NASA has chosen Blue Origin from Kent, Washington to create a human landing system for their Artemis V mission to the Moon. NASA’s Artemis mission is going to explore more of the Moon than ever before! This will help us discover new things about the Moon and prepare for future missions to Mars.
What role will Blue Origin play in NASA’s Artemis V mission to the Moon and the development of a human landing system?
For repeated astronaut trips to the lunar surface, including docking with Gateway, a space station where crew transfers take place in lunar orbit, Blue Origin will design, develop, test, and certify its Blue Moon lander to meet NASA’s requirements for human landing systems. The contract involves creating and testing a spacecraft for a trip to the moon. This will include a test run without any people on board, followed by a trip with a crew in 2029. The contract is worth $3.4 billion.
Bill Nelson:
“Today we are excited to announce Blue Origin will build a human landing system as NASA’s second provider to deliver Artemis astronauts to the lunar surface,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “We are in a golden age of human spaceflight, which is made possible by NASA’s commercial and international partnerships. Together, we are making an investment in the infrastructure that will pave the way to land the first astronauts on Mars.”
Rocket and Spacecraft involved in the mission:
NASA’s Artemis V mission will send four astronauts to orbit the moon using the SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft. After Orion docks with Gateway, two astronauts will take a weeklong trip to the Moon’s South Pole region using Blue Origin’s human landing system. They will conduct science and exploration activities during their time there. Artemis V is a mission that will help NASA explore the moon and prepare for future missions to Mars. It will show how we can explore the moon and set up systems to support more missions in the future.
What are the benefits of involving more partners in NASA’s Artemis program to land humans on the Moon?
NASA is looking for more partners to help them land humans on the Moon as part of their Artemis program. This will make things more competitive and save money for taxpayers. It will also mean more trips to the Moon and more investment in the lunar economy. All of this will help NASA get ready for sending astronauts to Mars in the future.
What is NASA’s strategy for expanding access to space and encouraging innovation in human landing system designs?
The agency hired SpaceX to create a system for humans to land on the moon for the Artemis III mission. The agency instructed SpaceX to update its design to meet its standards for sustainable exploration and to showcase the lander during Artemis IV under the contract. NASA has made a deal with Blue Origin to create a lander meeting certain Artemis V mission requirements. This lander will be able to carry more crew members, stay on the Moon for long periods of time, and transport more materials. This means that there will be more companies available to compete for future opportunities to help NASA with their missions to the Moon.
NASA will contribute to expanding access to space for the benefit of all by encouraging businesses to develop cutting-edge human landing system concepts and designs. This will help industries come up with better ideas and designs for landing systems.
Lisa Watson-Morgan:
“Having two distinct lunar lander designs, with different approaches to how they meet NASA’s mission needs, provides more robustness and ensures a regular cadence of Moon landings,” said Lisa Watson-Morgan, manager of, the Human Landing System Program at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “This competitive approach drives innovation, brings down costs, and invests in commercial capabilities to grow the business opportunities that can serve other customers and foster a lunar economy.”
What is Appendix P?
NASA released a request called Appendix P in September 2022. This is part of their work to create new and better ways to explore space. They’re looking for partners to help them with this project.
A brief introduction to the program:
NASA is planning to send astronauts to the Moon through a program called Artemis. This mission is significant because it will include the first woman and the first person of color to explore the Moon. The goal of the mission is to make scientific discoveries, reap economic benefits, and establish a base for future missions to Mars. NASA has a solid plan for exploring deep space. They’re using five important things to make it happen: the SLS rocket, Orion, Gateway, advanced spacesuits, and human landing systems.
Virgin Galactic flight is one of the most fascinating events for space enthusiasts! Therefore, it announced on Monday that it’s planning its third commercial spaceflight. The name of this space flight is Galactic 03. Virgin Galactic’s next flight 2023 would be as early as September 8. Moreover, this flight will carry three passengers who bought their tickets in the early 2000s.
If it happens in September, it will be Virgin Galactic’s fourth spaceflight in four months. It will be showing their quick pace after a long break. It also puts them ahead of Blue Origin, which has been grounded for almost a year since a launch accident.
Virgin Galactic Space Flight 2023:
The ‘Galactic 03’ crew are among Virgin Galactic’s first customers, known as ‘Founder’ astronauts. What is more important is their assistance in this project. They have helped turn the idea of regular commercial spaceflights of Virgin Galactic into reality with their early ticket purchases.
Furthermore, crew members got their tickets back in 2005 and have been active in Virgin Galactic’s Future Astronaut community. Which has around 800 members from over 60 countries. This community offers unique experiences to inspire and enhance their spaceflight journey.
The Virgin Galactic flight 03 pilots are Nicola Pecile and Michael Masucci for VSS Unity. Besides this, Jameel Janjua is the VMS Eve Commander, assisted by Pilot Kelly Latimer.
Virgin Galactic will Have Its First Privately Funded Space Tourists!
Virgin Galactic achieved a remarkable milestone as it flew beyond the 50-mile space threshold. Besides these, it will be carrying its very first group of privately funded adventurers and lucky space sweepstakes winners. Among the passengers was Keisha Schahaff, whose exciting journey began with a win in an online contest organized by the Omaze charity.
But what makes this voyage even more captivating is that it etched its name in history by allowing a mother-and-daughter duo, Keisha Schahaff, and her daughter Anastasia Mayers. Therefore it is quite an amazing experience for Virgin Galactic to fly in space together for the very first time. Moreover, this extraordinary feat also marked a significant moment for the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. These intrepid travelers became the first to represent their island nation in the realm of space exploration.
“I kind of feel like I was born in this life for this,”Schahaff, a wellness coach, told NBC’s “Today” show.
Her daughter is a college student who aims to become an astrobiologist.
Virgin Galactic Flight Number 2- Passenger Details:
Jon Goodwin, is an 80-year-old British adventurer and former Olympic canoeist from 1972. He did something extraordinary on the Galactic 02 flight today. He reserved a spot with Virgin Galactic back in 2005 when tickets cost $200,000. Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease nearly a decade ago, he became only the second person with Parkinson’s to go to space today in a Virgin Galactic flight. Besides this, the flight is following NASA shuttleastronaut Rich Clifford.
What is the Virgin Galactic flight?
Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity, a rocket-powered space plane, had a successful launch and landing on Thursday. This mission, called Galactic 02, took off just after 11 a.m. Eastern Time from Spaceport America in New Mexico, carrying the company’s first group of tourists into space.
A view of VSS Unity’s nozzle after the Galactic 02 flight. Credit: Eric Berger
How far is Virgin Galactic?
The VSS Unity rocket plane separated from the carrier plane over New Mexico at about 9:20 a.m. local time. It then took the four passengers, consisting of a company instructor and three tourists, to an altitude of roughly 55 miles (88.51 km).
How fast does Virgin Galactic go?
On Virgin Galactic flight 02, the space plane reached a speedy Mach 3, three times the speed of sound, and reached an altitude of 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) before returning to Earth. Virgin Galactic confirmed a smooth landing on the runway at Spaceport America at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (1530 GMT).
Who flew on the Virgin Galactic Space flight?
Galactic 02, the flight, took off from Spaceport America in New Mexico. Furthermore, let us tell you about the customers too. Onboard Galactic 02 were three customers: British former Olympian Jon Goodwin and two passengers from the Caribbean, Keisha Schahaff and Anastasia Mayers.
How many people can fit in Virgin Galactic?
Virgin Galactic launched the VSS Unity spaceplane 50 miles above Earth on Thursday. This spaceplane has windows all around the cabin and can carry four tourists in its 60-foot long, 27-foot wingspan frame. Additionally, the cabin inside of Virgin Galactic Flight is designed to be minimalistic and is described as providing an elegant yet forward-looking, experience-focused concept.
What makes Virgin Galactic unique?
Virgin Galactic proudly stands as the world’s pioneer in commercial space travel, with a mission that transcends boundaries. Besides these, the aim is to unite people from all corners of the world with the boundless love, wonder, and awe that space exploration can offer. They firmly believe that spaceflight possesses a remarkable power to alter our viewpoints, advance our technology, and chart a new course for our journey as a species.
Why did Virgin Galactic drop so much?
In the second quarter, Virgin Galactic Holdings (SPCE 2.38%) certainly made significant strides. However, despite all their efforts, the results didn’t align with Wall Street’s high expectations. Following the release of the company’s financial figures and less-than-enthusiastic forecasts for the upcoming quarters, the stock of this space startup experienced a roughly 5% decline. It’s a clear example of anticipation not quite matching reality in the dynamic realm of space ventures.
How long does Virgin Galactic stay in space?
Key Details Information:
Flight Duration 60 minutes
Altitude Reached 55 miles (88km) above Earth
Notable Passengers Former Olympian, Mother-daughter pair
Founder Sir Richard Branson
What is the aim of Virgin Galactic?
The mission is to make human spaceflight accessible to people worldwide. Therefore, working at Virgin Galactic lets many astronomers have an inspiration present and future generations by shaping the future of space travel.
Can you go to space with Virgin Galactic?
The flight window officially opened Thursday morning, and tickets are up to $450,000.
The Vulcan Centaur launch schedule proceeded with the necessary test. The next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket from United Launch Alliance (ULA) recently made a significant advancement toward its initial launch.
If you are wondering what is the Vulcan Centaur’s launch date, then it is recently launched on the evening of June 7. As we all know that being a launch vehicle, it has accomplished a significant milestone by performing a successful engine test.
This was the inaugural instance where both first-stage engines were simultaneously ignited on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The quick test, known as a flight readiness firing (FRF), happened on June 8 at 9:05 p.m. EDT (0105 p.m. GMT).
And if we dig deep into the starting time of engines, then at T-4.88 seconds, the engine start process started. After two seconds of throttling up to the desired level, the engines then powered down. According to a statement from ULA tonight, six seconds made up the whole FRF.
Vulcan Centaur Rocket’s First-Stage Engines on Launch Pad for the First Time
The ULA has Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles that been replaced with the futuristic, 202-foot-tall (62-meter) Vulcan Centaur rocket launch.
(Image credit: ULA ) ULA’s First Vulcan Centaur Rocket Ready for Launch Pad Testing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
How Big is Vulcan Centaur?
ULA’s upcoming rocket, the Vulcan Centaur, standing at an impressive height of 202 feet (equivalent to 62 meters). And it is set to supplant ULA’s longstanding Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles.
The reason for it long standing height lies behind the company’s cutting-edge space exploration vehicle.
First Launch of Vulcan Centaur:
When we look deeper into the news then we find out that two BE-4 engines from Blue Origin are used in the Vulcan Centaur first launch, while two RL-10 engines are used in the Centaur V upper stage.
Furthermore, the spacecraft has space for up to six additional solid rocket boosters that are attached to the main rocket.
What is Geostationary Orbit?
When the rocket is fully functional, it will have the ability to launch Vulcan Centaur payloads weighing up to 7.7 tons (7 metric tons) into a high orbit around the Earth called geostationary orbit. Although it has not yet taken flight, ULA is striving to alter that, as seen by today’s test.
According to the company’s report from tonight,
“We are more than 98% complete with the Vulcan reusable qualification program, with the remaining items associated with the final Centaur V testing.”
The crew is continuing to look into the Centaur V test stand anomaly while also evaluating the data from the systems used in today’s test, they said.
“We will develop a launch plan pending the data review and the findings of the investigation.”
On March 29, a Centaur burst on a test stand at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama following a hydrogen leak, resulting in the anomaly mentioned in that update. Before that event, ULA had planned to launch the Vulcan Centaur for the first time in early May.
Where Will Vulcan Centaur Launch?
As ULA has launched the one of the biggest, and interesting heavy two staged launch vehicle, now comes the position, where it will be launched.
So, tonight marks the inaugural test fire of United Launch Alliance’s newly developed Vulcan Centaur rocket, which will take place on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Now, let’s talk about the peregrine. What is it actually about?
Vulcan Centaur Peregrine, A Lunar lander From Aerospace
Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based company, has developed the Peregrine lunar lander, which will embark on its inaugural mission to the moon. ULA representatives have indicated that the mission might potentially launch sometime this summer.
However, an exact launch date has not yet been announced by the company.
In tonight’s update, ULA stated that testing is a crucial component of their development program for launch vehicles and that they would only fly when they felt it was safe to do so.
On May 25, ULA made an attempt to execute the FRF but had to cancel the test during the countdown due to a booster-related technical issue.
Following the cancellation, the company smoothly conducted an inspection and study of the Vulcan Centaur, which was subsequently moved off the pad and into its Vertical Integration Facility hangar.
