Recently discovered flaws in electronic circuits onboard NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft could threaten longevity or even the launch of $5 billion mission to explore Jupiter’s icy moon & ocean inside it. The packaged up probe continues to be prepared for an October flight from
Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, a “tiger team” of engineers convened by space agency is reviewing
the issue, with a report expected later this month.
Problem stems from a batch of circuit elements, called
metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors, or MOSFETs, not meet the radiation-hardness standards set for mission.
Transistors serve as amplifiers or switches, turning power off & on parts of spacecraft. But like all
electronics, they can be damaged by high-energy radiation particles. & Clipper, as it flies past Europa some 50 times during its planned life, will repeatedly face Jupiter’s radiation environment, one of the harshest ever navigated by a NASA mission.
Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), leads development of Clipper, discovered the problem in May after talking with colleagues about a classified satellite at a conference. They told the JPL staff a batch of radiation-hard
MOSFETs developed by Infineon Technologies, a leading commercial supplier, was falling far below desired performance levels.
Concerns were passed along to NASA officials, 2 days ago briefed scientists on the agency’s independent planetary science panel. “We’re seeing some MOSFETs fail at lower radiation levels,” said Shannon Fitzpatrick, asso-director of planetary science flight programs, speaking on 9 July to NASA’s Planetary Science Advisory Committee (PSAC). “
There is a risk these MOSFET transistors may not meet the radiation tolerance we require.” Radiation exposure has long been a central problem of exploring Jupiter & its moons. Jupiter’s magnetic field is (20,000 times stronger than Earth’s), and it spins rapidly, creating a torrent of bombarding charged particles. Europa mission, which will search the moon for evidence of habitable conditions in its subsurface ocean.
https://www.science.org/content/article/...er-mission
Space Station Astronauts Check Out Starliner Systems & Prepare for Cargo Delivery. Expedition 71 focused on preparing for a cargo resupply mission with Cygnus, performing spacesuit maintenance, & conducting various scientific tasks. Crew members also practiced for the robotic capture of Cygnus and engaged in regular maintenance and research activities.
On International Space Station (ISS), Expedition 71 crew turned attention to upcoming U. S. cargo mission, spacesuit work, a variety of life science on Monday, July 29. NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test members began week servicing Starliner flight suits & spacecraft’s life support systems following a morning of light research duties.
Countdown to Cargo Mission Launch
The next cargo mission to resupply the residents living and working aboard the ISS is counting down to a launch at 11:28 a.m. EDT on Saturday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus space freighter will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 8,200 pounds of science, supplies, and hardware for the station. Cygnus will orbit Earth for just over a day-and-a-half before approaching the orbital outpost where the Canadarm2 robotic arm will be waiting to capture the spacecraft.
https://scitechdaily.com/space-station-a...-delivery/
Science: China’s ‘artificial sun’ tipped to provide electricity in 10 years if Beijing backs Fusion Engineering Testing Reactor has been designed and a testing facility built – but it awaits government green light. It could become the first nuclear fusion reactor to generate enough energy for electricity production.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/...0-years-if
NASA Says Starliner Astronauts Could Return With SpaceX—Next Year
Officials confirm that NASA is considering using SpaceX for return trip; Boeing says its craft is safe for crew.
The astronauts who flew to orbit on Boeing’s BA -1.09%decrease; red down pointing triangle Starliner spacecraft could remain at the International Space Station until 2025, before hitching a ride home with Elon Musk.
NASA officials and Boeing have been debating whether Starliner is safe enough to return the astronauts to Earth. While Boeing has vouched for the craft, NASA officials Wednesday said that they are working on backup plans that depend on SpaceX.
https://www.wsj.com/science/space-astron...=WTRN_pos4&cx_testId=3&cx_testVariant=cx_166&cx_artPos=3
(08-08-2024, 02:55 PM)Tee tiong huat Wrote: [ -> ]NASA Says Starliner Astronauts Could Return With SpaceX—Next Year
Officials confirm that NASA is considering using SpaceX for return trip; Boeing says its craft is safe for crew.
The astronauts who flew to orbit on Boeing’s BA -1.09%decrease; red down pointing triangle Starliner spacecraft could remain at the International Space Station until 2025, before hitching a ride home with Elon Musk.
NASA officials and Boeing have been debating whether Starliner is safe enough to return the astronauts to Earth. While Boeing has vouched for the craft, NASA officials Wednesday said that they are working on backup plans that depend on SpaceX.
https://www.wsj.com/science/space-astron...=WTRN_pos4&cx_testId=3&cx_testVariant=cx_166&cx_artPos=3
They went to space for eight days - and could be stuck until 2025.
When two American astronauts blasted off on a test mission to the International Space Station on 5 June, they were expecting to be back home in a matter of days. But things didn't quite go to plan.
In fact, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams are still there, floating high above the Earth nearly two months later.
The pair - who are stuck indefinitely - now face the sudden prospect of missing the summer entirely and even spending Christmas and New Year in space....
A colonial world: Starting in 1462, eight Western European countries (⬤shown in orange)—the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and Italy—began to colonize other continents. By 1700, European powers occupied much of the Americas. By 1900, most countries in the Americas had gained independence, and European nations focused their colonial efforts on Africa and Asia.
The legacy of colonialism contributes to global inequities in many aspects of society today, including science.
The no-1 United Kingdom, follow by the 2) France, 3) Germany, the 4) Netherlands, 5) Belgium, 6) Spain 7) Portugal, and 8( Italy—began to colonize other continents. By 1700, all is European powers, then they occupied much of the Americas. By 1900...only US is ....
about 300+ years old.
(11-08-2024, 04:21 PM)Tee tiong huat Wrote: [ -> ]The no-1 United Kingdom, follow by the 2) France, 3) Germany, the 4) Netherlands, 5) Belgium, 6) Spain 7) Portugal, and 8( Italy—began to colonize other continents. By 1700, all is European powers, then they occupied much of the Americas. By 1900...only US is .... about 300+ years old.
What was U.S. known as be4 1776?
September 9, 1776, the 2nd Continental Congress adopted a new name for what had been called the
"United Colonies.” The moniker United States of America has remained since then as a symbol of freedom and independence.
"If we really want a fully renewable energy supply, we need fusion as a third pillar," Laukien said, referencing solar and wind development. "Fusion is the key to a decarbonized future."
There could be serious benefits from a device that can generate the same energy from a single gram of fuel as 11 tons of dirty coal, as proponents have suggested, all without planet-warming carbon pollution.
With an eye on a clean-energy future, both the United States and Japan announced a partnership to fund further development and commercialization of fusion. Various innovations in the field have been announced, including one that doesn't rely on the usual magnets and lasers.
Realta Fusion CEO Kieran Furlong shared a statement on fusion's promise, per the report: "Today's demonstration puts the compact magnetic mirror firmly back in the race towards commercial fusion energy. It's a giant leap forward for a concept that promises economically viable, zero-carbon heat and electricity.
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