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usafphantom2 · 6 months ago

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U.S. Air Force Awards RTX $1 Billion Contract to Upgrade F-22 Sensors

The contract follows the recent news about the tests of new advanced sensors on the F-22 Raptor, which the U.S. Air Force is planning to field quickly as part of the ongoing upgrade program.

Parth Satam

F-22 new sensors contract

An F-22 Raptor takes off from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 30, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Rufus)

Amid the acute need for 5th generation fighters in modern combat scenarios against peer adversaries, the U.S. Air Force is looking to upgrade its F-22 Raptor with a series of sensors to make it more survivable and relevant. The service announced on Aug. 29, 2024, the award of a $1 billion contract to RTX‘s Raytheon for new sensors that are categorized as “Group B hardware”, together with spares and support equipment.

“Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed by May 8, 2029,” said the DoD contracts statement. The Aviationist had recently reported that the Air Force was testing new sensors on the F-22 to extend its service life, which would also be applied to the NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) family of systems.

That report also quoted Brig. Gen. Jason D. Voorheis, the Program Executive Officer for Fighter and Advanced Aircraft, who said they were hoping to field these sensors faster. The Raptor team had conducted six flight tests to demonstrate the advanced sensors.

“The F-22 team is working really hard on executing a modernization roadmap to field advanced sensors, connectivity, weapons, and other capabilities. We’re executing that successfully, and that will lead to […] a rapid fielding in the near future.” This would be done through a Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) program.

Some of the sensors included in the contract could be the stealthy pods seen on the F-22. Air and Space Forces earlier quoted officials who confirmed that the pods host IRST (Infrared Search and Track) sensors. The development of a new IRST sensor for the Raptor was also confirmed by the service’s 2025 budget request, which however did not mention the sensor being podded.

This work is part of an F-22 improvement campaign that calls for $7.8 billion in investments before 2030, which includes $3.1 billion for research and development and $4.7 billion in procurement.

An F-22 Raptor with the Air Combat Command F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team performs a flyover and air demonstration at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug 13, 2024. (U.S Air Force Photo by Trevor Cokley)

F-22’s future in the U.S. Air Force

The development is also in contrast with previously reported USAF plans to retire the older F-22 airframes, for which it had sought approval from the Congress. These F-22s are 32 Block 20 units from a total fleet of 186. At the same time, the service aims to upgrade the remaining 154 with new cryptography, an expanded open architecture, new weapons and an advanced threat warning receiver, beside the IRST.

However, the service now appears to be reconsidering that plan, after Voorheis was quoted in the ASF report: “From an F-22 sunsetting perspective, I don’t have a date for you.” “What I can tell you is that we are hyper-focused on modernization to sustain that air superiority combat capability for a highly contested environment for as long as necessary,” he added.

IMAGE 3: A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the 3rd Wing takes off above Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jun. 17, 2024. (Image credit: USAF/Senior Airman Julia Lebens)

The U.S. Air Force describes the Raptor as a combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, designed to project air dominance, rapidly and at great distance. Initially introduced as an air-superiority-only asset, the F-22 later started performing both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

The F-35 is largely a strike fighter and an airborne sensor-fusion and data-processing capable command post in its tactical orientation. But the Raptor is a pure air dominance interceptor. Although costly to upgrade and maintain, it nevertheless can play an important role in degrading adversary air power through either long-range BVR (Beyond Visual Range) and dogfights.

Moreover, having F-22s also increases the number of LO (Low Observable) aircraft in the inventory, at least until more F-35s are available, especially the TR-3 (Technology Refresh-3) Block 4 upgraded variants.

In 2021 too, then Air Force chief General Charles Q. Brown Jr. revealed his “4+1” fighter plan, suggesting the F-22 to be replaced by the NGAD while retaining the F-35, F-15E and EX, and the F-16. The “plus 1” was the A-10, but in March 2023, Brown said the A-10s were being retired faster than expected and the entire fleet would possibly be divested by 2030.

Meanwhile the NGAD’s future itself is uncertain after U.S.A.F have noted its technical complexity and financial implications. The F-22 thus seems to be back in the running.

On Jul. 10, 2024, Air Combat Command chief Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach said during a Mitchell Institute event that the service has no official plan to retire its F-22 Raptors. “Right now, there’s…frankly isn’t an F-22 replacement and the F-22 is a fantastic aircraft,” said Wilsbach. “I’m in favor of keeping the Block 20s. They give us a lot of training value, and even if we had to in an emergency use the Block 20s in a combat situation, they’re very capable.”

F-22 Indonesia

U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors assigned to the 27th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, conduct Dynamic Force Employment operations at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Air Force Base, Indonesia, on Aug. 6, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mitchell Corley)

Other known F-22 upgrades

Other upgrades mentioned in the 2025 budget request are a Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), Link 16, a Multifunction Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS), a new Operational Fight Program, advanced radar Electronic Protection and an Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS) Modernization (EGI-M).

Voorheis also mentioned the GRACE (Government Reference Architecture Compute Environment) software that would allow “non-traditional F-22 software” to be installed on the aircraft and provide “additional processing and pilot interfaces.”

A new helmet is also being tested, as part of the Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet program to replace the current 40-year-old HGU-55P headgear. The new helmet would also allow the introduction of helmet-mounted devices which provide essential flight and weapon aiming information through line of sight imagery, easing the workload of the pilots.

