Category Archives: Space Exploration

Space exploration involves human bravery and ingenuity but it comes with risks, with the line between triumph and disaster in missions being terrifyingly thin.

Throughout the history of space travel, astronauts and cosmonauts have faced dire situations that required quick thinking to ensure survival and mission success.

From the infamous Apollo 13 incident in 1970 to more recent emergencies on the International Space Station, each incident has been a valuable lesson to space agencies and companies to improve safety protocols and advance technology.

With many critical moments in space exploration, The National lists some of the most harrowing near-misses that have shaped the course of mission safety and innovation.

Before Neil Armstrong and David Scott became famous for walking on the Moon, they had to test technology that would be used for the Apollo programme.

They were rookie astronauts when they were assigned to the Gemini VIII mission in 1966 the first mission to carry out a successful docking in space.

Even though the feat was achieved, moments after docking their spacecraft started rolling unexpectedly.

Mr Scott turned off the thrusters of docking vehicle, the Agena, while his colleague reactivated the Geminis to regain control of the spacecraft.

It solved the problem temporarily but then the vehicle started to tumble even faster, with the fuel down to 30 per cent.

We have serious problems here. Were tumbling end over end, Mr Scott said to mission control in Houston.

To regain control, the astronauts shut down the main thruster system and activated the re-entry system.

This decision, while it resulted in the mission being cut short, potentially saved their lives and the spacecraft.

Both crew members went on to have stellar careers as astronauts, with Mr Armstrong becoming the first man to step foot on the Moon only three years later.

The Apollo 13 mission, known as a "successful failure", demonstrated remarkable crisis management in space.

After an oxygen tank explosion crippled their spacecraft en route to the Moon, the crew, with mission control's help, repurposed the lunar module as a makeshift survival pod.

The module, however, was not equipped to support three people for an extended period and soon filled with dangerous levels of carbon dioxide.

To combat this, the astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert cleverly adapted square carbon dioxide scrubbers from the main spacecraft to fit the round receptacles in the lunar module using plastic bags and duct tape.

They also conserved energy by shutting off non-essential systems, ensuring they had enough power for a safe return.

The crew spent 87 hours in this lifeboat set-up before safely landing back on Earth, cutting their planned eight-day mission short.

The Soyuz T-10-1 mission in 1983 faced disaster on the launch pad when a fuel spill led to a massive fire.

With two Soviet astronauts on board, the fully fuelled rocket was soon engulfed in flames, with the situation looking grim.

But the automated launch-escape system worked, activating only seconds before a large explosion.

The system detected the fire and the impending risk of a blast, rapidly propelling the capsule away from the rocket to a safe distance where it could then descend back to the ground via parachute.

The event showed how important these systems were and as such they have since become standard in crew safety protocols.

This incident also caused extensive reviews of Soviet launch protocol, leading to improved safety checks.

With past disasters becoming a lesson for space agencies, astronauts have been better equipped to handle tough situations in the modern space era, thanks to improved safety technology embedded into rocket systems.

In 2018, the Soyuz MS-10 mission experienced critical failure when the rockets side boosters failed to separate.

The incident took place about two minutes into the flight, at an altitude of about 50km, with a Nasa astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut on board the spacecraft.

The spacecraft's emergency escape system was immediately activated, propelling the capsule about 1.5km from the troubled rocket.

The crew then experienced a high-G ballistic descent, reaching forces of up to 6.7Gs, before landing safely about 400km from the launch site.

This harrowing event led to a temporary suspension of Soyuz flights for about two months as the Russian space agency investigated the problem.

It also cast uncertainty over the UAE's inaugural mission to the International Space Station, postponing the flight of Hazza Al Mansouri, the nation's first astronaut.

He was eventually blasted off into in September 2019, following a delay from the originally scheduled February 2019 departure.

While this problem in space was not life-threatening, it still created a messy situation for four astronauts to handle.

The toilet aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule that was bringing home four astronauts from the ISS sprang a leak and Nasa's Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet and Japan's Akihiko Hoshide had to resort to maximum absorbency garments or astronaut nappies as backup.

A tube used to funnel urine into a storage tank became detached, creating a leaky mess hidden on the floor of the capsule.

