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NASA Chooses Firefly Aerospace for Artemis Commercial Moon Supply in 2023

Posted by: M.Haroon Khan February 15, 2021

NASA has awarded Firefly Aerospace of Cedar Park, Texas, approximately $93.3 million to deliver a set of 10 science investigations and technology demonstrations to the Moon in 2023. The delivery, planned for Mare Crisium, a low-lying basin on the Moon’s near side, will investigate a spread of lunar surface conditions and resources. Such investigations will help steel oneself against human missions to the lunar surface.

The award is a component of the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, during which NASA is securing the service of economic partners to quickly land science and technology payloads on the lunar surface.

The initiative may be a key part of NASA’s Artemis program. Firefly Aerospace is going to be liable for end-to-end delivery services, including payload integration, launch from Earth, landing on the Moon, and mission operations. this is often the sixth award for lunar surface delivery under the CLPS initiative.

“We’re excited another CLPS provider has won its first task order award. With this initiative, we seek to develop ways for brand spanking new science and technology development utilizing a service-based model,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

“This allows U.S. vendors to not only demonstrate their ability to securely deliver payloads to our celestial neighbor but also expand this capability for others who want to require advantage of this leading-edge approach to explore the Moon.”

This is the primary delivery awarded to Firefly Aerospace, which can provide the lunar delivery service using its Blue Ghost lander, which the corporate designed and developed at its Cedar Park facility.

This facility also will house the mixing of NASA and any non-NASA payloads, and also will function as the company’s mission operations center for the 2023 delivery.

“The payloads we’re sending as a part of this delivery service span across multiple areas, from investigating the lunar soil and testing a sample capture technology, to giving us information about the Moon’s thermal properties and magnetic flux,” said Chris Culbert, manager of the CLPS initiative at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Mare Crisium, where Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost will land, maybe a quite 300-mile-wide basin where instruments will gather data to supply insight into the Moon’s regolith – loose, fragmented rock and soil – properties, geophysical characteristics, and therefore the interaction of solar radiation and Earth’s magnetic flux.

The payloads, collectively expected to total 207 pounds (94 kg) in mass, include:

The Regolith Adherence Characterization (RAC), which can determine how lunar regolith sticks to a variety of materials exposed to the Moon's environment during landing and lander operations. Components are going to be derived from the Materials International space platform Experiment (MISSE) facility currently on the International space platform .

The Next Generation Lunar Retroreflectors (NGLR), which can function a target for lasers on Earth to exactly measure the space between Earth and therefore the Moon. The retroreflector which will fly this mission also will provide data that would be wont to understand various aspects of the lunar interior and address fundamental physics questions.

The Lunar Environment Heliospheric X-ray Imager (LEXI), which can capture images of the interaction of Earth's magnetosphere with the flow of charged particles from the Sun, called the solar radiation.

The Reconfigurable, Radiation Tolerant computing system (RadPC), which aims to demonstrate a radiation-tolerant computing technology. thanks to the Moon's lack of atmosphere and magnetic flux, radiation from the Sun are going to be a challenge for electronics. This investigation also will characterize the radiation effects on the lunar surface.

The Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder (LMS), which is meant to characterize the structure and composition of the Moon’s mantle by studying electric and magnetic fields.

The investigation will make use of a flight-spare magnetometer, a tool that measures magnetic fields, originally made for the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft currently orbiting Mars.

The Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity (LISTER), which is meant to live heat be due the inside of the Moon.

The probe will plan to drill 7 to 10 feet (2 to three meters) into the lunar regolith to research the Moon's thermal properties at different depths.

The Lunar PlanetVac (LPV), which is meant to accumulate lunar regolith from the surface and transfer it to other instruments that might analyze the fabric or put it during a container that another spacecraft could return to Earth.

Stereo CAmeras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS 1.1), which can capture video and still images of the world under the lander from when the engine plume first disturbs the lunar surface through engine shutdown.

Long-focal-length cameras will determine the pre-landing surface topography. Photogrammetry is going to be wont to reconstruct the changing surface during landing.

Understanding the physics of rocket exhaust on the regolith, and therefore the displacement of dust, gravel, and rocks is critical to understanding the way to best avoid kicking up surface materials during the terminal phase of flight/landing on the Moon and other celestial bodies.

The Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS), which can generate a non-uniform field using varying high voltage on multiple electrodes.

This traveling field, in turn, carries away the particles and has potential applications in thermal radiators, spacesuit fabrics, visors, camera lenses, solar panels, and lots of other technologies.

The Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE), which is predicated on GPS. LuGRE will still extend the reach of GPS signals and, if successful, be the primary to discern GPS signals at lunar distances.

