SPACE/COSMOS
Blue Origin set for first launch of giant New Glenn rocket
By AFP
January 11, 2025
This handout photo courtesy of Blue Origin shows the New Glenn rocket on the launch pad at Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida - Copyright YONHAP/AFP -
Gregg Newtown with Issam Ahmed in Washington
A quarter of a century after its founding, Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin is finally ready for its maiden orbital voyage on Sunday with a brand new rocket the company hopes will shake up the commercial space race.
Named New Glenn after a legendary astronaut, it stands 320 feet (98 meters) tall, roughly equivalent to a 32-story building — and is set to blast off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in a launch window that opens at 1:00 am (0600 GMT).
“Pointy end up!” the company’s CEO, Dave Limp posted on X alongside photos of the gleaming white behemoth.
With the mission, dubbed NG-1, Bezos, the world’s second-richest man, is taking direct aim at the world’s wealthiest: Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX dominates the orbital launch market through its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.
These serve the commercial sector, the Pentagon, and NASA — including, crucially, ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
“SpaceX has for the past several years been pretty much the only game in town, and so having a competitor.. this is great,” G. Scott Hubbard, a retired senior NASA official, told AFP.
SpaceX, meanwhile, is planning the next orbital test of Starship — its gargantuan new-generation rocket — the very next day, upping the sense of high-stakes rivalry.
– Landing attempt –
If all goes to plan, shortly after launch, Blue Origin will attempt to land the first-stage booster on a drone ship named Jacklyn, in honor of Bezos’s mother, stationed about 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) downrange in the Atlantic Ocean.
Though SpaceX has long made such landings a near-routine spectacle, this will be Blue Origin’s first shot at a touchdown on the high seas.
Meanwhile, the rocket’s upper stage will fire its engines toward Earth orbit, carrying a Defense Department-funded prototype spaceship called Blue Ring, which will remain aboard for the roughly six-hour test flight.
Limp emphasized that simply reaching orbit is the prime goal, while successfully recovering the booster would be a welcome “bonus.”
Blue Origin does have experience landing its New Shepard rockets — used for suborbital tourism — but they are much smaller and land on terra firma rather than a ship at sea.
Physically, New Glenn dwarfs the 230-foot Falcon 9 and is designed for heavier payloads.
It slots between Falcon 9 and its big sibling, Falcon Heavy, in terms of mass capacity but holds an edge with its wider payload fairing, ideal for transporting more voluminous cargo.
– Slow v fast development –
Blue Origin has already secured a NASA contract to launch two Mars probes aboard New Glenn. The rocket will also support the deployment of Project Kuiper, a satellite internet constellation designed to compete with Starlink.
For now, however, SpaceX maintains a commanding lead, while other rivals — United Launch Alliance, Arianespace, and Rocket Lab — trail far behind.
Like Musk, Bezos has a lifelong passion for space. But whereas Musk dreams of colonizing Mars, Bezos envisions shifting heavy industry off-planet onto floating space platforms in order to preserve Earth, “humanity’s blue origin.”
He founded Blue Origin in 2000 — two years before Musk created SpaceX — but has adopted a more cautious pace, in contrast to his rival’s “fail fast, learn fast” philosophy.
“There’s been impatience within the space community over Blue Origin’s very deliberate approach,” Scott Pace, a space policy analyst at George Washington University and former member of the National Space Council, told AFP.
If New Glenn succeeds, Pace added, it will give the US government “dissimilar redundancy” — valuable backup if one system fails.
Musk’s closeness to President-elect Donald Trump has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, especially with private astronaut Jared Isaacman — a business associate of Musk — slated to become the next NASA chief.
Bezos, however, has been making his own overtures, paying his respects to his former foe during a visit to the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago residence, while Amazon has said it would donate $1 million to Trump’s inauguration committee.
