Daily Archives: July 23, 2022

July 22, 2022

Scientists around the world dream of being part of a NASA science mission. Few projects carry the vigor and prestige of exploring scientific questions that can be answered only with a view from and into space.

And thanks to Arizona State University's connection to theLunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, studentsfrom theIra A. Fulton Schools of Engineeringhave gained insight into space exploration without ever leaving campus.

The LRO is one of more than90 operating NASA missions, and is currently orbiting the moon with the primary objective of making fundamental discoveries about our closest celestial neighbor.

The LRO has been equipped with seven instruments, one of which is theLunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, or LROC. This three-camera system is mounted on the LRO to capture the moons surface in high-resolution black and white images and moderate-resolution, multi-spectral images allowing scientists to see beyond what is visible to the human eye.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera Science Operations Center, or LROC SOC, is housed at ASU as part of the universitysSchool of Earth and Space Exploration. This proximity is what has created an incredible opportunity for engineering students.

Fulton Schools students operate in different areas of the center, performing tasks related to software, modeling and image creation from data.The variety of learning opportunities available to students help prepare them for various roles after graduation.

I think studentswho can say theyve been a part of an active spacecraft mission, collecting or processing data from a NASA satellite moving around the moon,stand out that much more to potential employers, saysNick Estes, the LROC SOC manager at ASU.

Recently, images captured by NASAsJames Webb Space Telescopehave garnered headlines and captured the attention of people around the world. According to Estes, in a general sense, there are some parallels between the work happening at the LROC SOC and the images coming from the Webb telescope.

Its all aboutexploring our universe and expanding our knowledge of how it all works, Estes says.

At a more detailed level, the differences between lunar exploration andastronomy are pretty pronounced.That said, you have a lot of kids whogrew up watching astronauts on the International Space Station, watching rocket launches andgazing up at the stars, and which particular field they head off tofrequently depends on the opportunities available to them in school.

Seth Grieser, a senior who is double-majoringGrieser is in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, one of the seven Fulton Schools, and the School of Earth and Space Exploration, in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. in mechanical engineeringand earth and space exploration (exploration systems design), has a unique view of the moon through his work in the center. Using Narrow Angle Camera images, he creates accurate, high-resolution mosaics of regions of interest on the moon.

I use computer software to combine image pairs into a single mosaic, Grieser says. Between image pairs in a mosaic, there is a seam where the software combines the images. Sometimes the lighting conditions or the terrain of the moon doesnt blend properly. My responsibilitiesare to correct these flaws as best I am able and to fix any other mistakes or errors with the mosaics before theirrelease to the public.

These mosaics can be used to assist in finding landing sites for future moon missions or to collect scientific data, such as the number of craters or the elevation of a site researchers may be interested in exploring. For every measurement, it is important that researchers are as accurate as possible.

Earth rising over the moon in a photo captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter operated by ASU. Photo courtesy NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/ASU

Grieser says that his experience as an engineering student has helped him be successful in his multidisciplinary work at the LROC SOC.

The professors in the Fulton Schools often emphasize how to detect issues that arise and methods to fix these problems, Grieser says. As an engineer and in my role (at the LROC center), solving problems as a team is often the best approach, and only by working together can large assignments be completed.

The Phoenix native developed an interest in space at an early age and says that since he was in kindergarten its been his dream to work as an engineer on a space mission.

I was honestly shocked after working a few months at the LROC SOC about how fascinating the moon is, Grieser says. The thousands of craters, big and small, along with the huge crater rims and mountains, hundreds of feet high, challenged the notion I had that the moon would be a boring place to explore. Looking up in the night sky, I now view the moon as extremely diverse and complex geologically.

Alex Huft, a third-year computer science student with a software engineering specialization, considers himself an amateur astronomer in his free time. So, working as a student developer at the LROC SOC has been a great fit for him, combining his passion for programming with his interest in space exploration.

My work can range from analyzing spacecraft data using PythonA type of programming language. and creating scripts to help my co-workers automate tasks to writing a new application to create calibration files for the Narrow Angle Cameras on the LRO, Huft says. Everyone is communicative and understanding (at the LROC SOC). Even when something has to get done, there is never a feeling of pressure. Everyone takes pride in the work they do here and always do the best they can.