Once the spacecraft was back on Earth, SpaceX had to work quickly to resolve the problem, because tourists who paid millions of dollars for their tickets would soon be flying next in the capsule.

Updated: June 01, 2024, 10:40 AM

Original post:

Narrow escapes: When space missions almost ended in disaster - The National

Space exploration continues to lead to numerous scientific advancements and benefits for the Earth. Technologies developed for space missions contribute to climate change research, natural disaster monitoring, light pollution studies and improvements in human health, among other areas.

The first installment of this blog series explored how space innovation can drive sustainability on Earth. However, despite the promising future of space exploration, we face growing challenges due to the exponential increase in orbital usage, which threatens the sustainability of space itself.

The surge in the number of satellites in orbit poses sustainability challenges and, throughout the past six decades, the space above Earth has grown more congested, littered with over six thousand tons of human-generated objects as a result of progressive space exploration by both government and the private sector.

Environmental consequences on Earth, such as atmospheric pollution arising from rocket launches and space-based tech being resource-intensive to produce are also noticeable, fueling concerns about the sustainability of current outer space activities.

According to NASA, the low Earth orbit (LEO) is currently known as the world's largest garbage dump, carrying millions of space junk debris such as pieces of space crafts sometimes deliberately destructed or resulting from accidental collisions, rocket parts and nonfunctional satellites, which can reach speeds seven times faster than a bullet.

Due to the rate and high speed of debris in LEO, current and future space-based services, explorations and operations are at greater risk of collision, as the debris has the potential to damage spacecraft or operating satellites. This issue poses a safety risk to people and property not only in space, but also on Earth.

What was once seen as an innovative solution for Earths garbage de-cluttering, polluting the space above us now poses a threat to humankind itself, as we begin to venture into space in search of new perspectives and opportunities to understand our planet and the solar system.

As there is yet no firm understanding of the capacity of space to cope with such increased exploitation, the unquestionable cultural, scientific, engineering and economic benefits to humankind must be balanced against the inevitable impact of its usage.

Rather than abandoning space as a potential solution, ensuring that space tech and space exploration are developed sustainably and that measures are put in place to mitigate the issues created by the space industry is paramount.

Current landscape

At present, there are no international space laws regulating countries responsibility to clean up orbital debris and, not unexpectedly, astronomical costs are involved.

Despite the international complexities involved in combatting space-related sustainability challenges, it presents an opportunity to preserve the space environment for future generations and continue to support space exploration missions and the development of the space sector.

Multiple global initiatives have been launched for tech developed specifically to clean up LEO, such as electrodynamic tethers (developed by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency) and ultra-thin nets designed to catch space debris by dragging it into lower orbit (as part of a research project funded by NASAs Innovative Advanced Concepts program); ground-based Laser brooms that strategically heat one side of a piece of space debris, changing its orbit so that it re-enters Earths atmosphere sooner; and drag sails, which are deployed once satellites are no longer useful or attached to existing space junk, and that would help guide debris back to Earth to name only a few.

The private sector is also joining efforts, as multinational corporations are pioneering sustainable aerospace by getting involved in task forces aimed at better managing space traffic flow to minimise the risk of collisions, in addition to developing debris monitoring and removal technology. Others are defining the economics of on-orbit servicing and working with multiple stakeholders to develop norms, regulations and incentives for the responsible use of space.

In the public sphere, the UK Space Agency (UKSA) joined efforts by announcing a new 3.5m funding package to prolong the life of satellites, showing its commitment to re-fuel space sustainability.

An additional 1.5m is being directed to feasibility studies working to tacklethe space debris crisis, which contributes to the UK governments new Plan for Space Sustainability, aiming to make the UK a world leader in driving sustainability in space, whilst establishing a new Space Sustainability Standard, encourages companies to adopt best practice in space sustainability and recognise those who take steps to minimise their footprint on the Earths orbit.

Mobility challenges

One of the main challenges to sustainability in the space industry is a shortage of skilled labour. The rapid growth of the sector has created mid-career gaps, necessitating the recruitment of qualified talent from abroad. This labour shortage threatens the expansion of the space sector and risks overworking current staff, impacting their mental health and the quality of production. Addressing this issue by hiring the right people can also help businesses avoid extra costs.