‘What is that?’ UCalgary scientists explain white patch that appears near northern lights
Improved camera technology helps capture true colour images of the night sky
image:
Images of the aurora borealis showing the structured continuum emission
view moreCredit: Courtesy Faculty of Science research team
A whitish, grey patch that sometimes appears in the night sky alongside the northern lights has been explained for the first time by researchers at the University of Calgary.
The article, which was published on Dec. 30 in the journal Nature Communications, explores a “structured continuum emission” that’s associated with aurora borealis.
“You’d see this dynamic green aurora, you’d see some of the red aurora in the background and, all of a sudden, you’d see this structured – almost like a patch – grey-toned or white toned-emission connected to the aurora,” says Dr. Emma Spanswick, PhD, lead author on the paper and an associate professor with the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science.
“So, the first response of any scientist is, ‘Well, what is that?’”
Spanswick says the white patch has been referenced in scientific papers before, but it has never been explained.
Her team’s paper concludes it’s “most certainly a heat source” and says it suggests that the aurora borealis are more complex than previously thought.
Spanswick says the discovery was made possible because an advancement in camera technology allows both amateur photographers and scientists to see true colour images of the night sky.
“Everyone has noticed the advancement in digital photography. Your cellphone can now take pictures of the aurora,” she says. “That has flowed to the commercial sensor market now.
“Those types of sensors can now be found in more commercial, more robust sensors that we would use in science.”
The team’s research came after there was a renewed interest in continuum emission with the discovery and observations of the long, glowing ribbon of purple light known as STEVE – or Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement.
“There are similarities between what we’re seeing now and STEVE,” explains Spanswick. “STEVE manifests itself as this mauve or grey-toned structure.
“To be honest, the elevation of the spectrum between the two is very similar but this, because of its association with dynamic aurora, it’s almost embedded in the aurora. It’s harder to pick out if you were to look at it, whereas STEVE is separate from the aurora – a big band crossing the sky.”
The latest research is also significant because it includes three UCalgary students, including undergraduate Josh Houghton who was initially hired as an intern on the project.
“I was still learning things at the time,” he says. “I had just started my internship, and I very quickly got involved. It’s just very, very cool.”
Spanswick says Houghton did a lot of the analysis on the research, which led to his participation in the Nature paper as an undergraduate student.
“He’s had one heck of an internship experience,” she says.
Houghton will continue the research as part of his undergrad honours thesis, before taking on his master’s degree at UCalgary next year.
The research was made possible by the Transition Region Explorer (TREx), which is a UCalgary project jointly funded by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Government of Alberta and the Canadian Space Agency.
The TREx RGB and Spectograph instruments are operated and maintained by Space Environment Canada with the support of the Canadian Space Agency through its Geospace Observatory (GO) Canada initiative.
Journal
Nature Communications
Method of Research
Imaging analysis
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Association of structured continuum emission with dynamic aurora
Northumbria space physicist honoured by Royal Astronomical Society
Dr John Coxon, esteemed member of Northumbria University’s world-leading Solar and Space Physics research group, has been recognised by the Royal Astronomical Society for his work.
Northumbria University
image:
Dr John Coxon, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Ernest Rutherford Fellow at Northumbria University
view moreCredit: Northumbria University
Dr John Coxon, esteemed member of Northumbria University’s world-leading Solar and Space Physics research group, has been recognised by the Royal Astronomical Society for his work.
Dr Coxon is a Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Ernest Rutherford Fellow at Northumbria University who has garnered international recognition for his research into understanding the Sun's influence on Earth's space environment.
It has today been announced that he has been awarded the with the prestigious 2025 Fowler Award from the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), reflecting Dr Coxon's significant contributions to the field of solar and space physics.
Dr Coxon is a specialist in electric currents which flow between the boundaries of the Earth's magnetic field and the Earth's atmosphere, known as Birkeland currents.
Birkeland currents play a key role in space weather effects on Earth. When the Sun's activity affects the Earth, it is Birkeland currents that relay the effects to the ground, where the impacts can be felt on ground-based infrastructure.
