February 8, 2012

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Predicting the Weather Gets Even Harder With Giant Rocks in the Way

The asteroid (4) Vesta and the dwarf planet (1...

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Asteroids are just the latest element to make predicting the weather difficult. Specifically there are two asteroids, Ceres and Vesta, which are large enough to wreak havoc in earth’s atmosphere. These giant asteroids are large enough to interact with the other planets in Earth’s solar system and in turn this affects the weather. It also makes predicting the weather difficult as shifts in these asteroids flight path may cause weather patterns to change.

In addition to changing weather patterns, asteroids could have a huge effect on the planet if absorbed improperly into Earth’s orbit. A worst case scenario involving an asteroid would entail a direct impact with the Earth. A giant asteroid could cause mass extinction shortly after contact with the planet; a problem much more serious than weather forecasts. The impact from an asteroid would likely cause either a cooling of the globe or an extreme heating of the world. In either case, many lives would likely be lost and there would be impending fallout after the first death toll.

In addition, there would be ground shocks and dust kicked into the atmosphere could make air difficult to breathe. There would also likely be mass fires and tremendous atmospheric pressure. Luckily, there is little fear from astronomers of a direct asteroid hit that would harm the planet. We will likely only be inconvenienced by inaccurate weather forecasts caused by the shifting of these two major asteroids and don’t need to fear an asteroid destroying the planet and life as we know it.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Comets and Asteroids, Observatory Tagged With: , ,

How Many Planets Are There?

Mars (back left), Mercury (back right), Moon (... 

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According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), there are eight planets. These planets include Mercury, Venus, Mars, Neptune, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Earth. Are you wondering what happened to Pluto?

Pluto is considered a dwarf planet. There are five dwarf planets, including Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, Eris and Pluto. This was clarified in August 2006. These five planets were potentially going to be considered IAU planets, but the definition of a planet was clarified with a formal defined by the IAU.

The IAU determined that a planet must have three qualifications in order to be considered a planet in the Solar System. First, it must orbit around the sun. Secondly, it must be big enough to be gravitationally dominant in it’s own orbit, so that no other large bodies are in the “neighborhood.” Thirdly, the planet must be large enough to be round (or, at least, almost round). If the planet does not meet all three of these qualifications, it’s considered a dwarf planet.

Not everyone agrees with this classification, of course. Some say that not all of the planets have actually cleared their own neighborhoods, for example. Many astronomers refuse to follow the classification. Also, scientists like Mike Brown say there are actually lots and lots of “dwarf planets” out there, soon to be discovered.

Naturally, many people in the non-scientific community have had trouble letting go of Pluto as a planet. Remember grade school? Or, perhaps the 1930′s discovery. Also, when Eris was first discovered it was called the “tenth planet” which has lead to much media attention and some confusion. Still, at this point, there are officially nine planets.

 

Filed Under: Astronomy, Planets Tagged With: , ,

How can NASA Defend Itself?

The NASA insignia. 

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NASA has done a lot for human civilization over the past 50 years or so. It has introduced us to a wide variety of materials, and taught our scientists some incredible things about the world we live, and the vast expanses beyond this world. However, they do face some difficulty in defending themselves, due to the anonymity and sometimes obscurity of the discoveries they make, along with their unpredictability. This is why they have recently found their funding reduced.

Needless to say, NASA conducts a lot of research in collaboration with scientists all over the world. We know more about our sky and the universe surrounding us than we ever have before. However, much of this knowledge is esoteric and known only to a few people. NASA has never been especially good at tooting its own horn over the discoveries it makes. Without much press coverage, it can be very challenging to launch an effective sales pitch, which in turn leads to lessened funding for their endeavors.

Simply put, NASA lacks a sales person who can put drama, heroism and immediacy into the work the organization does. If they had such an individual, it might be easier to keep their funding increasing and the public clamoring for more missions and more knowledge. Unfortunately, most people are so stuck on Earth, the notion of being able to learn anything of any use from space travel seems absurd. For a lot of people, teflon and its ilk just are not that important. However, the very nature of discovery means that through denying NASA, we could all be denying ourselves some really wonderful things.

