#mars_exploration

A year after the launch of the Artemis1 mission, NASA continues to investigate damage to the fireproof shield on the Orion spacecraft, which may take several more months. On November 17, NASA Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development Jim Free spoke about plans for the Artemis 2 project at a committee meeting. He stressed that the launch of the first manned mission still needs to be delayed until the problems are analyzed and appropriate changes are made. [caption id="attachment_83984" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] After the Artemis 1 mission last December, NASA managers noted that the fire shield on Orion was more damaged than expected during reentry. However, this does not pose a threat to the ship, since the fireproof shield still contains a sufficient layer of ablative material. NASA continues to investigate the failure of the Orion spacecraft's fireproof shield. Lakeisha Hawkins, assistant deputy administrator in NASA's Luna-Mars program office, said the temporary authorization to determine the cause of the fire shield failure is expected in the spring. Engineers are studying factors that could have caused the damage, including Orion's reentry trajectory and the properties of the Avcoat material. NASA and its contractors are continuing to work on other elements of the Artemis 2 mission to stay on track for the 2024 launch schedule. As Free noted, work with the hardware continues at the moment and there is no reason to stop the process. However, if an issue is discovered that requires suspension, all processes and timelines will be immediately reviewed. It is unclear what impact this might have on the Artemis 2 schedule if the fire shield on the Orion vehicle requires modification or replacement. But other mission elements, such as the Space Launch System rocket and ground systems, are still on schedule, especially SLS. Determining the timing for SLS launch vehicle assembly and integration at Kennedy Space Center is a key issue. The launch will be carried out only after full readiness and understanding of all aspects related to Artemis 1.

The data could help guide future lunar landings as part of NASA's Artemis program. NASA engineers have simulated the effects of landing on the lunar surface in preparation for sending astronauts to the Moon on upcoming Artemis missions. The animation, created on NASA supercomputers, shows the effects of the Apollo 12 landing on the Moon, namely the effect caused by kicking up lunar dust. Using supercomputer models, the interaction of lunar regolith and hot gas jets ejected from the spacecraft engine during landing and takeoff was studied. Landing on the Moon is a complex mission in which the spacecraft uses rocket engines to control and smoothly descend to the lunar surface in defiance of gravity. The model shows how Apollo 12's engine jets interacted with the lunar surface during landing in November 1969. The lateral force causing shear stress on a flat surface caused the regolith to "ripple" on the lunar surface. [caption id="attachment_83305" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] NASA supercomputers show how Apollo 12 landing kicked up lunar dust The animation shows the last half minute of the vehicle's descent before the engine shuts down. The changing radial patterns reflect the intensity of shear stress, with lower levels indicated in dark purple and higher levels indicated in yellow. As the craft descends, the animation shows the rapid increase in shear stress exerted on the lunar surface. This can cause mixing of layers of regolith - fine loose dust and rocks on the surface of the Moon, and as a result lead to erosion. https://youtu.be/7keqE6zhQYM In addition to visual obstructions and possible damage to equipment, dust plumes can also complicate navigation and the operation of scientific instruments. As part of the Artemis program, which aims to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon, NASA aims to explore wider areas of the lunar surface than ever before. This involves the use of larger vehicles and more powerful engines than those of the Apollo program. Although Apollo craft did not create craters, larger craft may have erosive effects and cause cratering at the landing site, which could pose risks to the stability of the craft and crew. As mission planners strive to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon, they will need to consider how future vehicles will interact with the lunar surface in uncharted terrain. NASA officials emphasize that these computer simulations can be used to predict the consequences of landing future missions in order to minimize risks to vehicles and crew.

