#lunar_exploration

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This is a space matryoshka doll The American Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shared the latest news about the Lucy spacecraft. Let us recall that on November 1, 2023, the probe successfully completed its flyby of Dinkinesh, the first asteroid in the busy 12-year program of the Lucy probe. The data transmitted to Earth shows more and more surprises for scientists. [caption id="attachment_81299" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA’s[/caption] First , it was discovered that the asteroid was actually double - Dinkinesh was discovered to have a natural satellite. Now the Lucy mission team has announced a new surprise. As it turns out, Dinkinesh's smaller moon is itself a binary system known as a "close binary." This means that Dinkinesh consists not of one or two, but of three components - a main asteroid and a double satellite. “We never suspected anything so strange!”: the debut asteroid in NASA’s Lucy space tour continues to bring surprises Lucy principal investigator Hal Levison of the Southwest Research Institute said: This is puzzling to say the least. I would never have expected the system to look like this. In particular, I don't understand why the two satellite components are the same size. The scientific community will be interested in understanding this. Lucy detected a third component in the asteroid system six minutes after it took images that initially showed Dinkinesh was not alone. During this time, the probe traveled 1545 km from the point where it discovered the first satellite of Dinkinesh. [caption id="attachment_81300" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA’s[/caption] Close binary systems appear to be quite common in our solar system, but until Dinkinesh, scientists had not seen one orbiting another asteroid, said John Spencer, deputy head of the project. He emphasized: We puzzled over the strange changes in Dinkinesh's brightness that we saw as we approached. This gave us a hint that Dinkinesh might have some kind of companion, but we never suspected anything so strange! The tiny asteroid in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter was named Dinkinesh only in February 2023. Initially, Dinkinesh was not part of the plan for the 12-year tour. It was added to the route only in January 2023 to test the tracking system. Lucy is planned to visit 9 more asteroids over the next 12 years.  [caption id="attachment_81301" align="aligncenter" width="500"] NASA’s[/caption] After visiting Dinkinesh, Lucy headed towards Earth for gravitational acceleration, which will help approach the second target asteroid - 52246 Donaldjohanson (Donald Johanson). The next flyby will take place in 2025. Lucy will then travel to Jupiter's Trojan asteroids, the first of which the mission will reach in 2027.

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https://derpibooru.org/images/3437934

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A whole 16 years Roscosmos General Director Yuri Borisov said that the Luna-25 automatic station took too long to create. This took 2-3 times more time than it should have. “Luna-25 took 16 years to create - this is an unacceptably long time. This is primarily due to irregular financing. This kind of experiment and work must be started and completed within a foreseeable time frame. This should be no more than 5-7 years. But stretching out experiments for such a period is simply unacceptable,” he noted in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV channel. [caption id="attachment_76663" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Luna 25[/caption] Luna 25 took an “unacceptably long time” to create He noted that in the process of working on Luna-25, several generations of developers changed. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to continue supporting the lunar program in the Russian Federation, despite the destruction of Luna-25. Let us remind you that the launch of Luna-25 took place on August 11 from Vostochny. On August 20, Roscosmos announced that the station had ceased to exist.

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Luna 25 crashed in August The “Dust Monitoring of the Moon” (PmL) device, which was planned to be used during the Luna-25 mission, can go to the Earth’s natural satellite on the Chinese Chang’e-7 apparatus, as reported by the scientific director of the Space Research Institute (IKI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, academician Leo Green. “It is almost agreed that our lunar dust experiment will be used on the Chang’e 7 mission,” he said, adding that while technical details are being agreed upon, a formal agreement between Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) ) is yet to be concluded. The same device was installed on the Luna-25 device: “We made this device for Luna-25 and are going to do it for Luna-27, but the Chinese, as part of their missions, “opened the door” for foreign experiments and chose, in particular, ours." One of the experiments of the crashed Luna 25 could be carried out on the Chinese Chang'e-7 spacecraft. [caption id="attachment_71547" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Change-7 spacecraft[/caption] The device will record dust particles, which on the illuminated side of the Moon can acquire an electrical charge and levitate above the surface of the satellite. Previously, these particles were detected only by optical methods, in particular with the help of cameras on Soviet landing modules and by astronauts of the American Apollo lunar program. The disadvantage of this approach is the impossibility of making observations anywhere other than the light dividing line on the surface of the Moon: “We made a device to register these particles not by optical methods, but by getting them into the aperture of our device. Thus, we could detect them in any part of the illuminated side of the Moon." Let us remind you that the launch of Luna-25 took place on August 11 from Vostochny. On August 20, Roscosmos announced that the station had ceased to exist.