 

Filed Under: General, Science Tagged With: , , ,

NASA’s Constellation Program: On The Way to Citizen Space Travel

NASA’s Constellation Program is on the verge of human travel to space. Whereas previously only astronauts were allowed to experience space travel, NASA is now partnering with various companies in preparation for citizen travel.
This is exciting news for citizens able to afford the hefty vacation price tags, but before NASA can issue the final approval, citizen safety must be ensured. For that reason, NASA has been working on one of the known concerns: thrust oscillation.
Thrust Oscillation
As a health and performance concern, thrust oscillation can impact the crew and citizens at first stage burnout. When the shuttle launches, there is often a smooth liftoff and ride for almost two minutes. Then, at burnout, the shuttle’s pressure creates a vibration that impairs the crew’s performance, impacting their ability to see and think clearly for a few seconds.
Ares 1
Because of the inherent risks that thrust oscillation can have on crew responsiveness, NASA is working on a new shuttle, Ares 1, that will address this concern. The new Ares 1 motor design will be 2.7 Hz smaller than the traditional shuttles, which allows the motor to dampen the thrust oscillation effects.
Designs
As NASA moves forward with design ideas, they are considering C-spring isolator, mass absorber and LOX damper designs. All of the designs are still being considered, but the C-spring isolator looks most promising.
The dual plane C-spring isolator design is not outperforming the other ideas in tests, but this was not always the case: The isolator had been too heavy at first production, so engineers recently developed a lighter titanium isolator, which put the C-spring isolator idea back in the running.
As NASA continues to move us closer to the space travel experience, we are left with only two concerns: How can a simple citizen find the $200,000-plus projected vacation fee and where can we sign up?

Filed Under: Astronomy, General Tagged With: , ,

NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) 14: The Underwater Experiment

The NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) projects use extreme environments to test new materials, technologies and human reactions to extreme environments. NEEMO 14, in particular, is aptly named because it is located deep in the ocean — just like the clownish. However, unlike Nemo, NEEMO 14 uses its environmental extremes as bases for research, training and education.
Introduction to NEEMO 14
The 14th NEEMO is located 3.5 miles from Key Largo, FL, and 62 feet below the water’s surface. At this depth, the ocean is not adapted for human survival: Even with traditional diving equipment, humans become subject to the bends — nitrogen build up in the blood — which can be fatal.
NEEMO 14, however, has found a way for humans to survive and explore this extreme environment for up to three weeks at a time. The underwater research center is equipped with oxygen, a laboratory and beds, but the timing of descent, ascent and exploration is one of the more important factors in this extreme environment survival.
Because of decompression sickness (the bends), divers must slowly descend to the research center, 62 feet below the surface. Once there, divers can stay in the research center on the ocean floor for up to three weeks, as long as saturation diving protocols are followed correctly.
While researching, as long as the divers stay at 62 feet, they can use traditional scuba gear to explore the environment. However, when divers leave the experiment to return to the surface, they must slowly reacclimatize themselves to shallower depths.
The Science of NEEMO
This extreme experiment is integral to NASA because the low gravity environment provides an excellent training and research facility. By accounting for buoyancy with weighted vests, the astronauts (called aquanauts) can walk on the ocean floor just as free from gravity as they would experience in space.
The research facility also allows aquanauts to experience the isolation and close quarters of space shuttles, which trains them in the space experience and tests them for psychological and physical breaking points.

