@AkaSci@fosstodon.org
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AkaSci

@AkaSci@fosstodon.org

SatCom Scientist
Writing occasionally about space missions, astronomy, planetary science, satellites and science in general.
He/Him
#science #space #technology #astronomy #satellites #Democracy

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AkaSci, to space
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Preparations for NASA’s Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch are in progress.

Launch time: 12:25 pm ET

"The two NASA astronauts aboard, flight commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams, will test the end-to-end capabilities of the Starliner system, including launch, docking, and return to Earth. After a one-week stay docked to the International Space Station, the Starliner and crew will land under parachutes in the western United States."

https://youtu.be/aEi5boWupRk

1/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have entered Starliner and completed checks.

ULA is troubleshooting an issue with topping valves (for Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen) on the ground side. Running the fix through our SIL before executing - Tory Bruno, ULA President and CEO.

2/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Problem (with valve sensors) seems to have been resolved.

Proceeding with LOX and LH top-off and hatch closing.

Countdown clock continues for liftoff at 12:25 pm ET.

3/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Starliner hatch closed.
Weather looking good.
🤞 🚀
#NASA #Boeing #ULA
4/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Less than an hour left for liftoff.

"ULA is using a specialized version of AtlasV to launch Starliner. It is distinguished by two side-mounted solid-fuel boosters, a Dual Engine Centaur upper stage and a Launch Vehicle Adapter with aeroskirt. The rocket stands 172 feet tall and weighs 979,000 pounds at launch."

Starliner mass is ~29,000 lb, a small fraction of the rocket mass. It takes a lot of rocket and fuel to escape earth's gravity!

#NASA #Boeing #ULA
5/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Here is the Starliner mission profile until orbit insertion at T+31 minutes.

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/commercial_crew_press_kit_2.pdf?emrc=d5924a
#NASA #Boeing #ULA
6/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Unfortunately, the launch has been scrubbed for today at T-3 minutes.
Scrub cause not announced yet.
Although it sounds like software - "due to the computer ground launch sequencer not loading into the correct operational configuration after proceeding into terminal count."

No doubt there are tighter checks and controls on a crewed mission.
Will try again, new date TBD.
Next available launch window is on Sunday, June 2, 12:03 p.m. ET.

#NASA #Boeing #ULA
7/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Starliner crew Butch and Suni being evacuated now.
Disappointing yes, but these tough professionals and their supporting personnel will be ready for the next launch with the same enthusiasm and diligence as today.
#NASA #Boeing #ULA
8/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

No Starliner launch today. Team needs additional time to assess the ground support equipment issue.

The next available launch opportunities are -
Wednesday, June 5
Thursday, June 6

https://blogs.nasa.gov/boeing-crew-flight-test/2024/06/01/nasa-mission-partners-forego-june-2-launch-of-crew-flight-test/
#NASA #Boeing #ULA
9/n

AkaSci, (edited )
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Starliner launch is now scheduled for 10:52 a.m. EDT Wednesday, June 5.

"The ULA team identified an issue with a single ground power supply within one of the 3 redundant chassis that provides power to a subset of computer cards controlling various system functions, including the card responsible for the stable replenishment topping valves for the Centaur upper stage."
The faulty chassis have been replaced with a spare unit.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/boeing-crew-flight-test/2024/06/02/nasa-mission-partners-target-june-5-crew-flight-test-launch/
#NASA #Boeing #ULA
10/n

AkaSci, (edited ) to random
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

This week, a science team announced the discovery of JADES-GS-z14-0, a galaxy that existed just 290 million years after the big bang. JADES-GS-z14-0 now holds the record for the most distant known galaxy, with redshift z=14.32.

The discovery is based on spectroscopic measurements made using the Webb telescope of light from this distant galaxy that has traveled for over 13.5 billion years.

https://webbtelescope.org/contents/early-highlights/nasas-james-webb-space-telescope-finds-most-distant-known-galaxy
#JWST #Webb
1/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Cosmological redshift is the stretching of light due to the expansion of space.

redshift z = (λobserved - λrest) / λrest, z=14 means that light wavelengths have been stretched by a factor of z+1 = 15.

