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But that has been changing in recent years, and NASA is leading the way with a new class of so-called “","_key":"8c1cd43214f60","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_key":"8c1cd43214f61","_type":"span","marks":["529f23bf56bc"],"text":"solar sails"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".”","_key":"8c1cd43214f62"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"80821936814a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A boost from the sun","_key":"eadea4a7946b0"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"de1ebdf58294","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although creating this type of craft requires some serious know-how, the operational basics are fairly straightforward. Essentially, a solar sail makes use of the wind originating from the sun that permeates the entire solar system (although it becomes weaker over long distances).","_key":"7253a7588eb40"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The technology isn’t brand new — ","_key":"80e7b5a0092c0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Japan launched the first solar sail","_key":"defd24e8807d"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in 2010 — but the tests currently underway by NASA could revolutionize how effective and efficient it can be in future space missions.","_key":"03bde20f3b0a"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b93571255134"},{"_key":"8edd3dccb600","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"5fb02a2cc9fe0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Experts say there are a few important characteristics that make solar sails more attractive options than traditional options:"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e1b2cdc997f4","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Propulsion via solar winds allows for ","_key":"ae95cfce9c3d0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"more lightweight spacecraft","_key":"e9d795d076dc"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The ","_key":"b184de5a19a60"},{"text":"fuel supply is unlimited","_key":"3e93d420590f","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"1f98fd62041c","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", supporting much longer missions"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"80d04b76cad4","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Launching a solar sail mission is","_key":"b2a2921393d00"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" considerably less expensive","_key":"c27fe25c17bc"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9927d0aa5475","listItem":"bullet"},{"_key":"82ecf2198a6b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"But that doesn’t mean we’re ready to replace those familiar rockets just yet.","_key":"089fcb224f520","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"cab261f6feb6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Here comes the boom","_key":"f25e8449018f0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"There’s one nagging issue that has prevented the solar sail model from taking off (no pun intended) as quickly as proponents might have hoped. It’s all about the “boom,” which is used to support the sail itself.","_key":"86b2f1880be70","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a5b09e996669"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b12a3546add6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So far, this component has been heavy and unwieldy, which makes it a hindrance to an otherwise ","_key":"dbfd2f84bd9f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"compact, lightweight design","_key":"4970f0e5acce"},{"_key":"edc1265d0b3f","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". That’s where NASA thinks its Advanced Composite Solar Sail System can make some serious progress."}]},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"An upcoming launch will demonstrate how the latest boom system operates, and lead systems engineer Alan Rhodes is optimistic.","_key":"45343503a0ae0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9d0a955180c2","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"3d8987877eb1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“The hope is that the new technologies verified on this spacecraft ","_key":"639de57142f10"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"will inspire others","_key":"b7a447785ab5"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to use them in ways we haven’t even considered,” he said.","_key":"37cb94fa74b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"publishDate":"2024-04-13","title":"NASA Harnesses Solar Energy To Power Its Next-Generation 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Although its enormously powerful engines began development last century, they remained a sight to behold in an era of more efficient boosters. The engines’ design meant that liquid hydrogen poured out first, rising alongside the body of the rocket and","_key":"20cad92413670"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" igniting in a spectacular display","_key":"6b37ec9b4d0c"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" during each launch, giving onlookers an experience they won’t soon forget.","_key":"48f8460f0d1b"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And in the 13 years since NASA decommissioned its space shuttle, Delta IV Heavy has been the undisputed heavyweight champ of the rocket world.","_key":"2cddcb65a2cc0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a3135c57c83c"},{"children":[{"text":"But alas, things have changed a lot since its debut. “","_key":"c1214588e15d0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Distributed launch","_key":"cd2ffd8ec711"},{"_key":"31a94cdeca6e","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"” is now the norm, with less waste and lower costs. 