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- Breaking Space News: September 8 - 14, 2024
Breaking Space News: September 8 - 14, 2024
First Ever Image of Another Star’s Surface, 100,000-Mile High Plasma Ejections, Lunar Volcanoes, China’s Mars Sample Collection Mission, Calls for Space Demilitarization, US Defense Future-Proofing, GPS Dilemma, and More in This Week's Issue.
Lagrangian Despatch
September 15, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 29 minutes
Dear Lagrangian,
Welcome, and thanks for joining us again!
Update: We’ve added a new section, ‘Images,’ that showcases stunning new photos sent back from telescopes and space probes. We hope you enjoy it!
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IMAGES
Astronomers Capture Bubbling Gas on R Doradus : ALMA Telescope
For the first time, astronomers have captured images of a star other than the Sun in enough detail to track the motion of bubbling gas on its surface. The images of the star, R Doradus, were obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), a telescope co-owned by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), in July and August 2023. They show giant, hot bubbles of gas, 75 times the size of the Sun, appearing on the surface and sinking back into the star’s interior faster than expected. (Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/W. Vlemmings et al.)
The stellar surface of the AGB star R Doradus. The panels show the three highest resolution ALMA observations at 338 GHz. The black ellipse indicates the average size of the stellar disc. The red solid lines highlight areas with higher emission, while the blue dashed lines highlight areas with lower emission, compared to the average emission. The size and orientation of the interferometric beam is shown at the bottom left of each panel. (Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/W. Vlemmings et al.)
A 100,000-Mile-High Tower of Plasma Erupts from The Sun
A triangular solar prominence photographed by Mark Johnston of Scottsdale, Arizona on Aug. 26, 2024. The astrophotographer captured a stunning video of a 100,000-mile-high solar prominence using a custom telescope. The footage, taken in late August, shows incredible arcs of plasma rising above the sun’s surface.(Credit: Mark Johnston)
SCIENCE
Retired Dawn’s Data Reveals Ceres’ True Origins in the Asteroid Belt
Recent studies have shed new light on the origins of the dwarf planet Ceres, located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Data from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, which studied Ceres from 2015 to 2018, revealed widespread ammonium deposits on its surface. This initially suggested that Ceres might have formed in the outer solar system, where ammonia is stable, and later migrated inward. However, new findings from the Consus crater indicate that these ammonium-rich materials could have originated from Ceres’ interior, brought to the surface by cryovolcanism. This suggests that Ceres may have formed in its current location in the asteroid belt, rather than migrating from the outer solar system.
Clear filter mosaic of Consus crater seen from low-altitude mapping orbit; pixel scale ∼35 m (left); Consus Crater with the bright yellow ammonium containing material marked yBM (right). (Credit: MPS)
Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt with a diameter of around 960 kilometers, has a complex and varied geology, unlike its simpler neighbors. The presence of cryovolcanism, where icy volcanoes spew frigid sludge instead of hot lava, highlights its unique geological activity. These discoveries not only provide insights into Ceres’ past but also challenge previous assumptions about the formation and evolution of bodies in our solar system.
Dwarf planet Ceres as seen by NASA's Dawn spacecraft. In the center is Occator Crater, home to the brightest area on Ceres. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA)
Credit: NASA
The study utilized data from the now-retired Dawn spacecraft, which was the first mission to orbit two extraterrestrial bodies, Vesta and Ceres. Launched in 2007, Dawn’s mission concluded in 2018 after it ran out of fuel. The research has been published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
New Horizons Sheds Light on the Darkness of Deep Space, Measures the Universe’s Faint Glow as it Journey's to the Kuiper Belt
NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft has provided groundbreaking insights into the darkness of deep space. Positioned over 5.4 billion miles from Earth, New Horizons has measured the cosmic optical background (COB), revealing that deep space is about 100 billion times dimmer than sunlight on Earth. To put this into perspective, imagine the faintest glow you can perceive with the naked eye; the COB is far dimmer than that, making it nearly imperceptible without advanced instruments. This faint glow, resulting from the births and deaths of countless stars and galaxies, offers a unique perspective on the universe’s history and structure.