About Parth Satam

Parth Satam's career spans a decade and a half between two dailies and two defense publications. He believes war, as a human activity, has causes and results that go far beyond which missile and jet flies the fastest. He therefore loves analyzing military affairs at their intersection with foreign policy, economics, technology, society and history. The body of his work spans the entire breadth from defense aerospace, tactics, military doctrine and theory, personnel issues, West Asian, Eurasian affairs, the energy sector and Space.

@Theaviationist.com

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 3 months ago

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Final data and undiscovered images from NASA’s NEOWISE

While NASA’s NEOWISE telescope ended its journey through space on Nov. 1, 2024, the team at IPAC, a science center at Caltech, was working on one further gift from the prolific mission.

The final data release from NEOWISE was released to the astronomy community just two weeks later, on Nov. 14, encompassing over 26 million images and nearly 200 billion sources detected by the telescope. And today, IPAC is releasing six new images from the mission’s archival data as a tribute to this landmark project, available here: https://www.astropix.org/link/3b2x

NEOWISE was launched as the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) in 2009 and then reactivated in 2013 as NEOWISE, the asteroid-hunting phase of the mission. The infrared space telescope studied the entire night sky and conducted 21 complete sky surveys during more than a decade of operation. The mission focused on identifying and studying small objects in our solar system like asteroids and comets, also known as near-Earth objects (NEOs), but the infrared data collected by the telescope has proven to have countless applications throughout the field of astronomy.

The mission concluded operations in July 2024, and during its 15 years in space, scientists have been able to revisit the same areas of the sky again and again, with most being observed by NEOWISE at least 220 times. This repeated observation helps astronomers search for and study objects that change in brightness or location.

“Being able to watch the changing sky for nearly 15 years has opened a new avenue for time-domain science, for everything from the closest asteroids to the most distant quasars,” said Joe Masiero, Research Scientist at IPAC and the Deputy Principal Investigator of the mission.

In recent years, NEOWISE has enabled scientists to study curious objects like brown dwarfs and discover patterns in large populations of comets. Over its mission lifetime, NEOWISE has characterized over 3000 NEOs—approximately 10% of the known population, and something that was only possible due to its long tenure scanning the sky.

The final NEO observed by NEOWISE, known as 2007 LV8, was seen over 100 times in the closing days of the survey since it closely followed the telescope’s scan pattern.

“Because of NEOWISE’s extensive view of the sky, we get a more complete picture of the asteroids and comets in Earth’s orbital neighborhood. The data provide a unique way of understanding factors like the size and rotation period of these NEOs,” said Roc Cutri, NEOWISE Task Lead and Project Scientist at IPAC.

The team at IPAC was responsible for the ingestion and processing of raw data, production of final data products, and archiving mission science and engineering data. IPAC also distributes WISE/NEOWISE data to the community through the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (IRSA) and provides services such as powerful analysis and visualization tools. The IPAC Communications & Education team prepares mission images for public release in the AstroPix image gallery.

Never-before-seen images from NEOWISE

During the original WISE mission, over 100 areas of the sky were highlighted in public image releases, but they revealed only a tiny fraction of the full-sky coverage of the survey.

“The WISE and NEOWISE data releases are built for researchers, but they also embody some of the most amazing images of our infrared sky,” said Robert Hurt, IPAC Visualization Scientist. “They are so easy to work with it's almost too easy to make a beautiful image from them! That's why I wanted to revisit the archive to locate some hidden gems we missed before.”

To find new interesting areas of the sky, the positions of the previous images were overlaid onto maps of the sky using data from WISE and other missions. The new map revealed many zones that have not been highlighted for the public but contain fascinating regions of cosmic dust where stars are born. Six spots were selected, with many of them spanning large areas of the sky—a distinct advantage of an all-sky survey such as NEOWISE.

One image stands out as particularly meaningful to the IPAC community: NEOWISE’s view of the California Nebula.

Named after the dust cloud’s resemblance to the California coastline, Masiero says it commemorates the years of hard work and dedication of the NEOWISE data processing team at IPAC, located in Pasadena, California.

“I’m really grateful for all of the people at IPAC who have put so much effort into making this the best dataset possible, for today and for future generations,” said Masiero.

The California Nebula is located in the Milky Way, about 1000 light-years away, in the Perseus constellation. It is a dusty region illuminated by the nearby massive star Menkib, born just a few million years ago. The entire California Nebula stretches across 100 light-years and is fully captured in this wide-field view. The dust clouds glow brightly in longer wavelengths of infrared light, displayed here in green and red.

The new images pulled from the archives represent the billions of sources detected by NEOWISE waiting to be studied by future researchers.

“We know there are more things to discover in the NEOWISE data that we just haven’t noticed yet,” said Masiero. “As astronomers develop new tools and techniques and as new surveys are conducted, we can be sure the NEOWISE archive will be one of the first places we look for the data needed to better understand our universe.”

NEOWISE’s legacy is only just beginning

As astronomers continue to mine the NEOWISE archive at IRSA, there are many untold stories of comets, asteroids, nebulae, and more waiting in the data.

Yuna Kwon, a solar system astronomer and IPAC archive scientist, first joined as a postdoctoral fellow in 2023. Even though the NEOWISE mission ended not long after, her work with its data is only just beginning.