Each year the Royal Astronomical Society recognises significant achievement in the fields of astronomy and geophysics through awards, medals, and prizes, encompassing different types of talent, from research to education and outreach.
The Royal Astronomical Society Fowler Awards are presented annually to individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to astronomy or geophysics.
Speaking about his award, Dr Coxon said: “I’m enormously honoured to have been given the Fowler Award. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the MIST community over my career and I’d like to say thank you to everyone I’ve worked with and who nominated me.”
The Royal Astronomical Society award announcements were made at the A&G Highlights Meeting held on Friday 10 January 2025, including the winners of the 2025 Gold Medals, which recognise lifetime achievement.
Professor Mike Lockwood, president of the Royal Astronomical Society and former Gold Medal winner, said: "Awards are a very important part of the Society’s function: the senior awards recognise a lifetime in science and great discoveries and the junior awards help build careers.
“It gives me great pleasure to see so many talented individuals being rewarded for their hard work, dedication and immense contributions to the fields of astronomy and geophysics.
“All our award winners are an inspiration and it is clear to me that the depth of talent means that the future of our sciences is incredibly bright.
“I very much look forward to awarding the winners their medals and prizes at this year’s National Astronomy Meeting, when we will celebrate their great achievements.”
Dr Coxon is part of a distinguished group of researchers at Northumbria University, including multiple fellows and award recipients, who are advancing the frontiers of solar and space physics.
Northumbria collaborates extensively with partners including UK Research and Innovation, the UK Space Agency, the UK Met Office, and over 40 other industrial partners on cutting edge solar and space physics research, as well as a multitude of other specialist areas, from satellite communications and space physiology to earth observation and space law and policy.
Last year the University announced ambitious plans to develop a £50 million space skills, research and development centre, set to transform the UK space industry. The North East Space Skills and Technology centre (NESST) is expected to directly support the creation of over 350 jobs and inject over £260 million into the North East economy over the next 30 years, immediately becoming a catalyst for the wider development of the UK space sector in the North East region.
For more information about Dr Coxon's work and the Solar and Space Physics research group at Northumbria, visit the University's Solar and Space Physics webpage.
<ENDS>
Light, flexible and radiation-resistant: Organic solar cells for space
Some carbon-based solar cells already show no drop in performance after three years' worth of radiation, and the cause of degradation in others could be preventable
University of Michigan
Radiation testing suggests that solar cells made from carbon-based, or organic, materials could outperform conventional silicon and gallium arsenide for generating electricity in the final frontier, a study from the University of Michigan suggests.
While previous research focused on how well organic solar cells converted light to electricity following radiation exposure, the new investigation also dug into what happens at the molecular level to cause drops in performance.
"Silicon semiconductors aren't stable in space because of proton irradiation coming from the sun," said Yongxi Li, first author of the study to be published in Joule and a U-M associate research scientist in electrical and computer engineering at the time of the research. "We tested organic photovoltaics with protons because they are considered the most damaging particles in space for electronic materials."
Space missions often land on gallium arsenide for its high efficiency and resistance to damage from protons, but it's expensive and, like silicon, is relatively heavy and inflexible. In contrast, organic solar cells can be flexible and are much lighter. This study is among those exploring the reliability of organics, as space missions tend to use highly trusted materials.
Organic solar cells made with small molecules didn't seem to have any trouble with protons—they showed no damage after three years worth of radiation. In contrast, those made with polymers—more complex molecules with branching structures—lost half of their efficiency.
"We found that protons cleave some of the side chains, and that leaves an electron trap that degrades solar cell performance," said Stephen Forrest, the Peter A. Franken Distinguished University Professor of Engineering at U-M, and lead corresponding author of the study.
These traps grab onto electrons freed by light hitting the cell, preventing them from flowing to the electrodes that harvest the electricity.
"You can heal this by thermal annealing, or heating the solar cell. But we might find ways to fill the traps with other atoms, eliminating this problem," Forrest said.
