Nikolay's Genetics Lessons’ Post

* Extract from an article published on 20 Oct 2024 by The Guardian: "...But the concern over debris is about more than it damaging an individual satellite or craft. Space operators are acutely aware of a danger known as the #KesslerEffect or syndrome, named after the Nasa scientist Donald J Kessler, who in 1978 along with Burton G Cour-Palais, published a theory that as the number of satellites increased, so would the #probability of collisions. As collisions increase, the more debris is produced, and the greater the risk of more collisions. At a critical mass, one collision could trigger an #unstoppable cascade of collisions, such that an entire orbit could be rendered useless. A 2022 overview paper by Viasat paints an almost apocalyptic picture: “If a tipping point is reached, all of humanity would watch helplessly as space junk multiplies uncontrollably. Without timely intervention, we risk bringing the space age to an inglorious end, and trapping humanity on Earth under a layer of its own trash for centuries, or even millennia.” It continues: “Not only an abrupt end to space exploration, but also the loss of all the benefits of space technology – including navigation, weather forecasting, climate measurements, and even satellite broadband (the intended purpose of the megaconstellations being deployed).” https://lnkd.in/gEeWGY6T —- The 𝗜𝗔𝗔 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘀 & 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 (#SDS2024), which is co-hosted by the University of Hong Kong’s Laboratory for Space Research (HKU-LSR) and EPFL Switzerland, will take place in Hong Kong from 2-4 December 2024. Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/ggCb5Mvr) ✨

Earth Observation from Space. Our universe is always expanding but we refer to it with just one word: Space. What is space, if we might be curious a bit. Space can be defined as almost a perfect vacuum, nearly void of matter and extremely low pressure. In space, sounds cannot be heard; this is because there are no molecules to transmit sound between them. Space is not quite empty as it contains bits of gas, dust, and other matter while crowded regions host planets, stars, and galaxies. From the Earth's perspective, space is imagined to begin at 62 miles (100 kilometers) above sea level. This is the level where there is no appreciable air to breathe and at this altitude, blue stars give away to black since there is no abundance of oxygen to make the sky blue. So why do we go to space? The answer to this is to gain a new perspective of the Earth and the solar system since we are not fixed to one state but change with time. Let’s focus on the perspective of studying the Earth from space. The first earth observation satellite was the Vanguard 2, which produced the first television footage of weather patterns from space. Due to technological problems, it was suspended by TIROS-1 in 1960. Since the first satellite to now many satellites have been designed and launched to gain a better view of the Earth and our universe. These new designs comprise better spatial and temporal resolutions. As we are developing space is becoming a factor that links many careers and disciplines to enhance creativity and interoperability of data and the design of different models, which interpret the data as information. The Kenya Space Agency and collaborating partners launched Kenya’s first Earth observation Satellite. This was done aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force base in California, USA. #EarthObservation #SatelliteTechnology #GPS #SpaceTechnology

"WELCOME TO THE XMM-NEWTON SCIENCE OPERATIONS CENTRE -The European Space Agency's (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESA's second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earth's atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis. Read more about the spacecraft, mirrors and instruments and about the XMM-Newton SOC..." ESA https://lnkd.in/ewgBv5AZ

That was a really close one. Further analysis of a near-miss collision between two satellites in space revealed that they came even closer to one another than initially believed, raising more alarm over the growing danger of space debris. Coastal Animals Are Thriving on Plastic Pollution Out in the Pacific Ocean | Extreme Earth In late February, NASA’s TIMED spacecraft and the defunct Russian Cosmos 2221 nearly avoided crashing into one another, which would have added thousands of space junk fragments in low Earth orbit. At the time, the incident was declared as “too close for comfort,” as ground observations estimated that the two satellites came within 20 meters of one another, but a NASA official recently revealed that it was a much closer encounter. “We recently learned through analysis that the pass ended up being less than 10 meters [33 feet] apart–within the hard-body parameters of both satellites,” NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy said during the 39th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, according to Space.com. “It was very shocking personally, and also for all of us at NASA.” NASA’s Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics Mission (TIMED) spacecraft, launched in 2001 to study the Sun and Earth’s upper atmosphere, and the Russian Cosmos 2221, a defunct defense satellite, launched in 1992. The two satellites cannot be maneuvered, and so there was nothing to be done as they traveled too close to one another in orbit. “Had the two satellites collided, we would have seen significant debris generation — tiny shards traveling tens of thousands of miles an hour, waiting to puncture a hole in another spacecraft, potentially putting human lives at risk,” Melroy is quoted as saying. There are more than 27,000 pieces of orbital debris currently being tracked by the Department of Defense’s global Space Surveillance Network, with lots of smaller pieces also floating around undetected. As the space industry continues to grow, so does the amount of spacecraft being launched into orbit and the risk of collision with wandering pieces of space junk. So far, there’s only been one incident in which two spacecraft collided with one another in orbit. In 2009, Iridium 33, a U.S. communications satellite, and Kosmos-2251, a defunct Russian military satellite, collided in orbit some 490 miles (789 kilometers) above Siberia. There are ongoing efforts to mitigate the risks of space junk collision, but the recent close call of the two satellites should urge more action to clean up Earth’s orbit. For more spaceflight in your life, follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and bookmark Gizmodo’s dedicated Spaceflight page. Source link By Nakisisa George