Artist’s impression of NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft in deep space. (Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Southwest Research Institute/Serge Brunier/Marc Postman/Dan Durda)
Additionally, New Horizons has detected an unexpected population of distant Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs), suggesting that the Kuiper Belt may extend farther than previously believed. The Kuiper Belt is a circumstellar disc in the outer Solar System, extending from the orbit of Neptune at 30 astronomical units (AU; about 93 million miles or 149 million kilometers - the average distance between the Earth and the Sun) to approximately 50 AU from the Sun. It is similar to the asteroid belt but far larger, containing remnants from the Solar System’s formation, primarily composed of frozen volatiles like methane, ammonia, and water. These findings imply that our solar system’s formation involved a much larger protostellar disk, challenging earlier assumptions. The spacecraft’s distant vantage point has allowed for precise measurements, free from the light contamination present in the inner solar system.
Artist’s concept of the Kuiper Belt, a distant region beyond Neptune filled with icy bodies and dwarf planets like Pluto. New Horizons became the first spacecraft to explore this region up close in 2015. (Credit: NASA)
NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, launched in 2006, was the first mission to explore Pluto up close, achieving this milestone in 2015. It then continued its journey to the Kuiper Belt, reaching the distant object Arrokoth in 2019. The spacecraft’s journey was made possible by a gravity assist from Jupiter, which significantly increased its speed.
Chang’e 5’s New Evidence of Lunar Volcanic Activity Challenges Long-Held Beliefs: Moon’s Volcanic Activity Persisted Until 120M Years Ago
Recent findings from China’s Chang’e 5 mission have upended our understanding of lunar volcanism. Analysis of lunar samples, particularly tiny glass beads, reveals that volcanic activity on the Moon persisted until about 120 million years ago, much later than previously thought. This discovery challenges the long-held belief that the Moon’s volcanic activity ceased billions of years ago, as evidenced by the dark volcanic plains known as lunar maria. Lunar maria (singular: mare) are large, dark, basaltic plains on the Moon’s surface, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions.
The landing of Chang'e 5's descender and ascender unit. (Credit: CNSA/CLEP via X)
CE-5, China’s first lunar sample return mission, was aimed at investigating and analyzing the landing site and lunar samples, focusing on acquiring relatively young samples. (Credit: Liu et al, 2020)
The Chang’e 5 mission, which returned to Earth in December 2020, brought back samples from the Oceanus Procellarum region. Among the 3,000 glass beads analyzed, three were identified as volcanic in origin, formed by magma fountains. These beads contain high levels of radioactive elements, suggesting localized heating in the Moon’s mantle. This finding implies that the Moon may still be volcanically active today, reshaping our understanding of its thermal history and geological evolution. Chang'e 5's findings were published in the journal Science.
Tianwen 3: China’s Fast-Tracked Mission to Bring Mars Samples to Earth
China has accelerated its Mars sample-return mission, Tianwen 3, moving the launch date up to 2028, two years earlier than initially planned. This ambitious mission aims to bring Martian samples back to Earth by 2031, potentially ahead of the joint NASA-European Space Agency (ESA) Mars Sample Return (MSR) program. The Tianwen 3 mission will involve two rocket launches: one carrying a lander and a two-stage ascent vehicle, and the other an orbiter and Earth-return craft. The mission plans to collect at least 500 grams of Martian surface samples using a lander-based drill and possibly a foldable, autonomous helicopter.
China’s accelerated timeline and streamlined mission architecture, which includes international payloads and collaboration, highlight its growing capabilities in space exploration. This development underscores the competitive nature of Mars exploration, as China aims to return samples before the U.S. and ESA. The success of Tianwen 3 could significantly advance our understanding of Mars and its potential for past life, while also showcasing China’s prowess in deep space missions.
GOVERNANCE
Experts and Diplomats Unite at UN Conference to Halt Weaponization of Space
In the midst of global tensions, diplomats and experts are gathering at the Outer Space Security Conference in Geneva to discuss banning weapons in space. Hosted by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), the conference aims to build international cooperation to prevent an arms race in outer space (PAROS). The timing is critical, as diplomatic efforts on PAROS have stalled for decades, with some states pushing for a new legal agreement to ban space weapons, while others focus on anti-satellite capabilities and norms of behavior.