The question of how to bring skilled talent in is simple: turning to immigration to address skills gaps is an imperative step for all stakeholders in the sector to focus on. Recruitment at an early career stage by retaining apprentices, interns and graduates who are in the UK already may be beneficial in the long run, but an immediate strategy is also needed for the space industry to maintain its economic growth.

In the UK, both sponsored and unsponsored visa routes are available for the space sector to rely on in recruiting overseas skilled talent. A case-by-case review of the business needs and candidates backgrounds will determine the best course of action.

Looking ahead

In the face of the complexities of the UK immigration system, the space sector industry will soon have the opportunity to take part in the UKs Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)s wider stakeholder review of the recently implemented Immigration Salary List.

This will allow businesses impacted by the rise in salary thresholds and facing skills shortages to put forward their thoughts for a balanced immigration system that supports its sectors needs, to help boost the UK economy by encouraging the further development of the space sector.

Need to know more?

For more information or questions on navigating the UK immigration system and the space sector, please contact Fragomens Space Industry Team. Please look out for part three in this blog series to be published in the coming weeks.

This blog was published on 29 May 2024, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please subscribe to ouralertsand follow us onLinkedIn,X,FacebookandInstagram.

Read the original post:

Space & Sustainability Part 2: The Role of Mobility in Ensuring the Space Industry's Growth - Fragomen

It is truly wonderful to see so many nations aspiring to space exploration and trips to the Moon. Earlier this week on the 27th May, South Korea innaugurated its new space agency, the Korea AeroSpace Administration otherwise known as KASA. The group is headed up by former professor of aerospace engineering Yoon Young-bin. Whilst the group has yet to announce detailed plans for their upcoming missions Young-bin has stated they hope to land on the Moon by 2032 and to get to Mars by 2045.

The President of Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, had confirmed that the government was committed to the space sector. To that end, they intend to secure investments of billions of dollars to fund the project. In March this year Korean Space Agency was formed in a ceremony that took place in March this year. Suk-yeol pleduged to facilitate 1,000 space companies and he hoped that 10 of the companies would become top-tier space firms. They would work hard to increase Koreas share of the space market, aiming to hit 10% instead of the existing 1%. and create over 100,000 jobs.

The Korean goverment has for sometime been keen to expand the space industry, Young-bin also prioritised support for the private sector. The establishment of KASA will be an important stepping stone that guides the way for Korea to become a powerhouse in space economy by setting up the private-led space ecosystem, Young-bin said.

Young-bin is no stranger to space exploration since he had been researching space propulsion at the time of his appointment. His research chiefly focuses on liquid rocket engine. He has also been a serving director of the Institute of Advanced Aerospace Technology.

Mid to long term goals and visions for space development are important next steps along the journey. To achieve those, KASA are striving for active cooperation from public, private and academic sectors. All of this is of course subject to securing the necessary funding.

The framework for operations of KASA have been established and will be implemented with a maximum of 293 employees. Currenly only 110 are in place which includes a number of officials who were originally part of the Science Ministry in Korea. With the establishment of KASA, the Ministry of Science and ICT have been reorganised to align to their reduced scope of work but to find the remaining employees KASA will continue to search at home and abroad for the right people.

Along with their plans to explore the Moon and Mars, KASA is also planning to explore the Lagrangian Point known as L4. These regions in space lie along the Earths orbit and usually a little ahead or a litle behind but at these points, the gravitational force of the Earth and that of the Sun balance out against each other making for a highly efficient location for a probe. No country has acehived this yet so it will really put KASA on the international space exploration map.

They also plan to restore the Apophis mission which had been scrapped some years ago. The asteroid will pass close by Earth in 2029. The plan is for this to become an international mission, calling upon international co-operation. Other projects include participation in the Event Horizon Telescope and black hole imaging from one of NASAs solar coronagraph.

Source : Korea ushers in new space era with KASA launch

Like Loading...

Read the original:

South Korea is Planning to Send a Mission to Mars by 2045 - Universe Today

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Wipro 3D have successfully manufactured a 3D-printed rocket engine, the PS4, set to power the fourth stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This groundbreaking achievement, lauded by Dr. V. Narayanan, Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at ISRO, marks a paradigm shift in space manufacturing, ushering in the era of additive manufacturing for space exploration.