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The darkness is set to last 4+ minutes, which is longer than any U.S. eclipse in a century.","_key":"db9bff6be254","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"98f2fac79161","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"08a1799895810","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"There’s more to see than you think"},{"text":": While (properly protected) eyes will be looking for the eclipse, two planets — Jupiter and Venus — as well as the so-called “Devil comet,” which only shows up every 71 years, will also be visible.","_key":"a7c731423351","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"_key":"fc7edc4da7f6","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The sun will be having its own show","_key":"d0cc2842475f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Although the moon might be the star of the show, there are also major eruptions, known as solar maximum, taking place on the surface of the 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been speaking gibberish for a few months and officials are concerned.","title":"Why Is The Aging Voyager 1 Probe Sending Back Incoherent Communications?","_rev":"D25I4efnAE4dWOWasi7vqN","body":[{"_key":"9964acc83e4a","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.npr.org/2024/03/06/1236033493/nasas-voyager-1-spacecraft-is-talking-nonsense-its-friends-on-earth-are-worried","_key":"c0829847df5e"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s been nearly 50 years since Voyager 1 took off from Florida on a groundbreaking mission to explore far-away planets. 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","title":"Odie Makes History With Successful Lunar Landing","body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"4f268c3d23ec","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Not only was the Odysseus lander the first U.S.-made craft to touch down on the surface of the moon in more than 50 years, but it was also the first privately built lander to complete such a mission.","_key":"b511b90128020"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[{"_key":"603707f96205","_type":"link","href":"https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/22/world/moon-landing-intuitive-machines-nasa-scn/index.html"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here’s a ","_key":"cf82c78891e00"},{"_type":"span","marks":["603707f96205"],"text":"closer look","_key":"cf82c78891e01"},{"text":" at what led up to Thursday’s landing and where the 21st century space race goes from here.","_key":"cf82c78891e02","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"02824e1df62b"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"60bfc7b5f659","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Public meets private","_key":"1c048351057b0"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"NASA was on board (figuratively and literally) with the effort to reach the moon with the lander affectionately known as “Odie,” but the lion’s share of the work was done by","_key":"2e52bdc842c60","_type":"span"},{"_key":"f2022a40ef51","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a private company called Intuitive Machines."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e050b925db0d"},{"style":"normal","_key":"a8827233b8a5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And even though there were some tense moments prior to the landing when folks on Earth weren’t receiving a signal, everyone let out a sigh of relief when the transmissions resumed.","_key":"a8d82fbdb58f0"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“I know this was a nail-biter, but we are on the surface and we are transmitting,” said Steve Altemus, the CEO of Intuitive Machines, in a webcast following the mission. “","_key":"dbc64d8479cb0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Welcome to the moon","_key":"7159bd7fa625","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".”","_key":"9dd9aa40b660"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e38b922ef58c","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Private space companies in the U.S. and around the world have been making great strides in recent years, but this mission is particularly noteworthy. Not only was the lander able to navigate the tricky trajectory necessary to pull off a soft landing, but it also paved the way for more ambitious lunar trips in the future.","_key":"5345abb30edb0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f987dce1221b"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"5a2f90c79e920","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What happens now"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"63902036293f"},{"style":"normal","_key":"c761242d2193","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"With Odie on the moon, it will continue sending data back to Earth. Photos and other key details about its position are expected to surface soon.","_key":"73e9a1f999e20"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Taking a longer-term look at the implications, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson touted the achievement as a boon to the Artemis program aimed at returning astronauts to the moon before 2030.","_key":"ff6bb1685acf0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"58ce6921e6e1"},{"style":"normal","_key":"1978ddbfc56f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Today is a day that shows the","_key":"24a7529ead1f0"},{"text":" power and promise","_key":"c050bcdf07f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of NASA’s commercial partnerships,” he said.","_key":"37d4748ac77f"}],"_type":"block"}],"_id":"063b62cc-1a66-4f2a-80fc-e015d6621b2a","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Intuitive 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So if you do the math, you’ll find that we’re just about due for another one.","_key":"82cc002614ad0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"421fc739da5d"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A polar flip might sound pretty dramatic, and it is, at least from the sun’s perspective. But here on Earth, most of us won’t even notice. 