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The study shows that by using lasers to melt lunar regolith, it is possible to create infrastructure on the Moon, including roads and landing sites. The results obtained demonstrate the practicality and potential of this technique. On the Moon, it is possible to create paths and landing pads using lasers, melting the lunar soil into a denser, layered substance. Although the experiments were conducted on Earth using an analog of lunar dust, the results demonstrate the implementation of this approach and suggest the possibility of application on the Moon. However, according to the authors, further work may be needed to improve the process. [caption id="attachment_68810" align="aligncenter" width="780"] lunar infrastructure[/caption] One small step toward lunar roads, a potentially giant leap in lunar infrastructure Lunar dust poses a big problem for lunar rovers, as the low gravity makes it easy to rise and can damage equipment. Therefore, infrastructure such as tracks and landing pads will be necessary for manned missions. Transporting construction materials from Earth is expensive, so it is important to use the available resources on the Moon. Gines-Palomares, Miranda Fateri, and Jens Günster melted a fine-grained material called EAC-1A (developed by ESA as an analog of lunar soil) using a carbon dioxide laser to simulate how lunar dust might be melted on the Moon. The authors conducted experiments with laser beams of different powers and sizes (up to 12 kilowatts and 100 millimeters). However, they found that crossing and blocking the path of the laser beam leads to cracks in the resulting material. They developed a strategy of using a 45-millimeter laser beam to create 250-millimeter triangular shapes with a hollow center. The authors propose combining these shapes to create a surface that can serve as roads and landing pads. To replicate a similar approach on the Moon, it would be necessary to deliver a lens with an area of ​​approximately 2.37 square meters to the Moon.

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The idea of ​​using resources in situ opens up the possibility of building a base on the moon and using sulfur as a resource to create solar panels, fertilizers, and concrete On August 23, 2023, the Indian lander Chandrayaan-3 landed at a distance of 600 km from the South Pole of the Moon. For about 14 Earth days, Chandrayaan-3 provided scientists with new data to study the Moon. The Indian Space Research Organization shared the first results. [caption id="attachment_65723" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Chandrayaan-3[/caption] While data from the unmanned Chandrayaan-3 rover, named Pragyan, meaning "wisdom" in Sanskrit, showed that the lunar regolith contains expected elements such as iron, titanium, aluminum, and calcium, it also showed unexpectedly high concentrations of sulfur. Planetary scientists have always known that sulfur exists in lunar rocks, but they were confident that the concentration was very low. New measurements indicate higher sulfur concentrations than expected. Pragyan has two instruments that analyze the elemental composition of soil - an X-ray spectrometer and a laser-induced degradation spectrometer, or LIBS. Both of these instruments measured sulfur near the planting site. There are two main types of rocks on the surface of the Moon - dark volcanic rocks and light rocks. The difference in brightness between these materials creates the familiar "face on the moon" image. Scientists measuring the composition of lunar rocks and soil in laboratories on Earth have found that material from dark volcanic plains typically contains more sulfur than material from light-colored mountainous regions. Sulfur is mainly a result of volcanic activity. Sulfur is found in deep layers, and when these rocks melt, the sulfur becomes part of the magma. When molten rock reaches the surface, most of the sulfur in the magma turns into gas, which is released along with water vapor and carbon dioxide. Some sulfur remains in the magma and is retained within the rock after it cools. This process explains why sulfur is mainly found in the dark volcanic rocks of the Moon. [caption id="attachment_65724" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Chandrayaan-3[/caption] The sulfur measurements from Chandrayaan-3 were the first on the lunar surface. The exact amount of this element will be known when a full analysis of the data is completed. So far, data collected by the LIBS instrument on Pragyan suggests that the moon's mountainous regions near the poles may have higher sulfur concentrations than equatorial regions and perhaps even higher than dark volcanic soils. Measuring the amount and distribution of sulfur is interesting to scientists for at least two reasons. First, these discoveries indicate that the polar regions of the Moon may have fundamentally different composition compared to mountainous regions in the equatorial regions of the Moon. This difference in composition is likely due to different environmental conditions between the two regions—the polar regions receive less direct sunlight. [caption id="attachment_65725" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chandrayaan-3[/caption] Second, these results indicate that there is some sulfur in the polar regions. The sulfurous materials could have formed from the extremely thin lunar atmosphere. The polar regions of the Moon receive less direct sunlight and, as a result, experience extremely cold temperatures compared to the rest of the Moon. If the surface temperature drops below -73 degrees Celsius, sulfur from the lunar atmosphere can condense and settle on the surface in solid form. Sulfur in the polar regions could also come from ancient volcanic eruptions on the surface of the Moon or from meteorites containing sulfur. Many space agencies are thinking about establishing a base on the Moon for long-term space missions. Astronauts and robots will be able to travel from a base at the South Pole to collect, process, store, and use materials such as sulfur on the Moon. Utilizing resources locally means fewer trips to Earth for supplies and longer time spent on research. Using sulfur as a resource, astronauts will be able to create solar panels and batteries and use them in fertilizers and concrete. Sulfur in concrete has advantages over conventional concrete used in the construction of objects on Earth. First, sulfur concrete hardens and becomes strong in hours rather than weeks, and it is more resistant to abrasion. Plus, it doesn't require water to make, so astronauts can save water for drinking and producing oxygen and rocket fuel. There are currently seven missions operating on the Moon, but the Moon's south pole has not previously been studied from the surface, new measurements from the Pragyan rover will help planetary scientists understand the geological history of the Moon. It will also allow scientists to learn more about how the Moon formed and evolved.