Along with Masiero, Kwon is leading a project called COSINE, Cometary Object Study Investigating their Nature and Evolution, cataloging and analyzing comets observed by NEOWISE.

“Together with my amazing colleagues at IPAC, we now have the largest-ever consistently analyzed comet database and are preparing publications based on our findings,” said Kwon.

Kwon studies comets because they are some of the oldest and most primitive objects in our solar system. Their physical properties could tell us about the conditions during the solar system’s formation.

“Comets are like cats — they have tails and do precisely what they want,” said Kwon. “Thankfully, NEOWISE has a treasure trove of data to study these idiosyncratic objects.”

Before working with NEOWISE data, Kwon said that it was hard to decipher large-scale trends from only a small number of comets. But now with COSINE and NEOWISE data, she is able to understand the big picture.

“I'm truly enjoying this exploration,” said Kwon. “My experience with NEOWISE data has broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of the comet population itself, putting the observations in a broader context of the formation and evolution of the solar system.”

Going forward, Kwon hopes to combine the knowledge gained from NEOWISE with new data from upcoming observatories including NEO Surveyor and SPHEREx.

TOP IMAGE: The California Nebula is seen in its entirety in this image from NASA’s WISE mission, covering over 25 square degrees of sky. In this infrared view, the dust clouds underlying the nebula glimmer in greens and reds. Also known as NGC 1499, it derives its common name from its similarity to the dramatic coastline of the U.S. state of California.

The California Nebula extends 100 light years through space, and it is illuminated by one of the hottest stars visible in the night sky, known as Menkib. Its surface temperature is about 37,000 degrees, and its total energy output is over 300,000 times more than that of our own Sun. It belongs to an association of very hot stars that were born from the California Nebula only a few million years ago.

The stellar winds blowing out from the fast-moving Menkib pile up as they impact interstellar gas and dust to create a shock wave. Known a “bow shock,” as an analogy to the waves that pile up at the bow of a sailing ship, it heats up the ambient dust clouds through which it is passing, seen here in red.

This image uses data from the original cryogenic phase of the WISE mission. Infrared wavelengths of 3.4 & 4.6 microns are displayed in blue and cyan, respectively, and are dominated by the glow of stars. Light with a wavelength of 12 microns is displayed in green and traces the presence of carbon-rich dust known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The 22 micron light is rendered in red and is dominated by the thermal glow of warm dust.

Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC

CENTRE IMAGE: Skygazers have dubbed this region the “Gecko Nebula” for its resemblance to a downturned head with a pointed snout, though astronomers refer to the area as LBN 437. This cloud of dust and gas is a region of star formation, which is revealed clearly in infrared light by NASA’s WISE mission.

Near the “snout” of the gecko you can see a blazing star with a strong red tint, due to its brightness at longer wavelengths of infrared light. This baby star is in its final stages of formation, and while it gobbles up the last of its fuel, some is ejected away in jets of gas that are carving cavities through the surrounding dust clouds. These structures are known as “Herbig Haro” objects to astronomers, and the most prominent around this young star is called HH 398.

Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC

LOWER IMAGE: This tadpole-shaped nebula is known as CG12. It is an example of a “cometary globule,” where a denser region of dust trails off into thread-like strands. While challenging to see in visible light images, WISE easily shows the full extent of the globule’s tail as it lights up at longer wavelengths of infrared light.

The tip of CG12 is also known as NGC 5367 in the Centaurus constellation. This region is easier to see as a “reflection nebula” as the light of the bright stars scatters off of the enveloping dust clouds, showing up in visible light images as a blue haze.

Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC

BOTTOM IMAGE: These ghostly pillars span a large swath of sky about half the width of your outstretched hand held at arm’s length, falling along the boundary between the constellations of Vela and Centaurus. However, they have no common name and are not identified in historic catalogs like Messier or NGC for the simple reason they cannot be seen in visible light. This region falls behind a veil of dust in the spaces between stars and can only be seen at longer wavelengths of infrared light, as seen here in data from NASA’s WISE mission. At wavelengths of 12 and 22 microns, displayed here in green and red, respectively, the obscuring dust becomes more transparent, and denser clouds of dust begin to glow clearly under the light of neighboring stars.

Pillars such as these are found in regions where there are clumpy, denser clouds of gas and dust falling under the illumination of nearby hot, bright stars. The dust particles are slowly destroyed by the stars’ ultraviolet light, but denser regions erode more slowly than their surroundings, and even shield material behind them. This creates striking pillar-shaped structures like these.

The tips of these pillars often serve as stellar nurseries, as the denser gas and dust collapse over time to form and nurture new stars. These can be seen as red-tinted spots of light in the two largest pillars in this image, glowing brightly at the longest wavelengths of infrared light.

Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #nasa #astrophysics

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tpeakphotos · 1 year ago

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One wouldn’t have to spend much time going through my work to figure out that I really like this old Aermotor windmill that is still very much in service, pumping water from the ground for cattle. It sits on a ranch near the northern end of Lassen County California in plain sight just off US-395. I have photographed it several times at different times of the day and year. On this particular spring drive it was nearly mid-day, not normally optimal for visible light photography. I pulled over to shoot it with my infrared gear which is typically better suited to shooting in bright sun. I captured a nice “false color” image, accomplishing the mission. But as I stood there looking at the wonderful clouds and wildflowers I figured I better grab my visible light gear too. The clouds softened what would otherwise been very harsh light and added some wonderful interest to the sky while still allowing some nice warm spring light on the flowering field. In my Etsy Shop: https://buff.ly/3SdHshe Prints and merch on demand: https://buff.ly/3vrfBkt

#original photographers #photographers on tumblr #northern california #original photographic works #original photography on tumblr #lassen county #rural america #windmill #aermotor #ranching

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the-technicolor-whiscash · 10 months ago

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Today in space, it's the Hubble Telescope's 34th birthday!

34 years ago today, on April 24th, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope launched into low earth orbit within the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Though not the first space telescope, the Hubble was and still remains one of the most powerful. Its placement in low earth orbit allows the telescope to see and photograph distant stars, galaxies, and other space objects without the pesky atmosphere getting in the way.

When initially launched, the Hubble had a problem. Its mirror was flawed. It had been made according to incorrect specifications. This caused significant issues in imaging and photography, and NASA had to work quickly to determine a fix so that the telescope would not be abandoned. The versatility of the Space Shuttle to work in space allowed NASA astronauts to provide repairs to the Hubble, and in 1993 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, astronauts serviced the telescope and replaced lenses in order to resolve the issue.

Since then, the Hubble has provided groundbreaking imagery of space, expanding our knowledge of the universe considerably. Without the impediment of the atmosphere, the Hubble is able to take clear photography of distant stars and galaxies... as well as places a little closer to home.

The last mission servicing the Hubble was STS-125 in 2009, when astronauts on the Space Shuttle Atlantis replaced and repaired instruments which allowed the Hubble's views to extend even further. The instrumentation installed also allowed the Hubble to view light beyond the visible spectrum, including near-infrared and ultraviolet.

Though no further servicing missions are planned, the Hubble is expected to remain in use until at least the late 2020's. Pictures from Hubble are what many of us think about when we think about space. It has long been our floating companion, sharing views of the universe around us we could never have even imagined while on earth. Happy birthday, Hubble!

All pictures sourced from NASA. For more information on the Hubble and more images taken by the telescope, click here.

#the whiscash administration #nasa #space program #hubble telescope #hubble space telescope #space shuttle

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eopederson · 10 months ago

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Fresh Flows Across Iceland

"Lava poured from a volcanic fissure near the town of Grindavík, Iceland, in spring 2024. The eruption, which began on March 16 and remained active over two weeks later, was the largest in a string of four volcanic events on the Reykjanes peninsula starting in December 2023.

The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 captured this image of the ongoing eruption on March 30, 2024. The natural color scene is overlaid with an infrared signal to help distinguish the lava’s heat signature. The active part of the fissure and the origin of a volcanic plume are apparent. While the eruption was still active at this time, additional satellite and ground observations indicated it was likely waning.

The eruption began at 8:23 p.m. local time on March 16, the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) reported. A fissure nearly 3 kilometers (2 miles) long quickly opened in a similar location to the February 2024 eruption. Hundreds of people at the Blue Lagoon, as well as a small number in Grindavík, were evacuated within about 30 minutes of the eruption starting.

In the days that followed, lava flowed toward infrastructure such as water pipes and roads, the town of Grindavík, and the ocean. Human-constructed barriers of earth and rock diverted lava away from town, although a flow extended across one road. Officials were initially concerned that lava would reach the coast and cool rapidly upon contacting water. This could have posed additional hazards such as the production of hydrogen chloride gas, but the flow stopped short.

This Landsat image comparison shows the recent changes on the Reykjanes peninsula. In September 2023 (left), the area was quiet volcanically. By February 10, 2024 (center), three separate fissure eruptions had occurred. The footprint of new basaltic rock grew in March 2024 (right) as new lava spanned nearly 6 square kilometers (2.3 square miles), according to the IMO.

Like the eruptions that preceded it, the spring 2024 event was effusive, not explosive. Effusive eruptions tend to emit minimal ash, and their plumes typically contain water vapor, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other volcanic gases.

This eruption did not disrupt air travel, but sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions were hazardous locally at times. Workers evacuated the power plant north of Grindavík on March 18 due to gas pollution, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reported. The SO2 emissions from this eruption were forecast to drift across the United Kingdom and northern Europe, according to models based on satellite observations, but at an altitude too high to affect surface air quality.

Unlike the other recent eruptions in this region, the springtime event stretched out over weeks rather than a couple of days. The reason for the relatively prolonged eruption may be that magma now has an easier path to the surface, experts suggested in news reports. Others think that magma is no longer accumulating in the shallow magma chamber beneath the area and that this eruption could be the last in the longer cycle.

NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Lindsey Doermann."

And to think we were there in September about the time the first photo was made! The main road connecting Grindavik to the remainder of Iceland has been cut in two places. According to their website, the popular tourist attraction Blue Lagoon is closed due to "unfavourable air quality" but is scheduled to reopen tomorrow 11 April.

Wish I could hop on a plane to see this in person, but other obligations preclude such a trip anytime soon.