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In the ‘90s, Taco Bell made a breakthrough that ultimately accomplished the goal.","_key":"0747bf2df66f","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a93472a6dc1c"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d3d2947c3cba","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Its new variety of tortillas could remain not only safe to eat but also tasty for as long as a year, and NASA realized that they could seamlessly introduce this product into the existing menu available to astronauts blasting off for long periods of time in space.","_key":"0405f7ed581f0"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"789f5bc56c4a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And it’s not just the long shelf life that makes these tortillas more well-suited to space travel than other types of bread. If you’ve ever gotten crumbs in","_key":"6c5c1d71fcbf0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" hard-to-reach places","_key":"80f02ca610be"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" before, just imagine how catastrophic that could be in zero-gravity situations where little bits of bread could end up floating into important pieces of equipment.","_key":"842a9564a4b9"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"bfc5269e4c30","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"ee624181cb060","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"An unusual diet"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.thedailymeal.com/news/eat/did-astronauts-actually-eat-astronaut-ice-cream/021716/","_key":"8e5e974aa70d"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although it’s notable that shelf-stable tortillas went straight from Taco Bell’s inventory onto NASA spacecraft, at least it’s a food astronauts can immediately recognize. Other items on the space menu","_key":"48af88034a030"},{"_key":"a9e8265df118","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" bear little resemblance"},{"text":" to their terrestrial counterparts (and we’re not talking about the freeze-dried “astronaut ice cream” that ","_key":"b2c6f4b3096a","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["8e5e974aa70d"],"text":"probably","_key":"48af88034a031"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" wasn’t ever actually consumed in space).","_key":"48af88034a032"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1c4318d01c0c"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"eebe3920890c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"One notable example is the","_key":"c2993eb65e410","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" liquid salt and pepper ","_key":"12adebdbf17b"},{"marks":[],"text":"used to flavor space meals. And of course there’s the water recycled from astronaut waste that might make even stale tortillas sound appetizing.","_key":"e244fe346653","_type":"span"}]}],"_createdAt":"2024-01-28T22:21:12Z","summary":"Eating in space is tricky, but one fast-food breakthrough was a big help.","title":"How Taco Bell Is Giving Astronauts More Deep-Space Dining Options","category":"space","_id":"4e67cf98-1163-49c9-8cd8-7f9f884c23f6","_rev":"x85C0o6nGPFIdPQ9karYYG","slug":"/story/2024/01/how-taco-bell-is-giving-astronauts-more-deepspace-dining-options","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}},{"body":[{"_key":"e68e5fa590ab","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As private companies take on an increasingly prominent role in the realm of space exploration, there are","_key":"9d3a2d9157b60"},{"_key":"f5aba267b268","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" various missions on the horizon"},{"marks":[],"text":" that differ greatly from those undertaken by NASA and other government-backed space agencies.","_key":"7a31e0cea728","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.space.com/nasa-responds-navajo-nation-objection-human-remains-moon","_key":"c510d1f082b0"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A launch set for today includes a number of historic ","_key":"1702264dad580"},{"_type":"span","marks":["c510d1f082b0"],"text":"firsts","_key":"1702264dad581"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", but not everyone is happy about it.","_key":"1702264dad582"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a33dea97c0d3"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Prepare for landing","_key":"fcb7ce6d19eb0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b626738d886a"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A pair of private companies — United Launch Alliance and Astrobotic — are teaming up for a launch expected to result in the first-ever touchdown of a private lander (Astrobotic’s Peregrine) on the moon’s surface.","_key":"f198393014030"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c96755e16740"},{"style":"normal","_key":"19a07d6a511f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While that is an important milestone, the lander’s payload has become the subject of controversy. Specifically, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren expressed opposition to a “memorial” program that will include leaving human remains behind.","_key":"6c0a2ca5a9260"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"He sent a complaint to NASA and the Transportation Department asserting that “the moon","_key":"b01d6e22604a0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" holds a sacred position","_key":"0dbdc7db92e6"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in many Indigenous cultures” and leaving behind materials that “could be perceived as discards in any other location … is tantamount to desecration of this sacred space.”","_key":"a424f5319b96"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e596d121084e","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9056aa8abc00","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Clearing the air","_key":"a2bd4bccefc50","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"39a953275fe2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"56c7dc56589c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"NASA program manager Chris Culbert issued a statement explaining that the agency has no authority to dictate what private companies carry aboard their ships."