Difference Between Vulcan Centaur and Falcon 9
There is a clear difference between these two in many terms. The Vulcan Centaur has a payload capacity of 60,000 pounds (27.2 tons) for low Earth orbit (LEO) and 14,300 pounds (6.5 tons) for geosynchronous orbit (GEO).
In contrast, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 has the ability to transport 50,000 pounds (23 tons) to LEO and 18,300 pounds (8.3 tons) to GEO.
How Many Successful Launches has ULA Had?
Apart from Vulcan Centaur ULA, it has many successful launches so far. Let’s have a glance at the keen launches, and see how they had made a difference.
The most seasoned and dependable launch service provider in the nation, ULA boasts a rich legacy spanning over a century. Over the years, ULA has achieved pleasing success by flawlessly executing over 150 missions to orbit.
These missions have played a pivotal role in providing essential capabilities for soldiers deployed in the field. Which further aids the meteorologists in monitoring severe weather conditions.
It will not help to gather important pieces of news for weather, but also facilitate GPS navigation on personal devices. Since its inception, ULA’s rockets have been instrumental in positioning the satellite assets worth over $70 billion into orbit.
So, it has been clear seen that besides the heavy Vulcan Centaur’s launch, ULA has launched many successful satellites that has benefited in many ways.
Many people think that the model of the timeline of the Big Bang paves its way to explain a lot. And that is true! For instance, it tells us about the universe’s history and development. Moreover, the universe began as an incredibly hot and dense point. Besides telling you some crisp information, it also tells you that the universe started around 13.7 billion years ago.
But, here arise a question how did the universe change from being only a few millimeters in size to the immense expanse that we see today?
To make it easier to understand. Let’s break down the journey of this timeline to the present into some simple steps:
Timeline of the Big Bang – Is it a Space Exploration?
You will be very surprised to know that the Big Bang wasn’t a space explosion. Researchers clarify that it signaled the birth of space across the entire universe. As per the Big Bang theory, the universe came to exist as an incredibly hot and dense point in space.
An illustration of the timeline of the universe following the big bang. (Image credit: NASA/WMAP Science Team)
Furthermore, what happened before this moment remains unclear to cosmologists. However, using advanced space missions, ground-based telescopes, and complex calculations. Scientists have been working diligently to paint a clearer picture of the universe’s initial stages and how it formed.
Besides this, a significant part of this effort comes from studying the cosmic microwave background.This phenomenon tells us that the lingering glow of light and radiation that originates after the Big Bang. Spread throughout the universe, this can be detected by microwave instruments too. This phenomenon allows scientists to gather pieces of information about the universe’s early history, and how did the big bang happen!
The Inflation Stage – Where the Universe Timelines Underwent an Exponential Expansion!
During the universe’s early days, when it was extremely young. Around a hundredth of a billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second (a really tiny fraction!). The universe went through an extraordinary phase of rapid growth. This occurrence, known as inflation, saw the universe undergo exponential expansion.Throughout this time, the universe doubled in size at least 90 times.
David Spergel is a theoretical astrophysicist at Princeton University in Princeton, N.J.. He told that after inflation, the universe continued to grow, but at a slower rate.
“The universe was expanding, and as it expanded, it got cooler and less dense.”
The Formation of Different Compounds in the Timeline of the Big Bang
In the first three minutes after the universe came into existence. Thus, the lightweight chemical elements started to form. As the universe kept expanding, the dropping temperatures led to collisions between protons and neutrons. Which results in the creation of deuterium. It is an isotope of hydrogen. A significant portion of this deuterium then combined to produce helium.
WMAP has produced a new, more detailed picture of the infant universe. Colors indicate “warmer” (red) and “cooler” (blue) spots. (Image credit: NASA/WMAP Science Team)
The Phase of “Recombination”:
Around 380,000 years after the Big Bang, matter had cooled down enough for electrons to join with nuclei, creating neutral atoms. This phase is called “recombination.” The free electrons come together and made the universe become see-through. The light that was released during this period still exists today. And it is detectable radiation known as the cosmic microwave background.
After recombination, there was a dark period before stars and other bright objects appeared.
Big Bang Theory Timeline – The Dark Era!
About 400 million years after the Big Bang, the universe started to move out of the dark period. This crucial phase in the universe’s development is known as the age of re-ionization.
While it was initially thought to have taken over half a billion years, you will be surprised to know about the recent observations. They have led scientists to consider that re-ionization might have happened faster than previously believed.
During this timeline of the Big Bang, the clusters of gas came together to form the very first stars and galaxies. Besides this, the ultraviolet light emitted from these energetic events played a part in spreading out. It has cleared away most of the nearby neutral hydrogen gas.
Cosmic Microwave Background Theory – Significant Events of Universe Timeline
Astronomers are tirelessly exploring the vast reaches of the universe to find the most distant and ancient galaxies. This pursuit helps them understand how the early universe was like. Furthermore, by studying the cosmic microwave background, astronomers can effectively trace back and piece together the events that happened before.
An image taken BY NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, showing a cluster of galaxies residing 10 billion light-years away. (Image credit: NASA/ESA/University of Florida, Gainsville/University of Missouri-Kansas City/UC Davis)
For instance, many insights gained from earlier missions like WMAP and the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE). Both launched in 1989, as well as ongoing missions like the Hubble Space Telescope, which began its mission in 1990. They all work together to contribute to the scientific effort of solving long-standing mysteries.
The Formation of “Milky Way” in the Big Bang Timeline:
Scientists believe that our solar system formed a little more than 9 billion years after the Big Bang. Which makes it roughly 4.6 billion years old. Current calculations indicate that the sun is just one of an astonishing 100 billion stars that exist in our Milky Way galaxy. It follows a path around 25,000 light-years away from the central core of the galaxy.
An infrared view of a developing star taken by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. It illustrates what our solar system might have looked like billions of years ago. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/AURA)
Different Galaxies & Seeing of the Distant Stars:
During the 1960s and 1970s, astronomers started considering that there could be more mass in the universe than what we can see. One of these astronomers was Vera Rubin, who worked at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. She looked at how fast stars were moving at different places within galaxies.
According to basic physics by Newton, stars at the edges of a galaxy should move slower compared to stars closer to the center. However, Rubin noticed something different. She discovered that there was no change in the speeds of stars as you moved farther out from the center. In fact, she found that all stars in a galaxy appeared to be moving around the center at roughly the same speed.