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This “constellation” will also be useful to support future missions to the Moon and other planets China plans to build a three-layer communications, navigation, and remote sensing network to facilitate deep space operations. The satellite cluster will consist of spacecraft located in the vicinity of the Moon and Lagrange points. This will provide communications to spacecraft on the Moon and astronauts. [caption id="attachment_64078" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Queqiao Lunar Satellite network[/caption] China already launched a communications satellite to the L2 Lagrange point in 2019 to provide communications for the Chang'e-4 mission to the far side of the Moon. Lagrange points are regions where the gravitational force of two massive objects balances out in a way that allows spacecraft to remain in orbit in a fixed position relative to the two bodies, in this case, the Earth and the Moon. A larger and more advanced version of Queqiao-2 will be launched in May next year to provide communications for the Chang'e-6, 7, and 8 missions to the far side of the Moon and its South Pole. China plans to create a Queqiao lunar satellite network for deep-space communications Queqiao-2 and two Tiandu satellites will be part of the Queqiao-1 version to create communications between the Earth and the Moon. The Queqiao-3 series satellites will test key technologies in communications, navigation, and remote sensing. According to plans, Queqiao-2 will provide coverage of the entire lunar surface. The proposed topology includes three satellites at each of the Lagrange points L1 and L2, as well as one more at L3, six satellites in circular orbits, a pair in elliptical orbits, and a geostationary interplanetary station. Version 3.0 involves the creation of a communication and navigation system for deep space. This system will provide communications for missions to Mars and Venus. The development of such a system will depend on China's success in its lunar exploration program and space transportation plans. These plans include the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project and the Long March 9 super-heavy rocket. China is currently looking for partners for the ILRS project.

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Roscosmos has published preliminary results of the probe crash investigation Roscosmos promised to figure out the cause of the crash of the Luna-25 automatic probe by the end of September. Today the state corporation published the preliminary results of the investigation. They say that Luna-25 crashed into the Earth’s natural satellite due to a malfunction in the BIUS-L angular velocity measurement unit. [caption id="attachment_62457" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Luna-25[/caption] Roscosmos named the main reason for the crash of Luna-25. It turns out that too many commands came to the device, and BIUS-L was unable to select the highest priority ones. “ In this regard, zero signals from the accelerometers of the BIUS-L device arrived at the onboard control complex,” Roscosmos said. The lack of data from the accelerometer “ did not allow, when issuing a correction pulse, to record the moment the required speed was reached and to timely shut down the propulsion system of the spacecraft .” The Luna-25 engine operated for 127 seconds instead of the planned 84, the station switched to an undesigned open orbit and collided with the surface of the Moon.