Huft says a pair of Fulton Schools faculty members have had the greatest impact on him thus far: LecturerJustin Selgradand Associate ProfessorAdam Doup, both of whom are computer science and engineering faculty members in theSchool of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, one of the seven Fulton Schools.

Professor Selgrads C++ assignments, while very involved, gave me a better understanding of C++ as a (programming) language and helped me with a recent application in my work, Huft says. Professor Doup gave me an extreme appreciation for cybersecurity and cemented in me that this is what I wanted to go into as a career.

I feel really lucky to be in such a beneficial environment for my learning and the immense amount of experience I am gaining just by being here at the LROC SOC, Huft says.

The LROC Science Operations Center being located on ASUs Tempe campus enables a mutually beneficial relationship between students and researchers who are committed to NASAs science mission.

Its definitely a great benefit for our operations to have a pool oftalented students available to hire, Estes says. When the students go off to start their careers, itssometimes hard to get your foot in the door, and their experienceworking here helps to make them stand out to potential employers.Inreturn, we get to benefit from their different experiences and freshideas.

Students interested in working on LROC orShadowCamcankeep an eye on theASU student job board, which includes a variety of roles in programming, business assistance, research tasks and working in the LROC stereo lab.

Whenever possible, we let our student workers work on thetypes of things theyre most interested in, and we combine that with alot of mentoring, Estes says.

Web content comm administrator , Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

480-727-1957 erik.wirtanen@asu.edu

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Capturing the moon | ASU News - ASU News Now

CAMBRIDGE, MA (Draper PR) Draper, a company with a heritage in space exploration from the earliest stages of Apollo to the most recent Artemis awards, announced thatNASA has awarded Draper $73 millionto deliver a suite of three NASA-sponsored science payloads to the Schrdinger basin on the lunar surface. Schrdinger basin is on the far side of the Moona first for NASA.

Draper, as prime contractor, will lead a team that brings extensive and highly relevant experience in space, with partners that include General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems, ispace technologies U.S. Team and Systima Technologies, a division of Karman Space & Defense. Team Draper will deliver the payloads in 2025 in fulfillment of Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) task orderCP-12, managed by NASAs Science Mission Directorate.

Draper and its teammates are honored to be selected by NASA to deliver these important payloads to the lunar surface, paving the way for human and robotic exploration missions to follow. Withour heritagein space exploration, originating with theApolloProgram, and our deep roots and broad technology presence in the space sector, Draper is poised to ensure U.S. preeminence in the commercialization of cislunar space, said Drapers principal director of civil and commercial space systems, Pete Paceley.

Each Draper Team partner brings industry-leading solutions:

Schrdinger basin is a large impact crater near the lunar South Pole. The basin is one of a few locations on the Moon that shows evidence of geologically recent volcanic activity, including lava flows and eruptions from vents. The CP-12flightwill deliver three payloads of scientific equipment to measure the Moons seismic and thermomechanical activity, and capture details about the magnetic field, electrical activity, heat flow and surface weathering.

As a result of the far side landing, the lander and payloads will require a communications relay capability to communicate with Mission Control Center on Earth. To fulfill this need, Team Draper will deploy two relay satellites, built by Blue Canyon Technologies, in the cislunar orbit before the lunar landing. Advanced Space will support the team in the mission planning and operations of the satellites.

CP-12 will make possible the kind ofgeophysical observationsfrom the surface of the Moon that have consistently remained a high priority among the lunar community.

About Draper

At Draper, we believe exciting things happen when new capabilities are imagined and created. Whether formulating a concept and developing each component to achieve a field-ready prototype or combining existing technologies in new ways, Draper engineers apply multidisciplinary approaches that deliver new capabilities to customers. As a nonprofit engineering innovation company, Draper focuses on the design, development and deployment of advanced technological solutions for the worlds most challenging and important problems. We provide engineering solutions directly to government, industry and academia; work on teams as prime contractor or subcontractor; and participate as a collaborator in consortia. We provide unbiased assessments of technology or systems designed or recommended by other organizationscustom designed, as well as commercial-off-the-shelf.

About General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) Group is a global leader in the research, design and manufacture of first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS history of research, development, and technology innovation has led to an expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions supporting aviation, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and processing and monitoring applications for critical defense, industrial and commercial customers worldwide.

About ispace technologies, U.S.