Filed Under: Astronomy, General Tagged With: , ,

NASA’s 2012 Budget: New Focuses and New Frontiers

Released on February 14, 2011, the United States’ fiscal year 2012 budget includes a challenge to NASA to live within the means of and $18.7 billion NASA budget while attempting to educate, innovate and build beyond the abilities of the rest of the world. This challenge will be difficult but possible, and NASA looks forward to completing their goals in space and science exploration.
The Plan
The new budget breaks down to $5 billion for science, $4.3 billion for the International Space Station and Space Shuttle programs (combined), $3.9 billion for exploration systems like the Space Launch System and the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, and $569 million in aeronautics research.
NASA will continue to invest in deep space programs and to reach for the manned Mars mission goal. This means that a deep space capsule and heavy lift rocket will remain priorities in the new budget. Additionally, research and technology developments for the deep space program will be continued.
However, funding has been cut from the commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) program (100 to 1240 miles above Earth), so private companies will now be encouraged to develop low Earth orbit programs. Since space begins at about 100 miles from Earth, these private companies may offer LEO flights relatively soon.
Going forward, though, the International Space Station will remain a combined effort between NASA and other international space programs until at least 2020, even though the space station orbits at 200 miles above Earth.
NASA will also continue to research ways to enhance aviation safety, increase airspace efficiency and reduce aviation’s impact on the environment, all while supporting space observatories and new missions.
Students will remain a priority, and NASA leaders will focus on teaching our next generations science, mathematics, engineering and technology. Education still remains on the forefront of NASA endeavors.
Overall, moving into the next era of NASA leadership, NASA will focus on deep space missions, scientific developments, safety and education, leaving the low Earth orbit development opportunities open to private companies for the eventual citizen-space experience.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Science Tagged With: , ,

The NASA Constellation Program: Ensuring a Successful Transition

Since its induction in 1958, NASA has served the country well. From the first lunar landing to the space station to general space exploration, the scientists at NASA have given citizens an exciting base in the space travel experience. Now, as we enter the next 50 years in NASA history, NASA is unfolding an unprecedented plan: citizen space travel.
The new program, which has transitioned from the Space Shuttle Program (in existence for over 50 years) to the Constellation Program, plans to research safety concerns before issuing approval for citizen space travel. The Constellation Program will also incorporate travel to Mars in the long-term plan for the citizen solar system experience.
Additionally, as the Space Shuttle Program winds down, existing space shuttles will be retired after final missions to the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope.
In the future, NASA will develop safer and more cost-effective shuttles, like the Ares series of shuttles. These shuttles use new engine technology to reduce the potential for harm and increase crew awareness during the two-second lapse of confusion that occurs in each flight.
Throughout the transition, NASA also plans to transition employees and facilities to the new program.
NASA Employee Transition
NASA currently employs the best and the brightest in all areas of NASA research and development, so as the Space Shuttle Program winds down, NASA is working to manage employee needs in a well-planned fashion. The Constellation Program will continue to contract employees as needed, and NASA will be open and honest with all employees about their futures.
Additionally, NASA is working to strengthen ties with commercial companies to ensure that NASA employees can begin to work in commercial avenues as the transition continues.
Facilities
NASA’s facilities will also need to be transitioned to support the new Constellation Program. The new Ares and Orion shuttles being developed will require new launching systems, so many of the existing shuttle launch pads and control rooms are being modified.
Moving forward, NASA hopes to transition to the new Constellation Program with citizen safety, employee placement and facility development in mind.

Filed Under: Astronomy Tagged With: , ,

Living With a Star: The Glory Mission

NASA continues to study the sun in the newest introduction to the Living With a Star program, the Glory mission. This mission will study aerosols and the sun, delving into the affects of aerosol products on the Earth.
The Living With a Star Program
Introduced in 2010, the Living With a Star Program measures and studies different aspects of the sun as it relates to Earth, to people, and to the existence of life. The hope in the program is to gain an understanding of the sun to better predict space weather, Earth’s weather, and the climate.
The Glory Mission
Glory, NASA’s sun and aerosol mission, will measure how solar energy and aerosols affect the Earth’s energy budget (the balance of energy entering and exiting the Earth’s atmosphere).
Historically, Earth has been an excellent energy budgeter: the amount of energy entering Earth and exiting Earth have been close to equal. However, scientists wish to study this phenomenon more closely to determine aerosol’s affects on the budget.
As the scientists study the energy budget and aerosols, they expect to be able to predict the climate’s future changes. This will further translate into a study of how these effects may affect human life.
Contributors
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is responsible for Glory’s project management, but Kennedy Space Center (FL) is in charge of the launch management. The launch service provider and satellite builder is Orbital Sciences Corp. (VA).
Liftoff
Liftoff is scheduled for February 23, 2011, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The space launch complex will launch Glory at 5:09 a.m. EST, and the liftoff will be completed in a 48-second launch window.
The Taurus XL rocket will carry both the Glory spacecraft and three ELaNa nanosatellites, all of which will be released from Taurus 13 minutes after launch.
As NASA scientists move forward with research into the sun and aerosols, they should soon discover aerosols affect Earth’s energy budget.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Observatory, Planets Tagged With: , ,

