Orbital Today’s Post

Did you know? The first practical fuel cells, now critical components in renewable energy, were developed for NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Johnson Space Center in preparation for the Apollo missions because batteries would have weighed too much. In case you missed it, this year’s NASA Spinoff book was released this week, and it highlights more than 40 medical and other commercialized technologies, including the first fuel cells, using the agency’s research and development expertise. There’s more space in your life than you think! To read or download the digital version of the 2024 Spinoff, visit: https://spinoff.nasa.gov/ #GiantLeapsStartHere

Exploring The Moon with NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) FriendsofNASA.org: NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative allows NASA to send science investigations and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface. Under Artemis, NASA will study more of the Moon than ever before, and CLPS will demonstrate how NASA is working with commercial companies to achieve robotic lunar exploration. Learn more about CLPS: https://lnkd.in/gu8ibCua Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Duration: 1 minute, 54 seconds Release Date: Dec. 1, 2022 Angela Melito Astrobotic United Launch Alliance (ULA) NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Goddard Space Flight Center European Space Agency - ESA National Space Society Space Generation Advisory Council Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) Canadian Space Society #NASA #Space #Earth #Moon #LunarPayloadServices #CLPS #CommercialSpace #ArtemisProgram #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Science #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #SpaceExploration #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Recently, NASA announced a new series of scientific experiments aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the lunar environment. At #Aviotec, we are thrilled to have contributed to this mission by participating in the design, manufacturing, and integration of the MLI (Multi-Layer Insulation) systems and cabling for the #ProSEED robotic drill, which is part of the Prospect mission. Prospect is an advanced suite of instruments designed to drill down to at least one meter below the lunar surface, extract samples, and analyze them in an integrated mini-laboratory. This project aims to uncover valuable insights into the composition and geological history of the #Moon, paving the way for future explorations and space missions. We are proud to be an integral part of this pioneering endeavor, supporting lunar exploration and contributing to the advancement of international space science. #Aviotec #Aerospace #Engineering NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

"Welcome to the moon." After a few tense minutes on a video feed from NASA and Intuitive Machines, Embry-Riddle alumnus Steve Altemus ('87) confirmed that the IM-1 mission landed on the moon. It is the first commercial craft to successfully land on the moon and the first U.S. lander to reach the moon since the Apollo program. Read this profile on Altemus, who is co-founder, president and CEO of Intuitive Machines, to learn how he built the company that resulted in today's moon landing.

From Columbus to Space Miners: How Exploration Drives Economies! History buffs know that the Age of Exploration transformed our world. But did you know there are striking parallels between discovering new lands and venturing into space? Both fueled economic booms! Just like the spice trade that blossomed after explorers reached India, space exploration has the potential to unlock valuable resources like asteroids packed with precious metals. Imagine the economic possibilities! This isn't just about far-off futures. The technologies developed for space travel are already having a ripple effect, leading to advancements in communication, materials science, and more. Read the article by Varsha Shanbhag. Follow ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization, VSSC - Indian Space Research Organization, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and SpaceX for more. #SpaceExploration #EconomicDevelopment #Innovation #TheFutureofWork #SpaceMining #STEM #Amartya #Emphemeris

New Evidence Adds to Findings Hinting at Network of Caves on Moon: An international team of scientists using data from the NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) has discovered evidence of caves beneath the Moon’s surface. In re-analyzing radar data collected by LRO’s Mini-RF (Miniature Radio-Frequency) instrument in 2010, the team found evidence of a cave extending more than 200 feet from the base of a pit. The pit is located 230 miles northeast of the first human landing site on the Moon in Mare Tranquillitatis. The full extent of the cave is unknown, but it could stretch for miles beneath the mare. Scientists have suspected for decades that there are subsurface caves on the Moon, just like there are on Earth. Pits that may lead to caves were suggested in images from NASA’s lunar orbiters that mapped the Moon’s surface before NASA’s Apollo human landings. A pit was then confirmed in 2009 from images taken by JAXA’s (JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Kaguya orbiter, and many have since been found across the Moon through images and thermal measurements of the surface taken by LRO. NASA’s LRO Finds Lunar Pits Harbor Comfortable Temperatures “Now the analysis of the Mini-RF radar data tells us how far these caves might extend,” said Noah Petro, LRO project scientist based at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Lunar Pits Could Shelter Astronauts, Reveal Details of How ‘Man in the Moon’ Formed Like “lava tubes” found here on Earth, scientists suspect that lunar caves formed when molten lava flowed beneath a field of cooled lava, or a crust formed over a river of lava, leaving a long, hollow tunnel. If the ceiling of a solidified lava tube collapses, it opens a pit, like a skylight, that can lead into the rest of the cave-like tube. Mini-RF is operated by The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. LRO is managed by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Launched on June 18, 2009, LRO has collected a treasure trove of data with its seven powerful instruments, making an invaluable contribution to our knowledge about the Moon. NASA is returning to the Moon with commercial and international partners to expand human presence in space and bring back new knowledge and opportunities. #space #earth #moon #research #radar #radio #lava #lavatube #exploration #discovery #knowledge

Just over six years ago, NASA's Parker Solar Probe (PSP) embarked on its historic mission to "touch" the Sun, becoming the closest human-made object to the Sun ever. This Christmas Eve, it will make its closest approach yet. 🛰️☀️ https://lnkd.in/e5Zvi-FW PSP is a groundbreaking mission designed to unlock the mysteries of the Sun's corona and solar wind. The Johns Hopkins APL-built spacecraft can withstand heat and radiation like no other mission before it. Named after Dr. Eugene Parker, the scientist who first theorized the existence of the solar wind, PSP will orbit within four million miles of the Sun's surface to study the solar wind's formation directly. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration | #JHUAPL | #ParkerSolarProbe | #SpaceExploration | #SpaceWeather | #SolarWind

On this day in 2011, NASA launched the GRAIL mission to map the Moon’s gravitational field in unprecedented detail. The mission helped scientists better understand the internal structure of the Moon, providing insights into its formation. How do you think missions like GRAIL continue to reshape our understanding of planetary bodies? #SpaceExploration #NASA #GRAIL #LunarScience #PlanetaryScience NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

🛰️ That's a great summary of the DART mission and its target, Didymos("twin" in Greek )! It's fascinating how DART's impact managed to change the orbit of Dimorphos around Didymos. The mission not only provides valuable insights into asteroid deflection techniques but also enhances our understanding of planetary defense strategies. NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) is a planetary defense test that will change the motion of an asteroid in space. The quiz tests your knowledge of asteroids, the DART mission, and NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO). 🚀Ref: https://lnkd.in/dxg2Efp8 The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration #nasa #technology #dartmission #spaca #rocketscience