Located in Denver, Colorado, ispace U.S. is a subsidiary of ispace. The office, which opened in late 2020, has more than 40 employees and is rapidly growing. It serves as the central location for development of ispaces Series 2 lander, as well as the central location for operations in North America. ispaces plans to invest and develop robust operations in the U.S. is driven by its objective to partner with The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to further its lunar exploration objectives, such as through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, and other business opportunities. Currently, ispace, through ispace U.S., is involved in a strategic partnership with the Massachusetts-based engineering innovation company, Draper, as part of Team Draper to compete in the CLPS program; through this collaboration, ispace would assume the role as a subcontractor and design agent to Draper.

About Systima, a Division of Karman Space & Defense

Karman Space & Defense is an integrated concept-to-production solutions provider for the space and defense industrys most complex and mission-critical projects. Through its four divisions (Systima, AAE, AEC and AMRO) the company provides solutions for integrated dynamic systems, assemblies, and advanced manufacturing that are used in our industrys most critical programs, including crewed-space flight and hypersonic missions. The Systima division located in Mukilteo, WA (WA-2) is a leading manufacturer of separation and deployment systems, integrated launch and retention/release systems, electromechanical systems and electrical initiation systems as well as aerostructures and advanced composite assemblies including deployable shrouds and fuel tanks.

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NASA Awards Draper $73 Million to Deliver Suite of Payloads to the Moon in 2025 Parabolic Arc - Parabolic Arc

The Zacks Satellite and Communication industry companies are benefiting from a vast proliferation and cheaper access to space technology. This trend is leading to a diversification in end-market users. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Big Data have given rise to multiple use cases across industries like oil and gas, agriculture, transportation and non-governmental organizations. Geopolitical competition in space as a contested domain is resulting in further investments by global militaries. Iridium Communications IRDM, Maxar Technologies MAXR and EchoStar Corporation SATS have significant growth potential on global security threats, surging defense budgets, demand for high-quality imagery and value-added services.

Industry Description

The Zacks Satellite and Communication industry comprises space technology companies that provide satellite imagery and intelligence services and spacecraft and robotics for space exploration, research and national security. They help customers understand and navigate the evolving planet, deliver global broadband communications and explore space. The industry players provide communication services to media businesses, fixed and wireless telecommunications operators, data networking providers and Internet service providers. They provide commercial satellite communication services to government and military organizations. The firms offer satellite-based consulting and technical services, including the lifecycle of satellite operations and infrastructure, ranging from satellite and launch vehicle procurement to telemetry and commanding services.

What's Shaping the Industry's Future

Advancements in Technology Hold the Key: There has been a radical change in highly specialized satellite manufacturing patterns. More emphasis is put on using common buses and computer-aided design tools to customize the communications payloads. A mass-produced system is adopted and several satellites are manufactured at once in an assembly line. Integration and testing have become highly automated. The extent of testing is reduced after prototyping and initial production is completed. Countries with comprehensive space programs have distinct military, economic and scientific advantages, but complexity and barriers to entry into space have allowed only a few to develop notable capabilities. The demand for small satellites across regions is expected to increase over time, with North America having the bulk of the market share, followed by the Asia Pacific, Europe and the rest of the world. North America maintains its dominance with the highest number of small satellite launches by government end users. The companies continue to align their products and services with the U.S. Department of Defenses National Defense Strategy needs and growing international defense and intelligence demand.

Subscriber Momentum to Drive Growth: Wide proliferation and cheaper access to space technology have diversified end-market users. The companies share a strategic relationship with various government organizations, including military and disaster response agencies and non-governmental organizations, to provide robust, tactical, real-time voice and low-latency data command and control communications. A wide product portfolio enables the companies to expand their customer base and offset the losses from one product category with benefits obtained from another. Also, high product quality increases brand loyalty and improves their performance in a competitive market. For civil customers, particularly NASA, growth is being driven by space exploration programs. For commercial customers, growth drivers include a strong demand for imagery due to new use cases, space-based remote sensing, Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit replacement demand and Low Earth Orbit communications programs.