An illustration of Earth surrounded by filaments of dark matter called “hairs”. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
THE UNIVERSE IS’NT STANDING STILL!
In the 1920s, an astronomer named Edwin Hubble made a groundbreaking discovery about the universe. Using a newly constructed telescope at the Mount Wilson Observatory in Los Angeles. Hubble revealed something transformative: the universe isn’t standing still; it’s actually getting bigger.
Fast forward to 1998, and the famous Hubble Space Telescope, named after that same pioneering astronomer. He used on studying distant exploding stars known as supernovas. Its findings brought to light a remarkable insight: a significant time in the past saw the universe expanding at a slower rate than it is today. This discovery was important because it went against earlier beliefs. Where it is defined that the gravitational pull of matter in the universe would slow down its expansion or possibly even cause it to contract.
What is the timeline of the Big Bang theory?
The Big Bang. 10-43 seconds.
The Universe Takes Shape. 10-6 seconds.
Formation of Basic Elements. 3 seconds.
The Radiation Era. 10,000 years.
Beginning the Era of Matter Domination. 300,000 years.
Birth of the Sun. 5 Billion Years Before the Present (BP)
Earliest Life.
What are two main eras in Big Bang timeline?
Since the Big Bang, the universe has gone through several eras distinguished by the behavior of the universe’s fundamental forces and particles.
Planck Era.
Grand Unification Era.
Electroweak Era.
Elementary Particle Era.
Era of Nucleosynthesis.
Era of Atoms.
What are the 7 steps of the Big Bang theory?
#1 – Inflation & the Beginning
#2 – A Hot Mess & a Jumble of Particles
#3 – Cooling Cosmos & Quarks> Protons + Neutrons
#4 – Dark, Hot, and Foggy Universe (EP)
#5 – Let There Be Light & Hydrogen + Helium
#6 – Giant Clouds, Galaxies, & Stars (by He & H)
#7 – Heavy Elements In/Become Stars
What are the 5 theories of the origin of the universe?
Throughout history, people have come up with different ideas to explain things they didn’t understand. These ideas ranged from thinking the Earth was flat to believing everything revolved around us, and then realizing the Sun was at the center. Later, we learned about the Big Bang and an even faster expansion called the Inflationary Big Bang. These ideas were based on what people knew at the time. Even though they might not be completely right, we shouldn’t just call them wrong. It’s more accurate to say they were a bit imperfect because they matched what people knew back then, but they might not explain everything completely.
Dark Matter & Dark Energy!
Even as our understanding of how the universe formed and grew has expanded greatly, there are still several unanswered questions that await solutions. One of the most prominent mysteries involves the puzzling realms of dark matter and dark energy. However, cosmologists continue their efforts to explore the complexities of the universe, aiming for a more complete understanding of where it came from.
The Contribution of JWST:
A significant stride in this ongoing journey was the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in 2021. This advanced telescope has the goal of advancing the search to uncover the elusive properties of dark matter. Additionally, its infrared instruments did poise to look both far into the distant past and forward through the unfolding story of the universe’s evolution. This could potentially shed light on crucial aspects of how the universe originated and developed.
In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, there’s a place where human aspirations seamlessly converge with the ever-expanding realm of technology. This place? Google Cloud Next 2023. From August 29 to 31, the renowned Moscone Center in San Francisco becomes more than a venue—it becomes a crucible where dreams, innovations, and personal stories are forged in the fires of technological advancements.
San Francisco’s Moscone Center: The Gathering Place
Nestled amid the iconic streets of San Francisco, where history echoes amidst modern aspirations, the Moscone Center stands tall. It’s a building with walls that, if they could talk, would narrate tales of countless events, inspiring keynotes, and game-changing announcements. Located a stone’s throw from places where entrepreneurs scribble ideas on napkins and where coders dream in binary, it’s the ideal spot for Google Cloud Next 2023.
During these three days, the center will buzz with an energy that’s palpable, the kind that only gathers when you place a world of innovators, thinkers, and dreamers under one roof. From the corridors filled with hushed tech discussions to the grand halls echoing with applause, every corner will vibrate with anticipation and excitement.
The Human Tapestry of Google Cloud Next
Stories of Triumph and Trial: Behind every line of code, there’s a story. From startups that began in cramped garages to corporations driving global change, Google Cloud Next celebrates these stories of sheer determination and passion.
The Confluence of Generations: In the vast expanse of attendees, one can witness the heartwarming sight of seasoned tech veterans discussing nuances with the newer generation. It’s where experience meets enthusiasm, wisdom meets wonder, and every conversation becomes a potential lesson.
The Universal Language of Code: Despite the diversity in backgrounds, cultures, and languages, there’s a universal dialect spoken here: the language of code. It’s the thread that binds, making strangers into collaborators and competitors into companions.
An Expedition of Discovery and Growth
A. Keynotes – More Than Just Announcements: At the core of Google Cloud Next are its keynote sessions. But they aren’t just about product launches or updates; they represent sleepless nights, relentless trials, and the indomitable human spirit. Each announcement, each revelation is a testament to a team’s dedication to pushing boundaries.
B. The Canvas of Breakout Sessions: The breakout sessions are the heartbeats of this event. Ranging from deep tech dives to broader visionary discussions, they’re arenas of learning, questioning, and understanding. But more than that, they’re platforms where stories unfold—stories of failures turned into successes, of challenges transformed into opportunities.
C. The Magic of Hands-on Labs: Here, attendees won’t just see or hear; they’ll do. It’s about rolling up sleeves, diving in, and emerging with a new skill, understanding, or perspective. These labs are where concepts morph into reality, where abstracts become tangibles.
Building Bridges and Forging Bonds
The magic of Google Cloud Next isn’t limited to the sessions or the keynotes. It’s in the unplanned coffee breaks, the spontaneous discussions in hallways, the shared nods of agreement, and the collective gasps of amazement. It’s in the exchange of business cards, the promises of catch-ups, and the group selfies that capture moments for eternity.
For those contemplating attendance, know this: you aren’t just signing up for a conference. You’re embarking on a journey—one that promises to enrich, enlighten, and inspire. To embark on this remarkable voyage, make your way to Google Cloud Next 2023 Registration.