The PSLV, ISRO's workhorse launch vehicle for earth observation and scientific satellites, relies on its fourth stage, the PS4, for precise orbital placement. This stage is crucial for missions related to remote sensing, oceanography, cartography, and disaster warning, among others. The successful integration of the 3D-printed PS4 engine signifies a transformative step in enhancing the PSLV's capabilities.

Traditionally crafted through conventional machining and welding, the PS4 engine underwent a radical redesign using Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) and Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) technology. This collaborative effort between Wipro 3D and ISRO resulted in the consolidation of multiple intricate components into a single, unified production unit, thereby boosting production efficiency and structural integrity.

"Wipro 3D's expertise in Additive Manufacturing has been instrumental in realising our vision for sustainable space exploration," stated Dr. Narayanan during his visit to Wipro 3D's facility. "The successful integration of the 3D-printed PS4 engine into our mission marks a significant milestone for ISRO and sets new standards of advanced manufacturing in the space industry."

Yathiraj Kasal, GM & Business Head, Wipro 3D, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration: "We're honoured to collaborate with ISRO on this pioneering project, highlighting the potential of advanced manufacturing in Space. This partnership not only advances ISRO's 'Make in India' initiative but also promotes domestic innovation and manufacturing."

The 3D-printed PS4 engine boasts integrated complex cooling channels, embodying a commitment to sustainability and efficiency. Rigorous testing at ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri confirmed its exceptional performance, meeting all design safety and efficiency standards.

Visit link:

ISRO and Wipro 3D partner for space exploration with 3D-printed rocket engine - Business Today

BEIJING (AP) A Chinese spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon Sunday to collect soil and rock samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.

The landing module touched down at 6:23 a.m. Beijing time in a huge crater known as the South Pole-Aitken Basin, the China National Space Administration said.

The mission is the sixth in the Change moon exploration program, which is named after a Chinese moon goddess. It is the second designed to bring back samples, following the Change 5, which did so from the near side in 2020.

The moon program is part of a growing rivalry with the U.S. still the leader in space exploration and others, including Japan and India. China has put its own space station in orbit and regularly sends crews there.

The emerging global power aims to put a person on the moon before 2030, which would make it the second nation after the United States to do so. America is planning to land astronauts on the moon again for the first time in more than 50 years though NASA pushed the target date back to 2026 earlier this year.

U.S. efforts to use private sector rockets to launch spacecraft have been repeatedly delayed. Last-minute computer trouble nixed the planned launch of Boeing's first astronaut flight Saturday.

Earlier Saturday, a Japanese billionaire called off his plan to orbit the moon because of uncertainty over the development of a mega rocket by SpaceX. NASA is planning to use the rocket to send its astronauts to the moon.

In Chinas current mission, the lander is to use a mechanical arm and a drill to gather up to 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of surface and underground material for about two days.

An ascender atop the lander will then take the samples in a metal vacuum container back to another module that is orbiting the moon. The container will be transferred to a re-entry capsule that is due to return to Earth in the deserts of Chinas Inner Mongolia region about June 25.

Missions to the moons far side are more difficult because it doesnt face the Earth, requiring a relay satellite to maintain communications. The terrain is also more rugged, with fewer flat areas to land.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

More:

A Chinese spacecraft lands on moon's far side to collect rocks in growing space rivalry with US - pentictonherald.ca

WASHINGTON Peru and Slovakia signed the Artemis Accords outlining best practices for responsible space exploration, bringing the number of countries who have signed to 42.

In separate ceremonies at NASA Headquarters May 30, Perus foreign minster, Javier Gonzlez-Olaechea, and Tom Drucker, Slovakias minister of education, research, development and youth, signed the Artemis Accords alongside NASA and U.S. State Department officials.

Peru, a country with limited space capabilities, emphasized how signing the Artemis Accords could open doors for the country. This opportunity will allow to Peru to participate in activities related to the exploration and sustainable use of space resources as well as to promote scientific and aerospace development in our country, Gonzlez-Olaechea said at the signing ceremony.

Peru signaled its intent to sign the Accords at a U.S.-Peru High-Level Dialogue meeting May 9, according to a State Department statement, which also noted that Peru committed not to conduct direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests. Peru has not expressed any interest in, or ability to conduct, such tests.

