Celestial Highlights
Cosmic Triumphs and Revelations
The last few months witnessed an extraordinary array of achievements and discoveries in the world of space exploration. From historic sample returns to groundbreaking exoplanetary observations, these months showcased the tireless efforts of space agencies worldwide. Let’s take a closer look at the highlights that defined this remarkable month in space.
ISRO’s Chandrayaan 3
As we all know, the achievement of ISRO’s Chandrayaan 3 mission in August was indeed groundbreaking.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission has successfully achieved its three main objectives:
- Demonstrated a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface.
- Successfully operated a rover on the moon.
- Conducted in-situ scientific experiments, with all payloads performing as expected.
The in-situ experiments included:-
The Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) on the Chandrayaan-3 lander is the first of its kind on the moon. This payload measured ground vibrations generated by natural moonquakes, impacts, and artificial events. It has recorded the movements of the rover and other payloads and a seemingly natural event on August 26, 2023, which is currently under investigation.
Fun fact: This instrument has six accelerometers (A device that measures the vibration or acceleration of motion), all indigenously manufactured using high-level precision silicon micromachining.
The Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) onboard the Vikram Lander measured the temperature profile of the lunar topsoil around the pole. This data helped us understand the thermal behavior of the moon’s surface. The graph below illustrates the temperature variations of the lunar surface at various depths, as recorded.
The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument on the rover has confirmed the presence of Sulphur (S) in the lunar surface near the south pole, along with other expected elements. This tool uses strong laser beams to heat soil and rock. This intense heating creates very hot and ionized plasma that gives off light. The specific colors of light tell us what elements are present in the material because each element has its own unique set of colors when it’s in this ionized plasma state.
The RAMBHA-LP payload on board the Chandrayaan-3 Lander has achieved a significant milestone by conducting the first-ever measurements of the lunar plasma environment near the surface, specifically in the south polar region. Preliminary findings suggest that the plasma concentration near the lunar surface is relatively low.
Not only did India become the first country to successfully land on the south pole of the Moon and conduct so many groundbreaking experiments, but it also surpassed its initial mission objectives with a remarkable hop experiment conducted by Vikram Lander. This achievement is even more impressive because it caught the world off guard. ISRO never let on about this ambitious move.
During this experiment, the lander’s engines were fired on command, causing it to elevate itself by 40 cm and then safely land at a distance of 30 to 40 cm away. This seemingly small hop holds immense significance for the future of lunar exploration. It is a pivotal step towards enabling sample return missions and, ultimately, human missions to the Moon.
This hop experiment showcases India’s emergence as a prominent player in lunar exploration, second only to the United States to ever achieve this milestone.
This precision ensures a safe landing and lays the groundwork for future missions aiming to bring back valuable samples from the Moon, provided we have suitable propulsion systems.
Aditya-L1: India’s Solar Observatory
In the vast space, human exploration has taken us far beyond the confines of our own planet. The latest milestone in this journey is the Aditya-L1, India’s first space-based observatory designed specifically to study the Sun; launched on September 2, Aditya-L1 is already advancing our understanding of the celestial body that gives us light and warmth.
The spacecraft has surpassed the 9.2 lakh-kilometer mark from Earth, successfully breaking free from Earth’s gravitational grasp. It is currently charting a course towards the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), a crucial vantage point in the solar system acting as a cosmic parking spot between two gravitational bodies because, in this area, a satellite is neither attracted nor repelled by either body. Aditya-L1, which will be stationed at L1, will take full advantage of this phenomenon. It will revolve around L1, enabling constant observation of the Sun while maintaining the ability to communicate with Earth. This positioning requires minimal fuel for orbit maintenance, making it a highly efficient arrangement.
This marks the second occasion where the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has sent a spacecraft beyond Earth’s sphere of influence, the first being the Mars Orbiter Mission. This achievement again showcases India’s growing prowess in space exploration, especially in the intricate aspects of orbital maneuvering, which are considered the most challenging.
On September 18th, Aditya-L1 successfully started its mission of collecting scientific data. The STEPS instrument’s sensors have begun to measure supra-thermal and energetic ions and electrons at distances surpassing 50,000 km from Earth.
As Aditya-L1 progresses, the magnetometer will be turned on within a few days to measure interplanetary magnetic fields at the L1 point.
Aditya-L1 is equipped with a range of payloads that will deepen our understanding of the Sun. These instruments are not limited to detecting just solar flares and CMEs.