The Secure World Foundation’s Global Counterspace Capabilities Report highlights the increasing development of technologies to harm or disrupt space systems, raising concerns about the effectiveness of existing arms control measures. The United Nations Security Council recently discussed outer space security for the first time, prompted by concerns over potential nuclear weapons in orbit.
Despite these challenges, a recent diplomatic victory offers hope. In August, a U.N. Group of Governmental Experts adopted a consensus report outlining discussions on PAROS, marking a cautious path to success. However, the risk remains that parallel efforts could split international participation and create divergent approaches to space governance. The outcome of these discussions may shape the future of global peace and security in space. Read Jessica West’s story on SpaceNews.
China Unveils Plans for an Outpost on Moon’s South Pole by 2035
China has unveiled ambitious plans to establish a lunar base at the moon’s south pole by 2035. This project, part of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) initiative, will be executed in two phases. The first phase, set to be completed by 2035, involves constructing a basic robotic outpost. The second phase, extending to 2050, aims to develop a comprehensive lunar station network, incorporating exploration nodes at the lunar equator and the far side of the moon.
The ILRS will be powered by a combination of solar, radioisotope, and nuclear generators, and will feature advanced communication networks and lunar vehicles. This initiative is a collaborative effort, with Senegal recently joining as the 13th partner . China’s lunar ambitions are not just limited to the moon; the ILRS is also expected to lay the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars.
FAA to Finalize Orbital Debris Regulations for Upper Stages by 2025
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is advancing efforts to develop regulations for the disposal of upper stages in orbit, with plans to finalize these rules by 2025. This initiative comes in response to recent incidents, including the breakup of a Centaur upper stage in geostationary transfer orbit, which resulted in over 40 pieces of debris. Such events underscore the risks posed by upper stages, which can generate significant amounts of debris and threaten space sustainability. The proposed regulations will require commercial launch operators to choose one of five methods for disposing of upper stages, ranging from controlled reentries to placement in graveyard orbits. The FAA is currently reviewing public comments on the draft regulations to refine the final rule. Read more about this story on SpaceNews.
Centaur Upper Stage Breakup: Slingshot Aerospace reported that a Centaur upper stage from the March 2018 Atlas 5 launch of GOES 18 broke up in geostationary transfer orbit on Sept. 6. Images taken 16 minutes apart showed the stage intact at 1:16 a.m. Eastern, followed by a debris cloud. (Slingshot Aerospace via X)
MILITARY
US Future-Proofing Defense: Space Force’s Warfare Plans Amid Budget Struggles and US Defense's Tech Initiatives
The U.S. Space Force is intensifying its focus on electromagnetic warfare as geopolitical tensions extend beyond Earth’s atmosphere, writes Sandra Erwin for SpaceNews. Specialized units, such as Space Delta 3, are being organized to prepare for potential conflicts involving the disruption of satellite communications and GPS signals. This strategic move aims to protect U.S. space assets and deny perceived adversaries, like China and Russia, the use of their space capabilities.
However, the U.S. Space Force is also facing significant challenges as it navigates budget constraints and evolving mission requirements. Despite a fiscal year 2024 budget of $29 billion, officials warn that this falls short of the $30 billion requested, highlighting a widening gap between funding and the expanding demands for satellite services and modernization. Brig. Gen. Brian Denaro emphasized the need for new capabilities to counter potential threats from adversaries.
In response to these challenges, the Space Force is seeking industry input on automating hybrid satellite networks, combining government and commercial systems. This initiative aims to leverage artificial intelligence to manage satellite networks more efficiently, ensuring reliable and resilient communications for the Department of Defense.
Meanwhile, space industry executives are urging the Department of Defense (DoD) to expand commercial funding in defense programs. They argue that while the Pentagon has initiatives to collaborate with private companies, there is a lack of long-term, stable funding for commercial technologies to scale up production and become key suppliers in national defense. However, the U.S. military is funding the development of reusable reentry capsules by space startups to bring cargo back from space and deliver it accurately to specific locations on Earth. Two California-based companies, Inversion Space and Outpost Space, have received over $100 million in defense and private investments through the Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program.
Additionally, the Space Security and Defense Program (SSDP) is conducting market research on advanced space domain awareness technologies for the 2030-2040 timeframe. This effort aims to enhance the Pentagon’s ability to monitor and understand activities in outer space, addressing the increasingly crowded and contested space environment.