In the Heartbeat of the Cloud
As the world stands on the cusp of further technological revolutions, the importance of events like Google Cloud Next 2023 can’t be overstated. It’s more than a tech summit; it’s a human gathering. It serves as a reminder that at the heart of every algorithm, every line of code, and every cloud-based solution, there’s a human story waiting to be told.
So, as San Francisco’s iconic fog envelops the Moscone Center, and the dawn of August 29 approaches, one can almost hear the symphony of humanity harmonizing with the cadences of technology. Be there to witness, participate, and add your unique note to this global concerto.
EL Gordo is a galaxy cluster, and its phenomenal view has been captured recently by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. But one thing that is quite surprising you will find that this galaxy is locate more than 7 billion light-years away.
That is why it is surely an intriguing point for many of you. You will be amazed by the presence of two gravitational arcs in the image. And besides this, the most striking element in the picture is a vibrant red arc at the upper right. It is named “El Anzuelo” (The Fishhook).
And one thing that is noteworthy here is that the light from this arc has traveled for a 10.6 billion years before reaching Earth!
What is the Real Meaning of El Gordo?
El Gordo is a cluster that comprises hundreds of galaxies. They came into existence when the universe was approximately 6.2 billion years old. And that obviously making it a “cosmic teenager.” Apart from other interesting things, one thing is the EL Gordo had the title of the most giant cluster which we know. And if you want to know its originality, then it come from Spanish which means “The Fat One.”
Why the Astronomers Studied El Gordo? Gravitational Lensing Phenomenon!
If you are wondering why the scientists, and the research team chose to study El Gordo. Then it was due to its role as a natural cosmic magnifying glass. And it was achieved through a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. This process occurs when a cluster’s potent gravity bends and distorts the light of objects located behind it. This also resembles the effect of an eyeglass lens.
This phenomenon, gravitational lensing, effectively boosts the brightness and magnifies the sizes of distant galaxies, granting astronomers a unique and valuable opportunity to study the far reaches of the universe in greater detail.
Team Pearls & Their Contribution in El Gordo:
Therefore, through the gravitational lensing by El Gordo, the brightness of galaxies that are far were boosted, and their sizes are magnified! This impressive lensing effect offers a special window into the far reaches of the universe. And allows researchers like Brenda Frye from the University of Arizona, co-leading the PEARLS-Clusters branch of the Prime Extragalactic Areas for Reionization and Lensing Science (PEARLS) team. They conduct their observations and analysis on El Gordo.
What is El Anzuelo? Let’s Have Some Meaningful Insights
If we look deeper into the details of El Gordo, then we will find the one of the most notable elements. That is a vibrant red arc situated at the upper right. We call it as “El Anzuelo”, and its meaning is The Fishhook!
It is named by one of Brenda Frye’s students. Henceforth, the light emitted by this galaxy traveled a 10.6 billion years before reaching Earth. The distinctive red color results from a combination of reddening by dust within the galaxy itself. And not just galaxy but cosmological redshift too. All happened due to its immense distance.
The Phenomenon of “QUENCHING”!
The research team successfully determined that the background galaxy possesses a disk-like shape. They did it through careful corrections for the lensing distortions. And not only this, but with a diameter of approximately 26,000 light-years too. Which is roughly one-fourth the size of our own Milky Way.
Furthermore, their investigations into the galaxy’s star formation history also revealed a fascinating finding, which is none other than the process of quenching. And in this process the star formation rapidly declines, and they was already on the way, and in the center of the galaxy.
Let’s Know the Word of Patrick Kamieneski too!
Patrick Kamieneski from Arizona State University, the lead author of a second paper said:
“We skillfully unraveled the dust veil enveloping the galaxy’s center, where active star formation occurs. Now, with the capabilities of Webb, we can effortlessly peer through this dense curtain of dust. And it will be providing us with an unprecedented opportunity to witness the inner workings of galaxy assembly.”
Two of the most prominent features in the image include the Thin One, highlighted in box A, and the Fishhook, a red swoosh highlighted in box B. Both are lensed background galaxies. The insets at right show zoomed-in views of both objects. Image: NASA, ESA, CSA. Science: Jose Diego (Instituto de Física de Cantabria), Brenda Frye (University of Arizona), Patrick Kamieneski (Arizona State University), Tim Carleton (Arizona State University), and Rogier Windhorst (Arizona State University). Image processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI), Jake Summers (Arizona State University), Jordan D’Silva (University of Western Australia), Anton Koekemoer (STScI), Aaron Robotham (University of Western Australia), and Rogier Windhorst (Arizona State University).
What is the Reason Behind the Striking Red Color of El Anzuelo?
El Anzuelo’s striking red color come up from a combination of two factors:
The reddening effect caused by dust within the galaxy itself.
The cosmological redshift from its incredible distance.
And, the second prominent feature within the image is the pencil-thin gravitational arc, and the scientists gave a nickname it too. “La Flaca” (the Thin One).
This arc belongs to another lensed background galaxy, and its light also took nearly 11 billion years to reach Earth.
Who Lead the Keen Analysis of El Gordo?
PEARLS-Clusters branch, a part of the PEARLS team made their observations in this discovery. The images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) not only hold scientific significance. But they also let us in an awe with their breathtaking beauty. As they show the remarkable power of gravitational lensing, that is why it double up the beauty.
Moreover, his ability to tackle the gravitational lensing also fulfills the vision given by Albert Einstein over a century ago. It also opens up new possibilities for unraveling the secrets of the universe.
How The Theory of Relativity is Corelated with El Gordo Cluster?
Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity come more than 100 years ago. And it predicted the phenomenon of gravitational lensing. In the case of the El Gordo cluster, we witness this phenomenon come into visuals. The JWST’s remarkable infrared capabilities also allow it to penetrate through dust veils. Which furthermore making it more unique.
The concept of gravitational lensing by Einstein’s theory give us a vision of space and time. It tells us that they are interconnected and malleable just like a skin to a tangible fabric. This 4D “fabric” can warp and ripple based on the presence of masses within it.
The JWST’s ability to observe and analyze gravitational lensing holds great significance in advancing our understanding of the cosmos.
Why the Distant Galaxies Appeared More Younger than the Nearest Galaxies?
As we are talking about El Gordo which is a very distant galaxy, so let’s find more insights about distant galaxies. Besides the objects captured in the Webb image, there are many intriguing elements. Through they might be less prominent.
