How does Moon landing affect lunar soil? Nasa fires motor to understand
When a lander's engines fire to slow descent, they generate exhaust plumes capable of creating craters, destabilising the landing area, and propelling regolith particles at high speeds in multiple directions. Understanding this plume-surface interaction is critical for astronaut safety and mission success.To investigate these effects, engineers and scientists at Nasa's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, recently conducted over 30 test firings of a 14-inch hybrid rocket motor.Developed at Utah State University, this 3D-printed motor uses solid fuel and gaseous oxygen to simulate the powerful exhaust of lunar landers. Most tests were performed under vacuum conditions to closely mimic the lunar environment.'Artemis builds on what we learned from the Apollo missions to the Moon. Nasa still has more to learn about how the regolith and surface will be affected when a spacecraft much larger than the Apollo lunar excursion module lands,' said Manish Mehta, lead engineer for Human Landing System Plume & Aero Environments.advertisement'Firing a hybrid rocket motor into a simulated lunar regolith field in a vacuum chamber hasn't been achieved in decades. Nasa will be able to take the data from the test and scale it up to correspond to flight conditions to help us better understand the physics, and anchor our data models, and ultimately make landing on the Moon safer for Artemis astronauts,' Manish added.Following the Marshall tests, the rocket motor will be shipped to Nasa's Langley Research Center, where it will be fired into simulated lunar regolith inside a 60-foot vacuum sphere. These experiments will measure crater formation and regolith particle speeds, providing vital data to refine lander designs and ensure safe crewed landings.Must Watch
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India Gazette
7 hours ago
- India Gazette
NASA to telecast Axiom Mission 4 departure on July 14; India's Shubhanshu Shukla set to return from ISS
Houston [US], July 12 (ANI): The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that it will provide live coverage of the undocking and departure of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) private astronaut mission from the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for approximately 7:05 am EDT (4:30 PM IST) on Monday, July 14. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the ISS and pilot for the mission, is part of the four-member crew that will conclude their mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which will undock from the space-facing port of the station's Harmony module. The crew also includes veteran NASA astronaut Commander Peggy Whitson, European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR) astronaut Tibor Kapu. As per a release by NASA on Friday (local time), its coverage, which will be telecast on NASA+, will end approximately 30 minutes after undocking. The coverage will continue by Axiom Space and SpaceX via and SpaceX's website, which will show the Dragon spacecraft re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere and subsequent splashdown off the coast of California. The release stated that the coverage of the departure operations will begin with hatch closing at 4:30 am EDT (2:00 PM IST), with the crew entering the spacecraft at 4:55 am EDT (2:25 PM IST) followed by hatch closing. From there, undocking coverage will begin at 6:45 am EDT (4:15 PM IST) on Axiom Space and SpaceX channels, with the actual undocking at 7:05 am EDT (4:30 PM IST). NASA's coverage will end approximately 30 minutes after the undocking. The Dragon spacecraft will return with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted during the mission. Over the past 17 days, the Ax-4 crew have been intensely focused on research aboard the ISS as they start to wrap up ahead of their departure. On flight day 17, Group Captain Shukla performed centrifugation and freezing of microalgae samples to study their potential in supporting life on long-duration missions. The crew continued the Voyager Displays study, investigating eye movement and coordination in microgravity, and gathered data for the Voice in Space project, analysing vocal performance changes. Additionally, they took part in a cognitive study called the Acquired Equivalence Test, which examined how astronauts learn and adjust to life in microgravity. The group concluded the day by collecting samples for more human health research, such as Human Gut Microbiota, Immune Multiomics, Muscular Stimulation, and Microbiome Profiling. To ensure astronaut health on upcoming long-duration missions, these studies seek to expand our knowledge of how the human body reacts to living in space. Axiom Mission 4 was launched on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS on June 26 at 4:05 pm IST, ahead of schedule, connecting to the space-facing port of the station's Harmony module. (ANI)
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Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Business Standard
Shubhanshu Shukla to enter 7-day rehab after splashdown on Earth on July 15
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to splash down off the California coast on July 15 after an 18-day stay at the International Space Station (ISS). He will then undergo a week-long rehabilitation programme to help his body readjust to Earth's gravity, news agency PTI reported. Shukla travelled to space as part of the commercial Axiom-4 mission. He was joined by mission commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The team had docked at the ISS on June 26. According to Nasa, the four astronauts are scheduled to undock from the ISS on Monday, July 14, at 4:35 pm IST (7:05 am ET). The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) said the Crew Dragon spacecraft will perform a series of orbital manoeuvres before making a controlled descent. The splashdown is expected to take place near the California coast on July 15, 2025, around 3:00 pm IST. "Post splashdown, the Gaganyatri will undergo a rehabilitation program (about 7 days) under supervision of Flight Surgeon to adapt back to Earth's gravity," Isro said in a mission update. Valuable experience for Gaganyaan Isro paid nearly ₹550 crore for Shukla's mission to the ISS. The experience will be used to support the planning and execution