Articles tagged with Space Probes
NASA solar observatories have discovered that asteroid Phaethon's comet-like tail is not composed of dust, but rather sodium gas. The findings contradict previous theories and suggest a new explanation for Phaethon's behavior, which is the source of the annual Geminid meteor shower.
Researchers used NASA InSight data to directly measure Mars' core properties, finding a completely liquid iron-alloy core with high percentages of sulfur and oxygen. This discovery provides new insights into Martian formation and geological differences between Earth and Mars, potentially impacting planetary habitability.
A team of researchers has discovered three ultra-faint dwarf galaxies around a Milky Way-mass galaxy, providing insights into the formation and evolution of these enigmatic objects. The findings may help develop universal models for how the universe's oldest galaxies formed.
Researchers propose picogram-scale probes that can land, replicate and produce a communications module to explore nearby stars. The concept aims to utilize living cells as a model for designing and building small-scale devices capable of withstanding extreme conditions.
A study published in the Astrophysical Journal reveals a strong correlation between cosmic ray counts and the solar cycle at Mars and Venus. The research found that cosmic rays are suppressed during peak solar activity, highlighting the importance of understanding these interactions for future robotic missions and human exploration.
An international team of researchers has successfully characterized the earliest galaxies in the Universe, which formed only 200 million years after the Big Bang. The study found that these early galaxies were relatively small and dim, processing less than 5% of their gas into stars.
Julie Castillo-Rogez and Martin Jutzi have made significant contributions to understanding asteroids, including their origins and dynamical evolution. Their work has advanced our knowledge of asteroids, from small bodies to planetary scales, with implications for ongoing space missions.
A new study suggests Europa's ice shell could be orders of magnitude purer than previously thought due to the formation of frazil ice, which keeps salt in seawater. This could affect the ice's strength and heat transfer, making it crucial for understanding Europa's habitability.
The study focused on the analysis and selection of Mars parachute types, with a focus on supersonic speed, low density, and harsh atmospheric conditions. The optimized tapered DGB parachute structure demonstrated improved deceleration performance, meeting the requirements for the Tianwen-1 Mars probe.
A WVU postdoctoral researcher has made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of magnetic reconnection, which can be used to predict space weather events that affect satellite and power grid systems. The study uses advanced laser diagnostics to measure electron speeds, providing new insights into plasma physics processes.
Researchers calculate that low-power lasers on Earth could launch and maneuver small probes equipped with silicon or boron nitride sails, propelling them to much faster speeds than rocket engines. The lasers could propel tiny sailed probes on interplanetary or interstellar missions without requiring large amounts of fuel.
Researchers discovered a complex relationship between Jupiter's magnetic field, volcanic activity on its moon Io, and the planet's powerful aurorae. The study revealed an electromagnetic 'tug-of-war' lights up aurorae in Jupiter's upper atmosphere.
A recent study led by the University of Texas at Austin has found that liquid water detected under Mars' ice-covered south pole is likely a dusty mirage. However, the researchers suggest that ancient lakes and riverbeds may still be present on the planet, offering clues about its wetter past.
The study reveals that the region within Io's orbit is dominated by oxygen and sulfur ions, with oxygen prevailing among the two. Further inward, within Amalthea's orbit, oxygen ion concentration increases unexpectedly.
The article discusses how scientists at Beijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd. used key orbit design technologies to achieve a 23-day journey of lunar sample return with the Chang'E 5 mission. The success relied on precise orbit designs for lunar orbit rendezvous and docking, precision landing, and inclination optimization.
The Parker Solar Probe has entered the solar corona and spent five hours in direct contact with the sun's plasma, measuring phenomena previously estimated. The probe discovered that the Alfvén critical surface is wrinkled, suggesting a potential new era for understanding coronal heating.
The University of Sydney's project searches for Earth-like planets around Alpha Centauri to determine if life could survive there. The team is using advanced telescope technology to analyze the stars' atmospheres and detect signs of life.
Scientists have discovered that hypervelocity dust impacts on a spacecraft can produce plasma explosions and create debris clouds, disturbing its operations. These events can also generate clouds of debris that expand away from the spacecraft.
Jupiter's banded pattern extends deep beneath the clouds, and the appearance of its belts and zones inverts near the base of the water clouds. The planet's microwave emissions reveal a transition zone between five and 10 bars, where the zones become bright and the belts dark.
Scientists propose sending a spacecraft to Jupiter to observe centaur objects becoming comets, providing insights into the solar system's dynamics and composition. This unique opportunity could reveal the chemical makeup of comets and shed light on how Earth-like planets form.
Scientists have determined the age of the Chang'e-5 moon rocks to be approximately 1.97 billion years old, closing a 2-billion-year gap in lunar sample dating. This precision is crucial for calibrating chronology tools and studying the moon's volcanic history.
The Chang'e-5 mission achieved a successful soft lunar landing using an innovative guidance, navigation and control system. The LAM used various sensors to navigate its descent and landing, with multiple sensors providing redundancy to ensure the success of the mission.
The Chang'e-5 mission brought back nearly two kilograms of lunar rocks and dust, including a mix of 'exotic' fragments that may preserve records of other lunar surface areas. The youngest geological area of the Moon's nearside has yielded insights into past volcanic activity
China's space transportation systems have made significant leaps in recent decades, with advancements in launch vehicles, propulsion systems, and artificial intelligence. The country aims to become a powerful space nation by the mid-21st century, with plans for manned missions to the Moon and Mars.
A theoretical physicist at Goethe University Frankfurt proposes using magnetic sails to decelerate interstellar spacecraft, enabling them to collect data from nearby stars and planets. The concept involves creating a strong magnetic field that reflects ionized hydrogen in the interstellar medium, slowing down the probe.
Scientists have identified a common plasma wave as the cause of high-energy electron loss into Earth's atmosphere. Whistler mode chorus waves are created by fluctuating electric and magnetic fields, efficiently accelerating electrons. The findings provide an important piece of the puzzle to understand space weather predictions.
Four Kiel University instruments will measure electrons, protons and ions in the Solar Orbiter space probe. The instruments passed tests with flying colours, providing valuable insights into sun particle radiation and its effect on Earth.
New findings from comet probes confirm the existence of organic molecules and clay particles that could have formed early life. The Cardiff University team argues that comets' liquid interiors provide a suitable environment for life's emergence.
Scientists return to Cenote Zacatón to resume tests of the NASA-funded robot DEPTHX, designed to survey and explore for life in one of Earth's most extreme regions. The probe may hold clues to life in outer space and on Earth's ice-bound polar lakes.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research discovered 'anti-planetary' electron rays on Saturn that fly away from the planet, similar to those observed on Earth. These findings suggest a fundamental process underlying polar lights, which were previously only seen on our planet.
The Deep Impact mission revealed several dozen impact craters on Comet Tempel 1, with a powdery layer tens of meters deep. The comet's surface is composed of a fine-grained, loosely glued layer of organic powder and ice, sparking new questions about its composition and the formation of the solar system.
The Huygens probe will parachute onto Titan's surface on January 14, studying its thick atmosphere and clouds with six science experiments. DISR will take images of the surface for over two hours, creating panoramic views of the ground and horizon.
Surgeons have successfully performed two operations using a new LED-based probe to treat brain cancer, with promising results. The treatment, called Photodynamic Therapy, involves activating light-sensitive drugs with long wavelengths of light, destroying tumors while sparing surrounding tissues.
Researchers are developing a non-destructive testing technique that can detect cracks in materials and welds under extreme conditions. This technology is being adapted for use in space to test the International Space Station and other structures, reducing the need for costly repairs.