Us Intelligence Agency Awards $290 Million in Contracts to Enhance Global Monitoring
The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has selected ten companies to compete for up to $290 million in contracts over the next five years. This initiative, part of the Luno A program, aims to enhance the government’s global monitoring and intelligence capabilities by leveraging commercial satellite imagery and data analytics. The selected firms include Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Booz Allen Hamilton, BlackSky, BlueHalo, CACI, Electromagnetic Systems Inc., Maxar Intelligence, NV5 Geospatial, Royce Geospatial Consultants, and Ursa Space Systems.
The Luno A program focuses on gathering insights on global economic, environmental, and military activities. By integrating commercial data analytics and satellite imagery services, the NGA aims to augment its existing geospatial intelligence capabilities. This move underscores the growing importance of commercial partnerships in bolstering national security and intelligence operations. Read more about this story on SpaceNews.
COMMERCIAL
Polaris Dawn Achieves First Private Spacewalk Amid Starship Facing FAA Delays, Support From US Space Subcommittees
SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission achieved historic milestones, including the first private spacewalk by astronauts Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis on September 12, 2024. Launched on September 10, 2024, the mission set a new altitude record of 870 miles above Earth for crewed missions since the Apollo era. The two-hour spacewalk saw Isaacman and Gillis testing SpaceX’s new EVA suits, designed for enhanced mobility and safety, under harsh space conditions. The crew also used SpaceX’s Starlink satellites to beam photos to Earth, showcasing advanced space communication technologies.
Credit: SpaceX
 The four astronauts of the Polaris Dawn mission posted this photo to X using SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites on Sept. 12, 2024. (Credit: Polaris Program via X) |  The second of two photos that the Polaris Dawn crew posted to X via Starlink on Sept. 12, 2024. (Credit: Polaris Program) |
Meanwhile, SpaceX’s ambitious plans for the Starship program face regulatory delays. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that the next Starship test flight, Flight 5, will not be licensed until late November 2024 due to additional safety and environmental reviews. At a House space subcommittee hearing, Congress and the space industry criticized the FAA's launch licensing regulations for threatening American space competitiveness. Industry officials expressed concerns about the lengthy and confusing licensing process, which they argue is jeopardizing the U.S.'s leadership position in space. The FAA defended the delays, citing the scope of SpaceX's license and incomplete information.
SpaceX's Starship Flight 4 test flight launched the world's most powerful rocket from Starbase at Boca Chica Beach, Texas on June 6, 2024. (Credit: SpaceX via X)
Eartheye Space, The “Uber Eats” of Earth-Observation Data Raises $1.5 Million
Singapore-based startup Eartheye Space has raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding to expand its online satellite-tasking platform. Dubbed the “Uber Eats” of Earth-observation data, Eartheye Space allows users to task a variety of satellite sensors and quickly extract valuable insights using computer vision and machine learning. The recent investment will help the company expand into Africa, the Middle East, and the USA, as well as gain access to additional data sources and enhance its staff.
NASA Explores Commercial Partnerships to Support Mars Missions
NASA is exploring the potential for commercial services to support Mars exploration, aiming to leverage private sector innovation to reduce costs and enhance mission capabilities. Under the Mars Exploration Program, NASA would act as an “anchor tenant”, purchasing commercial imagery, transportation, and communications services to support scientific missions. This approach could enable companies working with NASA to offer similar services to other U.S. and international government agencies and commercial customers.
Terra Sirenum: This false-color mosaic, captured by the THEMIS camera on NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter, shows lava from Tharsis’s giant volcanoes meeting the old cratered landscape of Terra Sirenum. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona)
The agency is also investing in technology development to support future Mars missions, including entry, descent, and landing systems, aerial and surface mobility, and network science. By fostering commercial partnerships, NASA hopes to spur more frequent and cost-effective missions to Mars, ultimately advancing our understanding of the Red Planet. This initiative reflects NASA’s broader strategy of integrating commercial services into its exploration efforts, building on successful models used for the International Space Station and lunar missions.