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The company reported to the Securities Exchange Commission that it sold about 4.7 million shares to an undisclosed investor for $4.25 per share. The funds received will be used for “corporate needs and working capital needs” Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus said the funding will help the company develop a series of lunar landers and begin work on a NASA contract to provide engineering services at Goddard Space Flight Center. Work on the contract, worth approximately $719 million over five years, is expected to begin in the fourth quarter. Intuitive Machines chief financial officer Eric Sully said the company's cash — $39.1 million at the end of the second quarter — along with revenue from the NASA contract and the lunar modules would be sufficient, even with an operating loss of $13.2 million for the quarter. Intuitive Machines has a $50 million credit facility that can be used to provide additional cushion if needed. After announcing a $20 million stock sale, Intuitive Machines said it no longer plans to enter into a credit facility. [caption id="attachment_51397" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Lunar module developer[/caption] Lunar module developer Intuitive Machines announced $20 million in stock sales “Based on the timing of payments contingent on the achievement of plans, we have decided to strengthen our financial position,” Sully said in a statement. In the same session with investors, Intuitive Machines said it was withdrawing previously provided revenue and cash balance forecasts. Previous forecasts were based on delays in public procurement schedules and the uncertainty of the US federal budget, not the loss of any particular contract. Intuitive Machines continues to work on its first lunar landing mission. IM-1 is scheduled to launch as early as November 15 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Two additional launches, IM-2 and IM-3, are planned for 2024. All three missions carry payloads for NASA's commercial lunar delivery program. On August 31, the company's share price settled at $4.76, falling 8.3% on the Nasdaq exchange.

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The Unexpected Lunar "Hop" In an unanticipated twist, the Chandrayaan-3 mission's Vikram Lander, which had remained relatively quiet since its lunar landing on August 24, 2023, has sprung to life with an extraordinary achievement—a lunar "hop." This maneuver, previously undisclosed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has added a remarkable chapter to India's lunar exploration journey. ISRO's Silent Triumph While ISRO had refrained from divulging details about this maneuver earlier, they recently revealed that the Vikram Lander had successfully executed a "hop experiment." The lander exceeded its mission objectives by firing its engines upon command, elevating itself by approximately 40 cm, and landing safely at a distance of 30-40 cm from its original spot. [caption id="attachment_51356" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Chandrayaan-3 lander Vikram[/caption] Vikram: From Tragedy to Triumph Interestingly, ISRO's newfound familiarity with the Vikram Lander is noteworthy. The organization has started addressing it by its name, 'Vikram,' on social media, a shift from referring to it as the generic 'lander module' or LM as it did previously. Notably, 'Vikram' had initially been assigned to the lander module of Chandrayaan-2, which, unfortunately, encountered a setback during its Moon landing attempt in 2019. The rover component of Chandrayaan-2 was named 'Pragyaan.' It's worth mentioning that ISRO had not assigned specific names to the lander and rover of Chandrayaan-3 in official documents, where they are still referred to as the lander module (LM) and rover. Possible FAQs Chandrayaan-3 lander Vikram Q1: Why did ISRO keep the lunar "hop" maneuver a secret until now? A1: ISRO likely kept it undisclosed as part of their operational strategy and to ensure mission success before making it public. Q2: What does this lunar "hop" mean for the Chandrayaan-3 mission's objectives? A2: The successful "hop" experiment showcases the capabilities of the Vikram Lander and adds a surprising dimension to the mission's achievements. Q3: Will this revelation impact future lunar missions by ISRO? A3: While it may influence mission planning and public communication, it primarily highlights ISRO's dedication to lunar exploration. Q4: Why has ISRO started calling the lander "Vikram"? A4: This nomenclature is a tribute to the earlier Vikram Lander of Chandrayaan-2 and symbolizes the organization's determination to learn from past experiences. Q5: What are the broader implications of the Chandrayaan-3 mission? A5: Chandrayaan-3 continues to expand India's lunar exploration expertise and lays the groundwork for future lunar endeavors.  

