Jupiter's Size Revised: New NASA Data Suggests A Slightly Smaller Gas Giant

According to Smithsonian Magazine:

The gas giant Jupiter, long revered as the solar system's largest planet, may be slightly smaller than previously thought, according to new data from NASA's Juno spacecraft. Recent findings, published in Nature Astronomy, suggest that Jupiter's shape is a bit thinner and flatter than initially estimated, although this revised measurement will not relinquish its title as the largest planet. The updated calculation is based on 24 precise measurements taken by the Juno spacecraft, which has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016, utilizing a technique called radio occultation to determine the planet's size. This method involves analyzing how radio signals sent from the spacecraft are slowed or bent as they pass through Jupiter's atmosphere. Notably, the previous estimates, made almost 50 years ago by NASA's Voyager and Pioneer missions, did not account for the influence of Jupiter's strong winds on its shape. As Dr. Scott J. Bolton, Juno's principal investigator, notes, the spacecraft's new orbital route provides an opportunity for novel science objectives, enabling accurate measurements of Jupiter's size. This new information can help scientists better understand the planet's internal workings, a notion echoed by Dr. Oded Aharonson, who emphasizes that having these new constraints could aid in building more accurate interior models of

New data from NASA's Juno spacecraft hint that Jupiter is a bit thinner and flatter than previously thought, although the updated numbers won't take...

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Six Planets To Converge In Rare Night Sky Spectacle

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a celestial event of great magnitude is about to unfold in the night sky. This weekend, a most wondrous spectacle shall be visible to the naked eye, as six planets converge in a majestic display, often mistakenly referred to as a planetary alignment. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus shall all be visible, albeit with varying degrees of difficulty, from this weekend until the end of February, just after sunset. The outer gas giants, Neptune and Uranus, shall pose a challenge to observers, requiring the aid of a telescope and binoculars, respectively. Notwithstanding the obstacles posed by light pollution, the planets shall remain visible, their proximity to Earth rendering them impervious to its effects. It is worth noting, that the planets are always roughly aligned, owing to their orbits around the sun in the same flat plane, known as the ecliptic. Thus, the forthcoming spectacle is merely a testament to good timing, rather than a rare alignment. Information for this article was obtained from Forbes.

A planet parade — mistakenly called a planetary alignment by many — is set to unfold this weekend as six planets appear together in the night sky.

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NASA Seeks Public Input On 32 Critical Technology Shortfalls For Future Space Missions

As the realm of space exploration continues to expand, the need for innovative technologies has become increasingly pressing. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in a bid to bridge the gap between current capabilities and future requirements, has invited the public to contribute their insights on 32 identified technology shortfalls. These shortfalls, which encompass a broad range of critical capability gaps, include advanced propulsion systems, autonomous robotics, and radiation protection technologies, all of which are essential for future deep-space missions. The agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate has consolidated its assessments into a comprehensive list, highlighting the necessity for further development in areas such as high-bandwidth space communications and extreme environment materials. Executive Gov provided details on this topic, shedding light on the complexities of NASA's technology planning and the imperative for collaborative input from industry, academia, and the public. By soliciting comments from a diverse range of stakeholders, NASA aims to inform its future technology investments and propel the nation's space program forward, driven by a shared vision of exploration and discovery. The call for public comments, which will be accepted until February 20, marks a significant step towards harnessing the collective expertise of the nation, and ultimately, shaping the trajectory of space technology development.

NASA is calling on industry, academia, government partners and the public to help shape the agency's future technology investments .