A integrity stirring pandemic

Posted by: M.Haroon Khan January 21, 2021

Another ‘ahead of print’ issue was out. I used to be keenly scanning it for my article. There it was! Following obvious thing to try to would be to proclaim this exciting news on all conceivable social media channels, ‘humbly’ exhibiting my scientific and fictional skills, pleased with my name leading the ornamented list of authors.

“One more,” I said, as I silently acknowledged the pandemic for turning an uncommon year, clinically speaking, into an equally creative academic one. From the time COVID-19 has professed an epidemic, the speed at which I even have churned academic articles is probably only second to the speed of the virus infection itself. Adding my two cents to the tutorial discourse around psychological state issues stemming from COVID-19, I even have rightfully earned my share of the pandemic pie as a young researcher.

With endless concepts and theories, innumerable correlations and associations, COVID-19 statistics have accumulated faster than researchers can digest. As a medical professional, I witnessed an unprecedented quest to find out, write, explore and obtain to the rock bottom of each possible angle associated with the pandemic.

Specialties and duties have blurred: whilst a psychiatrist, I discuss the viral structure, my pathologist friend comments on the behavioral effects of the virus, while virologist’s debate on treatment protocols. We are all involved in COVID-duty. COVID-19 has been an excellent leveler: first, it renamed physicians and healthcare workers as “front-liners” imposing an enhanced sense of responsibility also as perceived stigma about them; second, it created almost universal expertise about the virus.

Information became an important commodity. Almost everyone knew something about the outbreak, and none wanted to miss the prospect to display that knowledge. Definitely not I, the pandemic added publications to my credit, and that I was secretly enjoying the closure of out-patient departments.

Busy in such self-obsessive cogitations that stemmed from the freshly imprinted publication, I didn’t hear my beeper ring twice, then thrice. Finally, an irritated nurse within the ER muttered something that seemed like “clinical duties first importance”.

Reluctantly, I dragged myself out of my ‘ahead of print wonderland’, to listen to some shocking news that made me dash to the COVID-designated ward. I barely had time to slide into the private Protective Equipment (PPE) as I digested the knowledge – a famous business tycoon’s son had succumbed to the infection.

Management of such ‘high profile’ cases is usually a nuisance, and throughout my graduation years, I wanted we had a chapter dedicated within the medical curriculum to the present lesser discussed challenge of the practice. I trooped into the ward like an astronaut, media persons waiting outside to be informed.

COVID-19 deaths have extra formalities to require care of. I met my masked and suited generations, each clumsy in their ‘gas chambers’, and visibly edgy because the manufacturer’s family and followers waited outside. I used to be the giving resident accountable of the enduring the week before, and hence my presence was necessary for the last ‘medical rites’. India’s price had just crossed one lakh, and that i was trying to guess what number would be assigned to the present death, all the while impatient to urge back to my just published paper.

Once we heralded 2020 amid celebrations, did we all know that quite two million folks wouldn't see another new year?

As a psychiatrist, communicating with patients and their families may be a large part of my job. I prepared for the following tough dialogue with the bereaved family. The daddy and therefore the uncle was waiting outside the ward, surrounded by relations during a distinct circle, beat PPE, masks, and gloves. For a second, I mistook them for physicians. Then I realized that the circle was to make sure social distancing from potential infection carriers like me.

A decoratively rehearsed explanation of the death has always fallen short during such tête-à-têtes. In what appeared like a really lengthy discussion, the family wanted to understand precautions for the future (do we'd like to fumigate the house?), pondered over possible instances of transmission by their now-dead kin, and therefore the statistical chances of them being infected already.

The concerns seemed a touch illogical to me considering a paid caregiver was responsible all this while. As a matter of courtesy, I asked if they wanted to possess a final glance at their loved one through the COVID-ICU window. They appeared to tighten the circle and left abruptly saying the cremation formalities would be handled by a separate team. I felt pitying the young man, who was accorded a star status within the hospital till yesterday. His corpse had no such privilege.

I was going back to the ward when someone tugged at my PPE. A boy, maybe all of 5, during a tattered T-shirt and barely anything below the waist, was standing there, right next to the infectious diseases ward without a mask or gloves! Before I could respond, a hospital guard came running, say sorry for the transgression, “Sorry Sir, I attempted my best, this fellow just ran past me”.

Cautious of guarding the kid against any possible infection from my PPE, I stepped back, crouched, and asked him what he wanted. He was sniffling and mumbled something within the local language pointing towards the overall ward. He had come trying to find his father, another COVID-19 fatality.

He lived within the slum next to the hospital. The motherless child wasn't allowed to remain together with his father and his plan to bypass the hospital guards succeeded only today when it had been too late.