It's plausible that sun-facing solar cells could essentially self-heal at temperatures of 100°C (212°F)—this warmth is enough to repair the bonds in the lab. But questions remain: for instance, will that repair still take place in the vacuum of space? Is the healing reliable enough for long missions? It may be more straightforward to design the material so that the performance-killing electron traps never appear.
Li intends to explore both avenues further as an incoming associate professor of advanced materials and manufacturing at Nanjing University in China.
The research is funded by Universal Display Corp and the U.S. Office of Naval Research.
The devices were built in part at the Lurie Nanofabrication Facility, exposed to a proton beam at the Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory, and studied at the Michigan Center for Materials Characterization.
The team has applied for patent protection with the assistance of U-M Innovation Partnerships. Universal Display has licensed the technology from U-M and filed a patent application. Forrest has a financial interest in Universal Display Corp.
Study: Radiation hardness of organic photovoltaics (DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2024.12.001)
Journal
Joule
DOI
New data on atmosphere from Earth to the edge of space
Two-decade-long dataset for entire atmosphere could benefit seasonal forecasts, climate models and space weather prediction
University of Tokyo
image:
This infographic shows the multiple layers of our atmosphere, extending from the ground up into space, and how the new dataset compares in coverage to those currently available.
view moreCredit: D.Koshin, K. Sato, S. Watanabe and K. Miyazaki, 2025/ Progress in Earth and Planetary Science (PEPS)
A team led by researchers at the University of Tokyo have created a dataset of the whole atmosphere, enabling new research to be conducted on previously difficult-to-study regions. Using a new data-assimilation system called JAGUAR-DAS, which combines numerical modeling with observational data, the team created a nearly 20-yearlong set of data spanning multiple levels of the atmosphere from ground level up to the lower edges of space. Being able to study the interactions of these layers vertically and around the globe could improve climate modeling and seasonal weather forecasting. There is also potential for interdisciplinary research between atmospheric scientists and space scientists, to investigate the interplay between space and our atmosphere and how it affects us on Earth.
Complaining about the weather, and about weather forecasters when they get things wrong, is a popular pastime for many. But a meteorologist’s job is not easy. Our atmosphere is multilayered, interconnected and complex, and global climate change is making it even harder to forecast both long-term and sudden, extreme weather events.
To help overcome these increasing challenges, researchers have created a dataset of the entire atmosphere. Ranging from September 2004 to December 2023, it spans multiple levels of the atmosphere from ground level up to the lower edge of space, about 110 kilometers above Earth’s surface. The region between about 50 km to 110 km (though exact ranges vary) is particularly of interest, as it is so notoriously difficult to study that it had previously been dubbed the “ignorosphere.” This region is too low for satellites and too high for weather balloons to observe, resulting in a shortage of data and consequently research. However, it is a fascinating area, characterized by vast global atmospheric tides and small-scale gravity waves which affect wind and temperature. It also plays an important role in the intensity of the impact of space weather events.
“The JAWARA (JAGUAR-DAS Whole neutral Atmosphere Reanalysis) dataset is a strong research tool which, for the first time, makes it possible to quantitatively understand atmospheric general circulation and the hierarchal structure of waves and vorticies in the mesospheric layer (which is above the stratosphere and about 50-90 km above Earth’s surface) and lower thermospheric layer (about 90-110 km above Earth’s surface) of the atmosphere, including the ignorosphere,” explained Professor Kaoru Sato from the University of Tokyo. “If we can better understand these layers, it would improve our ability to respond to climate change, extend the lead time of seasonal forecasts and advance our understanding of space weather phenomena.”
The team developed its new JAGUAR-DAS high-speed data assimilation system as part of an international project led by Sato. The system integrates observational data into a numerical model which can then produce data on atmospheric conditions. The resulting dataset, named JAWARA, makes it possible to perform detailed analysis of the general circulation of the atmosphere and its hierarchical structure.