Preparations are underway for the launch of the Artemis 2 spacecraft, which should take astronauts around the Moon at the end of 2024 The American Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shared interesting news on its lunar program. In a sped-up video, the team showed how rocket boosters were installed for NASA's Artemis 2 lunar mission. The massive twin boosters were transported by train to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in early October. [caption id="attachment_79579" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] The center's specialists are now focused on assembling the aft part of the boosters - this is the part that controls the boosters during launch. NASA said: Here the left and right aft engine segments are connected to the stern skirts, after which the installation of the stern outlet cones will follow. NASA installs massive Artemis 2 boosters to launch astronauts to the Moon: impressive video As you can see in the video, moving these massive parts around the plant is no easy task. Each weighs approximately 150 tons, and their enormous height also requires a special approach. Each accelerator will consist of five segments when fully assembled. https://youtu.be/2K3pse3k3V8

This time the helicopter covered 411 meters above the Martian desert The American Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA announced that the Ingenuity helicopter made a new flight to Mars. On October 27, 2023, the 64th flight of the device took place. [caption id="attachment_79365" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA's[/caption] This time the helicopter covered 411 meters above the Martian desert. During the flight, filming was carried out using a navigation camera. [caption id="attachment_79366" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA's[/caption] NASA's Ingenuity Martian helicopter captured and transmitted truly fantastic footage to Earth: video With the bright sun overhead, the ship cast shadows on the planet's surface, resulting in some truly "sci-fi" footage. As NASA explained, the camera is “mounted on the fuselage of the helicopter and pointed straight down to track the surface during flight.” [caption id="attachment_79368" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA's[/caption] The mission team then combined the footage and came up with one impressive video: https://youtu.be/qzJxHAZQIlg Recall that the Ingenuity helicopter was delivered to Mars attached to the bottom of the Perseverance rover, which landed in the Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. Ingenuity's main goals include demonstrating technology, conducting the first flights to Mars, and conducting exploration for Perseverance.

This is an important milestone on the path to uncovering our solar system's past. The American Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shared the latest news about the Lucy spacecraft. On November 1, 2023, the probe successfully completed its flyby of Dinkinesh, the first asteroid in the Lucy probe's busy space tour. [caption id="attachment_79322" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA's[/caption] Dinkinesh is a small asteroid in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. In total, Lucy is planned to visit 10 asteroids over the next 12 years, including Dinkinesh. In their blog, the NASA team said: The operations team has confirmed that NASA's Lucy spacecraft has called home after its encounter with the small main belt asteroid Dinkinesh. Based on the information received, the team determined that the spacecraft was in good health. The device was commanded to begin transmitting the data collected during the meeting. Historical event: NASA's Lucy probe met its first asteroid and has already “phoned home” The Lucy mission was part of NASA's ambitious attempt to uncover the secrets of our solar system's past. While Lucy will also pass by a few relatively nearby asteroids, such as Dinkinesh, the probe's main goal is to fly past several more distant Trojan asteroids orbiting the Sun near Jupiter. Scientists are interested in learning more about these asteroids because they are considered ancient relics of the solar system. In this regard, Dinkinesh's Lucy flyby can be considered a test flight. Many of the spacecraft's instruments were tested during data collection during the first encounter with the asteroid, including a color thermal imager, a high-resolution camera and an infrared spectrometer. Transferring the data back to Earth will take about a week, and the team is "looking forward to seeing how the spacecraft performed during its first high-speed asteroid encounter flight test." Lucy will then head toward Earth for a gravitational boost that will help it get closer to the second target asteroid, 52246 Donaldjohanson. The tiny asteroid in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter was named Dinkinesh only in February 2023. Initially, Dinkinesh was not part of the plan for the 12-year tour. It was added to the route only in January 2023 to test the tracking system.