NASA’s 2011 Budget and Goals

At a time when many citizens struggled to get by on reduced incomes, President Obama proposed several new NASA programs. The proposition came with some resistance at the February 1, 2010, Fiscal Year 2011 Budget, however, President Obama signed a $19 billion budget bill in October 2010.
The Budget’s Extended Goals
This leaves the United States on the forefront of space exploration, as we move toward a manned mission to an asteroid by 2025 and a manned mission to Mars in the 2030 decade. The International Space Station is also being extended through 2020. However, a manned mission to the moon has been dropped as we dream bigger in space exploration.
These new goals will pave the way for extended-stay visits in space, with an eventual goal of establishing living spaces within our solar system. The money saved by scrapping the moon exploration portion of NASA’s 2011 budget will be better designated toward new exploration ventures.
Cutting Costs
Additionally supportive of the budget, NASA is reaching for collaboration from other nations, businesses and citizens. As we begin to partner with nations of the world, commercial ventures and citizen stakeholders, we will all reduce costs and encourage creativity as we learn about our solar system.

2011 Priorities
The 2011 Budget broke out with four priorities, all which will support initiatives and research for out goals of manned asteroid and Mars missions. The priorities include building a heavy lift rocket, building a Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, focusing on researching space technologies, and supporting the International Space Station.
As we move forward with these priorities, it may not seem like we are getting very close to our extended goals. However, these priorities will establish a much needed base for the more difficult missions.
A heavy lift rocket will enable us to explore the more hazardous asteroid and Mars, while a Crew Vehicle will make exploration easier. Researching technologies and supporting the space station will also help us establish much-needed information about safe space travel.

Filed Under: Astronomy Tagged With: , ,

Solar Dynamic Observatory: Studying the Sun and Space Weather

The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a spacecraft designed to study the sun and the sun’s influence on space weather. The five-year unmanned spacecraft mission is twofold: to study the space weather and to study the sun (through the Living With a Star program).
Space Weather
By studying the sun and the space weather phenomenon, NASA scientists can better understand the sun’s affects on power grids, satellites, global positioning systems, airplanes and other technologies subject to the sun’s ionizing radiation — which occasionally causes these systems to fail.
Coronal Mass Ejections, Solar Flares, High Speed Streams in the Solar Wind, Geomagnetic Storms and Galactic Cosmic Rays will be the most-studied space weather phenomenons. Coronal Mass Ejections occur when a propulsion above the sun’s surface bursts and sends a bubble of radiation toward Earth, and Solar Flares send the radiation toward Earth in intense bursts of light.
High Speed Streams in the Solar Wind radiate from fixed holes in the sun’s surface, and occasional high speed streams can produce inter-planetary shock. Geomagnetic Storms allow for a temporary decrease in the Earth’s magnetic field, and Galactic Cosmic Rays occur constantly but only occasionally penetrate Earth’s magnetosphere.
Although each of these space weather occurrences are produced by different events, they all produce radiation that can cause some of our electronic systems to fail. Therefore, scientists will continue to study their affects through the SDO.
Living With a Star Program
The powerful SDO can also give scientists insight into the sun’s surface, variability and internal processes in a program called Living With a Star. This will help scientists understand the sun’s affects on people and places on Earth, life, and society.
As the scientists begin to understand both space weather and the sun, they will be able to combine this information to predict space weather, understand how space weather affects Earth’s weather, and understand the Earth’s atmospheric climate.

Filed Under: Observatory, Planets Tagged With: , ,
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