Lucy Mission: First Spacecraft to Explore Jupiter’s Trojan Asteroids

Lucy Mission: First Spacecraft to Explore Jupiter’s Trojan Asteroids

NASA’s Lucy mission marks a new era in space exploration, as it is the first spacecraft launched with the specific aim of exploring the Trojan asteroids. These asteroids are a population of primitive celestial bodies that share Jupiter’s orbit, making them unique targets for scientific study. However, the spacecraft is set to embark on a series of multiple flybys of these asteroids, providing a close-up look at these “fossils” of planetary formation. With its launch date set for October 16, 2021, the Lucy mission represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the formation and evolution of our solar system.

Now before we discuss Lucy you might be wondering,

What are Trojan asteroids and what is the role of Lucy in their exploration?

The Trojan asteroids are small celestial bodies in our solar system. They are unique because they were left over from the formation of giant planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These asteroids are remnants of the raw materials that came together to create the planets in our solar system. As a result, they are valuable targets for study.

An American planetary scientist Harold F. Levison says: “The Trojan Asteroids are leftovers from the early days of our solar system, effectively the fossils of planet formation.”

Trojan Asteroids
Lucy Mission to the Trojan Asteroids. Credit: NASA

Unlike the objects in the main asteroid belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, the Trojan asteroids share Jupiter’s orbit around the sun, but they stay close to Jupiter’s L4 and L5 Lagrange points, which are gravitational stable locations in space. Moreover, the Trojan asteroids are on average just as far from Jupiter as Jupiter is from the Sun, and they are also known to be almost as numerous as the objects in the main asteroid belt. The Jupiter and Trojan asteroids are small, with the largest being around 160 miles (250 km) across. The asteroids are in a constant gravitational tug-of-war between the Sun and Jupiter.

Furthermore, this causes them to remain in the vicinity of Jupiter’s L4 and L5 Lagrange points. These points are located 60 degrees ahead and behind Jupiter. They form an equilateral triangle with the Sun. This makes the Lagrange points ideal places for the asteroids to remain in a stable orbit.

Lucy is the first spacecraft to explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids. It will fly by a total of eight asteroids over the next 12 years. This includes one main-belt asteroid and seven Trojans. This makes it the first single spacecraft mission in history to explore so many asteroids. The spacecraft’s journey will provide an up-close investigation of these “fossils” of planetary formation. This will provide invaluable insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system.

Now, we got you covered if you are thinking,

What are the objectives of Lucy’s mission?

NASA’s Lucy mission is an ambitious undertaking that aims to explore a record-breaking number of asteroids, including one asteroid in the solar system’s main asteroid belt and seven Trojan asteroids.  

The Lucy mission has scientific objectives. It aims to achieve them by flying by and performing remote sensing on eight different Trojan asteroids during five flybys. The mission aims to study these asteroids in unprecedented detail. It seeks to provide insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system.

The primary objectives of the mission are to study the asteroids’ geological history, composition, and internal structure, providing valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system.

By flying by and performing remote sensing on these asteroids, the Lucy spacecraft will also collect data on their albedo, shape, and size-frequency distributions. Yet, this data will allow scientists to create detailed maps of the asteroids’ surface features, including their crustal structure, layering, and relative ages of surface units.

In addition, the mission will study the color, composition, and properties of the regolith on the asteroids’ surface. By determining the distribution of minerals, ices, and organic species, the mission will provide clues to the asteroids’ formation and evolution, shedding light on the processes that led to the formation of planets like Earth.

The Lucy mission has a goal to determine the masses and densities of the Trojan asteroids. This information will provide insights into their internal structure and composition. To achieve this, the mission will study sub-surface composition through excavation by craters, fractures, ejecta blankets, and exposed bedding. By doing so, the mission will gain a better understanding of the asteroids’ bulk properties.

The Lucy spacecraft has a dual mission. Firstly, it will search for rings and satellites of the Trojan asteroids. This could give us valuable insights into how these asteroids formed and evolved. Secondly, the mission will investigate the potential for hazardous impacts from these asteroids. This will help us better understand how to protect Earth from asteroid impacts.

By studying the Trojan asteroid’s geological history, composition, and internal structure, the mission aims to advance our understanding of the early solar system and the processes that led to the formation of planets like Earth.

Now, let’s dig into the,

Launch of Lucy

NASA’s Lucy mission launch on October 16, 2021, using a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.  This mission is the first spacecraft to explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids. Moreover, it will also fly by a total of eight asteroids over the next 12 years. Furthermore, the spacecraft’s mission is to investigate the Trojan asteroids, which are remnants of the material that formed giant planets, and provide information about the formation and evolution of our solar system.