* Extract from an article published on 19 Oct 2024 by The Guardian on Space debris and sustainability: "...But the concern over debris is about more than it damaging an individual satellite or craft. Space operators are acutely aware of a danger known as the #KesslerEffect or syndrome, named after the Nasa scientist Donald J Kessler, who in 1978 along with Burton G Cour-Palais, published a theory that as the number of satellites increased, so would the #probability of collisions. As collisions increase, the more debris is produced, and the greater the risk of more collisions. At a critical mass, one collision could trigger an #unstoppable cascade of collisions, such that an entire orbit could be rendered useless. A 2022 overview paper by Viasat paints an almost apocalyptic picture: “If a tipping point is reached, all of humanity would watch helplessly as space junk multiplies uncontrollably. Without timely intervention, we risk bringing the space age to an inglorious end, and trapping humanity on Earth under a layer of its own trash for centuries, or even millennia.” It continues: “Not only an abrupt end to space exploration, but also the loss of all the benefits of space technology – including navigation, weather forecasting, climate measurements, and even satellite broadband (the intended purpose of the megaconstellations being deployed).” —- 🌟 OASA is proud to be a co-organiser of the 𝗜𝗔𝗔 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘀 & 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, which will be held at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) from 2–4 December 2024 — Link to 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲 : 👉 https://lnkd.in/gXXtQSrc)

https://lnkd.in/eaFJb2HZ China-France satellite launched to monitor most powerful explosions in space The Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) has blasted off to record intense gamma-ray bursts

How does the space agencies measure space debris? Space organizations utilize a range of technologies to measure and track space debris such as : •Ground-Based Radar Tracking: Large radar systems detect and track objects in Earth's orbit. Radars can detect debris particles, including their size, location, and velocity. Examples include the SpaceFence radar system and Russia's #Okno space surveillance system. •Optical Telescopes: Ground-based optical telescopes monitor and track larger debris objects. These telescopes can offer information on the size, shape, and orbit of debris. European Space Agency - ESA Network of Optical Tracking Stations #NETS is one example of this approach. •Satellite-based tracking : Uses specialized satellites with sensors to identify and monitor space debris from orbit, providing more accurate data on its distribution and movement in specific regions.- Satellite-based space debris tracking systems include the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor #ASIM aboard the InternationalSpace Station. •In-situ Measurements: Detectors on satellites and spacecraft directly measure the impact of debris particles. These measures can indicate the magnitude, content, and frequency of debris hits. In-situ debris measurement devices include the Envisat satellite launched by European Space Agency - ESA and the Debris Avoidance and Impact Detectors aboard the International Space Station. •Modeling and Simulation: Space agencies utilize complex computer models to forecast the long-term evolution and behaviour of space debris. These models use data from multiple sources to provide a full knowledge of the debris population. - Examples of such modelling tools are the #NASA Orbital Debris Engineering Model #ORDEM and the European Space Agency's Space Debris Environment and Evolution Model #MASTER .

An amateur astronomer in Austria captured rare footage of China's secretive space plane, revealing never-before-seen details of the mysterious craft. - 🔭 Spotted over Europe by using a telescope with a 14-inch mirror. - 🌌 The plane has been orbiting Earth since December, launched on a Long March 2F rocket. - 🛰️ The space plane is believed to have deployed at least seven satellites during its mission. - ☀️ The images reveal what appears to be solar panels, although their exact purpose remains uncertain. - 🛬 Designed for multi-year missions, the 30ft-long space plane is expected to land on a runway like a conventional aircraft. #spaceexploration #aerospace #technology - 🌍 The plane is part of China's strategy for reusable space vehicles. - 📷 The footage, though grainy, provides significant insights into China's space capabilities. - 🛡️ The US Space Force is also monitoring the plane, comparing it to the Boeing-built X-37B. - 🚀 This mission marks the third time the "Divine Dragon" has been deployed, with previous missions lasting over 250 days. - 👁️🗨️ Observers remain unsure about the nature of the objects released during the mission. https://lnkd.in/gyUyJXQa