Increasing Spending on Space Infrastructure: With more than half of the revenues coming from U.S. government customers, the industry is likely to benefit from increasing defense and space infrastructure budgets. The proliferation of space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and communications is expected to boost government investments in the sector. The companies are developing differentiated capabilities designed for future space exploration, including propulsion, power and robotics. These elements will be critical for helping their customers achieve successful space exploration missions. Focus on research and development and product and service enhancements is a key strategy for innovation and growth. However, increased lead time associated with global supply chain disruptions remain concern.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bright Prospects

The Zacks Satellite and Communication industry is housed within the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. It currently has a Zacks Industry Rank #42, which places it in the top 17% of more than 251 Zacks industries.

The groups Zacks Industry Rank, which is the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates strong near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Before we present a few satellite and communication stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, lets look at the industrys recent stock market performance and valuation picture.

Industry Outperforms Sector, Lags S&P 500

The Zacks Satellite and Communication industry lags the S&P 500 composite but outperformed the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector in the past year.

The industry has lost 22.2% over this period against the S&P 500s decline of 17.8%. The broader sector has plunged 38.7%.

One-Year Price Performance

Industry's Current Valuation

The Enterprise Value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio is commonly used for valuing satellite and communication stocks. The industry has a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 8.29X compared with the S&P 500s 11.66X. It is also below the sectors trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 9.31X.

In the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 22.93X, as low as 7.48X, with a median of 10.58X, as the chart below shows.

Enterprise Value-to-EBITDA Ratio (Past Five Years)

3 Satellite and Communication Stocks to Watch

Iridium Communications: Headquartered in McLean, VA, Iridium Communications provides mobile voice and data communication services and products to businesses, the United States and foreign governments, non-governmental organizations and consumers. The company delivers mission-critical services across various industries, allowing its business to remain resilient despite headwinds. Iridium offers competitive broadband services through its Certus technology. Iridiums performance is benefiting from its expanding subscriber base driven by the demand for consumer-oriented devices and higher services revenues. Iridium expects commercial service revenues to benefit from growth in IoT, ongoing activations and solid uptake of the companys broadband services. Iridium carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The consensus estimate for its current-year earnings has remained unchanged in the past 30 days at 9 cents. The stock has gained 48% in the past two-year period. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 109.4%, on average. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Price and Consensus: IRDM

Maxar: Based in Westminster, CO, Maxar is a space technology firm providing satellite imagery and expert intelligence services along with spacecraft and robotics for space exploration, research and national security. Maxars performance is gaining from continued momentum in the Space Infrastructure segment. Increasing demand for the companys 3D and other innovative geospatial products bodes well. There is huge growth potential among three key parts of its addressable market the U.S. government, other international governments and commercial customers. In May 2022, the company announced that it was awarded Electro-Optical Commercial Layer (EOCL) contract by the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The contract includes a five-year base contract worth $1.5 billion with five additional years of options through 2032. It is the largest ever commercial imagery acquisition contract awarded by the NRO. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has moved up 14.3% over the past 30 days. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 183.7%, on average. The stock has gained 62.5% in the past two-year period. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

Price and Consensus: MAXR

EchoStar Corporation: Headquartered in Englewood, CO, EchoStar Corporation is a global provider of satellite service operations, video delivery services, broadband satellite technologies and broadband internet services. The company also provides innovative network technologies, managed services, and various communications solutions for aeronautical, enterprise and government customers. It operates through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments. The company recently deployed pan-European LoRa-powered Internet of Things (IoT) network. This network leverages EchoStar Mobile's licensed S-band spectrum from the EchoStar XXI satellite and provides bi-directional and LoRa-powered connectivity (real-time) across Europe using a single network, added the company. Currently, EchoStar carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Price and Consensus: SATS

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free reportEchoStar Corporation (SATS) : Free Stock Analysis ReportIridium Communications Inc (IRDM) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMaxar Technologies Inc. (MAXR) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research

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3 Stocks to Watch From the Satellite and Communication Industry - Yahoo Finance

After exploring Mars for more than a year, Chinas Tianwen-1 space probe has successfully taken images covering the entire Red Planet, Chinas National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on June 29.

Tianwen-1, which translates to quest for heavenly truth, consists of six separate spacecraft:

The images in question were taken by the orbiter while circling Mars 1,344 times, capturing images of the Red Planet from every angle while Zhurong explored the surface. In the statement, CNSA said the probe has now completed all of its tasks, which included taking medium-resolution images covering the entire planet.