Lucy's orbital path
This diagram illustrates Lucy’s orbital path. The spacecraft’s path (green) is shown in a frame of reference where Jupiter remains stationary, giving the trajectory its pretzel-like shape. Credit: Southwest Research Institute

Hal Levison, Lucy’s principal investigator at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Boulder, Colorado quoted: “We started working on the Lucy mission concept early in 2014, so this launch has been long in the making,”  He added, “It will still be several years before we get to the first Trojan asteroid, but these objects are worth the wait and all the effort because of their immense scientific value. They are like diamonds in the sky.”

Journey of Lucy!

Lucy’s Trojan destinations are located near Jupiter’s Lagrange points, where smaller masses can be trapped. One swarm of Trojans is ahead of Jupiter, and another is behind it. In 2022, during its initial Earth gravity assist, Lucy’s trajectory will accelerate and redirect beyond the orbit of Mars. After that, the spacecraft will return to Earth for a second gravity assist in 2024. Lucy’s journey towards the Donald Johanson asteroid. The Donald Johanson asteroid is present in the main asteroid belt of the solar system. Lucy will arrive at the Donald Johanson asteroid in 2025.

In 2027, Lucy will also travel towards the swarm located ahead of Jupiter to encounter its first Trojan asteroid. After completing its first four targeted flybys, the spacecraft will travel back to Earth for a third gravity boost in 2031, which will also catapult it to the trailing swarm of Trojans for a 2033 encounter.

“Today we celebrate this incredible milestone and look forward to the discoveries that Lucy will uncover,” said Donya Douglas-Bradshaw, Lucy project manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, after the launch.

The spacecraft’s two solar arrays, each measuring nearly 24 feet in width, unfurled successfully about 30 minutes after launch and also began charging the spacecraft’s batteries to power its subsystems. Yet, at 6:40 a.m., Lucy sent its first signal to Earth from its antenna to NASA’s Deep Space Network. Lucy’s mission is the 13th in NASA’s Discovery Program, overseen by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Lastly,

The end of the mission:

Lastly, when the Lucy mission will be nearing its end. The spacecraft will travel on a stable orbit from near the Earth’s orbit to the Trojan Swarms and back again. The team plans to orbit the spacecraft carefully to avoid contamination for over a century. In the future, if nobody collects Lucy as a historical artifact, the spacecraft’s orbit will become unstable. Jupiter’s gravitational pull could fling it out of the Solar System or send it crashing into the Sun. However, the legacy of the Lucy mission will inspire future generations. In such a way, they explore the mysteries of our Solar System and the vast universe beyond.

Published by: Sky Headlines

Challenger disaster: The tragic event that changed space exploration forever

Challenger disaster: The tragic event that changed space exploration forever

On January 28, 1986, a catastrophic event occurred that shocked the world and forever changed the future of space exploration. At 11:39:13 EST (16:39:13 UTC), the Space Shuttle Challenger, with its crew of seven aboard, broke apart just 73 seconds into its flight, losing all crew members. The Challenger disaster occurred off the coast of Florida, in the Atlantic Ocean, and was caused by the failure of an O-ring seal in the right Solid Rocket Booster (SRB), due to cold weather and wind shears. The impact of this tragedy was profound, leading to the cancellation of the Teacher in Space Project and subsequent civilian shuttle spaceflights, as well as the grounding of the entire Shuttle fleet for the implementation of new safety measures.

Let’s find out,

Construction and Features:

Challenger disaster
Credit: NASA

NASA’s second Space Shuttle orbiter, Challenger (OV-099), was a Structural Test Item (STA-099). The decision to build STA-099 was made due to the low production rate of the Orbiters, which made it necessary to have a prototype vehicle that could be converted into a flight vehicle later on. The purpose of the STA-099 was to undergo structural testing to validate computational models and to show compliance with the required 1.4 factor of safety. The testing was performed to a safety factor of 1.2 times the design limit loads to prevent damage during structural testing.

NASA initially planned to convert the prototype orbiter, Enterprise (OV-101), which was used for flight testing, as the second operational orbiter. But, design changes made during the construction of the first orbiter, Columbia (OV-102), would have required considerable rework. Although STA-099’s qualification testing averted damage, NASA found that reconstructing STA-099 as OV-099 would be less expensive than refitting Enterprise.

Challenger had some design modifications as compared to its predecessor, Columbia. Most of the tiles on the payload bay doors, top wing surface, and rear fuselage surface were replaced with DuPont white Nomex felt insulation, resulting in a Thermal Protection System with fewer tiles. This change allowed Challenger to carry a more payload of 2,500 lb (1,100 kg) than Columbia. Challenger was the first orbiter to carry a head-up display system.  Scientists used the system during the descent phase of a mission. The head-up display supplied crucial information to the crew during the landing.