For instance, Brenda Frye and her team, consisting of nine students ranging from high school to graduate level. They made a fascinating discovery. They identified five multiply lensed galaxies that seem to be part of a baby galaxy cluster. That was forming around 12.1 billion years ago. Furthermore, there are about a dozen other candidate galaxies that could also be part of this distant cluster.
The research team examined whether the properties of these galaxies differed from the ultra-diffuse galaxies or not. And they did find dissimilarities. The galaxies in the distant cluster appeared bluer, younger, more extended. And they displayed a more even distribution throughout the cluster.
These findings suggest that living in the cluster environment for the past 6 billion years has influenced the evolution and characteristics of these galaxies.
Ending Note on Timothy Carleton’s Words:
Timothy Carleton who is link with Arizona State University shares:
“We explored whether these galaxies exhibit any differences compared to the ultra-diffuse galaxies we typically observe in our local universe, and indeed, we found some intriguing variations. Specifically, they appeared bluer, indicating younger stars. And they displayed a more extended and evenly distributed pattern within the cluster. These observations strongly suggest that the cluster environment has played a substantial role in shaping the properties of these galaxies over the course of the last 6 billion years.”
Now, what do you think how are distant galaxies like El Gordo differ from the nearest one? What could be the potential manners of their difference?
For a long time, humans have thought about the potential existence of moon life, and they also thought of various creatures.
In this blog, we will provide brief answers to ideas regarding life on the moon. That was held in the 17th, 19th, and 20th centuries. By exploring these concepts, we will also gain valuable insights into scientific theories, and the discoveries by astronomers. Which will further assist us in our evolving understanding of the universe.
What are the Science Fiction Theories in Exploring Moon Life?
As telescopes and other advanced techniques for modeling the moon’s gravity and atmosphere became more
An example of the intelligent insect creatures H.G. Wells described as living inside the moon. As more advanced tools for observing the moon showed its surface to be uninhabited, imagination shifted toward the idea that their might be creatures inside the Moon. The First Men in the Moon, 1901.
powerful. Supporting the notion of the moon as an Earth-like place became increasingly challenging. Despite outlining all the reasons that make life on the moon improbable. A 1915 astronomy textbook acknowledges:
“Even with all this, still life in some weird form may exist on the Moon.”
These ideas about peculiar forms of moon life also found their way into science fiction.
One such science fiction work, is H.G. Wells’ 1901 novel “The First Men in the Moon,”. He introduced a peculiar form of life on the moon’s surface. The story revolves around Mr. Bedford, a London businessman, and Mr. Cavor. He was an inventor who created a substance called cavorite, which negates gravity.
Persuaded by Cavor, Bedford embarks on a journey to the moon using this cavorite. Upon arrival, they encounter the Selenites, insectoid moon natives dwelling within the moon. Both men get capture by the Selenites but manage to escape. Although evidence had suggested a moon landscape, people remained intrigued by the impressive stories of its life that could exist beneath the moon’s surface.
What are the 20th Century’s Perspectives on Life on Moon & Extraterrestrial Competency?
In the 20th century, the Apollo missions brought the possibility of moon travel into reality, which is helping scientists to explore potential forms of life that might exist on the moon.
When training Apollo astronauts for encounters on the moon, Sagan, alongside other scientists.
Science fiction author Isaac Asimov, developed a curriculum to educate them on the possibilities of lunar organic materials. Their work also contributed to shaping procedures for quarantining returning astronauts, considering the potential effects of organic material and microorganisms from the moon.
Despite scientific advancements and the journey towards landing humans on the moon, imaginative ideas about exotic intelligent life on the moon’s surface continued to thrive in popular culture.
Even the long-running Dick Tracy comic strip, known for its tough detective, delved into moon life and the civilizations in the 1960s.
Does Life Exist on the Moon? Let’s Find out Through the Lens of Science!
Dick Tracy’s adventure to the moon revealed an advanced civilization and introduced the character of the Moon Maid, who acted as a liaison between Earth and the moon. While such stories captivated imaginations, the focus gradually shifted back to terrestrial crime-fighting as the real-world moon landing approached. With subsequent space exploration offering a deeper understanding of actual planetary conditions, the notion of intelligent life within our solar system became less tenable.
Previously believed to be inhospitable and lacking life, the Moon is now considered a potential habitat for lifeforms. The upcoming NASA Artemis 3 moon mission, set to launch in late 2025, aims to investigate whether microorganisms, which likely hitchhiked from Earth on previous space flights, might have survived in the extremely cold and permanently shadowed craters of the moon’s south pole. Space.com‘s report suggests that this mission could provide valuable insights into the existence of such life on the Moon.
Can Moon Life Originate from Earth? A Research Made in Artemis 3 Mission:
The research conducted by Saxena and his team was presented during a workshop focused on identifying potential landing sites for the Artemis 3 mission. NASA has already pinpointed 13 candidate regions near the Moon’s south pole. Where the mission’s crew will make the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. Scientists speculate that organic molecules, if present on the Moon, could have been transported there through “Earth meteorites.” Additionally, there is a possibility that resilient microbes originating from Earth, capable of enduring harsh conditions, may have traveled to the Moon aboard a lander.
Artemis astronauts explore a site near the Moon’s south pole. Image Credit: NASA
One intriguing aspect is the lack of strict requirements concerning forward contamination, meaning there will soon be 50 years of history with human objects on the Moon’s surface. Heather Graham, an organic geochemist at NASA Goddard, considers humans the most likely carriers of microbes, given the extensive data on our history of exploration and the potential for impacts from terrestrial sources. This exciting endeavor offers the promise of unraveling new aspects of moon life and deepening our understanding of the Moon’s potential as a habitat.
NASA has identified 13 candidate landing regions for the Artemis 3 mission. Image Credit: NASA
What is the Distance of the Moon from our Earth? Let’s Have Some Details Too!
The moon is, on average, about 238,860 miles (382,500 km) away from Earth. Which is roughly equivalent to 30 Earth diameters.
In terms of size, the moon’s diameter is approximately one-fourth that of Earth. And its surface area covers about 1/16th of Earth’s total surface area. As for mass, the moon weighs around 1.2% of Earth’s mass.
The point in the moon’s orbit when it is closest to Earth, we call it perigee. And during this time, the moon is approximately 224,000 miles (360,000 km) away from us.