#vulcanism #eruption #reykjanes peninsula #ísland #2023 #NASA

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kaitropoli · 1 year ago

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NGC 1999

ESA/Hubble & NASA, ESO, K. Noll

THE Cosmic Keyhole, or by the government name of NGC 1999, is a reflection nebula in the Orion constellation. Located near the Orion Nebula, in a region of the Milky Way where stars are actively being formed, NGC 1999 is ~1350ly from Earth and is the composition of young star’s (V380 Orionis) formation discards.

UNLIKE emission nebulae, which alone emit light due to radiation ionization involving stars’ ultraviolet rays and nebula’s hydrogen atoms, NGC 1999 can’t shine unless a fixed light source illuminates the nebula due to its reflective type. The Cosmic Keyhole, however, is brightened by V380 Orionis (the light diffracting in the image above), a T Tauri star that sits covered by the smog of its birth.

REGARDING the “keyhole,” astronomers initially thought the hole was a Bok globule, a dense molecular cloud of gas and cosmic dust that absorbs light. In 2009, further observations were conducted using the Herschel Space Observatory (an infrared telescope that can penetrate dense material such as in this case), with supporting analyses from the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment, Nicholas U. Mayall Telescope, and the Magellan telescopes, debunking the Bok globule belief—instead concluding that NGC 1999’s mark isn’t anything but empty space. To this day, it’s still unknown why NGC 1999 has its iconic hole, but experts speculate that its creation is from local, new stars’ jets of gas puncturing the nebula’s foggy wall.

THE nebula was first discovered in the late 18th century by astronomer siblings Sir William and Caroline Herschel. It was later listed as object 1999 in the New General Catalogue—hence its formal name. In 1999, shortly after Servicing Mission 3A, the WFPC2 observations captured the image above.

CAPTION SOURCES

Main article w/ picture: "Hubble Peers at Mysterious Cosmic ‘Keyhole’" (NASA).

ADS

| "Hier ist wahrhaftig ein Loch im Himmel. The NGC 1999 dark globule is not a globule"

A&A

| "Herschel: the first science highlights"

CfA

| "Bok Globules"

ESA/Hubble

| "Cosmic Keyhole"

NASA

| "The Reflection Nebula in Orion"

| "NGC 1999"

| "Hubble's Nebulae"

| "Hubble Images Bok Globules"

(Caption written by @kaitropoli (me) using information from the sources above. Astronomy--knowledge of the universe, its population, fundamentals, and how everything is *known* to operate--is expanding every day with new things being discovered; the information listed could expire, so note that what I've gathered spans from 1990-2010 (with particular articles from the 2020s affirming up-to-date information with unchanged data).)

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cauldronofeverything · 1 year ago

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Youtube comment from the image in the first post copy and pasted:

Great video clip. I had a job once at the US Steel Pipe Works, Geneva Plant, Utah where I took "slag temperatures" before they sprayed "devils liquor" sump water on it to cool it down. I wore wooden shoe "clogs" to protect my shoes from melting (the same kind coke oven operators wear when servicing the ovens). 24 hours after a "thimble car" dump of red-hot slag was made, I went out and traversed the dump-site, measuring congealed slag surface temperatures, sometimes up to and often exceeding 600 degrees F. I wore thick canvas over-clothes, but anywhere my body came into pointed contact with the canvas (elbows and knees) I would get "burned" because of the heat transferred from the canvas material through my regular clothes. The heat at breathing height was about 200 degrees F. I wore a face shield (clear) to protect my face from the heat and had to wear a scarf over my nose to prevent breathing in super-heated air. As it was, I still singed the hairs inside my nose if I inhaled a little too quickly.

Imagine walking around inside a pizza oven, that is what it felt like. It dried me out, like desiccating me from the inside out breathing in all that super hot and very dry air.

Watching the thimble cars dump slag at night was one of the most incredible visual experiences I have ever had. The second after they tip a thimble, when the splash of red hot slag boiling down the slope glows intensely red, there follows milliseconds later, a "blast" of intense infrared radiation, that hits you in the face like a gust of hot wind.

The sea-gulls around dusk, would often ride the intense thermals created by the super-heated air, drawing cooler air up from below the slag pits, combining with the hot air whoosh it would go, rushing up the precipitous cliffs, man-made mini-mountains of slag, there they would fly along the thermals updraft about 100 feet up and nearly parallel to the rail car dump line. Their white underbelly's "glowing" brilliantly orange, phoenix like they hovered there almost motionless reflecting the bright yellow-orange and red hues of the cooling slag. It was like they were on fire it was so bright in the fading light of the day. It was the only beautiful sight to see in an otherwise desolate and foreboding wasteland of glassy rock-like congealed blast furnace slag.

Geneva Works is now defunct.

mrc109

y'ever get haunted by the fear you will never write anything as beautiful as the US Steel Pipe Works Slag Dump Youtube Comment cuz hoo boy i sure do:

shoutout to you, youtube user mrc109, wherever you may be today

#Wish I'd scrolled down and clicked the link first #my freaking eyes hurt reading that #though i suspect not as much as they would from actually doing the job

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thermoeliteinc · 1 year ago

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Discover unparalleled precision in Infrared thermographic inspections with ThermoElite, your trusted partner in Montreal. Our cutting-edge technology and skilled technicians ensure a thorough analysis of your systems, identifying potential issues before they escalate. Elevate your safety standards and operational efficiency with ThermoElite's reliable thermographic inspection services!

