WhyCosmo

  NASA has decided to end the operational life of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030 and has awarded SpaceX a massive $843 million contract to safely bring the ISS back to Earth. SpaceX will use a specially designed deorbit vehicle to ensure the space station makes a controlled reentry into the Earth's atmosphere and crashes into the ocean. Key Highlights: End of an Era : The ISS has been a hub for international cooperation in space since 1998. It has hosted astronauts from the U.S., Japan, Russia, Canada, and Europe, and facilitated over 3,300 scientific experiments. Aging and Safety Concerns : Technical faults and space debris pose increasing risks. Recently, astronauts had to take shelter due to debris from a shattered Russian satellite. Future Plans : New commercial space stations like Axiom Space's Axiom Station and Blue Origin's Orbital Reef are set to replace the ISS by the end of this decade. Global Responsibility : The deorbiting of the ISS is a shar...

  Asteroid 2024 MK to Soar Between Earth and Moon on Saturday This Saturday, June 29 , prepare for a celestial spectacle as the massive asteroid 2024 MK flies past Earth. Discovered just two weeks ago by astronomers in South Africa, this asteroid is more giant than the Great Pyramid of Giza, measuring around 480 feet (146 meters) across. At its closest approach, it will be approximately 184,000 miles (295,000 kilometers) from our planet, about three-quarters the distance to the moon. The potentially hazardous asteroid 2024 MK will sail between Earth and the moon on Saturday.   (Image credit: JUAN GARTNER via Getty Images) Exciting Details: Speed: The asteroid will be traveling at a staggering speed of 21,000 mph (34,000 km/h). No Threat: While it poses no danger to Earth, NASA classifies 2024 MK as a "potentially hazardous asteroid" due to its size and orbit. Future Return: After this close encounter, 2024 MK will return to the asteroid belt and won't return until 20...

  NASA has unveiled a breathtaking new video that takes viewers on a 3D journey through the iconic Pillars of Creation . This mesmerizing animation results from a groundbreaking collaboration between NASA's most powerful space telescopes— the Hubble Space Telescope and JWST (the James Webb Space Telescope) . The Pillars of Creation as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: Greg Bacon, Ralf Crawford, Joseph DePasquale, Leah Hustak, Christian Nieves, Joseph Olmsted, Alyssa Pagan, and Frank Summers (STScI), NASA's Universe of Learnin A Historic Collaboration The Pillars of Creation, located 6,500 light-years away in the Eagle Nebula (M16), have fascinated researchers and the public since Hubble first captured their image in 1995. Now, with the combined efforts of Hubble and JWST, the star-forming clouds are brought to life in stunning detail. This animation is not just an artistic interpretation but is based on observational data led by...

The JWST (James Webb Space Telescope) has once again stunned the scientific community with an extraordinary discovery. A team of astronomers has observed a group of newborn stars in the Serpens Main nebula shooting high-speed gas jets in nearly identical directions. This phenomenon, never seen before, could revolutionize our understanding of star formation. Unveiling the Mystery The JWST's powerful Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) captured these baby stars, revealing protostellar outflows—massive jets of gas released by newly formed stars. What makes this discovery astonishing is the alignment of these jets. Despite originating from stars separated by vast distances, the jets point in the same direction, akin to sleet pouring down during a storm. A Historical Record of Star Formation Klaus Pontoppidan, the principal investigator from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explained that this alignment directly examines how stars are born. These aligned structures serve as a historic...

  In a historic achievement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the third and final landing experiment of its Reusable Launch Vehicle ‘Pushpak.’ This momentous event occurred at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka. Key Highlights of the ‘Pushpak’ Mission: Successful Final Landing : The Pushpak Reusable Launch Vehicle was released from a Chinook helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km and performed a precise horizontal landing at the runway centerline despite challenging wind conditions. Autonomous Capabilities : Demonstrating advanced autonomous landing capabilities, Pushpak utilized multi-sensory fusion, including inertial sensors, radar altimeters, and the NavIC navigation system. High-Speed Landing : The vehicle approached the runway at 320 km/h, reducing its speed to nearly 100 km/h using a brake parachute and landing gear brakes. Collaborative Effort : The mission involved various ISRO centers and had significant support from the...

  The highly anticipated return of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has been delayed yet again due to ongoing issues with helium leaks and thruster malfunctions . NASA and Boeing have decided to extend the spacecraft's stay at the International Space Station (ISS) to allow for thorough reviews and system checks, guaranteeing the mission's safety and success. The Starliner spacecraft on NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test is pictured docked to the Harmony module’s forward port as the International Space Station orbited 263 miles above the Mediterranean Sea. Credit: NASA Helium Leaks and Thruster Troubles Starliner has encountered several challenges since its launch on June 5, including multiple helium leaks and thruster performance issues. These problems have necessitated a cautious approach, with NASA and Boeing leadership emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making. The spacecraft's propulsion system is under scrutiny, particularly the helium leaks that have e...

 The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has once again dazzled the world with its latest image, capturing the stunning transformation of a nebula by infant stars. This captivating image presents RCW 7, a nebula located just over 5,300 light-years away in the constellation Puppis. This striking NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the nebula RCW 7. ESA/Hubble & NASA, J. Tan (Chalmers University & University of Virginia), R. Fedriani Nebulae, rich with the raw materials needed for star formation, are where the magic begins. Under gravity’s influence, parts of these molecular clouds collapse and coalesce into very young stars, known as protostars. These protostars, still enveloped in spinning discs of leftover gas and dust, are massive and emit strongly ionizing radiation and stellar winds. This powerful radiation transforms the nebula into an H II region, filled with hydrogen ions that emit a soft pinkish glow. The image, taken with Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 i...

  Have they never heard of a fuel station in space?   Indian startups are making headlines by working on groundbreaking technologies to build just that – a space fuel station. Two Indian startups, OrbitAid Aerospace Private Limited and Manastu Space Technologies Private Limited , are in charge of this revolutionary development, with OrbitAid Aerospace specializing in these innovative technologies. A Game-Changer for Space Exploration You've likely heard about air-to-air refueling for fighter jets, but soon, you might hear about refueling satellites in space. The concept of a space fuel station aims to extend the lifespan of satellites, reducing the need for frequent launches of new satellites. This innovation saves money, minimizes the risk of space debris, and cuts down the higher costs associated with launching replacement satellites. The Technology Behind Space Fuel Stations These pioneering startups are working on creating a constellation of tanker satellites to establish...

  In a groundbreaking advancement, Japanese researchers have developed the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat , to combat the growing issue of space pollution. This innovative satellite, crafted from magnolia timber, is designed to safely disintegrate into ash upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, leaving no harmful residues. The Problem: Space Pollution Modern satellites, made predominantly from metals like aluminum, pose significant environmental challenges when they burn up upon re-entry. The resulting tiny alumina particles float in the upper atmosphere for many years, ultimately impacting Earth’s environment. To address this, Kyoto University, in collaboration with Sumitomo Forestry, embarked on a mission to create a biodegradable satellite. LignoSat: The Wooden Wonder LignoSat, a miniature satellite about the size of a coffee mug, aims to explore using wood as a sustainable material in satellite construction. During experiments on the International Space Station (ISS), m...