The Concept of “Supermoon”
This occurrence is often referred to as a “Supermoon” because the moon appears about 14% larger. And approximately 30% brighter in the sky than at its furthest point, known as apogee or a “micro moon.”
How Can You Enhance Your Sky-watching Adventures to Observe the Moon?
For those interested in exploring the moon further, there are opportunities for sky-watching ventures. These include to observe its moon seas, mountainous terrain, and numerous craters. Guides are available for observing the Apollo landing sites, and equipment. It involves telescopes, binoculars, cameras, and lenses. They can enhance the experience of observing and capturing the moon’s beauty during sky-watching adventures.
Located in the galaxy CEERS 1019, this black hole existed slightly over 570 million years after the big bang. Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have made a groundbreaking discovery by finding the most distant live supermassive black hole.
How did researchers make the discoveries like black holes in CEERS 1019?
What makes it remarkable is its relatively small size compared to other black holes in the early universe. Typically, these giants have masses billions of times greater than the Sun and are easily detectable due to their size and brightness. In contrast, the black hole in CEERS 1019 is comparable in mass to the one at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, weighing about 9 million times that of the Sun.
Behold this enormous landscape. It was put together using James Webb Space Telescope near-infrared photos and is virtually pulsating. Bright white spiral galaxies are twisted together to the right of center. Light pink spirals like pinwheels spin around the area. Webb’s eight-pointed diffraction spikes highlight blue foreground stars. Unusual sight: Find the bottom row’s second-from-right square. A misshaped blue galaxy with blue-and-pink star clusters is at its right edge. Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, Steve Finkelstein (UT Austin), Micaela Bagley (UT Austin), Rebecca Larson (UT Austin)
The researchers leading the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) Survey, headed by Steven Finkelstein from the University of Texas at Austin, utilized the James Webb Telescope’s detailed near- and mid-infrared images and spectra to make these findings. They could distinguish the spectral emissions originating from the black hole and its host galaxy, measure the black hole’s gas consumption, and assess the star formation rate in the universe.
Insights from the CEERS 1019 Survey and James Webb Telescope: Discoveries of multiple black holes
The team discovered that CEERS 1019’s galaxy is simultaneously accreting gas and forming stars. Analyzing the images, they noticed that the universe appeared as three distinct bright clusters rather than a single rounded disk. This structure suggests that a merger with another galaxy may influence the black hole’s activity, which could contribute to enhanced star formation.
This picture displays the universe’s most distant active supermassive black holes. Both ground-based and space-based telescopes spotted them. The James Webb Space Telescope’s CEERS Survey found three. Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, Leah Hustak (STScI)
Furthermore, the CEERS Survey yielded more intriguing results, including identifying two smaller black holes in the data. The first, located in galaxy CEERS 2782, was relatively easy to find since no obscuring dust blocked the telescope’s view. It existed only 1.1 billion years after the big bang. The second black hole, situated in galaxy CEERS 746, was approximately 1 billion years old and had some dust surrounding its bright accretion disk. Dust indicates that the universe may also be undergoing rapid star formation.
Lightweight Supermassive Black Holes: Detailed Overview of CEERS 1019 Survey
These two newly discovered black holes, like the one in CEERS 1019, are considered “lightweights” compared to other supermassive black holes found at similar distances, about 10 million times the mass of the Sun. Before the James Webb Telescope, these black holes could not be observed since they appeared as typical star-forming galaxies using other telescopes.
Additionally, by measuring the distance of galaxies observed by the Webb Telescope, researchers Pablo Arrabal Haro from the National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab and Seiji Fujimoto from the University of Texas at Austin determined the ages of 11 galaxies that existed between 470 and 675 million years after the big bang. It is noteworthy that these galaxies displayed significant brightness despite being far away. This finding challenges previous expectations that Webb would detect fewer galaxies compared to existing knowledge about galaxies at similar distances. The detailed spectra obtained from these galaxies, along with potential future discoveries, could revolutionize our understanding of star formation and the evolution of galaxies over time.
CEERS Survey and James Webb Telescope Challenge Theoretical Models of Early Universe Objects
The CEERS 1019 Survey has provided invaluable insights beyond expectations. Previously, knowledge about objects in the early universe relied heavily on theoretical models. However, with the capabilities of the James Webb Telescope, scientists can now directly observe and accurately measure black holes and galaxies in the early universe. This breakthrough opens up new opportunities to investigate the formation of early black holes, potentially requiring a revision of existing models that describe their growth and evolution during the initial stages of the universe.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has been helping scientists make giant strides in understanding where all that cosmic dust production in early galaxies from.
Images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope reveal large amounts of dust within Supernova 2004et and Supernova 2017eaw. These supernovae are located in spiral galaxy NGC 6946, 22 million light-years away from Earth. The hexagonal shape of SN 2004et in Webb’s image is an artifact of the telescope’s mirror and struts — when the bright light of a point source is observed, the light interacts with the sharp edges of the telescope, creating diffraction spikes. In these images, blue, green, and red were assigned to Webb’s MIRI data at 10; 11.3, 12.8, and 15.0; and 18 and 21 microns (F1000W; F1130, F1280W, and F1500; and F1800W and F2100W, respectively). Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, Ori Fox (STScI), Melissa Shahbandeh (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
Exploring Supernovae and dust production
They’ve been closely watching two major star explosions, Supernova 2004et (SN 2004et) and Supernova 2017eaw (SN 2017eaw). What’s exciting is that they came to know about a lot of dust production within the remnants of these explosions. This discovery supports the idea that these massive star explosions, or supernovae, could have been the main dust-makers in the young universe.
You might think dust is trivial, but it’s a massive deal in the cosmos, especially for creating planets. When a star goes kaput, the dust production by it into space carries the raw materials needed to birth new stars and planets. For years, astronomers have been scratching their heads over where all this dust originates.
Supernovae could be the big reveal in this cosmic mystery. When a star on its last legs goes boom, it releases a gas that spreads and cools down, resulting in dust production.
“We’ve known this was a possibility, but we didn’t have much hard proof,”
says Melissa Shahbandeh from Johns Hopkins University and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.
“We’ve been able to study the dust from just one supernova that’s pretty close to us, Supernova 1987A, which is 170,000 light-years away. When the gas from these explosions cools enough for dust production, you can only spot it with sensitive equipment and at certain wavelengths.”