#Thermographic Inspection Montreal #ThermoElite #Infrared Imaging Services #Montreal Building Inspections #Thermal Analysis Experts

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archhome-inspections · 2 days ago

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Why Should You Test Your Indoor Air Quality? Why testing is important.

In Canada, we spend a large amount of time indoors, and in Vancouver, where it rains a lot, this is especially true. Spending more time indoors can affect your health in many different ways. Over the last few years, weather patterns have changed dramatically, becoming either too hot or too cold.

The Rental Market and Indoor Air Quality

With the property market out of control, the rental market is very expensive as well. Landlords, anxious to rent their properties, often overlook the basic maintenance of rental homes, many of which are older. Due to the construction design of older homes, many have poor ventilation, which increases humidity levels.

The Impact of High Humidity

High humidity levels are problematic because moist air can lead to unpleasant issues. Poor air quality has a wide range of effects. Occupants worry about mold, which is the biggest concern. Some people just feel sick at home due to exposure to volatile organic compounds, biological pollutants, pet dander, dust, asbestos, lead, pesticides, particulates, secondhand smoke, or even excess moisture.

Health Concerns and Air Quality Testing

We have received calls from people who complain of health issues and want to know if their home’s air quality is contributing to this. Indoor air quality testing helps identify what you are breathing in your home. You do not want your family members and yourself exposed to health issues because of the air in your home.

Mold Testing and Our Process

The most common indoor air quality testing is for mold. At Arch Home Inspections, we are trained to collect air samples using advanced air sampling equipment. These samples are sent to a Canadian Certified Laboratory accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation Inc. (CALA) for spore trap and direct exam analysis.

A microbiologist analyzes these air samples and provides a detailed report within a few business days. The analysis is thorough, showing the type of mold spores and their concentration. Any other methods of sampling, like just looking at it and identifying the type of mold, are incorrect and just assumptions.

Addressing Mold Concerns

Many people say they can smell mold or musty odors in their homes. While this may be true, lab analysis ultimately determines what is in the air you are breathing. When collecting samples, we also measure the relative humidity in different areas of the home. Specialized tools like a moisture meter and Infrared (Thermal Imaging) are used to accurately assess the home, along with our inspectors’ years of experience in identifying issues.

Our Services and Contact Information

We are open 7 days a week and provide services in the Vancouver and Lower Mainland area. Call us at 778.552.8095 and be sure to check out the thousands of verified client reviews on our website at Google.

#coquitlam home inspectors

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deepestnerdgalaxy · 3 days ago

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5 Essential Skills for a Thriving Drone Pilot Career with Drone Pilot Training

The drone industry is experiencing rapid growth, with applications spanning aerial photography, surveying, agriculture, real estate, and public safety. A successful career as a drone pilot requires a combination of technical proficiency, legal knowledge, and practical experience. Whether you are an aspiring pilot or looking to enhance your skillset, the right drone pilot training is crucial.

1. In-Depth Knowledge of Drone Technology

Understanding the mechanics and electronics of drones is fundamental. Drone pilots must be well-versed in:

Flight controllers and GPS systems – Knowing how these components work enhances flight stability and navigation accuracy.

Battery management – Maximizing battery life and ensuring safe power management during operations.

Payload integration – Operating different cameras and sensors based on industry requirements.

Firmware and software updates – Keeping drones updated to ensure compliance and optimal performance.

2. Mastering Flight Operations and Maneuverability

To be an expert drone pilot, mastering flight control is non-negotiable. This involves:

Manual and autonomous flight control – Switching between modes for different operational requirements.

Precision flying – Executing stable, controlled movements for photography, surveying, or inspections.

Weather adaptation – Adjusting flight patterns based on wind speed, temperature, and precipitation.

Emergency handling – Managing system failures, GPS loss, or battery depletion effectively.

How Drone Pilot Training Enhances Flight Skills

Quality training programs provide simulated and real-world flight exercises to help pilots develop these critical skills, ensuring they can operate in various environments safely and efficiently.

3. Regulatory Compliance and Safety Awareness

Every drone pilot must have a strong grasp of aviation laws and safety protocols. Key aspects include:

Understanding airspace classifications – Knowing restricted zones, controlled airspaces, and no-fly areas.

Regulatory certifications – Obtaining necessary licenses, such as the FAA Part 107 in the U.S. or CASA certification in Australia.

Pre-flight safety checks – Conducting thorough inspections before every flight to minimize risks.

Incident management – Knowing how to respond to crashes, privacy concerns, or legal violations.

Importance of Drone Pilot Training for Compliance

Drone training programs often include regulatory education, ensuring pilots meet legal standards and operate within the law.

4. Data Processing and Analysis Skills

Many drone operations involve data collection and analysis. A skilled pilot must be proficient in:

Aerial mapping and photogrammetry – Creating accurate maps and 3D models for industries like construction and agriculture.

Thermal imaging interpretation – Using drones equipped with infrared cameras for search and rescue, inspections, and security.

Post-processing software – Handling tools like Pix4D, DroneDeploy, and GIS software to refine and analyze collected data.

How Training Helps Develop Analytical Skills

Professional drone training includes practical exercises in data acquisition and processing, equipping pilots with the skills needed for advanced projects.