“Atmospheric general circulation models which range up to the lower edge of space have only been developed by a limited number of research institutions around the world, including our own,” said Sato. “Recent studies indicate that extreme stratospheric phenomena can start at least in the upper mesosphere. Therefore, quantitative elucidation of phenomena in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere is extremely important for weather forecasting.”
The dataset is now openly available, and the team intends to use it to study the large-scale circulation and the hierarchical structure in the atmosphere, as well as vertical and interhemispheric (i.e., between the Northern and Southern hemisphere) couplings. They also hope to work in collaboration with space scientists to study the interactions between the atmosphere and space, particularly the mesosphere (where the highest clouds form) and ionosphere (located within the thermosphere and about 60-300 km above Earth’s surface, where many satellites are based).
JAWARA dataset site: https://jawara.nipr.ac.jp
#####
Paper
Dai Koshin, Kaoru Sato*, Shingo Watanabe, Kazuyuki Miyazaki. The JAGUAR=DAS Whole neutral Atmosphere Reanalysis: JAWARA. Progress in Earth and Planetary Science (PEPS). January 10th 2025. DOI: 10.1186/s40645-024-00674-3
* Corresponding author
Funding:
This work was primarily supported by JST CREST Grant Number JPMJCR1663 and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP22H00169. The JAWARA data has been produced using the Data Analyzer (DA) system and Earth Simulator (ES) at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). The JAWARA dataset is available to the public via the data server at the National Institute of Polar Research.
Conflicts of interest:
None.
Useful Links:
Graduate School of Science: https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/
Department of Earth and Planetary Science: https://www.eps.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/
Research Contact:
Professor Kaoru Sato
Department of Earth and Planetary Science
The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku,
Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
Email: kaoru@eps.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Press contact:
Mrs. Nicola Burghall (she/her)
Public Relations Group, The University of Tokyo,
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
press-releases.adm@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp
About the University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo is Japan’s leading university and one of the world’s top research universities. The vast research output of some 6,000 researchers is published in the world’s top journals across the arts and sciences. Our vibrant student body of around 15,000 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students includes over 4,000 international students. Find out more at www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/ or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @UTokyo_News_en.
Clouds in Antarctica [VIDEO] |
Journal
Progress in Earth and Planetary Science
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
The JAGUAR=DAS Whole neutral Atmosphere Reanalysis: JAWARA
Article Publication Date
10-Jan-2025
A Sustainable Development Goal for space?
University of Plymouth
Scientists have called for the designation of a new United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) with the aim to conserve and sustainably use Earth's orbit, and prevent the accumulation of space junk.
There are currently 17 SDGs, adopted by UN members in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet for future generations, and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
But with growing numbers of satellites and other objects now orbiting our planet, there is growing concern that without some form of global consensus another of Earth’s once pristine environments is at risk of being irrevocably changed.
Writing in the journal One Earth, an international collaboration of experts – in fields including satellite technology and ocean plastic pollution – have proposed an 18th SDG dedicated to the protection of Earth’s orbit.
The study highlights that there are now around 100 nations involved in varying levels of space activity, and that since the 1950s, almost 20,000 satellites have been launched into Earth’s orbit.
These satellites bring immense benefits to society, from monitoring ecosystems and supporting global communications, to facilitating services used by billions of people across the planet such as satellite television and contactless bank card payments.
However, once they reach the end of their useful life, the experts say abandoned satellites, launch stages, and fragments resulting from explosions or collisions can accumulate as orbital debris. This raises the chance of collisions with active satellites, which would not only impact their ability to function but would also result in further increases in debris.
While a number of organisations have begun to recognise the need for action to address this, the authors say an additional SDG could deliver the global consensus and mechanisms for effective enforcement required to address the issue.
They believe a new SDG18 could draw direct inspiration from one of the existing goals – SDG14: Life Below Water – with lessons learned in marine debris management being used to prevent another planetary crisis before it is too late.
They also highlight that it would complement the existing SDGs, which include references to space technology for its ability to support improved understanding of global issues but not its potential to represent a future issue itself.