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"Awakening" is scheduled for September 22 The Indian Space Research Organization ISRO shared an update on how the Chandrayaan-3 mission to explore the Moon is progressing. This time it is reported that the lunar rover “Pragyan” (“knowledge”, “wisdom”) was put into sleep mode on the surface of the Earth’s natural satellite. [caption id="attachment_51214" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Pragyan[/caption] On the ISRO blog on social network X (formerly Twitter}, the mission team says: Rover has done its job. It is now safely parked and put into sleep mode. As noted in ISRO, the research equipment on board the lunar rover is turned off, the lunar rover receiver is left on, and research data is transmitted to Earth through the lander. The rover's battery is now fully charged and the solar panel is oriented to receive light at the next sunrise, which is expected on September 22, 2023. Indian rover "Pragyan" "fell asleep" on the moon A day earlier, ISRO published a message that the Pragyan had traveled more than 100 meters and was continuing to move. [caption id="attachment_51215" align="aligncenter" width="666"] Pragyan[/caption] Let us remember that Chandrayaan-3 (Chandrayaan-3) is the third ISRO station for lunar exploration and the second attempt by India to carry out a soft landing of equipment on the surface of the Moon. The first attempt was Chandrayaan-2 almost four years ago, but then the lander and rover crashed into the Moon due to a software glitch. Chandrayaan-3 successfully made a soft landing on August 23, 2023. On August 24, the journey of the Pragyan rover on the Moon began. It is planned that the lunar rover will work on the surface of the Earth’s natural satellite for one lunar day (14 Earth days).

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ISRO Extends Chandrayaan-3 Mission: Rover in Hibernation Mode As Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar surface on August 23, it marked the beginning of a critical phase for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). With 14 Earth days of continuous sunlight on the Moon, ISRO aims to maximize the mission's potential by extending the life of its lander and rover. Hibernation Mode for Pragyan Rover Optimizing Lunar Mission To ensure the longevity of the Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover, ISRO has initiated a significant move. The Pragyan rover has been placed in hibernation mode, a strategic decision as daylight hours on the Moon are dwindling. ISRO Extends Chandrayaan-3 Mission  Data Transmission and Payload Status Successful Mission Tasks ISRO reported that the Rover has completed its assigned tasks and has been safely parked in sleep mode. Additionally, the APXS and LIBS payloads have been deactivated, with data transmission to Earth via the Lander. Lunar Challenges and Electronic Survival Withstanding Extreme Conditions The mission's initial plan envisioned the lander and rover operating for one Lunar day, approximately 14 Earth days. However, the harsh lunar nighttime, where temperatures plummet below -120 degrees Celsius, poses challenges. Interestingly, past missions suggest that electronic systems may revive once sunlight returns. ISRO's Strategy for Extension Efforts to Prolong Mission ISRO Chairman S Somanath expressed the organization's commitment to extend the mission's duration. The process of preparing the lander and rover for the lunar night has already begun, ensuring they can endure the challenging conditions. Optimism Amid Uncertainty Battery Status and Possibilities As of now, the rover's battery is fully charged, and preparations are in place to receive sunlight during the next lunar sunrise, expected on September 22, 2023. The outcome remains uncertain; whether the payloads will reactivate depends on the battery's endurance. The Lunar Ambassador's Fate Hoping for a Successful Awakening ISRO remains hopeful for a successful mission extension. If all goes well, the lander and rover will continue their lunar exploration. Otherwise, they will remain as India's lunar ambassadors on the Moon. Mission Timeline and Achievements Chandrayaan-3's Journey Chandrayaan-3's lunar journey began on August 23, aligning with lunar daytime. The decision to put the lander and rover into hibernation mode is scheduled a few days before September 6, when lunar nightfall occurs.  Data Transmission and Insights Scientific Gains Throughout the mission, four instruments on the lander and two on the rover have been operational, continuously transmitting valuable data back to Earth. ISRO has already provided glimpses of the insights gained from these instruments. FAQs for ISRO Extends Chandrayaan-3 Mission Q1: What is the purpose of putting the rover in hibernation mode? A1: Hibernation mode preserves the rover's energy during lunar nighttime, ensuring its survival and the potential for further exploration when sunlight returns. Q2: Can the electronic systems revive after lunar nighttime? A2: Past missions suggest the possibility of electronic systems reactivating once exposed to sunlight after lunar nighttime. Q3: What data has ISRO collected from the mission so far? A3: ISRO has received valuable data from four instruments on the lander and two on the rover, offering insights into lunar conditions.