US GPS Modernization Faces Technical Hurdles Amid OneWeb-Eutelsat’s Combined LEO and GEO Network, Astra Launch
In a new report, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has highlighted mixed progress in the modernization of the Global Positioning System (GPS), citing advancements in satellite and ground equipment upgrades alongside persistent delays. The Space Force is facing technical hurdles in next-generation GPS satellites and ground systems, potentially pushing back the delivery of 24 M-code-capable satellites crucial for military operations through the 2030s. The M-code capable satellites, part of the GPS modernization effort by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), are designed to provide more secure and resistant signals against jamming and interference, ensuring reliable GPS services for military operations.
Meanwhile, UK based OneWeb has launched Astra, a new positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service to ensure uninterrupted communications for its satellite broadband customers, even without GPS or GNSS signals. Astra uses a software-defined outdoor receiver to access PNT signals from GNSS and alternative sources like Iridium satellites. OneWeb recently merged with Eutelsat in a $3.4 billion deal, combining its low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites with Eutelsat’s geostationary satellites. This merger creates the only operator of both geostationary and LEO satellite networks, enhancing global connectivity and offering growth opportunities in the satellite industry.
SPOTLIGHT
Iron Winds and Metal Rains: Extreme Weather on Ultra-Hot Jupiter-like WASP-76b
A recent study has revealed extreme atmospheric conditions on the ultra-hot Jupiter exoplanet WASP-76b, located 634 light-years away in the Pisces constellation. A “Jupiter exoplanet” refers to a type of exoplanet that is similar in characteristics to Jupiter in our solar system. This gas giant, tidally locked to its star, experiences temperatures around 2,400 degrees Celsius on its permanent dayside, hot enough to vaporize iron. High-resolution spectroscopic observations have detected powerful iron winds, driven by a hot spot in the atmosphere, transporting vaporized iron from the dayside to the cooler nightside. On the nightside, the iron condenses and falls as molten metal rain.
An artist's illustration of the hot Jovian exoplanet, WASP-76 b, discovered in 2013. The temperature there reaches 2,400 degrees Celsius. (Credit: Tania Cunha, Planetário do Porto - Centro Ciência Viva/Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço)
These findings, achieved through the use of the ESPRESSO instrument on the Very Large Telescope, provide unprecedented insights into the complex climate dynamics of WASP-76b. The presence of such extreme weather phenomena, including iron rain and high-speed winds, underscores the alien nature of exoplanetary atmospheres and challenges our understanding of planetary climates. The study is published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Listening to the Universe: Listening to the Universe: Detecting Gravitational Waves from Core-Collapse Supernovae
Recent research has expanded our understanding of core-collapse supernovae (CC-SNe) and their potential to generate detectable gravitational waves. Traditionally, gravitational wave detectors like LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA have focused on binary mergers, such as those involving black holes or neutron stars. However, new studies suggest that these detectors could also identify signals from CC-SNe, particularly those involving massive stars collapsing into black holes. Interestingly, a key signature would be the direct detection of a descending chirp in gravitational radiation, which is notably distinct from the ascending chirps produced during compact binary coalescence, the research highlights.
This animation depicts a star undergoing a core collapse supernova, where it collapses under its own gravity. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
This artist’s impression shows a massive star in a binary system becoming a supernova, as observed in SN 2022jli with ESO’s VLT and NTT. The explosion left behind a neutron star or black hole, which continued to orbit its companion star, stealing matter from its puffier atmosphere. This accretion was seen as brightness fluctuations and hydrogen gas movements. (Credit: ESO/L. Calçada)
A key finding is that the most energetic CC-SNe, especially those associated with long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), could produce gravitational waves detectable from distances up to 65 million light-years away, 1000 times greater than previously thought. Long-duration GRBs are intense bursts of gamma rays lasting from a few seconds to several minutes, typically resulting from the collapse of massive stars into black holes.
Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime caused by the acceleration of massive objects, like black holes or neutron stars. During a CC-SNe, the collapse of a star can create these waves, which travel at the speed of light and carry information about the event. The studies also highlight the role of high-density disks or tori, which are thick, donut-shaped structures of gas and dust surrounding the collapsing star. These structures can convert the energy from the collapse into gravitational waves.
These insights were derived from simulations and data analysis, highlighting the potential of current gravitational wave observatories to probe the central engines of supernovae and distinguish between neutron star and black hole formations. This advancement opens new avenues for understanding the life cycles of massive stars and the dynamics of their explosive deaths. The study is published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Despatch Out. 👽🛸