}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“We don’t have the framework for telling them what they can and can’t fly,” he said. “The approval process","_key":"c0b81ad297f70"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" doesn’t run through NASA","_key":"735ec3740248","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for commercial missions.”","_key":"34f345b5854a"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ff743449926c"},{"style":"normal","_key":"437ee8960053","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"bf4375d8b9d70","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Joel Kearns, another NASA administrator, admitted that “these new opportunities and new ways of doing business” contain inherent challenges and could spark even more discord among various groups in the future.\n“And those communities may not understand that these missions are commercial and"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" they’re not U.S. government missions","_key":"efaa95012254"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", like the ones that we’re talking about.”","_key":"1fd312be4f81"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Celestic CEO Charles Chafer also weighed in, asserting: “No individual religion can or should dictate whether a space mission should be approved.”","_key":"2a80a1d4df4d0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8604f5f52383"}],"summary":"NASA had a response, but it doesn't mean anything is going to change.","category":"space","_type":"story","publishDate":"2024-01-08","id":"TkKNmgOh","_updatedAt":"2024-01-07T23:41:50Z","image":{"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.917808219178082,"x":0.458904109589041,"y":0.44755501478948545,"height":0.8951100295789709},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"extension":"jpg","uploadId":"qWNDt33AX8tSUqjFOShNJnOdebiK7SYC","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","description":"The United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket, part of the Astrobotic Peregrine Mission One, is docked at the Space Launch Complex 41 at Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida, USA, 07 January 2024. 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installation of","_key":"22000d45240c0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" hotels and other vacation amenities","_key":"73c26579765a"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" beyond our home planet’s atmosphere.","_key":"5406b38c67d9"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/12/magazine/space-living.html","_key":"e2c1e2a261f3"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But aside from the generally prohibitive cost of such travel, there’s an even more important ","_key":"c52f53146acc0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["e2c1e2a261f3"],"text":"question","_key":"c52f53146acc1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that remains unanswered: Is it safe?","_key":"c52f53146acc2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"670d7bddaab5"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"We need more 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That’s why it’s important to consider the most pressing problems that are likely to surface as this nascent industry takes shape.","_key":"ea56ccd149290"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3815fa2432a9","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"2a91bcf05fc7","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Resources","_key":"d0dbfd322a8b0"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Even as many humans worry about depleting resources here on Earth, it’s important to note that virtually none of the necessities we take for granted will be easily accessible in space. From food to medicine to the very oxygen we breathe, it’ll all need to be supplied by external sources.","_key":"f41a6640312b"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Environment","_key":"350b59e9f80b"},{"marks":[],"text":": The impacts of radiation, extreme temperatures, and weightlessness can prove dangerous if not deadly unless humans develop ways to harness them. Without constantly wearing a hefty spacesuit, extraterrestrial travelers can succumb to hypoxia or other conditions almost immediately.","_key":"7b61c9eadcf1","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a557866891c9","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"176f05620d11","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"29d5a86535e80","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Companionship"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": From uncertainties about how safe it is to have sex to simply missing those you leave back on Earth, the loneliness of space could have serious, as-yet-undetermined consequences.","_key":"076c60b554a1"}],"level":1}]},{"title":"Something’s Going On With Jupiter’s ‘Face’","body":[{"_key":"1d025b6440f3","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://gizmodo.com/frown-face-jupiter-nasa-image-juno-1850962624","_key":"682a70c117e7"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Humans have long gazed up at the moon and recognized what appears to be a face created out of its cratered surface. But that’s not the only celestial body in our solar system that seems to be ","_key":"5709fd0575830"},{"_type":"span","marks":["682a70c117e7"],"text":"looking","_key":"5709fd0575831"},{"text":" back at us.","_key":"5709fd0575832","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"8f5c92f93774","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Jupiter’s frown","_key":"f82acf5f93920"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As NASA’s Juno mission sends back stunning images of the largest planet rotating around our sun, there’s one view that has ","_key":"0e0e691595c60"},{"_key":"d1c8add6268a","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"created quite a buzz"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"72caf8e37e02"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"41133022af3a","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A huge region of the planet includes features that look a lot like a face … and not a happy