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China Launches Reusable Spaceplane On Secretive Orbital Mission

China's pursuit of advanced space technology has yielded a most intriguing development, as the nation has successfully launched its reusable spaceplane on a fourth secretive orbital mission. The experimental craft, borne aloft by a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, has been shrouded in an impenetrable veil of secrecy, with state media Xinhua releasing only the most cursory of details regarding the launch. The announcement, devoid of specifics, merely alluded to the spacecraft's purpose: to conduct technological verification for reusable spacecraft, thereby providing technical support for the peaceful use of space. As the spaceplane embarks on its mission, the international community will undoubtedly be riveted by its maneuvers, particularly with regards to the potential release of subsatellites and any subsequent rendezvous and proximity operations. The U. S. Space Force's catalog tracking will, in due course, reveal the orbit of the spaceplane, shedding a faint light upon the mysterious endeavors of China's space program. This latest development serves as a testament to China's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and technology. Note: The information in this article was first published in "SpaceNews".

HELSINKI — China launched its experimental reusable spacecraft for the fourth time late Friday, once again maintaining strict secrecy around the ...

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SpaceX Crew-12 Mission To Launch On February 11 After FAA Approval

Renowned space exploration entity, SpaceX, is poised to launch its Crew-12 astronaut mission on February 11, following a brief grounding due to an upper stage issue with the Falcon 9 rocket. According to Space, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has authorized the rocket's return to flight, paving the way for the highly anticipated mission. The crew, comprising NASA's Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, and Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency, will embark on a roughly nine-month stay at the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom". As Space reports, the FAA oversaw and accepted the findings of the SpaceX-led investigation, citing the probable root cause of the issue as the Falcon 9 stage 2 engine's failure to ignite prior to the deorbit burn. With the necessary preventative measures in place, the Falcon 9 vehicle has been cleared to return to flight, and the Crew-12 mission is set to proceed as scheduled. The successful launch will mark a significant milestone, as the ISS will once again be staffed by its normal complement of seven crewmembers, following a period of reduced occupancy since January 15.

Space.com's Sci-Fi Reader's Club. Read a sci-fi short story every month and join a virtual community of fellow science fiction fans!

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A 200-foot Asteroid Has A 4 Percent Chance Of Hitting The Moon In 2032—and We Could See It...

This time last year, the world was gripped by reports that an incoming, nearly 200-feet-wide asteroid had a tiny, tiny chance of hitting the Earth in 2032. The sigh of relief that we weren⁘t on course for a Don⁘t Look Up scenario was palpable when, upon closer inspection, astronomers determined that the space rock, named 2024 YR4, wouldn⁘t hit our planet after all.

Instead, they calculated, it might hit the moon in 2032⁘with a probability of about 4 percent . And now scientists are sketching out a clearer picture of what such a collision might look like from Earth. Scientists already knew this could be a doozy. Astronomers previously estimated that if 2024 YR4 hits the moon, it could form a crater about one kilometer wide and release some 100 million metric tons of material, some of which could reach Earth . ⁘If this scenario plays out,⁘ said Yixuan Wu, a researcher at Tsinghua University in China and an author of the paper, to Live Science , ⁘it will be a milestone for planetary science, turning the Earth-Moon system into a grand stage for validating our understanding of asteroid impacts.⁘ More takeaways: Visit website

NASA's New Lunar Space Suit: A Leap Forward In Space Exploration Technology

Article from Scientific American:

The moon's desolate landscape beckons once more, as NASA's Artemis mission prepares to send astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972. A crucial component of this endeavor is the development of advanced space suits, designed to protect astronauts from the harsh conditions of space. Axiom Space, a U. S.-based company, has been working on the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) since 2022. This innovative suit promises to provide unparalleled mobility on the moon, a significant improvement over its Apollo-era predecessors. The AxEMU's design is built with the moon's unique conditions in mind, including extreme temperatures, cosmic radiation, and lung-clogging moon dust. The suit's development is a testament to human ingenuity, pushing the limits of material science to create a garment that is both protective and functional. According to Paul Spana, curator and director of collections at the Space Center Houston museum, "It's really pushing the limits of material science... There's going to be a lot of new things introduced for the new suit that will be used for moonwalking on Artemis III." The AxEMU's design may appear bulky, but it is engineered to provide astronauts with the freedom to move and explore the lunar surface with ease.

Astronauts are flying to the moon for the first time since 1972, and scientists are preparing specialized space suits for the next milestone⁘landing...

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