I explained to him that it had been risky being near the COVID-19 ward without protective gear. He smiled, his teeth darker than his skin, and unfolded his little hands to point out a facemask darkened with days of use, strings torn, and various tiny holes on one side. He had exchanged his silver bracelet with an area vendor for this mask and brought it to a close-by temple for prayers. He believed it might protect his father from the killer virus.

I don’t skill the guards managed to require care of the kid. I had to go away, breathless and feeling sick. Together, the choke of the PPE, a distended bladder, blurred vision, and a burdened conscience had taken an important toll on me.

Half an hour later, I managed to urge back from the reflective phase into being the stoic physician, the iron-willed ‘front-liner’ who has seen it all? Pleased with my unceasing contribution to pandemic literature, I started re-reading with content my latest title: “COVID-19: the good Equalizer”.

Kennedy Space Center Admirations Fallen Heroes of Human Space travel

Posted by: M.Haroon Khan January 21, 2021

Kennedy Space Center Honors Fallen Heroes of Human Space travel

The crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, also as other fallen astronauts who lost their lives within the name of space exploration and discovery, are going to be honored by NASA Kennedy Space Center employees and guests with a ceremony at the Kennedy Visitor Complex’s Space Mirror Memorial.

The Day of Remembrance ceremony is about for Thursday, Jan. 28, at 11 a.m. Honoree relations Lowell Grissom (brother of former astronaut Gus Grissom) and Sheryl Chaffee (daughter of former astronaut Roger Chaffee) are going to be attending.
“From Apollo 1 to the crews of Contestant and Columbia, we are shamed as we recall the expenses of the brave men and women who gave their lives for the broader clarification for exploring and understanding our the universe,” Cabana said. “Each year, on today, we plan to not only remembering their legacies but dedicate ourselves to making sure the security of those who are available the longer term.”

The date marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Contestant tragedy. NASA centers throughout the country contribute in the agency’s annual commemorative event.

All CDC and native health and safety procedures associated with the coronavirus — including physical distancing and face coverings — are going to be followed at the event, which is restricted to 100 guests.

Following the commemoration, a wreath-laying ceremony will happen at the Space Mirror Memorial. Attendees are going to be given flowers to pay respects to our fallen heroes.

The Astronauts Commemorative Foundation may be a private, not-for-profit group that built and maintains the Space Mirror Commemorative. The mirror was devoted in 1991 to honor all astronauts who lost their lives on assignments or during training. It’s been designated a National Memorial by Congress.

Parker Solar Probe Marks 7 Successful Swing round the Sun

Posted by: M.Haroon Khan January 21, 2021

Which passed just 8.4 million miles (13.5 million mails) from the Sun’s superficial while flying at 289,932 miles per hour (466,600 kilometers per hour) on Jan. 17, essentially matching its own records for solar juxtaposition and speed.
Everywhere this same time, several spacecraft and lots of earthbound telescopes were primed to contribute observations which will give scientists a comprehensive and coordinated picture of solar activity.

On Jan. 21, the spacecraft conveyed a “tone one,” representative all systems were healthy and working normally after the spacecraft’s close approach to the Sun and heading into the ultimate giver of the solar meeting, which runs finished Jan. 23.

The geometry of this specific orbit means Parker Solar Probe’s closest method to the Sun, or perihelion, was in direct view of Earth. Some 40 stations around the globe, including major installations in Hawaii, the southwestern us, Europe, and Asia trained their contracts on the Sun over the several weeks around the perihelion.
A few dozen spacecraft, including NASA’s STEREO, Solar Dynamics Station, TIMED, and Magnetosphere Multistage missions, ESA and NASA’s Solar Orbiter, and ESA’s BepiColombo made simultaneous explanations of activity stretching from the Sun to Earth.

Illustration showing the locations of Parker Solar Probe, Earth, and other spacecraft and planets
With Parker Solar Probe’s latest closest method to the Sun indirect view of Earth, some 40 laboratories around the globe, and a number of other spacecraft, including STEREO, BepiColombo, and Solar Orbiter, made concurrent observations of activity stretching from the Sun to Earth. Distances and planet and Spacelab locations aren't to scale. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Nate Rudolph

“Parker Solar Probe has shown us that there are tons more organized activity near the Sun than we once thought,” said Solar Probe Project Scientist Nour Raouafi of the Johns Hopkins University Functional physics workroom, or APL, in Laurel, Maryland.
“With this closest method visible from Earth, we have an unbelievable chance to place as many eyes as we will on the Sun to the contribution us build an enormous picture. And that we really rise the enthusiastic collaboration of numerous observatory and mission teams to form that happen.”

Now just over two years into its seven-year mission, the Solar Probe spacecraft will sooner or later travel within 4 million miles of the Sun’s superficial.
The mission’s primary goal is to supply new data on solar activity and therefore the mechanisms of the Sun’s outer atmosphere – the corona – which donates meaningfully to our ability to forecast major space climate events that impact life on Earth.