Drucker discussed the interest Slovakia, a member of the European Union and an associate member of the European Space Agency, has in space sustainability, which is a key aspect of the Artemis Accords. Slovakia is one of a dozen European countries that signed the ESA-led Zero Debris Charter on limiting the creation of orbital debris May 22.

In todays rapidly expanding space activities, it is very important to set rules for long-term safety of outer space, he said. These rules should ensure that space activities are safe, clean and sustainable, benefiting all nations. By fostering commercial and public private partnerships and hastening international cooperation, we can achieve these goals together.

At the heart of the Artemis Accords are two truths, and the first is that space presents challenges that no nation, no matter how determined, can solve alone. And therefore we do not go alone, we go together, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said at the Slovakia signing ceremony. The second truth is that space is an engine for partnership. Space unites nations in a way that few other things can.

Peru and Slovakia are the eighth and ninth nations, respectively, to sign the Artemis Accords this year, bringing the total number of nations who have signed on to 42. At the Meridian Space Diplomacy Forum in April, officials with NASA and the State Department, which jointly administer the Accords, said they were seeing growing interest in the Accords.

The increasingly rapid growth the Artemis Accords demonstrates a global belief in a better future for humanity in space, Mike Gold, chief growth officer of Redwire and a former NASA official who led development of the Artemis Accords, told SpaceNews. During a time when we see so much conflict and pain in the world, Artemis provides a light that can show us a path toward a future full of wonder.

The signing ceremonies took place a week after 24 of the then-40 nations who signed the Accords met at the headquarters of the Canadian Space Agency outside Montreal for a second annual workshop. The participants discussed topics such as non-interference and interoperability, two elements of the Accords, and also conducted a tabletop exercise on those issues.

Representatives of Artemis Accords nations are scheduled to meet again in person during the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy, in October.

Continue reading here:

Peru and Slovakia sign the Artemis Accords - SpaceNews

Ed Dwight told himself the same story for decades: It didnt matter that he never made it into space.

Dwight was the first Black man selected for an American astronaut-training program in 1962. He had spent years at Edwards Air Force Base in California doing zero-gravity training, running test planes and manning experiments that help set the foundation for U.S. space travel. Despite the rigorous training, Dwight was never selected for a NASA mission.

Just like every other Black kid, you dont get something and you convince yourself it wasnt that important anyway, Charles Bolden Jr., a former NASA administrator and Dwights friend, told The Washington Post.

Then, last week, Dwight broke another barrier when, at 90, he became the oldest person to travel into space. When he finally saw the view from 62 miles above Earth from a Blue Origin vessel, the atmosphere ended and his achievement began. Back on solid ground, friends said he spoke about how much it mattered to finally enter the cosmos.

When Dwight was first offered a seat on the May 19 flight, he thought about declining the offer. (Blue Origin was founded by Jeff Bezos, who owns The Washington Post.)

Im a really busy guy, said Dwight, who became an accomplished sculptor after his astronaut training. It didnt make a lot of difference to me at the time.

A group of current and former Black astronauts including Bolden, NASAs Victor J. Glover Jr. and Leland D. Melvin helped change his mind. Dwight had trained for years to go to space he should finish what he started, he recalled his friends saying.

Bolden remembers Dwight telling them how he had lied to himself for all these years about how it didnt matter. Having lunch with one of the astronauts the day before the launch, Bolden said Dwight admitted it: Theres this hole in me. I didnt realize it was there because I had convinced myself it was okay.

Dwight didnt spend time as a child in Kansas City, Kan., dreaming about becoming an astronaut. In part, because no human had ever been one.

Dwight was an Air Force pilot when his commander in chief called upon him.

As Dwight describes it: President John F. Kennedy was looking to garner more Black votes when civil rights leader Whitney Young realized the nations military academies were graduating talented Black engineers who wouldnt be accepted into graduate school.

The solution was to train a Black astronaut.

The White House began searching for a Black pilot with all of the qualifications. It landed on Ed Dwight.

I had to be talked into it, he said. I wasnt interested. I had a great military career going.

NASA was three years old at the time, and nobody knew anything about space, Dwight said. His mother, Georgia Dwight, talked him into it.