of India's first human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, which is targeted for launch in 2027. "Isro's flight surgeons are continuously monitoring and ensuring the overall health and fitness of the Gaganyatri through participation in private medical/psychological conferences. Gaganyatri Shubhanshu is in good health and in high spirit," Isro said. Final preparations before return Before undocking, the astronauts are expected to suit up and carry out systems checks starting at 2:25 pm IST. The ISS, currently orbiting Earth at 28,000 kmph, will release the spacecraft, which will then slow down for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. The Nasa said, "The Dragon spacecraft will return with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including Nasa hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted throughout the mission." A taste of home in space As the astronauts prepare to leave, mission commander Peggy Whitson shared on social media: 'Enjoying our last few days on the @Space_Station with rehydrated shrimp cocktails and good company! #Ax4.' Shukla had contributed to the gathering with traditional Indian treats — carrot halwa and mango nectar (aamras). Research highlights from the mission During his time on the ISS, Shukla worked on a key experiment involving microalgae. Axiom Space said that these algae could potentially serve as a source of food, oxygen, and biofuels for future deep-space missions. Their resilience makes them a strong candidate for sustaining human life beyond Earth. Nasa also highlighted several other studies the crew contributed to: -Exercise and spacesuit maintenance: Core activities for both Expedition 73 and Axiom-4 teams. -Voyager displays study: Examined how spaceflight affects eye movement and spatial coordination. -Environmental perception: Collected data to help design more mentally supportive habitats for long missions. -Cerebral blood flow research: Studied how microgravity and high carbon dioxide levels impact cardiovascular health. -Radiation monitoring: Used the compact Rad Nano Dosimeter to assess radiation exposure levels. -Cognitive testing: Participated in the acquired equivalence test to measure learning and adaptability in space. -PhotonGrav study: Captured brain activity data to support the development of neuroadaptive technologies for space and healthcare. These experiments aim to improve astronaut health and also offer potential medical benefits on Earth.
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- The Hindu
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to undergo seven-day rehabilitation post return to Earth on July 15
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will undergo a seven-day rehabilitation programme after his splashdown off the California coast on July 15 as he returns to the Earth from an 18-day sojourn at the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla and three other astronauts — commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu of Poland and Hungary — had docked at the ISS on June 26 as part of the commercial Axiom-4 mission. The four astronauts are scheduled to undock from the ISS on Monday, July 14, at 4.35 p.m. IST (7.05 am ET), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said in a statement. According to ISRO, following a series of orbital manoeuvres after undocking Crew Dragon spacecraft is expected to splash down near the coast of California on July 15, 2025, at 3 p.m. IST. "Post splashdown, the Gaganyatri will undergo a rehabilitation program (about 7 days) under supervision of Flight Surgeon to adapt back to Earth's gravity," the ISRO said in an update on the Axiom-4 mission. ISRO paid approximately Rs 550 crore for Shukla's travel to the ISS — an experience that will help the space agency in planning and execution of its human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, set to take to orbit in 2027. "ISRO's flight surgeons are continuously monitoring and ensuring the overall health and fitness of the Gaganyatri through participation in private medical/psychological conferences. Gaganyatri Shubhanshu is in good health and in high spirit," ISRO said. Shukla and the three other astronauts are expected to board the spacecraft at 2.25 p.m. IST, wear their space suits and carry out the necessary tests before they begin their journey to the Earth. The ISS is orbiting the Earth at a speed of 28,000 kilometres per hour, and the spacecraft will initiate the autonomous undocking process to gradually slow down and re-enter the planet's atmosphere for a splashdown off the coast of California. "The Dragon spacecraft will return with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted throughout the mission," NASA said. Axiom-4 mission commander Peggy Whitson said in a post on X: "Enjoying our last few days on the @Space_Station with rehydrated shrimp cocktails and good company! #Ax4." Shukla had brought carrot halwa and mango nectar (aamras) to the party. On the experiment front, Shukla worked on the microalgae experiment, deploying and stowing samples that could one day provide food, oxygen and biofuels for deep-space missions, Axiom Space said in a statement. The resilience of the microalgae makes them a promising asset to sustain life beyond the Earth, it added. "Exercise research and spacesuit maintenance topped the schedule for the Expedition 73 and Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crews on Thursday," the NASA statement said. The crew also continued the Voyager Displays study, which examines how spaceflight affects eye movement and coordination. The crew collected data for a study to explore how astronauts perceive and interact with their environment in orbit, which is critical for designing mentally supportive habitats for long-duration missions. Another study focused on cerebral blood flow, investigating how microgravity and elevated carbon dioxide levels affect cardiovascular function, which could later benefit both astronauts and patients on the Earth. Radiation exposure was monitored using the compact Rad Nano Dosimeter, a tool for assessing astronaut safety. The crew took part in the Acquired Equivalence Test, a cognitive experiment that measures learning and adaptability in space, and supported the PhotonGrav study by collecting brain-activity data to explore neuroadaptive technologies for space and medical applications.