The article was co-authored by researchers from the University of Plymouth, PBL Works, Arribada Initiative, University of Auckland, The University of Texas at Austin, Anturus Ltd, University of Maine, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Spaceport Cornwall, Slingshot Aerospace Ltd, and ZSL (Zoological Society of London).
It builds on an article published in Science in March 2023, in which a number of the same scientists called for a legally-binding treaty to ensure that Earth’s orbit isn’t irreparably harmed by the future expansion of the global space industry.
Dr Imogen Napper, Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth, led the new study with funding from the National Geographical Society. She said: “The need to protect and connect our natural environments, from the ocean to Earth’s orbit, has never been more urgent. Both are vital to the health of our planet, yet increasingly under threat from the pressures we place on them. There is growing recognition that marine litter knows no international boundaries, and the same applies to space debris. A UN-backed agreement would be a crucial step in safeguarding Earth’s orbit for the future.”
Professor Heather Koldewey, ZSL’s Head of Ocean and FAIRER Conservation, said: “Just like plastic pollution and climate change, space junk is an issue that transcends borders. Our ongoing efforts to protect the ocean highlight just how important UN-backed agreements are for managing this crisis. It's key we learn from the challenges and solutions in tackling marine debris and act now to protect our planet’s orbit.”
Dr Thomas Dowling, Lecturer in Remote Sensing & Geospatial Science at The University of Auckland, said: “Not so long ago, our oceans were regarded as infinite resources to plunder and infinite sinks for our waste. We now know that view was grossly mistaken – many marine environments are now barren wastelands and more than eight million tonnes of plastic debris is estimated to enter the ocean every year. Earth’s orbit is a similar finite environment to the ocean, and mindlessly exploiting the orbital environment is repeating the mistakes of the past. It’s time to create policies to regulate what we’re putting in space, and we need to ensure objects entering orbit are safe, sustainable, and serving essential – or at least important – purposes for significant numbers of people around the world.”
Melissa Quinn, General Manager of the International Business Unit at Slingshot Aerospace, added: "The proposed 18th Sustainable Development Goal is a crucial step toward protecting Earth’s orbit for future generations. Space is essential to our daily lives, from global communications to understanding climate change, yet the rapid rise in satellite deployments – 2,877 in 2023 alone (~15% increase from 2022), with even more in 2024 – has led to an increasing risk of collisions and debris. In 2024, we saw a 17% year-over-year spike in the average number of close approaches in low earth orbit per satellite on Slingshot Beacon, Slingshot’s space traffic coordination application. With over 12,500 spacecraft now orbiting our planet, including more than 3,300 inactive satellites, we need urgent, coordinated global action to ensure space is safe, sustainable, and secure. This SDG offers a powerful opportunity to safeguard the benefits of space for all humanity."
Journal
One Earth
Method of Research
Systematic review
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
A Sustainable Development Goal for Space: Applying Lessons from Marine Debris to Manage Space Debris
Article Publication Date
9-Jan-2025
UNH researchers use AI to categorize database with 700 million aurora images
Artificial Intelligence generated data could improve predicting damaging sun storms.
University of New Hampshire
DURHAM, N.H.—(January 9, 2025)—The aurora borealis, or northern lights, is known for a stunning spectacle of light in the night sky but this near-Earth manifestation, which is caused by explosive activity on the sun and carried by the solar wind, can also interrupt vital communications and security infrastructure on Earth. Using artificial intelligence, researchers at the University of New Hampshire categorized and labeled the largest ever database of aurora images that could help scientists better understand and forecast the disruptive geomagnetic storms.
The research, recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, developed artificial intelligence and machine learning tools that were able to successfully identify and classify over 706 million images of auroral phenomena in NASA’s Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) data set collected by twin spacecrafts studying the space environment around Earth. THEMIS provides images of the night sky every three seconds from sunset to sunrise from 23 different stations across North America.