Dwights acceptance to the space program was headline news in the Black press. Jet magazine interviewed his mother, who recalled what her son said when he learned he would be an astronaut trainee: Mother, I may be the first man on the moon.

He entered the program as a pilot with 2,000 hours of airtime and an aeronautical engineering degree from Arizona State University.

As he expected, Dwight quickly met resistance.

There were forces of darkness that didnt want this to happen because they thought it would spoil the sacred nature of the space-exploration effort, he said. It could have hurt NASA quite badly.

Dwight said NASA wanted no part of sending a Black man to space, so the Air Force created the Manned Orbiting Laboratory run by Col. Charles E. Chuck Yeager.

He entered the program to an icy reception from his fellow pilots. Dwight was the White Houses special pick, and none of them were talking on the phone every day or two to Robert F. Kennedy, the U.S. attorney general.

And then there was Yeager. The first person to go faster than the speed of sound was also quick to let Dwight know how he felt in weekly meetings.

Dwight remembers Yeager often pulling from his jacket a piece of paper with names listed: I got 150 White boys here that are more competent than you, Dwight remembers him saying. Yeager also implored Dwight to give up your spot to one of these deserving White boys.

In 2019, Yeager denied the racism but agreed that he did not think Dwight should have been in the program.

Isnt it great that Ed Dwight found his true calling and became an accomplished sculptor? Yeager told the New York Times in an email. Yeager died in December 2020.

Dwight remained in the program, protected by the Oval Office until Nov. 22, 1963 the day President Kennedy was assassinated.

Dwight recalls the mood shifting immediately: The president is gone, now we can get rid of Dwight.

Three days after the assassination, Dwight received orders shipping him to Germany to be the United States liaison to its space program. Germany did not have a space program at the time.

Dwight said he flew to Washington, where Bobby Kennedy cooled him down.

When Dwight returned to Edwards Air Force Base in California, he had orders sending him to help Canadas nonexistent space program. The Canadian space agency was created in 1989.

Many of the men in his graduating class went to space, including David Scott.

The U.S. government spent nearly a quarter-million dollars to train Dwight, according to a June 1965 story in Ebony magazine. The piece showed how Dwight had been sent out to pasture, the 31-year-old pilot testing bomber instrumentations in Ohio because NASA didnt want him.

The magazine also mentioned a 15-page report that Dwight submitted to the Air Force detailing the racial discrimination he faced.

One of the reported instances was a meeting with a high-ranking officer, who said: Who got you into this school? Was it the NAACP, or are you some kind of Black Muslim out here to make trouble? Why in the hell would a colored guy want to go into space anyway? As far as Im concerned therell never be one to do it. And if it was left to me, you guys wouldnt even get a chance to wear an Air Force Uniform. (A 2013 book claimed that Yeager was the officer.)

Dwight resigned from the program in 1966.

Dwight moved to Denver, started sculpting and began telling himself he didnt need to go to space.

He became a prolific sculptor, with works commissioned by federal and state agencies for national parks and statehouses, depicting Black heroes such as Frederick Douglass and A. Philip Randolph. Many of his pieces center on space, showing shuttles shooting skyward.

Bolden, the former NASA administrator, said he met Dwight in 1980. He remembered being a high school kid in Columbia, S.C., reading Ebony and Jet stories about Dwight and beaming with pride that a fellow Black person was preparing for space.

In 1986, when Bolden was on his first shuttle mission, Dwight gave him a bronze and silver sculpture of a T-38 training plane shooting toward the stars.

Congress confirmed the recommendation for Bolden to lead NASA in July 2009. In his Senate nomination speech, Bolden described Dwight as a trailblazer in an attempt to break the color barrier in Americas astronaut program.

Bolden said two other Black astronauts, Bernard A. Harris Jr. and Melvin, helped get Dwight to space.

Bolden said Harris and others convinced Blue Origin Senior Vice President Michael Edmonds how special it would be to let Dwight finish his mission.

Bolden was there with three other Black astronauts to see Dwight leave this planet. One of them was Glover.

While he was off the planet, I was weeping. It was tears of joy and resolution, Glover, whose plans include going to the moon for NASA, told The Post.

Glover said he met Dwight in 2007 during an award presentation. Glover said he remembers thinking how nice it was to receive the sculpture of two fighter jets from the sculptor himself. Only later did Glover learn Dwights identity and story.