Moreover, it comes about

Flights and Modifications:

Challenger made its first flight on April 4, 1983, and quickly became the primary orbiter in NASA’s Space Shuttle fleet, flying more missions per year than Columbia. In fact, between 1983 and 1984, Challenger flew on 85% of all Space Shuttle missions. Challenger, Discovery, and other Space Shuttles were in heavy use during the early 1980s. It flew three missions a year from 1983 to 1985. Challenger and Discovery underwent modifications at Kennedy Space Center. The modifications allowed them to carry the Centaur-G upper stage in their payload bays. Challenger’s next mission, had STS-51-L been successful, was to deploy the Ulysses probe with the Centaur. The Ulysses probe would have studied the polar regions of the Sun.

Challenger achieved many milestones during its spaceflight career. The milestones included being the first for many groups, such as the first American woman, African-American, and Canadian in space. Challenger also completed three Spacelab missions and performed the Space Shuttle’s first night launch and landing. However, Challenger is most remembered for the tragic loss of the orbiter and its seven-member crew. The loss occurred on January 28, 1986, during mission STS-51-L.  The debris of the vessel was collected and stored in decommissioned missile silos at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Occasionally, different pieces of debris from the orbiter wash up on the Florida coast and are transported to the silos for storage. It’s worth noting that Challenger was the only Space Shuttle that never wore the NASA “meatball” logo, due to its early loss.

Here is to discuss,

What was the disaster Of Challenger?

Space Shuttle Challenger
Credit: NASA

Tragically, Challenger met its demise during its tenth mission, STS-51-L, on January 28, 1986. The Space Shuttle was destroyed just 73 seconds into the flight, at an altitude of approximately 46,000 feet. The cause of the Challenger disaster was later determined to be an O-ring seal failure on the right solid rocket booster (SRB). The O-rings failed to seal properly due to various factors, including cold weather. A plume of flame was able to escape from the SRB due to the failed O-ring seal.

The escaping flame caused the structural failure of the external fuel tank (ET) and the SRB. The structural failure of the ET and SRB caused the vehicle to break apart. The break-up of the vehicle occurred under the stress of aerodynamic loads. The loss of the seven crew members on board was a tragic outcome of the disaster. The Challenger disaster was a significant setback for the Space Shuttle program. They grounded the Space Shuttle fleet for nearly three years as a result of the tragedy.

When it comes about,

The views of Janet Petro

Janet Petro, who is the Kennedy Space Center Director, says: “Challenger and her crew live on in the hearts and memories of both NASA and the nation,” Moreover, she added: “Today, as we turn our sights again toward the Moon and Mars, we see that the same love of exploration that drove the Challenger crew is still inspiring the astronauts of today’s Artemis Generation, calling them to build on the legacy of knowledge and discovery for the benefit of all humanity.”

Lastly,

When did the world see Challenger’s sad loss?

January 28, 1986, the world saw the Challenger’s sad loss. President Ronald Reagan appointed a special commission to investigate the cause of the disaster. The commission was tasked with developing corrective measures. Former secretary of state William Rogers led the commission. The commission included notable figures such as former astronaut Neil Armstrong and former test pilot Chuck Yeager.

The investigation found an “O-ring” seal failed in one of the two solid-fuel rockets. The O-ring was to be elastic and pliable. The O-ring did not respond as expected due to the cold temperature at launch time. The failure of the O-ring caused a breach in the seal. Hot gases escaped through the breach and damaged critical parts of the space shuttle. The damage caused by the hot gases led to the catastrophic failure of the Challenger.

As a result of the investigation, NASA suspended all manned spaceflights for more than two years while it redesigned and improved various features of the space shuttle. The commission’s recommendations led to changes in NASA’s safety protocols and a renewed focus on safety in the space program. The lessons learned from the Challenger disaster continue to inform NASA’s approach to space exploration today.

To sum it up:

Bill Nelson, NASA’s Administrator, says: “While it has been nearly 37 years since seven daring and brave explorers lost their lives aboard Challenger, this tragedy will forever be seared in our country’s collective memory. For millions around the globe, myself included, Jan. 28, 1986, still feels like yesterday,” Moreover, he says: “This discovery allows us to pause once again, to uplift the legacies of the seven pioneers we lost, and to reflect on how this tragedy changed us. At NASA, the core value of safety is – and must forever remain – our top priority, especially as our missions explore more of the cosmos than ever before.”

 

Published by: Sky Headlines

Space Farming: Growing Crops Beyond Our Planet!

Space Farming: Growing Crops Beyond Our Planet!

The urge to learn more about the cosmos has captivated humans for generations. One of the problems facing scientists and engineers as we continue to push the limits of space exploration is how to obtain food on long-duration space trips. Space farming is the answer to this problem.

What is Space Farming?

Also known as space agriculture crops are grown in space. Space food production is important because it allows astronauts to have access to healthy, fresh food even on extended trips. The ultimate goal of astronomical farming is to establish a closed-loop system that recycles water and nutrients, allowing the system to maintain itself indefinitely.

