A Martian Rover on the Moon?

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): The PROMISE rover, as shown at a recent “NASA Moon Base Update” press conference. (NASA)

It seems NASA is looking for some shortcuts to get back on the Moon, including repurposing an earlier rover designed for Mars. The rover in question is called the Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping and In-Situ Exploration, or simply PROMISE. It is the test model for the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers currently exploring Mars.

One of the advantages of the Mars rover is its power source. Instead of relying on solar panels, the rover is powered by a nuclear battery. This will give it greater range on the Moon’s surface without having to wait for lunar daylight. Another advantage is that it is proven technology, as the two Martian rovers have demonstrated for years.

It sounds like a smart way to take something off the shelf, but one can only wonder why this is only being considered now after NASA spent more than $450 million on the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) project. Was a nuclear battery ever considered for VIPER? These Martian rovers have been around for quite some time, and a nuclear reactor has been discussed as part of the Moon Base itself, so this is not a new idea.

Given this change in plans, one might expect that the contract with Blue Origin to bring the VIPER to the Moon in 2027 is no longer needed. Maybe VIPER will put on a shelf for years like PROMISE until someone comes up with a new purpose for it.

Stay tuned.

Space Stories: Swift Recovery, Saudi Space Sight-seeing Plans, and Ukrainian Reprisals in Russia

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Artist rendering of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in orbit with parts of spacecraft highlighted. (NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab)

Here are some recent space-related stories.

—Science Alert: “Heads Up: NASA to Launch ‘Daring’ Telescope Rescue Mission This Week“

NASA will soon attempt something it’s never done before: Save a space telescope from falling back to Earth using a servicing robot. It sounds like something right out of a sci-fi film, but NASA is hoping it might be enough to keep its sinking Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in action a little longer. According to the US space agency, the mission could launch as soon as this Tuesday 30 June, 6:17 am EDT (10:17 UTC), and we’ll be keeping you updated on the progress. If this mission works, the much-beloved Hubble Space Telescope is one of the next targets to have its life extended.

—The National News: “Stellar Places to Watch the Night Sky Across the Arab World“

Saudi Arabia has announced plans for AlUla Manara, a major astronomical observatory and research centre in the kingdom’s north-west…AlUla Manara is planned to include large telescopes, observation platforms, exhibitions, interactive experiences, a planetarium, a restaurant and a visitor and research centre. The project is intended to support scientific research as well as public astronomy experiences. No opening date has been announced.

—MSN: “Ukraine Strikes Russian Space Hub as Nuclear Orbit Fears Grow“

Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed its forces struck the Vladimir Space Communications Center near Gus-Khrustalny on 22 June, destroying the main 25‑metre parabolic antenna, damaging satellite modem halls, multiplexers, and cooling systems. Additional damage to the Main Hardware and Software Complex and a key technical building severely degraded Russia’s satellite operations…The Vladimir facility plays a central role in Russia’s satellite communications, and its loss comes amid accusations that Moscow has manoeuvred satellites near European systems used by Ukraine, causing GPS disruption across Europe, Greenland, and Canada.

Note: Here is the podcast version of this post.

Space Quote: That’s All We Need in This Year’s Election

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Solar flares on the Sun spilling radiation into the solar system. (NASA)

“In 2003, during a local Belgian election, a candidate received over 4,000 extra votes on a computerized voting machine — more than was physically possible, triggering an investigation…The leading explanation for each of these events is what’s known as a bit flip: an electronic glitch caused by radiation from space. Although uncommon, they can have significant consequences. And as our reliance on electronics continues to increase, so does our vulnerability to bit flips.“

-Quote from a recent article from Astronomy magazine titled “Our Planet’s Electronic Vulnerability.” The article goes on to explain how high-energy radiation from the Sun as well as deep space can cause a “bit flip” that is difficult to detect. Given the use of electronic voting machines in US elections, we can only hope that this radiation issue does not come up in the fall election. Asking the voters to “wait for the science” before jumping to conclusions is not a viable option.

Astronomy Question: Craters on Mercury

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Surface of Mercury captured by NASA’s MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging MESSENGER spacecraft. (NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington)

Multiple Choice: What writer’s name below is not found among the craters on Mercury named after famous writers?

A. Marlowe
B. Melville
C. Milton
D. Molière

Take a guess and then check your answer by going to the “Astronomy Question Answer Sheet” page.