Tianwen-1 was launched on July 23, 2020, amidst the turmoil of the Covid-19 global pandemic. Whats unique about this mission is China was attempting to become the first nation to successfully send an orbiter and rover to Mars on the first try.

Upon successful orbital insertion and landing, Tianwen-1 became a historic victory for the CNSA and space exploration. Before Tianwen-1, the only two successful missions to send an orbiter and lander to Mars were NASAs Viking 1 and 2 missions in 1975. Prior to that, the Soviet Union had attempted this feat with their Mars 2 and 3 missions in 1971 and Mars 6 in 1973.

Mars 2 was an outright failure, with the lander being destroyed and the orbiter sending back no data. On Mars 3, the orbiter obtained approximately eight months of data, and while the lander touched down safely, it only returned 20 seconds of data. On Mars 6, the orbiter produced data from an occultation experiment, but the lander failed on the descent.

During its time exploring the Red Planet, Tianwen-1 showed a Mars weve come to both love and admire: dusty dunes, shield volcanoes, impact craters, and even the north pole. While the orbiter was taking these amazing images, Zhurong was gathering data and information about Mars geological structure, atmosphere, environment, and soil.

An image of dunes on Mars, taken by the Zhurong rover of the Tianwen-1 probe shortly before it entered dormancy in May 2022. CNSA

Overall, the probe has collected 1,040 gigabytes of raw scientific data, which the CNSA said has been processed by scientists back on Earth and handed over to researchers for further study.

While the probe entered Mars orbit on February 10, 2021, the Zhurong rover didnt touch down on Mars until May 14 of that same year. It landed in Utopia Planitia, the current home of NASAs Viking 2 spacecraft, which landed in the vast Martian plain in 1975.

In June 2022, Zhurong successfully found hydrated minerals in sediment dating to Mars most recent geologic period, which are likely associated with groundwater. Hydrated minerals include substances such as olivine, pyroxene, and feldspar, which were likely altered as they integrated water into their chemical structures.

Unfortunately, Zhurong had to enter its dormant mode starting on May 18, 2022, due to dropping temperatures during the Martian winter, along with poor sand and dust conditions. This dormant mode ensures the rover's long-term survivability, which will be reawakened sometime in December.

While Tianwen-1 makes China only the third nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the surface of Mars, the European Space Agency (ESA), India, and the United Arab Emirates have successfully sent their respective spacecraft to orbit the Red Planet. Tianwen-1 also demonstrates Chinas strong aspiration to explore Mars, as it recently announced plans to return Mars samples to Earth in 2031, a full two years earlier than NASA and the ESA.

An image of a mountain on Mars was taken by Chinas Tianwen-1 probe. CNSA

Along with their ambitious robotic missions, the CNSA announced last year that they plan to send its first crewed mission to the Red Planet in 2033 with a goal to send regular missions to Mars and eventually build a base there.

This 2033 timeframe is in stark contrast to NASA, which announced earlier this year that they plan to launch astronauts to Mars in the late 2030s or early 2040s.

China seems very serious about human space exploration, as their Tiangong space station currently houses three astronauts on six-months stays, with the most recent crew arriving just last month.

Where will space exploration take us in the coming years? Which country will land the first humans on Mars? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!

This article was originally published on Universe Today by Laurence Tognetti. Read the original article here.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY.

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Chinas Tianwen-1 Mars probe just completed its number one goal - Inverse

Imagine a car on the highway. The driver has collapsed on the wheel, their foot still on the accelerator, while more cars keep joining the same lane.

Thats how we currently decommission small spacecraft we just leave them in orbit.

According to the European Space Agencys last Space Environment Report, we launched over 1,200 satellites in 2020 three times as many as the year before. SpaceX alone plans to add tens of thousands more satellites in the coming years.

But all this comes at a cost.

Right now, more than 8,000 tons of potentially lethal space debris orbits the Earth. A paint flake that gouged out a chip from the window of the International Space Station is a threat to spacecraft, just like the bus-sized zombie satellite Envisat that cannot be commanded to deorbit. All space debris, big or small, travels with a velocity of 7.5 km per second. A gram-sized particle in space has the same momentum as a fist-size rock hitting your windshield on the motorway.

As Earths orbits get crowded, the risk of collisions increases increasing the number of debris particles. This could lead to a phenomenon known as the Kessler Syndrome, where a thick cloud of tiny particles eventually surrounds the Earth, preventing future space flight.