one.","_key":"f17c9636b7550"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"730bf5904d6b"},{"_key":"4cd3069c8765","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Its “mouth” is turned into a frown that could be interpreted as either sadness or disapproval. Either way, it’s got some people wondering: Does Jupiter know something that we don’t?","_key":"f34231d7a87c0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"cba472b1f2f7","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Here’s an explanation","_key":"be50cacf31ee0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"41dc1902facb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"We hate to spoil the fun, but of course the planet does not really have a face. Instead, the gaseous atmosphere is always shifting and it just happens to be in this familiar form for the moment.","_key":"9fbb2fd2324c0"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d203f2997d21","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That means by the next time Juno flies by, it might send back ","_key":"c4a41b98c37c"},{"_key":"93d33604cf3b","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"a more cheerful visage"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" or some other pattern altogether.","_key":"85b2dd6dbc39"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0606ca912003","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"All in your mind","_key":"763102adec200"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"ee7b75c9833f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"We can’t blame Jupiter or its atmosphere for tricking us into seeing a face. Scientists have long known that the human brain is hard-wired to see eyes, a nose, and a mouth in a variety of places.","_key":"405d0d9181a50"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"b6e34ead6249","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"You’ve probably seen a “face” in everyday objects — from a handbag to a piece of fruit to the front end of a car.","_key":"a78016781b8b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And if you want to appear even smarter at your next social gathering, there’s a word you should know: ","_key":"82ca3bc316c60"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"pareidolia","_key":"759a453f5d1e"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". It refers to the penchant for our minds to see faces (and other familiar patterns) in places where they don’t necessarily belong.","_key":"e553d8d8f233"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3e04a4807db2","markDefs":[]}],"_type":"story","_id":"1bb31289-59c7-4842-8de2-c31648b4c289","publishDate":"2023-10-28","_createdAt":"2023-10-27T20:14:40Z","summary":"Recent images from NASA's Juno mission has sparked some theories.","category":"space","image":{"attribution":"NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory","asset":{"_id":"image-1b06acd704f226a001c7a7cf8ed2a3be7ea02345-878x926-png","originalFilename":"Screenshot 2023-10-27 at 4.12.07 PM.png","uploadId":"OgpqyHbA8CMoLIehmP40QaxyWMRcnToR","sha1hash":"1b06acd704f226a001c7a7cf8ed2a3be7ea02345","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/1b06acd704f226a001c7a7cf8ed2a3be7ea02345-878x926.png","assetId":"1b06acd704f226a001c7a7cf8ed2a3be7ea02345","_updatedAt":"2023-10-27T20:12:20Z","extension":"png","metadata":{"dimensions":{"width":878,"aspectRatio":0.9481641468682506,"height":926,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions"},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"eXBM[E~q?b%MtR-p%Mt7a#WBofoffRWVayofkCfkayfPofj[fRayjs","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.04,"background":"#443c2c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3,"background":"#8c867a"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#ddc79b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":0},"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.03,"background":"#241c0c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"population":6.01,"background":"#bdbcb7","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#bf943f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"dominant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":6.01,"background":"#bdbcb7","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette"},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/png;base64,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"},"mimeType":"image/png","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/1b06acd704f226a001c7a7cf8ed2a3be7ea02345-878x926.png","_createdAt":"2023-10-27T20:12:20Z","_rev":"rZhM3hkhWhYG0vllFI8d1w","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","size":688755},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"y":0.4828527131782946,"height":0.6276589147286823,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.5968992248062012,"x":0.2984496124031006},"_type":"image"},"_rev":"rZhM3hkhWhYG0vllFI8oVH","slug":"/story/2023/10/somethings-going-on-with-jupiters-face","visibility":"true","id":"JzsApJcx","_updatedAt":"2023-10-27T20:14:40Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}},{"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_createdAt":"2023-10-13T21:23:23Z","_rev":"1fCgvIQGT4wBZY9PVc4mfQ","publishDate":"2023-10-14","summary":"This spacecraft is headed for a destination we don't know much about.","visibility":"true","_id":"f4dcc71b-2a18-4dec-8820-eee99a7c0d03","_updatedAt":"2023-10-14T01:59:54Z","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"fff6af992c380","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Private companies and government-backed agencies around the world have prompted huge advancements in space exploration in recent years. Nevertheless, the current "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"focus on moon missions","_key":"99c595351829"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" might seem like a rerun of the ‘60s space race.","_key":"f5b4c635b1fb"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cb27bb8e8f72"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you’re looking for something altogether unusual and unpredictable, you might want to follow the ","_key":"f0c822954d7c0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["2c69def46b16"],"text":"progress","_key":"f0c822954d7c1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of a NASA spacecraft that blasted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday.","_key":"f0c822954d7c2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9bec8123cc4a","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/10/nasa-is-about-to-launch-a-mission-of-pure-discovery-to-a-metal-asteroid/","_key":"2c69def46b16"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Searching for Psyche","_key":"f1bc28cc08a40"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"66b4c187b5b2"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"802d6b7e4bde","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The name of this latest mission — Psyche — is also the name of the asteroid it was sent to explore. Although not much is known about the distant rock, experts hope it will be able to shed some light on a variety of galactic mysteries, most notably regarding how planets like Earth were originally formed.","_key":"4764f270d7c80","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Psyche (the spacecraft) weighs in at about three tons and Psyche (the asteroid) is believed to be about the size of Massachusetts. Here’s a brief overview of the mission:","_key":"4b7983eeec550"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0da1b13ad270"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5238e4ab015a","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The craft will travel ","_key":"17b0ec5505de0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_key":"15e165243f44","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"2.2 billion miles"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to reach the asteroid.","_key":"ffb3a960d3d6"}],"level":1},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It is expected to arrive around ","_key":"d6d6ea36d50b0"},{"text":"August 2029","_key":"f3c67b4525f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"e1b7787d120e"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cde3ce214104","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"777ff1e396d8","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The rendezvous is set to last ","_key":"501e56d5b9200","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"well over two years","_key":"59cabef5e2c7","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"1d7856dbce2c"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"b84ee380d7a60","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In order to gain enough momentum to enter the asteroid belt, Psyche will swing around Mars sometime in 2026 and continue its six-year journey to its namesake rock."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ad475f9ecc4d"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A deep-space mystery","_key":"6ff5264863a70"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"fc40fbd83f1f","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This distant asteroid appears to be nothing more than a fuzzy dot using the telescopes currently available. 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A facility in Florida that is designed to get the satellites ready for launch will cost an "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"estimated $120 million","_key":"4a0e494f49c34"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"4a0e494f49c35"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cf3a5a3b87e4","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But the company clearly believes that this is the wave of the future and is touting last week’s so-called “Protoflight” as a step toward domination of the growing satellite internet market.","_key":"74ed392f48440"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2a7c894e2f59"},{"_key":"ab5374eb1392","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"SpaceX entered the sector years ago with its Starlink system, and it remains to be seen whether one will come out on top or if there’s ","_key":"16e37055ad870"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"enough room for both","_key":"16e37055ad871"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (and maybe more) companies to thrive.","_key":"16e37055ad872"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"067d5b967e6c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Starlink already has about ","_key":"8b20cd4aa5700"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"2 million customers","_key":"8b20cd4aa5701"},{"_key":"8b20cd4aa5702","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and "},{"text":"more than 5,000 satellites","_key":"8b20cd4aa5703","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"text":" in orbit.","_key":"8b20cd4aa5704","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"}],"slug":"/story/2023/10/amazon-sets-its-sights-on-space-with-new-satellite-internet-system"},{"_type":"story","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"34927dc979bf","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://apnews.com/article/astronauts-landing-space-station-frank-rubio-7826312581aa71a969781fbbb2dd9435","_key":"af7c6cf74b7a"}],"children":[{"_key":"3eab5265f2aa0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Frank Rubio and the two Russian cosmonauts who joined him on a mission to the International Space Flight have touched down on Earth safely "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"after more than a year in space","_key":"3eab5265f2aa1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". 