Given z, distance and light travel-time can estimated using the graph below.

Note that distances in light years can be higher than the age of the Universe (13.8 billion ly) due to the expansion of space. E.g., JADES-GS-z14-0 with z=14.32 is now over 34 bil ly away.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redshift
2/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Redshift for distant objects can be estimated from their light spectra and noting the wavelengths of known emission and absorption lines.

The Lyman-α break at 0.1215 µm is a distinct ultra-UV wavelength in astronomy; wavelengths shorter than it are absorbed by H in the source galaxy and in inter-galactic space. Redshift causes these wavelengths to get stretched.

For JADES-GS-z14-0, Lyman-α was detected at 1.867 µm, i.e., z = (1.867 - 0.1215) / 0.1215 = 14.32.

https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/01HZ0AGNJ96R1GSR956QYMFCRE
3/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

JADES-GS-z14-0 is 1,600 ly wide, contains 500 million solar masses and its luminous spectrum reveals the presence of Oxygen atoms. These are surprising results for such a young galaxy.

"The presence of oxygen so early in the life of this galaxy is a surprise and suggests that multiple generations of very massive stars had already lived their lives before we observed the galaxy."

The paper describes another similar galaxy in the same field - JADES-GS-z14-1 at z=13.9.

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2405.18485#cite.Helton%3A2024
4/

AkaSci, (edited )
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

@TMEubanks
From the paper - "We estimate a gas-phase metallicity of log (Z/Z⊙) = −1.5 (+0.7, −0.4)."
I.e., Z/Z⊙ = 0.032

Obviously, galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0 has a lower metallicity than the Sun.

Metallicity = the mass fraction of elements heavier than helium.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallicity
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2405.18485#cite.Helton%3A2024

AkaSci, (edited ) to random
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Fresh volcanic eruptions north of Grindavîk, Iceland.

  • Started at 1 pm local (UTC)
  • Fissure location is similar to Dec 19 and Mar 16 eruptions
  • Strong M4.1 earthquake in the area around 11 am
  • Magma likely in contact with groundwater causing explosions and dark plumes of smoke
  • Grindavík, the Blue Lagoon and the power plant in Svartsengi evacuated
  • This eruption is the most powerful in the current system so far.

News: https://www.ruv.is/english/2024-05-29-eruption-on-reykjanes-peninsula-413853
https://www.facebook.com/Almannavarnir
#Iceland
1/n

AkaSci, (edited )
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Although the eruptions and lava flows near Grindavîk have thankfully decreased in intensity, they continue to put on a dazzling nighttime light show.

Webcams at https://www.youtube.com/@ruvohf/streams
#Iceland #Grindavîk
7/n

AkaSci, (edited ) to random
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

The NASA Europa Clipper spacecraft is getting ready to be shipped to KSC in FL. The spacecraft was moved in the clean room at JPL next to the container which will be used for transport to KSC.

At KSC, solar panels will be attached before installation in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for launch around Oct 10, 2024. It will be inserted into orbit around Jupiter on April 11, 2030, from where it will make close passes of Europa over 4 years.

Webcam of clean room at https://europa.nasa.gov/spacecraft/assembly/
1/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

After arriving at NASA Kennedy, the Europa Clipper spacecraft was transported to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where it has been unpacked, rotated and lifted to its upright position.

Here are some pics from KSC.

Next up, inspections and testing, installation of solar panels and preparations for launch around October 10.

https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasas-europa-clipper-unpacks-in-florida/
https://images.nasa.gov/search?q=clipper&page=1&media=image,video,audio&yearStart=2024&yearEnd=2024
7/n

AkaSci, (edited ) to random
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

China's Chang'e 6 mission to the moon was launched today.

The spacecraft and mission are very similar to Chang'e 5, which brought lunar rock samples back to earth in 2020, except that the Chang'e 6 landing site is on the far side of the moon (43.0°S 154.0°W).

Comms will take place via the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, which was launched on March 20 and is in an elliptical lunar orbit of 200×16,000 km at 62.4° inclination.