5. Business and Client Management Acumen

For those looking to turn their drone piloting skills into a profitable business, strong entrepreneurial abilities are essential. This includes:

Marketing and branding – Positioning your drone services effectively through SEO, social media, and networking.

Client relations – Understanding customer needs and delivering professional services tailored to different industries.

Project management – Handling multiple contracts, meeting deadlines, and ensuring high-quality results.

Insurance and liability management – Understanding the risks associated with drone operations and securing proper coverage.

The Role of Drone Pilot Training in Business Development

Many training programs offer insights into business strategies, helping drone pilots scale their operations successfully.

Conclusion

A career as a professional drone pilot demands technical expertise, legal knowledge, and business skills. Investing in drone pilot training enhances flight proficiency, regulatory compliance, data analysis, and business acumen. By mastering these five essential skills, aspiring drone pilots can position themselves for success in a competitive industry.

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bidhub · 4 days ago

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The Future of Home Energy Savings: Why Weatherization Contractors Are in High Demand

Introduction

Homeowners are looking for practical strategies to increase energy efficiency due to growing environmental concerns and rising energy expenses. As a result, there is an increasing need for weatherization contractors in the United States who specialize in lowering energy waste, enhancing insulation, and creating more sustainable homes. These experts are essential in assisting homeowners in improving the comfort of their homes and reducing utility costs.

Why Are Weatherization Contractors in High Demand?

1. Rising Energy Costs

As power and heating bills continue to rise, households are seeking for methods to save money. Weatherization Contractors in the United States help to reduce energy usage by sealing air leaks, updating insulation, and optimizing HVAC systems, resulting in significant long-term savings.

2. Increased Focus on Sustainability

Governments and environmental organizations are pushing for greener homes and lower carbon emissions. Weatherization helps reduce a home's carbon footprint by decreasing energy usage, making it an essential part of sustainable living.

3. Government Incentives and Rebates

The U.S. government offers rebates, tax credits, and financial incentives to encourage homeowners to invest in energy-efficient upgrades. Many states have programs that cover part of the costs for weatherization services, making it easier for homeowners to afford these improvements.

4. Improved Home Comfort

Weatherization isn’t just about saving money—it also enhances indoor comfort. Proper insulation, air sealing, and energy-efficient windows eliminate drafts, reduce humidity issues, and maintain stable indoor temperatures throughout the year.

How Weatherization Contractors in USA Are Shaping the Future of Home Energy Savings

1. Advanced Technology in Home Efficiency

Modern weatherization techniques use infrared imaging, blower door tests, and smart home energy monitoring to detect air leaks and inefficiencies. These innovations help Weatherization Contractors in USA provide more precise solutions for homeowners.

2. Energy-Efficient Materials and Upgrades

The use of high-performance insulation materials, energy-efficient windows, and smart thermostats is becoming the industry standard. These upgrades not only reduce energy consumption but also increase the longevity and value of a home.

3. Growing Job Market in Weatherization

With the demand for energy-efficient homes increasing, the need for skilled weatherization contractors is also on the rise. This field is expected to grow, offering more job opportunities and career stability in the construction and energy sectors.

How to Choose the Right Weatherization Contractor in USA

If you’re considering weatherization for your home, finding a reliable contractor is crucial. Here’s how to choose the best one:

1.Check Certifications – Look for professionals certified by organizations like the Building Performance Institute. 2.Read Reviews and Testimonials – Customer feedback can provide insight into the contractor’s reliability and quality of work. 3.Ask About Government Rebates – A knowledgeable contractor should help you understand available tax credits and financial incentives. 4. Request an Energy Audit – A reputable contractor will perform a home energy assessment before recommending upgrades.

Conclusion

The demand for Weatherization Contractors in USA is expected to continue growing as homeowners prioritize energy savings, sustainability, and home comfort. By investing in weatherization services, you can reduce utility bills, improve indoor air quality, and contribute to a greener future. If you’re ready to take the next step in making your home energy-efficient, contact a trusted weatherization professional today!

Visit Us to Know More: https://www.bidhub.com/ PO Box 177 Crownsville, MD 21032 [email protected]

#bidhub #contractors #service #business #weatherization contractors

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usafphantom2 · 5 months ago

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VX-9 F/A-18F Spotted With Heavy Air-to-Air Load of AIM-174s and AIM-120s

The U.S. Navy is continuing to test the new AIM-174B missile, derived from the SM-6, aboard the Super Hornet, with a VX-9 jet carrying four AIM-174s, three AIM-120s and two AIM-9Xs.

Stefano D'Urso

Super Hornet four AIM-174s

The F/A-18F "Vandy 1" of VX-9 loaded with four CATM-174B, three CATM-120 and two CATM-9X. (Image credit: @point_mugu_skies)

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet of VX-9 “Vampires” was spotted with a heavy air-to-air loadout, which includes four AIM-174Bs, three AIM-120s and two AIM-9Xs, in addition to a targeting pod and an InfraRed Search and Track installed on the external fuel tank. Aviation photographer @point_mugu_skies was one of the few to capture the aircraft in this previously unseen configuration and kindly provided us the images you can see in this article.

The aircraft is the Vampires’ flagship, “Vandy 1”, which sports the black livery applied for the unit’s 30th anniversary to pay tribute to the original one which was used on VX-4 commander’s F-4s and F-14s, also known as “Vandy 1”. The callsign originated from the abbreviation of the unit’s official callsign “Vanderbilt” used at the time.

