Space Stories: Detailed Views of Mars, Plummeting ISS Space Junk, and Time Zones on the Moon

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Image (Credit): Recent high-altitude view of Mars taken by Mars Express’s High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC). ( ESA)

Here are some recent stories of interest.

—Astrobiology: “Mars Express Celebrates 25,000 Orbits“

ESA’s Mars Express recently looped around Mars for the 25,000th time – and the orbiter has captured yet another spectacular view of the Red Planet to mark the occasion. The new high-altitude view was taken by Mars Express’s High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC). It features many of Mars’s towering volcanoes and even includes a surprise appearance from the planet’s largest moon, Phobos.

—Daily Mail: “Piece of 5,800lb Battery Pallet Tossed from NASA’s ISS Crashes Through Florida Home – and Nearly Kills Homeowner’s Son“

A piece of metal came crashing through a home in Florida that is believed to be from a 5,800-pound battery pallet discarded by the International Space Station (ISS). Naples homeowner Alejandro Otero was on vacation when he received a call from his son, saying he heard a ‘tremendous sound’ and there were gaping holes in the ceiling and floor – while explaining whatever fell almost hit him. The two-pound, cylinder object has since been recovered by NASA to determine its origin and if found to be space junk, the agency could be liable for damages.

—Reuters: “White House Directs NASA to Create Time Standard for the Moon“

The White House on Tuesday directed NASA to establish a unified standard of time for the moon and other celestial bodies, as the United States aims to set international norms in space amid a growing lunar race among nations and private companies. The head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), according to a memo seen by Reuters, instructed the space agency to work with other parts of the U.S. government to devise a plan by the end of 2026 for setting what it called a Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC).

Space Quote: Maybe China Can Beat Us Back to the Moon

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Image (Credit): China’s Yutu 2 rover, as seen by the Chang’e 4 lander, both of which landed on the lunar surface in January 2019. (CNSA)

“If the space agency holds to its notion of flying the Artemis II crew on a looping journey around the far side of the moon late next year, and landing the Artemis III crew in the south polar region in 2026 or 2027, the next boot prints on the moon will indeed be American. But don’t count on it.”

-Statement in a Time magazine article titled, “Why China Might Beat the U.S. Back to the Moon.” The article cites NASA’s delays and budget shortfall related to the Artemis mission. Interestingly, the article notes that the U.S. might have lacked the discipline to return to the Moon if China did not have similar plans. Finally, one key point to remember is that the U.S. beat the Chinese to the Moon by more than 50 years, so this is not really the same as the earlier space race with Russia. As a result, China is taking its time to do it right. We may need to keep that in mind as we face our own struggles.

Wallops Flight Facility to Launch Rockets to Study Eclipse

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Image (Credit): NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. (Timmons Group)

While Virginia will not be in the direct path of the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse, it will be playing a role related to the eclipse that day.

NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on the Virginia coast will be launch three rockets to study disturbances in the Earth’s ionosphere during the eclipse. The rockets will be launched 45 minutes before, during, and 45 minutes after the peak local eclipse.

These launches are part of NASA’s Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) mission. Such launches during an eclipse are not unusual as NASA hopes to learn a few things from this study.

Aroh Barjatya, a professor of engineering physics at Florida’s Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus, stated:

Understanding the ionosphere and developing models to help us predict disturbances is crucial to making sure our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly.

Pic of the Week: Preparing for the Total Solar Eclipse

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: New York Department of Economic Development

This week’s image comes from the great state of New York, which is advertising the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse on April 8.

New York is one of the state’s that will experience the eclipse, and the New York Department of Economic Development is not missing the chance to ensure everyone knows this.

A handy map also provides the timing of the eclipse in each city.

Credit: New York Department of Economic Development

The Total Solar Eclipse: Some Reminders

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Image (Credit): A view of the Moon’s shadow on Earth during the solar eclipse on August 11, 1999. The image was captured by Russia’s Mir space station. (Mir 27 Crew)

On April 8, should you be outside staring at the Total Solar Eclipse, you may want to take a few precautions so that you can witness future eclipses as well. In other words, protect your eyes!

NASA has provided a few tips related to photographing the eclipse. Please keep all of this in mind.

For instance, NASA notes:

Looking directly at the Sun is dangerous to your eyes and your camera. To take images when the Sun is partially eclipsed, you’ll need to use a special solar filter to protect your camera, just as you’ll need a pair of solar viewing glasses (also called eclipse glasses) to protect your eyes. However, at totality, when the Moon completely blocks the Sun, make sure to remove the filter so you can see the Sun’s outer atmosphere – the corona.

Let’s have some fun and be safe as well.