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Then ","_key":"c45609c5e1e00"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"a piece of debris struck the craft","_key":"c45609c5e1e01"},{"text":" and caused it to lose its coolant, prohibiting a timely return","_key":"c45609c5e1e02","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4f08233c991c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In total, Rubio and his colleagues remained in orbit ","_key":"670fcba698680"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"for a staggering 371 days","_key":"670fcba698681"},{"text":", which shattered astronaut Mark Vande Hei’s previous record.","_key":"670fcba698682","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"_key":"47447d8a2b09","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Cosmonauts still hold the world record","_key":"bc957e3b06630"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"2ead3e2696d5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although Rubio claimed the longest U.S. spaceflight, his Russian counterparts did not even come close to eclipsing the record set in their homeland. Almost three decades ago, a mission from that country’s space agency ","_key":"18da8b47004c0"},{"_key":"18da8b47004c1","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"spanned 437 days"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" from blastoff to landing.","_key":"18da8b47004c2"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Nevertheless, the trio engaged in a truly impressive tour of Earth’s orbit, making the trip around our planet almost 6,000 times during their flight and traveling ","_key":"8259775621b40"},{"_key":"8259775621b41","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"roughly 157 million miles"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in all.","_key":"8259775621b42"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"83828d84e87b"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"782ebc27c4ff","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The long-awaited rescue mission","_key":"6da6444a6c520"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A 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piece of space debris more than doubled the expected length of the journey.","_updatedAt":"2023-10-03T02:45:26Z","_id":"6a7ec1a4-df7b-4f43-b0b7-e69295ee1e4d","publishDate":"2023-10-03","id":"IEooSH3J","slug":"/story/2023/10/this-american-astronaut-just-unintentionally-broke-a-spaceflight-record","_createdAt":"2023-10-02T20:49:37Z","category":"space","title":"This American Astronaut Just (Unintentionally) Broke A Spaceflight Record","_rev":"9BCV2PqUxoS2VCYUXduVHW","visibility":"true","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}},{"publishDate":"2023-09-20","body":[{"children":[{"_key":"cf6275a21c630","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As nations around the world are ramping up for new missions to Earth’s closest celestial body, it’s worth noting the impact that such visits can have on the 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This takes a serious toll on anything visitors from Earth leave behind — including the Apollo 17 lunar lander module.","_key":"eb6b135c8abe2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f89d53d7e51d"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"c8d5f49b94810","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Thanks to artificial intelligence, scientists now think they have a better understanding of how the constant, extreme cycle of heating and cooling causes the spacecraft to expand and contract. In turn, "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"the vibrations can contribute to small tremors","_key":"c8d5f49b94811"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" on the moon’s surface.","_key":"c8d5f49b94812"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"950cd81584ec"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although these moonquakes are barely perceptible and aren’t believed to be dangerous, new lunar missions could contribute to and exacerbate the existing seismic activity. 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That’s why University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory professor Dr. Angela Marusiak said scientists and engineers ","_key":"b01518716f720"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"need to take the latest findings seriously","_key":"b01518716f721"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"b01518716f722"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c7f341f0e0d9"},{"children":[{"_key":"51d3a3fe89aa0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"She asked: “How strong do we need to build our structures, and "},{"text":"what other hazards do we need to mitigate for?","_key":"51d3a3fe89aa1","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"”","_key":"51d3a3fe89aa2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5f7007f99be2","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"More research needs to be done in order to account for all the relevant data, Marusiak said, noting that India’s recent Chandrayaan-3 mission can help. 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","_key":"2d0724a567200"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"could be trillions","_key":"2d0724a567201"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of free-floating planets in the Milky Way.","_key":"2d0724a567202"}],"level":1},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That makes them about ","_key":"967ec62279bf0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"six times","_key":"967ec62279bf1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" more common than orbiting planets.","_key":"967ec62279bf2"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"747389954663"},{"_key":"ee9fef4570b2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A brief overview","_key":"ba5d586aad100"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"text":"Aside from the fact that they’ve been orphaned by their star, these planets are pretty much the same as those that remain in orbit. 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At this point, experts now think we’re getting to the point that it is actually feasible.","_key":"bcf063390aef0"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"First things first","_key":"98453d56fd6a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"378341993744","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"302ca8f6367d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The term “in-situ resource utilization” — or ISRU — is a catch-all phrase relating to the process of extracting these necessary resources. 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