The spacecraft will make three more progressively close passes to the Sun in 2021 alone, also as two gravity-assist flybys at Venus in February and October to control the trajectory of its orbit.
After zipping past Venus on Feb. 20, Parker Solar Probe will again make close methods to the Sun on April 29 and Aug. 9. Following another Venus gravity assist on Oct. 16, the Spacelab will make good closer solar expire Nov. 21, with perihelion just 5.3 million miles from the Sun’s surface.

“This is our busiest year since launch, and it only gets busier as our route takes us closer and closer to the Sun,” said Solar Probe Project Manager Helene Winters of APL. “This is harshly what the Spacelab was designed for – it’s operating even as we probable and is giving us even more data than anticipated.
We’re ready for a variety of detections during this unexplored region of the Sun.”

Green Run Project Schedule

Posted by: M.Haroon Khan January 15, 2021

Preparations for conducting the ultimate Green Run test for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket are proceeding as planned, and therefore the core stage is on the program for a hot fire test tomorrow kindling all four of its RS-25 engines.

NASA is aiming a two-hour test window that opens at 5 p.m. EST Saturday, Jan.16, for the recent fire test at the agency’s Stennis Space Epicenter near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

Live attention will begin at 4:20 p.m. on NASA Television and consequently the agency’s website, followed by a post-test meeting approximately two hours after the test accomplishes.

The hot fire is that the eighth and final test of the Green Run series to make sure the core stage of the SLS rocket is prepared to launch Artemis missions to the Moon, beginning with Artemis I. The core stage includes the liquid hydrogen tank and LOX tank, four RS-25 engines, and therefore the computers,

Electronics, and avionics that function the “brains” of the rocket. Through the test, engineer’s will power up all the core stage systems, load quite 700,000 gallons of cryogenic,

or super cold, propellant into the tanks, and fire all four engines at a corresponding time to pretend the stage’s operation during launch, generating 1.6 Million pounds of thrust.

Learn more about Green Run, and check back at this blog for updates on the SLS core stage hot fire test.

Last September, we presented Arena Mode, our combat the classic arena shooter game mode (TDM) where teams bully-off crossways several rounds, purchasing their gear with earned money and fight to survive as long as possible.

We received plenty of great feedback on this mode and are now happy to roll out the upgraded version for everybody to undertake out.

one of the main issues we saw was that it became quite difficult to mount any kind of comeback once your team had lost around and everyone their items.

In fact, your chances of winning the general game sharply dropped with even one loss. We’ve taken some steps to form losing a match a touch less punishing while also rewarding teams who are ready to make it through without losing in the least.

We hope this helps strike a good balance and makes the stage a more exciting place. Let’s take a glance at what Arena Mode the 2nd Iteration has future.

Arena Mode – 2nd Iteration Changes

Since the last test, we've been receiving requests for a TPP version of Arena Mode. For this test, we’ll be trying out TPP to ascertain what different gameplay patterns it brings out and therefore the different experiences it can provide.

Perspective – TPP
Only available in TPP.
Changes in default pistol
Changed default pistol to P18C.

For the primary Arena Mode, we received feedback that players with the default P1911 pistol didn't stand an opportunity against players with purchased weapons.
As such, we’ve substituted it with the P18C, which comes with an auto-fire mode in pub g mobile.

Loadout store improvements
Adjusted the quantity of ammo given when purchasing a weapon.
Increased helmet price, which is now above the vest.
Opening from Round Four, weapons purchased from the loadout store will include accessories.

Players on a streak will earn bonus rewards accordingly and therefore the teams that don’t lose any chances before the ultimate round is going to be rewarded with an upgraded loadout store which has the subsequent items:

Care Package items.

Special consumables like Adrenaline Syringe and therefore the care Kits.
Pistols and shotguns can now be found under an equivalent category.
Loadout point balance adjustment
Reduced end of round points earned (both win/lose).

Since squads with fewer players are at an obstacle, they're going to earn more kill points counting on their squad size.
Considering player feedback on how hard it's to win a subsequent round after losing your items upon defeat, you’ll now get a little bonus to assist you to rebuy the gear you would like.

UX improvements
To help reduce confusion during combat, we’re disabling kill feed messages from the opposite arenas, so now only events within your current arena are going to be shown.

There were quite a few players leaving the sport after losing their first chance, thinking the sport was over. We have added messages to let players know they still in it!

When starting a replacement round, map features like zoom option and markers will revert to default.
Addition of the reporting system

Players in spectate mode can now watch other players for false or behavior that goes against our Rules of Conduct.