigation, and answering scientific questions. However, their orbits are becoming crowded with dangerous high-speed debris from defunct satellites and rockets. In 2002, the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), including ESA, published voluntary Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines. These guidelines outlined how to design, operate, and dispose of space missions to prevent further debris, serving as a key policy foundation for ESA and beyond for two decades.
The report indicates that while space debris mitigation is improving, it remains insufficient to halt the increase in space debris. Without further changes, the behavior of space-faring entities is unsustainable long-term. Space debris continues to rise rapidly, with 35,000 objects tracked, including 9,100 active payloads and 26,000 pieces of debris larger than 10 cm. The actual number of debris objects larger than 1 cm, capable of causing catastrophic damage, exceeds one million.
The number of satellite launches continues to rise, with 2023 seeing a record high. Commercial satellite constellations in low-Earth orbits are expanding, but many satellites remain in these crowded orbits after their missions end, risking fragmentation into long-lasting debris. Active satellites increasingly need to perform collision avoidance maneuvers to dodge other satellites and debris.
The 2024 ESA Annual Space Environment Report highlights the urgent need for better space debris mitigation and responsible behavior to ensure the sustainability of space activities.
Debris-Strike Emergency Drill Successfully Executed on China’s Tiangong Space Station
Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station recently conducted a simulation of a debris-strike emergency. The drill, part of the Shenzhou 18 mission, was designed to prepare the crew for a decompression event caused by space debris striking the station. The astronauts, in collaboration with the ground team in Beijing, donned oxygen masks and successfully located and plugged a simulated leak. This exercise underscores the growing concern over space debris, a key theme of the mission. The crew has also conducted spacewalks to install shielding to protect Tiangong from space debris. These proactive measures highlight the need for sustainable practices in space operations to ensure the safety and longevity of space missions.
Shenzhou 18 mission astronauts simulate a debris-strike emergency aboard the Tiangong space station in July 2024. (Credit: CCTV)
Read more about the simulation here.
ESA’s Argonaut and China’s Long March 10 Mark Progress in Separate Lunar Programs
The European Space Agency (ESA) and China are making significant strides in their lunar exploration programs. ESA has announced plans for the launch of its first autonomous moon lander, Argonaut, in 2031. The Argonaut is designed to deliver up to 2,100 kilograms of cargo, including scientific instruments and supplies for future astronauts, to any region on the moon. The agency envisions five Argonaut missions throughout the 2030s.
VR rendering of the Argonaut lunar lander. A team of students and researchers are using virtual reality (VR) to bring ESA’s Argonaut lunar lander concept to life at the European Astronaut Centre. (Credit: ESA)
Meanwhile, China has successfully test-fired a new engine for its planned crewed moon rocket. The liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen engine, known as the YF-75E, will power the third stage of the Long March 10 rocket. This test marks another step towards China’s goal of landing astronauts on the moon before 2030.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) tested the YF-75E engine for its planned Long March 10 crewed moon rocket. (Credit: CCTV)
Read more about Argonaut and YF-76E here.
SPACE GOVERNANCE
Key Appointments in the African Space Council look to Strengthen Africa’s Role in Space
In a significant development for the African space sector, the former Co-chair of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) Fernand Guy Isseri of Cameroon, has been elected as the ninth member of the African Space Council (ASC). Isseri, a senior geospatial specialist with over 20 years of experience, has been key in using geospatial technology for sustainable development in African countries. Elected during the 6th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, he works with governments and leaders and is the Director of the Côte d’Ivoire Geographic and Digital Information Center.
Fernand Isseri (left) and Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, President of the African Space Council (right). (Credit: Tod'Aérs, SpaceInAfrica)
Within the same week, Dr. Tidiane Ouattara of Côte d'Ivoire, has been sworn in as the President of the ASC. Dr. Ouattara, formerly the head of the Science, Technology and Space Division at the African Union Commission, has extensive experience in remote sensing, geographical information systems, international relations, business development, R&D, strategic policy, and program management in environment, natural resources, and science and technology.
The African Space Council (ASC), established by the African Union (AU), promotes cooperation among AU member states' space policies. Part of the African Space Agency (AfSA), inaugurated in January 2023 and headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, the ASC aims to enhance Africa's use of outer space for development in sectors like agriculture, disaster management, remote sensing, climate forecast, banking, defense, and security, reflecting Africa's growing role in global space governance and sustainable development.