MOXIE’s Martian Oxygen Production
NASA’s MOXIE experiment aboard the Perseverance rover showcased its capability to generate oxygen on Mars for the 16th time. This development is a significant stride toward demonstrating the feasibility of extracting oxygen from Mars’ atmosphere, which could be invaluable for future astronauts, providing a source of breathable air and even rocket fuel.
Since Perseverance landed in 2021, MOXIE has generated a total of 122 grams of oxygen. At its most efficient, it produced 12 grams of oxygen an hour — twice as much as NASA’s original goals for the instrument — at 98% purity or better.
The current version of MOXIE serves as a prototype or technical demonstration to test the functionality of a potentially larger version known as BIG MOXIE. This larger version will have increased size, wattage, and volume, designed to adequately meet astronauts’ oxygen needs. This development will mark a significant stride in addressing a critical challenge for manned Mars missions: the scarcity of oxygen.
Atmospheric observations from previous missions have revealed that 96% of Martian air is composed of carbon dioxide. To realize our ambition of sending humans to Mars, we are presented with two alternatives: transport our own oxygen or manufacture it on Mars itself. The former option is considerably less practical and comes with an expiration date. We need to generate our own oxygen to avoid a shortage of breathable air. However, MOXIE’s impressive performance showed that it is feasible to extract oxygen from Mars, and it is one small step toward Mankind on Mars.
OSIRIS-REx Capsule Touchdown: A Historic Milestone
In a momentous event, the OSIRIS-REx sample capsule gently touched down at the Utah Test and Training Range after an awe-inspiring 3.86-billion-mile journey. This mission stands as a groundbreaking achievement, representing the first-ever sample return of its kind, promising insights into the early stages of our solar system’s formation.
Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid, was chosen as the mission’s target due to its intriguing characteristics. On October 20, 2020, OSIRIS-REx executed a balletic touchdown on Bennu, its robotic arm delicately caressing the asteroid’s surface to procure a cosmic treasure.
A few days before, on Sept 24, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft gracefully bid farewell to its cosmic companion, releasing the capsule containing a piece of asteroid Bennu.
At 8:22 pm IST the next day, after a staggering 3.86-billion-mile journey, the OSIRIS-REx sample capsule made its triumphant touchdown at the Utah Test and Training Range. After that, it was stored in a temporary clean room and later transported to NASA Johnson Space Center.
The initial curation process of the material in the canister, which was opened on Monday, Sept. 25, is moving slower than anticipated due to the abundance of material found inside the lid and the base surrounding it, which is good news. Testing of the sample will begin soon and, hopefully, present answers to solve the cosmic mystery that is the early stage evolution of our solar system. For an in-depth exploration, read more in this highly recommended article by Nakshatra here. For now based on initial results the material retrieved showed presence of organic compounds and water.
Webb Telescope’s Revelation: Exoplanet K2–18 b
The James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) made an astounding discovery by detecting the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) on the exoplanet K2–18 b, an exoplanet 8.6 times as massive as Earth and 120 light-years from Earth.
This revelation ignited hopes of finding potential habitable environments beyond our solar system, hinting at the possibility of a water ocean beneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. Additionally, initial observations hinted at the presence of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a microbial indicator commonly only found in marine environments.
The team now intends to conduct follow-up research with the telescope’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) spectrograph, which they hope will further validate their findings and provide new insights into the environmental conditions on K2–18 b. Truly one of the biggest reveals of all time. The James Webb Telescope is indeed one of the most incredible instruments ever made by humanity, and its technological prowess is very evident from observations like these; it is truly a revolutionary instrument taking us to new heights in our search for extraterrestrial life.
But this was not all The JWST also made one more yet another astounding discovery by detected quartz nanocrystals in the high-altitude clouds of WASP-17 b, a hot Jupiter exoplanet 1,300 light-years away! This marks the first time silica (SiO2) particles have been spotted in an exoplanet atmosphere.
Researchers at NASA are astounded by this unexpected revelation. The presence of tiny quartz crystals challenges previous assumptions about exoplanet cloud composition. In contrast to Earth’s clouds, these quartz crystals, measuring about 10 nanometers in diameter, form directly from gas due to extreme heat and pressure on WASP-17 b. Understanding these clouds provides crucial insights into the planet’s makeup. It’s likely that winds, moving at tremendous speeds, circulate these glassy particles around the planet.
This finding revolutionizes our comprehension of exoplanet atmospheres and cloud formation. WASP-17 b is one of three planets targeted by the JWST-Telescope Scientist Team’s Deep Reconnaissance of Exoplanet Atmospheres using Multi-instrument Spectroscopy (DREAMS) investigations which are designed to gather a comprehensive set of observations of one representative from each key class of exoplanets: a hot Jupiter, a warm Neptune, and a temperate rocky planet. Greatness lies ahead.