As The Aviationist has reported in detail in the last few months, the AIM-174B is a Standard Missile (SM) 6 variant developed for the air-to-air role. The SM-6 is the surface-to-air missile designed to be used on Navy ships in conjunction with the Aegis Combat System and also known as the RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM).

The idea of adapting the SM-6 to be air-launched is not new, as the weapon was already seen on a Super Hornet of VX-31 in 2018 and 2021. However, it wasn’t until earlier this year that the testing got a new impulse and operational units were involved.

In fact, after another F/A-18 was spotted in April with an SM-6 under the wing, the weapon then appeared on operational jets assigned to the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the Rim of The Pacific 2024 (RIMPAC 2024) exercise in July. The heaviest load seen so far included two AIM-174s and two AIM-120s.

The one seen in the latest photo is reportedly the heaviest air-to-air load to date with the new weapon, with the AIM-174 both on the inner and middle wing hardpoints. It’s interesting to note also the presence on the external fuel tank of the ASG-34A IRST, which acts as a complementary sensor to the AN/APG-79 fire control radar in a heavy electronic attack or radar-denied environment.

Another shot of the F/A-18F “Vandy 1” with the heavy air-to-air loadout. (Image credit: @point_mugu_skies)

AIM-174B

As previously explained, the AIM-174 is an air-launched version of the RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), a crucial element of the US Navy’s air defense strategy. Integrated into the Aegis Combat System, the RIM-174 is primarily designed for long-range anti-air warfare but can also be employed for terminal phase ballistic missile defense and as an anti-ship missile. This year marked the first official combat use of the SM-6, with the Department of Defense confirming that the USS Carney intercepted and destroyed an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden on January 30, 2024.

The SM-6 uses the airframe of the SM-2ER Block IV (RIM-156A) missile, upgraded with an active radar homing seeker derived from the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile. This missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 3.5 and has a maximum range of 200 nautical miles. To that respect, it’s not clear what the maximum range of the air-launched version could be: despite the lack of a booster, launching it at high speed and altitude would result in significantly greater range compared to the surface-launched variant.

With the induction of the AIM-174B into service, the U.S. Navy joins a number of air arms capable of deploying an extra-long-range beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), like the MBDA Meteor, the Russian R-37M and Chinese PL-15 and PL-21. In fact, the AIM-174B enables the U.S. Navy Super Hornets to engage targets at much greater distances than is currently possible with the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Integrated with the E-2D, F-35, and AEGIS within the Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) system, the AIM-174B would extend the Navy’s capability to intercept aerial targets at ranges comparable to (if not greater than) those achieved against naval targets using the baseline SM-6.

In essence, this new missile fills the gap left by the retirement of the AIM-54 Phoenix. The AIM-54 was a long-range air-to-air missile used by the U.S. Navy’s F-14 Tomcat and retired in 2004 alongside the F-14. Known for its impressive range of over 100 nautical miles and multiple-target engagement capability, the AIM-54 left a significant void in long-range engagement capabilities.

While there wasn’t a direct replacement for the AIM-54 Phoenix in terms of range, the U.S. military has been developing advanced air-to-air missiles to enhance its fighter aircraft capabilities. The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is one such development intended to replace the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Although not a direct replacement for the AIM-54 Phoenix, the AIM-260 aims to offer improved range and performance compared to the AIM-120.

SM-6

F/A-18E of VFA-192 carrying two air-launched SM-6 missiles (Image credit: @aeros808)

Operationally deployed

The photo of the new weapon during a test flight in April 2024 was reportedly part of the testing that preceded the delivery of the AIM-174B to the squadron likely to carry out Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E), a testing phase conducted on production, or production representative weapons, to determine whether systems are operationally effective and suitable to support a Full-Rate Production (FRP) decision.

In July, the U.S. Navy acknowledged that the AIM-174 is operationally deployed, likely in Initial Operating Capability (IOC) with the CVW-2 Air Wing’s Super Hornet squadrons aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), as reported by Naval News. “The SM-6 Air Launched Configuration (ALC) was developed as part of the SM-6 family of missiles and is operationally deployed in the Navy today,” said a U.S. Navy spokesperson.

While the service acknowledged the existence and the deployment of the weapon, so far only the NAIM-174B inert, CATM-174B captive carry, and DATM-174B ground training variants were seen installed on aircraft. However, the fact that the Navy mentioned the weapon being operationally deployed implies that live variants might also been delivered.

The Navy did not disclose other details about the AIM-174. So far, we know the standard SM-6 missile is about 21 feet (6.4 meters) long and, using persons for scale in some of the few photos available, the AIM-174B seems to be of similar length. According to the stencils visible on the photos of the missile carried by the CVW-2 Super Hornets taking part in RIMPAC, the weapon weighs 1,890 lb ± 14 lb (857 kg ± 6 kg).

Thanks again to @point_mugu_skies for the photos he sent us and make sure to follow him on Instagram for more!

About Stefano D'Urso

Stefano D'Urso is a freelance journalist and contributor to TheAviationist based in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he's also studying to achieve a Master Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Electronic Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT techniques applied to the world of military operations and current conflicts are among his areas of expertise.

@TheAviationist .com

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