Roscosmos Reveals Timeline for Post-ISS Russian Orbital Station
Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for the construction of its new space station, the Russian Orbital Station (ROS). The first module, a research and power node, is expected to launch into a near-polar orbit in 2027. By 2030, Roscosmos plans to have docked its four major modules, with two additional “special-purpose” modules scheduled for attachment by 2033. The station will operate at a 400-kilometer-altitude, near-polar and Sun-synchronous orbit, which will allow it to monitor the entire surface of the Earth, especially the Arctic region. The estimated cost is about $7 billion USD. The schedule for building ROS also depends on the success of the next-generation heavy-lift Angara A5 rocket.
Preliminary design of the Russian orbital station. (Credit: Sergey Bobylev/TASS)
Read more about ROS here.
SPACE COMMERCE
Falcon 9 Anomaly Underscores Need for Diverse Launch Options Amid Polaris Dawn Delay and Blue Origin Crew Announcement
According to SpaceX, they have identified and rectified the issue that led to the failure of its Falcon 9 rocket during a launch earlier this month. The anomaly, which occurred on July 11, was due to a liquid oxygen leak in the rocket’s upper stage, preventing it from performing an orbit-raising burn as planned. The leak was traced to a crack in a sense line for a pressure sensor in the liquid-oxygen system. This incident underscores the need for multiple launch options and serves as a reminder that even reliable systems like the Falcon 9 are not invulnerable. SpaceX said that it's "poised to rapidly return to flight as soon as Saturday, July 27," with another set of Starlink satellites.
SpaceX also announced the delay of the launch of the private Polaris Dawn mission, first of the three in the Polaris Program, until mid-to-late August. Funded by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, the mission aims to perform the first-ever private spacewalk while it orbits the Earth.
Meanwhile, Blue Origin has announced the crew for its next New Shepard space tourism flight. The diverse crew includes a NASA-funded researcher, a professor, a university student, a cardiologist, and entrepreneurs. Karsen Kitchen, a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will become the youngest woman to cross the Kármán line, the imaginary boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space at 100 kilometers (62 miles) above sea level.
Astroscale Secures Funding for In-Space Demonstration of Space Debris Removal in 2026
Astroscale, a space sustainability company, has secured funding for an in-space demonstration of its commercial space debris removal technology. The ELSA-M (End-of-Life by Astroscale-Multiple) mission, set for launch in 2026, aims to remove a OneWeb satellite from a 745-mile orbit. It received 13.95 million euros ($15 million) through a contract with Eutelsat OneWeb, funded by the European and U.K. Space Agencies.
Astroscale's servicer, the ELSA-M spacecraft (right), will capture a defunct OneWeb satellite and put it on course to burn up in Earth's atmosphere. (Credit: Astroscale)
The ELSA-M spacecraft will use a magnet to remove a OneWeb satellite equipped with a magnetic docking plate from low Earth orbit. After docking with the selected satellite, it will drag its cargo down to about 220 miles where it will leave the satellite to naturally deorbit. The company is in talks with satellite manufacturers all over the world, encouraging them to make their spacecraft compatible with the junk collector to help minimize orbital clutter in the future.
Star Catcher Secures $12.25M for Space-Based Energy Grid
Star Catcher Industries, a Florida, US-based startup, has secured $12.25M in seed funding to develop the world’s first space-based energy grid. The Star Catcher Network, consisting of power node satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), aims to eliminate power constraints in space operations. These satellites will harness solar power and transmit it efficiently to customer spacecraft. The network will deliver energy on demand and at higher concentrations than the Sun to the existing solar arrays of client spacecraft, enabling them to generate up to five to ten times the amount of power they would generate otherwise without retrofit.
With LEO projected to host more than 40,000 satellites by 2030, Star Catcher anticipates a need for 840 megawatts of power generation to operate these systems, according to the startup. The first of Star Catcher’s power-beaming satellites could take flight as early as next year.
MILITARY IN SPACE
The Arctic Chessboard: U.S. Strategy in the Face of Sino-Russian Collaboration
The U.S. Department of Defense has released its 2024 Arctic Strategy, addressing the increasing geopolitical and environmental challenges in the Arctic region. The strategy emphasizes the increasing reliance on satellites for critical activities in the Arctic. As climate change reshapes the region’s landscape and geopolitical dynamics, the Pentagon is calling for investments in space-based capabilities to enhance communications, intelligence gathering, and monitoring activities.