Revealing far-off Supernovae
But what about supernovae that are farther off, like SN 2004et and SN 2017eaw, located in a galaxy called NGC 6946, some 22 million light-years away? The answer lies in Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument). It’s the only powerful tool to capture a wide range of wavelengths with high sensitivity for these distant supernovae.
This image of NGC 6946 highlighting two supernovae, SN 2004et and SN 2017eaw, by Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Camera), shows compass arrows, scale bar, and color key for reference. The north and east compass arrows show the orientation of the image on the sky. The scale bar is labeled 2,600 light-years. This image shows invisible mid-infrared wavelengths of light that have been translated into visible-light colors. The color key shows which MIRI filters were used when collecting the light. The color of each filter name is the visible light color used to represent the infrared light that passes through that filter.In these images, blue, green, and red were assigned to Webb’s MIRI data at 10; 11.3, 12.8, and 15.0; and 18 and 21 microns (F1000W; F1130W, F1280W, and F1500W; and F1800W and F2100W, respectively). Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, Ori Fox (STScI), Melissa Shahbandeh (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope found new dust in SN 1987A about ten years ago. But the images from Webb mark the first significant leap in understanding how supernovae create dust. And boy, did they find dust and lots of it! Researchers discovered over 5,000 Earth masses worth of dust in SN 2004et.
“We’re seeing dust volumes in SN 2004et comparable to what we saw in SN 1987A, even though it’s way younger,”
explains program leader Ori Fox from the Space Telescope Science Institute.
“It’s the largest dust haul we’ve discovered in a supernova since SN 1987A.”
Astronomers have spotted young galaxies filled with dust, yet they are too young for medium-sized stars like our Sun to have this much dust production as they aged. This suggests that bigger, shorter-lived stars could have created so much dust by dying off rapidly and in large numbers.
Dust production in SN 2004et
We know that supernovae is responsible for dust production, but scientists needed to determine if the dust could withstand the shock waves produced within the star following the explosion. The substantial amount of dust spotted in SN 2004et and SN 2017eaw implies that the dust can survive the violent blast, confirming that supernovae are critical players in dust production.
This image from the Kitt Peak National Observatory of NGC 6496 contextualizes the locations of Supernova 2004et and Supernova 2017eaw within the galaxy. Scientists using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) found large amounts of dust within two Type II supernovae, Supernova 2004et (SN 2004et) and Supernova 2017eaw (SN 2017eaw), located 22 million light-years away from Earth in spiral galaxy NGC 6946. The large amounts of dust found in these supernovae using MIRI supports that supernovae played a key role in supplying dust to the early universe. Credits: KPNO, NSF’s NOIRLab, AURA, Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
The researchers also hinted that their current dust mass estimates might only be a glimpse of the whole picture. Thanks to Webb, they can now detect even colder dust. However, even harder dust might be hidden underneath the surface layers, which only gives off radiation at even further wavelengths.
The team emphasizes that these findings are just a sneak peek of what we can learn about supernovae and their progenitor stars by studying their dust production.
“People are getting super excited to find out what this dust can tell us about the heart of the star that exploded,”
Fox notes.
“Once they see our findings regarding dust production, I’m sure other scientists will develop new ideas for studying these dusty supernovae.”
The two supernovae, SN2004et and SN2017eaw, are the first pair of five this project studies. The observations were made as part of Webb General Observer program 2666, and the findings regarding dust production were published on July 5 in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft project has taken two amazing pictures of Mars using ultraviolet light. This light can show us a lot about the planet’s air and surface.
Maven, a NASA spacecraft, enters orbit over Mars. According to NASA, the Maven spacecraft effectively completed an engine run to reach Martian orbit and start its journey to investigate the atmosphere of the Red Planet. The Martian ionosphere contains a thin film of metal ions as a consequence of entering interplanetary dust striking the upper atmosphere, and MAVEN delivered its inaugural direct observations of this layer.
MAVEN Spacecraft’s Mission
Originally an aspect of NASA’s now-cancelled Mars Scout Programme, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) expedition was chosen to investigate the planet’s environment and aurora and how they are influenced by the Sun and the solar winds.
MAVEN spacecraft discovered that the Sun is the main cause of Mars’ atmosphere depletion. The solar wind is the aggregate name for the stream of hot, extremely energetic particles that the Sun releases.
MAVEN spacecraft’s tool for taking these pictures is the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS). It took these pictures in 2022 and 2023 when Mars was at different points in its path around the Sun.
UV Images by MAVEN Spacecarft
The IUVS tool takes pictures using light that we can’t usually see. To help us see it, the pictures show different light brightness levels as red, green, and blue. Using these colors, the air’s ozone looks purple, and clouds look white or blue. The surface can look tan or green, depending on the picture.
The first picture by MAVEN spacecraft was taken in July 2022, when Mars was close to the Sun. It was summer in the southern part of Mars. In the picture, you can see a large area called the Argyre Basin, filled with a light pink haze. You can also see the white southern polar ice cap. It’s smaller because it’s summer and warmer. More water vapor is in the air because of the heat and dust storms. This is why Mars loses more hydrogen during this time.
MAVEN spacecraft took second picture which shows the northern part of Mars in January 2023. This was when Mars was farthest from the Sun. Many white clouds are near the north pole because the seasons change quickly. In this picture, the cold winter nights have caused more ozone to form. Then, the ozone goes away in the spring because of reactions with water vapor.
MAVEN Spacecraft Project
The Pentagon’s Project termed as Maven spacecraft uses equipment algorithmic learning to sift through vast amounts of intelligence, spying, and reconnaissance information, including autonomous footage, document, hard drives for computer systems, thumb drives, and more, that have been gathered by the department and intelligence organisations for use operationally by the services.
Insights of MAVEN Spacecarft on Mars
MAVEN spacecraft was sent to space in November 2013 and started orbiting Mars in September 2014. The mission aims to study Mars’ upper atmosphere and how it interacts with the Sun and solar wind. This helps scientists learn more about how Mars’ atmosphere is escaping into space. Knowing this helps us learn about Mars’ past air, climate, and water and if it could have supported life. The MAVEN team is preparing for September 2024, when the probe will have been on Mars for ten years.
The person in charge of MAVEN works at the University of California, Berkeley. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland runs the project. Lockheed Martin Space made the spacecraft and managed the mission. In Southern California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory assists with tracking the spacecraft and the Deep Space Network. The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder manages the science activities and talks to the public.