Scientists are looking forward to studying carbonate rocks on Mars and unlocking their secrets. Mars 2020 Mission scientists are filled with excitement this week as Perseverance approaches a special geological layer that was instrumental in selecting the landing site for exploration in the Jezero Crater region. This layer is found in a narrow band along the inner rim of the crater's western rim and exhibits strong carbonate mineral characteristics. [caption id="attachment_69193" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Mars[/caption] On Earth, carbonates typically form in shallow waters of fresh or alkaline lakes. The hypothesis is that the carbonate layer on Mars could have formed in the same way - more than 3 billion years ago, the waters of the lake in the Eezero crater may have flowed onto its shores, depositing this carbonate layer. An alternative hypothesis is that carbonates form through mineral carbonation when silicate minerals (such as olivine) react with CO? and turn into carbonates. It can tell about the past atmosphere and life on Mars Carbonates are of interest for several reasons. First, they can provide insight into Mars' former atmosphere. These minerals are formed through a sequence of chemical reactions that begin with the interaction of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with liquid water. Thus, by studying the amount and isotopic composition of these carbonates, scientists will be able to conclude the past content of CO2 in the atmosphere of Mars. and gain insight into its climate history. Secondly, carbonate minerals are an excellent medium for preserving traces of ancient life, if they existed. When carbonates are deposited early in rock formation, they can trap the resulting environment, including signs of microbial life. On Earth, carbonate minerals have been observed to form around microbial cells, enclosing them and rapidly turning them into fossils. This is especially valuable because a microorganism that is “sealed” in carbonate can persist for a very long time. Another example of fossil carbonates on Earth are stromatolites, layered structures created by growing microbial colonies in mineral-saturated waters. Stromatolites provide some of the earliest records of life on Earth. While we don't yet know exactly how the boundary rocks and the carbonates within them formed, the team is looking forward to getting into these rocks and unlocking their secrets.

The mission will conduct scientific research on the Moon, including collecting regolith samples, testing global navigation systems, radiation resistance, and protection from lunar dust Firefly Aerospace announced the completion of the development and assembly of the Blue Ghost lunar lander. This will be Firefly's first lunar mission, scheduled to take place in 2024 as part of NASA's CLPS program to commercially deliver payloads to the Moon. In total, Firefly won three orders from NASA in this program, the total amount of which exceeds $230,000,000. [caption id="attachment_64122" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA's[/caption] Blue Ghost lander for NASA's CLPS lunar mission planned for 2024 The team conducted extensive qualification testing of the Blue Ghost rover and each of its components to ensure that the module will withstand all the stresses during launch, en route to the Moon, and during landing. The next major milestones for the Blue Ghost 1 mission will be payload integration and testing ahead of the mission's launch in 2024. At the same time, Firefly is already preparing for its second lunar mission, Blue Ghost Mission 2, which will first launch a satellite into lunar orbit in 2026 and then deliver several payloads to the far side of the Moon. The second mission will consist primarily of payloads from commercial customers.

The launch was delayed due to bad weather conditions, but the Falcon 9 stage returned to Earth and successfully landed on a platform at sea On October 5, SpaceX launched 22 more satellites of its Starlink internet constellation into orbit, marking the company's 70th orbital mission this year. The Starlink spacecraft launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. The launch was originally scheduled for Wednesday at 10:45 pm local time but was delayed by several hours due to bad weather conditions. [caption id="attachment_64074" align="aligncenter" width="780"] SpaceX[/caption] As planned, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket successfully returned to Earth and made a vertical landing on SpaceX's Just Read the Instructions offshore platform approximately 8.5 minutes after launch. SpaceX successfully launched 22 Starlink satellites on its 70th mission this year This is the eighth landing and launch for this Falcon 9 first stage. Of the previous seven launches, four were dedicated to launching Starlink satellites into orbit. Today, the Starlink satellite “constellation” consists of more than 4,800 operational satellites. The plan was for 22 Starlink satellites to enter low-Earth orbit approximately 65 minutes after launch. The Falcon 9 rocket has carried 67 SpaceX orbital missions so far this year, and three more missions have been carried by the Falcon Heavy rocket. However, this number is about to increase: Falcon Heavy is scheduled to launch NASA's Psyche mission on October 12. This year, SpaceX also conducted a test flight of the Starship spacecraft, designed to carry crew and cargo to low Earth orbit and the Moon. However, this mission, which did not involve placing a payload into orbit, ended four minutes after launch due to technical problems.