The document highlights China's aim to expand its Arctic influence through infrastructure and military growth, while Russia's Arctic military strength poses challenges to the U.S. and allies. It notes increasing Sino-Russian cooperation, complicating regional security. The Arctic's role in U.S. missile warning and defense is emphasized, with a need for modernized, polar-focused space systems. Limited satellite coverage hampers Arctic military communications, prompting calls for military and commercial solutions to enhance communications.
Svalbard’s ground station, SvalSat, downloads time-sensitive data from most of the world’s commercial and scientific satellites, but not from military missions, its operator says. (Credit: Kongsberg Satellite Services)
The U.S. Space Force supports regional military operations with personnel at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska, home to an advanced radar system for missile warning and space surveillance, notes SpaceNews. It also operates Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, a key site for space operations and polar communications.
U.S. Military’s Shift to Smallsats and the Proliferated Warfighting Space Architecture As Akima Bags Contract to Modernize Satellite Network
The U.S. military is being urged to embrace the revolution of small satellites, or smallsats. A report by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies highlights the unique attributes of smallsats, such as lower cost, faster production times, and the ability to be deployed in large numbers. This proliferation allows for greater resilience and redundancy in space operations, crucial for maintaining "space superiority". However, the report argues that the U.S. Space Force has yet to fully commit the resources to capitalize on this technology at scale.
Simultaneously, the Space Development Agency’s (SDA - of the U.S. Space Force) initiative to transform the U.S. military space architecture with an innovative approach to satellite acquisitions, as examined in a recent report by the Aerospace Corporation, aims to launch approximately 500 satellites within four years as part of a Proliferated Warfighting Space Architecture (PWSA). This design aims to boost resilience against anti-satellite threats, with $9 billion projected for the PWSA every two years. The report praises the SDA's unique acquisition model for rapid capability delivery, diverging from slower traditional methods. However, it highlights challenges like proving the satellite architecture's effectiveness, managing higher launch frequencies, and maintaining innovation as operations scale up.
Meanwhile, U.S. Space Force has awarded a $480 million, 10-year contract to Five Rivers Analytics, a subsidiary of defense contractor, Akima, to support and modernize the Satellite Control Network (SCN). The SCN, a decades-old system of 19 globally distributed parabolic antennas, supports the launch, tracking, control, and maintenance of U.S. government satellites.
These developments indicate a shift in the U.S. military’s approach to space technology, moving from large, legacy space systems towards a hybrid approach that includes both smallsats and large satellite systems. Read more about these reports here and here.
US Defense Contractor Raytheon and Italian Aerospace Firm Avio Collaborate on Solid Rocket Motors for Military Use
This collaboration aims to address shortages in the U.S. defense industrial base and enhance the resilience and responsiveness of solid rocket motor production. The agreement comes amid surging demand for solid rocket motors, driven by global conflicts, notably the war in Ukraine.
Avio will leverage its manufacturing and engineering capabilities in Italy and its American subsidiary, Avio USA, in Arlington, Virginia, for this partnership. Solid rocket motors, used in military missiles, space launch vehicles, and model rockets, are favored for their reliability, long shelf life, and quick high thrust.
The collaboration aims to develop resilient and responsive production of solid rocket motors to meet increased long-term demand from domestic and international customers. This partnership significantly bolsters the U.S. defense industry’s capacity to meet the growing demand for solid rocket motors.
Orbital Insight Secures NGA Contract for Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance
Orbital Insight, a geospatial data analytics firm recently acquired by space data and space situational awareness firm Privateer, has secured a $2 million contract from the U.S. National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) for commercial geospatial data services. The contract, awarded under NGA’s new “Commercial Solutions Opening” program, marks the first deal of its kind focused on tracking illicit maritime activity in the Indo-Pacific region.
The program was created to meet military needs for quick commercial analytics and unclassified maritime intelligence. Over the next five months, Orbital Insight’s solution will be pilot tested to decide on future contracts or acquisitions. California, US-based, Orbital Insight specializes in analyzing various forms of geospatial data, including satellite imagery and cell phone geolocation data, to study human activities.
Despatch Out. 👽🛸