Currently, we care about the economic returns of space exploration, so we flood space with satellites. We care about consumer data, so we launch expensive, carefully built satellites on strategic orbits. But we are not focusing enough on the physical space environment. For example, over recent decades agencies have chosen not to study the science of near-Earth space, preferring to focus on distant galaxies instead even though our society critically depends on it.

Keeping the space highway open

Space physics has a critical role in the sustainable use of space. Conditions in space determine how long satellites remain operational, sometimes even when they return to the atmosphere. In February 2022, Starlink lost 40 satellites due to a phenomenon called Joule heating. Current quantitative understanding of Joule heating is so poor that there is no way to predict when and where it can occur. The same is true for dozens of other potentially critical space weather effects.

We need to start thinking about the physical environment of space such as our orbits as an asset: something we care about, rather than a common-pool resource to be recklessly exploited. Big spacecraft should not be allowed to become zombies; they should be deorbited safely before the end of mission. Small satellites should not simply be left in orbit.

We dont build a new car every time another breaks we send it for servicing. We need such servicing technologies for spacecraft, so they can continue their missions. We also need technologies to clean up the existing debris, and prevent new debris from the increasing numbers of new launches.

Durable spacecraft for sustainable space

Frustrated by the lack of action from space agencies on this issue, I established the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space, which builds and launches CubeSats, or nanosatellites. Our aim is to prevent new space debris. The centre studies near-Earth space physics, and develops innovative deorbiting technologies. The open-source results can be used by anyone wishing to build durable spacecraft. In June, we launched our first CubeSat demonstrating resilient design and deorbiting technology, with the aim of making a lasting impact in sustainable use of space and orbit safety.

As we mark the anniversary this Wednesday of the first moon landing on July 20, 1969, we must remember that missions like this pushed open the door of space to all humanity. We need to make sure this door does not fall shut for future generations. As we continue exploring and commercializing space, we must rethink our current approach and adopt a more sustainable way to use space so that we can improve the well-being of people all over the world.

Minna Palmroth leads the Space Physics Research Group at the University of Helsinki, and is chair of the board at the Technology Academy Finland.

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Space now contains so much junk, its a danger to human life and future exploration. Heres what we should do about it - Toronto Star

Few subjects will inspire as much awe, wonder, and reverence as space. From the dazzling first photos of the James Webb Space Telescope to reports on every Hubble happening, theres something about looking out onto the edges of the universe that inspires hope and beauty in the worlds collective imagination. NASA has recently revealed its Photographer of the Year winning images. Though the news may have been eclipsed by the JWST, this behind-the-scenes look at the agency shows some of the people and places making space exploration possible.

In its fourth year, the competition is exclusively for the agencys photographers, with NASA recognizing four categories: documentation, portrait, people, and places. The winners feature the dramatic, official portrait of astronaut Tom Marshburn, exercises at Johnson Space Centers Rock Yard, a giant torque, and the Blue Angels.

When astronauts need to give something a test run, they go to the Rock Yard. Norah Moran won the Documentation category with this photo of Kelsey Young and Tess Caswell evaluating lunar field geology tasks at Johnson Space Center.

The winner of the Portrait category was Josh Valcarcel, who took the official portrait of astronaut Tom Marshburn suited up in the Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuit at the Johnson Space Center. From the deep shadows and harsh light to the fog of the helmet, many elements lean into the mystery of space.

Denny Henry scooped up the People category trophy with a photograph of Engineering Technician Ryan Fischer. Here, Fischer uses a torque to adjust the Force Gauge Ring in preparation for vibration testing of the PACE spacecraft at the Goddard Space Flight Center.

Dominic Hart took the winning image for Places with this picture of the Blue Angels, the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron. Here, the group is shown walking through the inlet of a wind tunnel test section at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex (NFAC).

The yellow glow of the moon and the harsh white lights of the testing site create an otherworldly feel. Is this Earth? Who are they, what are they doing, what do they want?

Another heroic astronaut portrait, but with a different angle. Gone is the mystery, but the possibilities remain.

No, this isnt a new movie set for Wes Anderson, but it very well could be. That is, if Anderson is looking for a giant antenna at the Johnson Space Center. We spy an outer space feature film in his future?