“The massive data set is a valuable resource that can help researchers understand how the solar wind interacts with the Earth's magnetosphere, the protective bubble that shields us from charged particles streaming from the sun,” said Jeremiah Johnson, associate professor of applied engineering and sciences and the study’s lead author. “But until now, its huge size limited how effectively we can use that data.”
The researchers created a novel algorithm to sort through the THEMIS all-sky images (ASI) from 2008 to 2022 and efficiently annotate them using six distinct categories—arc, diffuse, discrete, cloudy, moon and clear/no aurora—making it easier to filter, sort and retrieve the valuable information.
“The labeled database could reveal further insight into auroral dynamics but at a very basic level, we aimed to organize the THEMIS all-sky image database so that the vast amount of historical data it contains can be used more effectively by researchers and provide a large enough sample for future studies,” said Johnson.
Co-authors on the study include Amy Keesee, associate professor of physics and astronomy in UNH’s Space Science Center; Doğacan Su Öztürk, Donald Hampton and Matthew Blandin, all from University of Alaska–Fairbanks; and Hyunju Connor from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The research was funded by NASA’s heliophysics division and the National Science Foundation.
###
The University of New Hampshire inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation and world. More than 16,000 students from 50 states and 87 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top-ranked programs in business, engineering, law, health and human services, liberal arts and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. A Carnegie Classification R1 institution, UNH partners with NASA, NOAA, NSF, and NIH, and received over $250 million in competitive external funding in FY24 to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea and space.
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research Machine Learning and Computation
Discovering hidden wrinkles in spacecraft membrane with a single camera
Deformation in thin membrane can be measured using simple method
image:
Detecting changes in the surface of spacecraft thin membrane
view moreCredit: Osaka Metropolitan University
Exiting Earth’s gravity takes an enormous amount of fuel and power. Due to this, spacecraft strapped to rockets are limited in their carry capacity and every gram must be accounted for. To lighten the load, thin membranes are being researched as alternative materials, but their plastic wrap property causes wrinkling that can affect operational performance. For this reason, there is a need to develop measurement technology that can accurately detect deformations.
Professor Takashi Iwasa at Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Engineering led a team in developing a method for measuring the size of wrinkles that have formed across thin membrane using photogrammetry and a single camera. By examining photographs taken of the surface before and after putting stress on the material, the amplitude and wavelength of wrinkles can be detected. Measurement points are printed on the membrane and changes in their position indicate deformation.
“In the past, multiple cameras were required, but in this research, the size of the wrinkles can be easily detected by applying tension-field theory for the measurement result of a single-camera photogrammetry,” stated Professor Iwasa. “We are conducting this research on large thin membrane spacecraft and expect this method to be used where there is limited space for installing cameras.”
The findings were published in Measurement.
###
About OMU
Established in Osaka as one of the largest public universities in Japan, Osaka Metropolitan University is committed to shaping the future of society through “Convergence of Knowledge” and the promotion of world-class research. For more research news, visit https://www.omu.ac.jp/en/ and follow us on social media: X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.
Journal
Measurement
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Monitoring thin membranes for wrinkles using single-camera photogrammetry
SETI Forward recognizes tomorrow’s cosmic pioneers
SETI Forward connects students with opportunities that foster their passion for SETI and astrobiology, guiding them toward meaningful careers
SETI Institute
image:
2024 SETI Forward recipients Gabriella Rizzo (L) and Pritvik Sinhadc (R)
view moreCredit: SETI Institute
January 7, 2025, Mountain View, CA -- The SETI Institute announces the 2024 SETI Forward Award recipients: Gabriella Rizzo and Pritvik Sinhadc. This year's recipients worked on research projects to understand extremophiles in deep-sea hydrothermal vents and to analyze gravitational wave signals for potential extraterrestrial technosignatures. Established by Lew Levy, SETI Forward committee founder and member of the SETI Institute’s Council of Advisors, this award is a beacon for promising young scientists. The goal is to connect students with opportunities that foster their passion for SETI and astrobiology, guiding them toward meaningful careers.