Milestones Achieved in India’s Gaganyaan Mission
The Gaganyaan mission, will be India’s attempt to launch at least three astronauts to low-Earth orbit. However, before this ambitious feat can be realized, there are several crucial steps that must be meticulously executed. One pivotal milestone in this journey was the TV-D1 mission that took place on Sat, 21 Oct, 2023. The initial launch timings were 8 AM but there was momentary hold up which was prompted by a minor ‘monitoring anomaly’ detected by the ground computer just seconds before the launch timings. Subsequently, after resolving the issue, the launch took place at 10 AM.
After a very successful launch the Gaganyaan’s main parachutes were successfully deployed after a flawless abort maneuver was executed by the high altitude escape motors, followed by the seamless separation of the Crew Escape System (CES). Later, the vessel splendidly splashed down in Bay of Bengal were it was recovered by our very own Indian Navy.
In this the Crew Module (CM) was equipped to record invaluable flight data, ensuring thorough system performance evaluation. This mission replicated an abort scenario during ascent, mimicking Mach 1.2 speed (1,482 kmph) anticipated in the Gaganyaan mission. The CES parted ways with the Test Vehicle at an altitude of approximately 17km. The autonomous abort sequence kicked in post-separation, initiating CES detachment, parachute deployment, and culminating in a secure CM touchdown about 10km off the Sriharikota coast.
The Success achieved here paves the way for subsequent qualification tests and unmanned missions, ultimately leading to the historic Gaganyaan mission with Indian astronauts.
NASA’s Psyche Mission
The highly anticipated NASA Psyche mission took off without a hitch at 7:49 PM IST, propelled by a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Despite challenging weather conditions, the mission planners wisely opted for a Friday, October 13th launch, prioritizing safety above all. Following the successful liftoff, the spacecraft achieved a seamless separation from the rocket, marking a significant milestone in the mission’s journey. The Psyche spacecraft is now en route to rendezvous with a metal-rich asteroid.
Once again, SpaceX’s rockets demonstrated their remarkable resilience under extreme launch conditions, solidifying their reputation for reliability in the face of adverse weather.
Approximately two hours after launch, the NASA team received the spacecraft’s complete signal. Initial telemetry reports are positive: the Mission To Psyche is in excellent condition, and if everything goes according to plan the spacecraft in august of 2029, after a six-year journey of about 2.2 billion miles (3.6 billion kilometers), should start orbiting the asteroid for at least 26 months for collection of data
In the wake of this successful launch, the Mission To Psyche team will dedicate approximately 100 days to comprehensive checks, ensuring all systems are operating optimally before transitioning to cruise mode. Following this phase, a critical slingshot maneuver with the assistance of Mars will be executed to position it towards the asteroid.
Beyond its primary objective of asteroid exploration, the Psyche mission harbors groundbreaking advancements in communication technology. The mission will test a sophisticated laser communication system know as DSOC that encodes data in photons, for deep space communication with Earth. By utilizing light instead of radio waves, the spacecraft can transmit more data in a given amount of time, representing a significant leap in interplanetary communication capabilities.
Spectacular ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse of ’23
In a captivating celestial event that unfolded on October 14th, 2023, skywatchers around the world were treated to the awe-inspiring display of a ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse.
This rare phenomenon, known as an annular solar eclipse, took place as the moon reached its farthest point from Earth. At this juncture, the moon appeared slightly smaller than during a total solar eclipse, allowing a radiant ring of sunlight to encircle its edges.
On that fateful Saturday, October 14, 2023, millions of eyes were turned skyward as the annular total solar eclipse graced the northwestern United States, traversed through Mexico, Central America, and made its exit in Brazil. Regrettably, this celestial extravaganza remained hidden from view in India.
The event was a visual marvel, with its beauty and grandeur leaving a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to witness it. The next solar eclipse visible from India is anticipated to occur in 2031, promising another momentous celestial spectacle for eager sky watchers.
As we gaze into the boundless expanse of the cosmos, these remarkable achievements and events stand as a resounding tribute to the boundless potential of human intellect and our ceaseless quest for understanding that reaches far beyond the confines of our terrestrial abode. Brace yourselves for an extraordinary odyssey of cosmic exploits poised on the precipice of revelation and wonder! It is going to be an unparalleled journey into the depths of the universe, where the mysteries of the cosmos await our eager exploration, promising revelations that will redefine the very essence of human existence.