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Space rocks and fighter jets: NASA shares its photographers best images - Popular Photography

HOUSTON, Texas

For all eternity, the US will lay claim to being the first country to put a man on the moon.

Fifty-three years ago, on July 20, 1969, NASA spacecraft Apollo 11 landed on the moon with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins aboard.

All three became iconic figures around the world, with Armstrong becoming the first human to set foot on the moon's surface.

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," he exclaimed on that glorious day.

"Obviously, firsts are usually the ones we remember the most, and Neils accomplishment certainly ranks among the most notable firsts of all time," said Brian Odom, the US space agencys acting chief historian. "His calm, cool demeanor during the mission also became legendary and made him the subject of many documentaries, films, and stories."

"The reaction to Apollo 11 was tremendous both in the US and internationally," Odom told Anadolu Agency. "Once the astronauts returned home, they became instant celebrities, as the landing was understood to be one of the greatest of humanity's accomplishments."

Space Race

The triumph of that historic day was the result of the US battling the Soviet Union during the 20th century in what became known as the Space Race.

"In May 1961, President John F. Kennedy committed the US to the Moon program. The decision followed a series of notable firsts for the Soviets, including Sputnik in 1957 and Yuri Gagarins orbital flight in April 1961," Odom explained.

"At the time, the Cold War magnified these defeats, as communism and democracy were locked in what appeared to many to be an existential battle around the world."

This competition between the two global giants propelled both countries to press forward with the Space Race with the goal of letting the world know which nation was number one. That meant countless resources being poured into NASA's space program.

"Kennedy believed technological achievements were important to the Cold War race but also that the investment in the Apollo program would have implications back home in terms of national capabilities in research and development," said Odom. "Kennedy believed this investment would also have implications on the American economy and society. The success of Apollo 11 in 1969 was the culmination of that process."

That first mission to the moon intensified America's focus on the space program and immediately impacted the scientific community worldwide.

Shuttle, Hubble, Mars Rover

"More missions returned to the lunar surface, expanding science and exploration," Odom explained. "These accomplishments allowed the US and international partners to build upon that success by returning to low Earth orbit to understand the microgravity environment, planetary science, astrophysics, and Earth science."

Less than three years after the US put the first person on the moon, President Richard Nixon declared in 1972 that NASA would develop a space transportation system featuring a vehicle capable of shuttling "repeatedly from Earth to orbit and back."

Then, on April 12, 1981, another nine years later, the first space shuttle, Columbia, blasted off, beginning a 30-year run of 135 shuttle missions, which carried more than 350 crew members into outer space, traveling more than 804 million kilometers (500 million miles) during that period.

"Following Apollo, NASA dedicated its human spaceflight efforts to the space shuttle," said Odom, praising its ability to allow us to learn valuable lessons in low-Earth orbit and to live and work in space."

Exploring the vast unknowns of space did not end there. From the space shuttle program to the Hubble Space Telescope to the Mars Rover, the first moon landing has been an important catalyst in America's commitment to space exploration more than a half-century later.

Webb Telescope, return to the Moon, and manned Mars mission

"The moon landing continues to inspire NASA and its workforce, commercial and international partners to dream big," emphasized Odom. "One important example is the recent success of the James Webb Space Telescope. This telescope is the largest and most complex space science observatory ever built to transform our view of the universe and deliver world-class science."

"Like Apollo before it, Webb is one of the great engineering feats of humanity," Odom stressed. "The recently revealed first images brought us together to wonder at our shared cosmic origins."

Over the decades since the first moon landing, many space enthusiasts have wondered when the US will send another crew of astronauts to the moon.

Wonder no more.

"NASA is going back to the Moon and beyond with the Artemis Program," said Odom. "With Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before for the benefit of all."

NASA continues to test the Artemis human landing system and its next-generation spacesuits, with a target date for that first mission sometime in 2026.

"We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon," explained Odom. "Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars."

As is evidenced by the amount of space travel and technological breakthroughs over the past 53 years, landing the first human on the moon will continue to motivate space exploration and allow scientists to believe dreams can come true.

"I think it really means there is nothing humanity cant accomplish if we work together across both human space exploration and scientific discovery," said Odom. "People will never look at the sky the same way again."

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53rd anniversary of US putting 1st man on the moon - Anadolu Agency | English