I was in the presence of greatness and didnt even know it, Glover said.

The two stayed in touch. During his 168 days aboard the International Space Station, Glover kept a public service medal that Dwight received from Space Force.

Glover has been amazed that Dwight isnt bitter and that he can joke about the situation.

Sixty years he sat with this and navigated it with dignity and grace and class, and that is impactful to me, Glover said.

Dwight said space was just like he thought it would be. He was curious about liftoff. The weightlessness was nothing new to him because, as a military astronaut, he had floated plenty of times. What he most wanted was the view.

It was fantastic, and Im glad I did it, he said.

Blue Origin honored the man, said Bolden, by naming Dwights seat after his call sign: Justice.

See the original post here:

Ed Dwight finally goes to space on Blue Origin as 1st U.S. Black astronaut - The Washington Post

Japanese researchers have developed the worlds first wooden satellite, named LignoSat. This innovative spacecraft is set to launch aboard a SpaceX rocket in September 2024. It is expected to mark a significant step toward reducing space debris and minimizing environmental impact. According to the engineers behind the project, wood will burn completely when the device re-enters the atmosphere. This will prevent the formation of metallic particles upon its return to Earth.

Space debris, also known as space junk, poses a significant threat to satellites and spacecraft. Currently, more than 27,000 tracked pieces of debris orbit Earth at speeds of approximately 15,700 mph in low Earth orbit. The risk of collision with this debris is a pressing concern for the space industry.

To address this issue, Japanese researchers from Kyoto University and the forestry company Sumitomo Forestry came up with a wooden satellite that promises a fiery end upon re-entry, ensuring minimal debris and a greener future for space exploration

LignoSat is a cube that measures 10 centimeters on each side. Unlike traditional satellites made of metal and other materials, LignoSat is manufactured entirely from magnolia wood. The choice of wood material serves a crucial purpose: upon re-entry into Earths atmosphere, the satellite is expected to burn completely, avoiding the creation of additional metallic particles.

During a press conference earlier this week, Takao Doi, an astronaut and special professor at Kyoto University, emphasized the importance of favoring non-metallic satellite construction. As space agencies worldwide grapple with the growing problem of space debris, innovative solutions like LignoSat offer hope for a cleaner orbital environment.

Next week, developers will hand over LignoSat to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). From there, it will hitch a ride aboard a SpaceX rocket. Destination: the International Space Station (ISS). The satellite will be released from the Japanese experimental module on the ISS, allowing scientists to assess its resilience and durability in space.

Data collected during its mission will help researchers evaluate LignoSats performance under extreme temperature changes and stress. Scientists aim to gain insights into sustainable satellite design and contribute to cleaner space exploration by studying this wooden wonder.

It is not the first time Japanese stakeholders have looked at ways to minimize space junk. For example, Japanese space technology company Astroscale is collaborating with Ansys Government Initiatives (AGI) on the ELSA project (The End-of-Life Services by Astroscale). This project aims to improve situational awareness, enable life extension and other on-orbit servicing, and offer end-of-life options with active debris removal.

ClearSpace is another initiative worth mentioning. This Swiss start-up plans to grab abandoned satellites using a giant claw and fling them back to Earth. Upon re-entry, these satellites will burn up in the atmosphere, reducing the risk of space junk.

While LignoSat and the two other initiatives mentioned represent a significant leap forward, its essential to recognize that all satellite launches remain a major pollution source. Nevertheless, Japans commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility sets a positive example for the global space community.

Read this article:

Japans Wooden Satellite to Combat Space Debris - DirectIndustry e-Magazine

The new Ariane 6 rocket will close a dark chapter in European space history when the region had no workhorse launcher and no independent access to space.

What's Ariane 6 like? What's new about it? What space adventures await?

Euronews' Marta Rodrguez Martnez and David Walsh travel to the European space station in Kourou, French Guiana, to learn all about it.

The last Ariane 5 rocket completed its final mission on July 5, 2023, after 27 years in service. The development of its successor Ariane 6 began almost a decade ago.

"During those nine years in which we developed Ariane 6, we introduced changes with a prime contractor and the industrialist to better serve evolving needs," explains Luca Linares, the European Space Agency's Head of Strategy and Institutional Launches.