The Challenges and difficulties:

Space agriculture is not an easy task. It also requires innovative solutions. However, It has unique challenges. Space has no atmosphere, making plant growth difficult without solar radiation protection. As no gravity implies water and nutrients don’t flow downward like on Earth. Watering and fertilizing plants is challenging. Space is another issue. Space expeditions require lots of equipment, making farm space scarce. Moreover, the closed spaceship environment limits error. So, if the farm fails, it could harm the crew.

Lack of Gravity

Without gravity, this kind of farming is difficult. Plants on Earth also use gravity to direct their roots and stems. Space plants grow in all directions, making structural stability challenging. Tangled plants stunt growth. Scientists created growing chambers that use light to simulate gravity to address this problem.

Absence of Atmosphere

The lack of a natural environment also poses another difficulty for space farming. Earth’s atmosphere protects plants from radiation and provides carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Radiation can harm DNA and stunt growth in space since there is no atmosphere. Scientists have constructed growing chambers with carbon dioxide scrubbers to remove CO2 and replace it with fresh air.

Limited Space

Moreover, Spacecraft have limited space, making farming difficult. Long-term missions require more crops to feed the crew. Scientists created compact growth chambers to grow several crops in a small space. They are also considering growing crops on spacecraft walls and floors.

Closed Environment

The crew’s survival depends on the farm’s success in a closed spacecraft. Farm issues like water or air supply failures can be disastrous. However, Scientists are creating automated technologies to monitor and regulate farms. These devices can sense environmental changes like temperature and humidity and adjust to maintain optimal plant growth.

Harsh Environment

Finally, plants must survive high radiation and temperature variations in space. Scientists are testing space-resistant genetically engineered plants. They’re creating radiation-resistant crops and temperature-tolerant plants.

The Innovative Experiments in Space Farming:

Despite the challenges, there have been significant advancements in space agriculture. Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting experiments in this field:

Veggie Experiment:

The NASA Veggie Experiment also marks a crucial turning point for farming in space. The hydroponic Veggie Experiment grows fresh vegetables in space. NASA designed the technology to supply fresh and nutritious meals for long-duration space missions.

Since 2014, the Veggie Experiment on the ISS has proven successful. Astronauts have grown zinnias, lettuce, and radishes. The Veggie system has shown that plants can grow and develop normally in microgravity, shedding light on agricultural astrology.

Veggie Experiment benefits space exploration. The technology feeds astronauts fresh, healthy meals, reducing their reliance on processed food. It can also assist astronauts on long-term missions to feel more at home, improving their mental health.

Advanced Plant Habitat:

The Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) is a growth chamber on the International Space Station that allows plants to grow in a controlled environment. The APH has more features than the Veggie Experiment, including adjustable red, blue, and green LED lights, a temperature control system, and a CO2 control system. The APH has been used to grow crops such as wheat and mustard.

“GreenHab”:

“GreenHab” at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah is also a thriving space agricultural project. The small greenhouse GreenHab simulates space habitat conditions. It’s airtight and lit artificially. Researchers can test plant growth methods in the GreenHab.

The GreenHab’s desert location resembles Mars. Researchers can examine how plants adapt to the severe desert climate and create space-related procedures. The GreenHab has grown lettuce, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Hydroponics and other GreenHab methods optimize plant growth and productivity. The GreenHab project opened astrological farming research. Moreover, Scientists and engineers are creating vertical farming and other space habitat-optimizing technology.

ALINA lunar lander:

The Lunar Plant Growth Experiment (LPX), a miniature “biosphere” cylinder, will be carried by the ALINA lunar lander, an exciting development in farming. The LPX will have basil, turnips, and mustard. The experiment examines plant growth and development on the Moon and tests its viability.

NASA will also deploy and monitor the LPX biosphere cylinder on the Moon using the ALINA lander. LPX biospheres are sealed cylinders with artificial soil, nutrients, and water. Its growth chamber simulates the lunar day and night cycle, giving plants light and darkness like on Earth. Moreover, LPX experiment will reveal farming in space problems and space habitat crops.

Lunar Greenhouse:

The Lunar Greenhouse is a project by the University of Arizona that aims to create a self-sustaining greenhouse on the moon. Moreover, The greenhouse would use lunar soil as a growing medium and would recycle water and nutrients. The project has already completed a prototype greenhouse that was tested in the Arizona desert.

Wrap Up!

Lastly, Space gardening is difficult yet might support human existence beyond Earth. Scientists and engineers have found new solutions to space farming’s unique obstacles, including lack of gravity, atmosphere, space, and closed habitat. The NASA Veggie Experiment and Lunar Greenhouse prototype show that space agriculture can support long-term space missions and human settlement on other planets. So,  This kind of farming can help astronauts and future space pioneers stay healthy as we explore the cosmos.

 

Published by: Sky Headlines