“In our 6th year of SETI Forward, I am continually impressed with the amazing students entering the scientific community,” said Levy. “SETI Forward recognizes undergraduates such as Gabriella and Pritvik who want to join the search for life outside of Earth, and I have no doubt they will join the growing SETI community.”
Gabriella Rizzo: Life at the Limits
Gabriella, currently a first-year PhD student in the Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Dr. Karrie Weber's lab, conducted her research at the University of Massachusetts Amherst under the direction of Dr. James Holden as an undergraduate.
Gabriella’s research explored how life can survive in extreme environments like deep-sea hydrothermal vents. The study discovered a new microbe called strain Ax23, a heat-loving organism that produces methane. Found in a Pacific Ocean vent, it thrives at 149°F (65°C), using hydrogen and carbon dioxide for energy. This microbe's survival in such harsh conditions suggests that similar life forms might exist in hydrothermal environments on other worlds, like Europa or Enceladus.
“Astrobiology is inherently an interdisciplinary science—a synthesis of geomicrobiology, physics, chemistry, and astronomy,” said Gabriella. “This breadth allows me the unique and rare opportunity to approach my research questions from many perspectives. Through astrobiology, I have honed my ability to bridge disciplines, distill complex ideas, and collaborate seamlessly across varied scientific backgrounds. These skills position me to lead future projects that address fundamental questions about the nature and existence of life in the universe.”
Pritvik Sinhadc: Decoding the Cosmos
Pritvik is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree with a Major in Physics and a Minor in Astrophysics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and conducted his research at Caltech under the mentorship of Dr. Yuk L. Yung and Dr. Stuart Bartlett.
Pritvik’s project introduced a new way to search for signs of alien technology by studying gravitational waves (GWs), ripples in space caused by massive cosmic events. Using Complexity Theory, a tool for measuring patterns and unpredictability, his research looks for unusual signals in GWs that might point to advanced alien civilizations. This approach differs from traditional methods that focus on detecting radio signals or signs of life as we know it. Instead, it uses universal patterns that could work for any intelligent life, no matter how different it is from us. If successful, this research could change how we search for life in the universe and help answer the question: Are we alone?
“This project has been an extraordinary journey, allowing me to merge my passions for astrophysics, GW physics, and astrobiology,” said Pritvik. “Exploring the unknown and pushing the boundaries of science drive me, and I am honored to receive the SETI Forward Award. This recognition is not just an acknowledgment of my work but a catalyst for my aspirations to redefine how we search for extraterrestrial intelligence by integrating GW physics with Complexity Theory, offering a universal and inclusive approach to identifying technosignatures. I hope to contribute to a future where humanity understands its place in the cosmos and explores life as we don't know it. As I advance in my academic and professional journey, I aspire to bridge theoretical physics, astrophysics, and astrobiology, strengthening my resolve to continue asking big questions about life in the universe."
The SETI Forward award, conceived through Lew Levy's collaboration with SETI Institute trustee Dane Glasgow, aims to bridge the gap between undergraduate internships, graduate school, and careers. By providing stipends for research collaborations or conference participation, SETI Forward empowers young scientists to continue their exploration of cosmic mysteries.
The diverse panel overseeing the SETI Forward Fund administration selected this year's recipients. Undergraduates at accepted institutions participating in mentored internships are eligible to apply.
Gabriella Rizzo and Pritvik Sinhadc will be officially honored at the next Drake Awards event in May 2025.
About the SETI Institute
Founded in 1984, the SETI Institute is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary research and education organization whose mission is to lead humanity's quest to understand the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe and to share that knowledge with the world. Our research encompasses the physical and biological sciences and leverages expertise in data analytics, machine learning and advanced signal detection technologies. The SETI Institute is a distinguished research partner for industry, academia and government agencies, including NASA and NSF.
No comments:
Post a Comment