"That's the life of a means of transport to space or on Earth".

So, how different is Ariane 6 from its predecessor?

Versatility is the key attribute emphasised by officials in Kourou. Ariane 6 needs to be highly adaptable to compete in a market disrupted by Elon Musks company SpaceX.

SpaceX's reusable rockets represent a major milestone in the space industry, making space travel more accessible and efficient by reducing costs.

"We can fly with three recognisable engines in three different missions. We have special equipment on board, the so-called APU (Auxiliary Power Unit), that helps us reignite the engine and bring our customers to completely different points in space and deliver them there," says Jens Franzeck, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of ArianeGroup.

"This is a huge difference. The missions will be longer, more versatile, and sometimes more complex. And this is where we want to go".

Ariane 6 can also operate with two or four boosters, depending on the thrust, orbit, and payload of the mission in question. Each booster, developed to flank the core, weighs 153 tons.

"Moving from Ariane 4 to Ariane 5 was a significant step because Ariane 4 used storable propellants, while Ariane 5 used liquid hydrogen and oxygen. This made the launch base for Ariane 5 completely different from that of Ariane 4, which caused many difficulties," says Jean-Michel Rizzi, Ariane 6 Launch Base Manager at ESA.

"However, the processes for Ariane 6 are almost identical to those of Ariane 5," he said.

Up to thirteen European countries, led by France, have collaborated on the development of Ariane 6.

Italian aerospace companies have provided propulsion systems. Belgium's science policy office, BELSPO, and Belgian companies have contributed their expertise in areas such as telecommunications and satellite technology.

Spanish companies have been involved in structural components and ground support equipment.

Swiss companies have contributed precision engineering and components to the Ariane 6 programme, particularly in areas such as guidance and navigation systems.

Dutch companies have provided expertise in areas such as avionics and payload integration for Ariane 6 missions.

The year 2024 is poised to be a landmark in the history of space exploration, with Ariane 6 joining an elite class of powerful rockets preparing to leave Earth.

On March 6, NASA successfully completed the sixth of 12 scheduled RS-25 engine certification tests for the Space Launch System (SLS), a pivotal component of the Artemis programme.

This launcher is central to NASA's ambitions to return humans to the Moon and eventually conduct crewed missions to Mars.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk's SpaceX also has its sights set on lunar exploration. The company plans to conduct the fourth flight test of its Starship mega-rocket in June.

This colossal rocket is essential for SpaceXs goal to send both equipment and humans to the Moon and, ultimately, to Mars, reinforcing its vision of making humanity a multi-planetary species.

Journalist Marta Rodriguez Martinez

Additional sources Jeremy Wilks

Here is the original post:

Europe's space sector to soon welcome Ariane 6: 'The missions will be longer and more versatile' - Euronews

South Korea, which recently created its own space agency like NASA, is serious about becoming one of the leading space powers. Already in 2032, the country plans to land its probe on the Moon, and an automatic mission to Mars is planned for 2045.

In 2045, the Korean probe is scheduled to make a soft landing on Mars. This statement was made on Thursday, June 30 by the countrys President Yoon Suk Yeol. According to him, the government plans to spend $70 billion on space exploration in the coming years.

All this is being done in order to make South Korea a leading space power that could compete with China, India and Japan. This should be facilitated by the recently created Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), modeled after NASA. It will be headed by John Lee, who has worked for 30 years in the relevant structures of the United States.

In general, the Korean president is highly counting on rapid space exploration. After all, according to him, there is a dream beyond the Earth. In order to achieve it next year, the KASA budget will almost double and amount to 1.1 billion dollars.

South Korea plans to develop its space science gradually. It intends to start with the fact that in 2025 it will launch its new Nuri rocket again. It became a real sensation when last year, on the third attempt, it was able to put a satellite into orbit.

Further plans are related to the Moon. South Korea already sent the Danuri spacecraft there in 2022. However, its further steps in this direction will be related to the planned return of American astronauts to the Earths moon in 2026.

Regardless, in 2032, KASA will try to land its own probe on the moon. Next, the Koreans plan to actively involve the private sector in missions, and in 2045 it will finally be Mars turn.

According to phys.org

Here is the original post:

South Korea will fly to Mars in 2045 - The Universe. Space. Tech