Mission time: 53 days

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7a4n-rmBIw
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27e_6
1/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Chang'e 6 has landed. The lunar landing took place at 6:23 am Beijing time on Sunday (22:23 UTC Saturday).

No visuals yet.

As shown in the previous post, it is late lunar morning at the landing site on the far side of the moon. Check out the rest of this thread for more info on the mission - https://fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/112376642679186846

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3265037/chinas-change-6-lander-touches-down-far-side-moon-mission-bring-rock-samples-back-earth
7/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Here is the translated press release from the China National Space Administration (CNSA) about the landing of Chang'e 6.

"(the Chang'e-6 lander and ascender combination) landed smoothly in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the back of the moon."

https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n6758823/n6758838/c10541444/content.html
8/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Here is an animation of the landing sequence of the Chang'e-6 lander + ascender on the far side of the moon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chUsHpmz07E

9/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Here is footage from the onboard camera of the landing sequence of the Chang'e-6 lander + ascender on the far side of the moon.

With some very appropriate music added 🎶

The Chang’e-6 lunar lander landed in the Apollo crater, located in the South Pole-Aitkin impact basin on the far side of the Moon, on 1 June 2024, at 22:23 UTC (2 June, at 06:23 China Standard Time).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRtdMTUTkt4

10/n

AkaSci, (edited )
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Apparently, Chang'e 6 drilling and soil collection operations have already begun on the lunar surface.

Here is a video that shows its drilling, collection and packaging apparatus in action. The video was probably made during lab testing of the Chang'e 6 lander and its soil gathering equipment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xEnyHAlvYc
#Change6
11/n

AkaSci, (edited )
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Chang'e 6 landing site coordinates - 41.64 S, 153.99 W

Here are some images of the site at different zoom levels taken by lunar orbiters.

https://quickmap.lroc.asu.edu/?camera=-1234294.875%2C-601131.692%2C-1221145.204%2C6.283%2C-1.571%2C0.000%2C1837400.000%2C60.000&id=lroc&showGraticule=true&showTerrain=true&queryOpts=N4XyA&isCesiumEntityDetailsEnabled=true&showCompass=true&trailType=1&wideTrail=true&layers=NrBsFYBoAZIRnpEBmZcAsjYIHYFcAbAyAbwF8BdC0ypcOKbRFOOZRBaAOnXfyJpVBFIA&proj=22

12/n

AkaSci, (edited )
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

The Chang'e 6 ascender has lifted off the lunar surface with its cache of rock and soil samples.

It fired it's 3000N engine at 23:38 UTC June 3. 6 minutes later, it entered a 15 x 180 km x 43 deg lunar orbit. With 4 more orbital maneuvers, it will climb to a 210 km lunar orbit to rendezvous with and transfer the samples to the returner. Sample return to earth is scheduled for June 25.

Here are some clips of its short stay on the far side of the moon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dug2_hYDww

13/n

AkaSci, to random
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

Happy Birthday to the Hubble Space Telescope, launched OTD in 1990, with Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-31 mission.

34 years and 5 servicing missions later, Hubble is still going strong, unfolding the mysteries of the Universe from its perch 540 km above earth.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahubble/albums/72157670398668526/
https://hubblesite.org/home
1/n

AkaSci,
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

NASA will hold a media teleconference at 4 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, June 4, to provide an update on operations for NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.

Audio of the teleconference will stream at: https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv/

We wonder why they need a teleconference on the subject. Let's hope that all is well. Even if the failing 3rd gyro cannot be fixed, Hubble can be operated with just one gyro at somewhat reduced functionality, if needed.

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-invites-media-to-discuss-hubble-operations-update/
7/n

AkaSci, (edited )
@AkaSci@fosstodon.org avatar

As we suspected, the NASA Hubble team has decided to operate Hubble henceforth in single gyro mode.

There are some limitations in this mode - Hubble will need more time to slew and lock onto a science target and won't have as much flexibility as to where it can observe at any given time.

The other healthy gyro will be kept as a spare. Hubble now has 4 failed gyros.

The team expects to resume science operations again by mid-June.

https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/nasa-to-change-how-it-points-hubble-space-telescope/
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/observatory/design/hubble-one-gyro-mode/

8/n

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