NASA Juno mission reveals volcanic action on Jupiter's moon Io
Los Angeles, May 1 (UNI) New data from NASA's Juno mission has shed light on the dynamic atmosphere of Jupiter and the volcanic activity on its fiery moon Io, according to the agency.
The Juno spacecraft has gathered new findings by probing beneath Jupiter's cloud-shrouded atmosphere and studying Io's surface.
The data has led to the development of a new model to better understand the fast-moving jet streams that encircle Jupiter's cyclone-covered north pole. In addition, for the first time, scientists have mapped Io's subsurface temperature profile, providing critical information about the moon's internal structure and volcanic behavior, according to findings released by mission team on Tuesday.
"As Juno's orbit takes us to new regions of Jupiter's complex system, we're getting a closer look at the immensity of energy this gas giant wields," said Scott Bolton, principal investigator of the Juno mission.
Juno was launched Aug. 5, 2011, and arrived at Jupiter on July 4, 2016, after a five-year, 1,740-million-mile journey. The mission is designed to explore the origin and evolution of Jupiter, the solar system, and giant planets across the cosmos.
UNI XINHUA GNK
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
7 hours ago
- NDTV
Here's Why June 30 Is Celebrated As World Asteroid Day
The world celebrates June 30 as World Asteroid Day to commemorate the Tunguska event, a massive asteroid explosion that occurred over Russia's Siberia on the same day in 1908. This event is considered the largest asteroid impact in Earth's recent history, flattening around 2,000 square kilometres of forest and releasing energy equivalent to 185 Hiroshima bombs. The event's remoteness led to a lack of immediate attention, both within Russia and globally. The first scientific expedition didn't reach the area until 1927, nearly 19 years after the event. Despite the delay, the expedition found extensive evidence of the asteroid's impact, including shock wave damage and heat blast effects. World Asteroid Day aims to educate the public about asteroid risks and impact hazards. It encourages investment in space science and technology. The awareness also helps in developing strategies for asteroid detection, tracking and deflection. This year, the world celebrates the 10th anniversary of Asteroid Day. UN adopted a resolution for asteroid awareness The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/71/90 in December 2016, declaring June 30 International Asteroid Day in order to recognise the global importance of asteroid impact awareness and the need for cooperation to prevent potential threats. The decision by the General Assembly was taken after a proposal by the Association of Space Explorers, which was endorsed by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). International Year of Asteroid Awareness The UN has declared 2029 the International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence, coinciding with the close approach of asteroid 99942 Apophis. On April 13, 2029, Apophis will safely pass within 32,000 kilometres of Earth's surface, closer than some geostationary satellites. It will be visible to the naked eye in parts of Europe, Africa and Western Asia. Apophis is approximately 340 meters in diameter, roughly the size of three football fields. It is currently orbiting the Sun every 323 days, but its orbit will change after the 2029 flyby. Apophis will appear as a bright, fast-moving point of light in the sky. Its close approach offers a rare opportunity for scientists to study asteroids. NASA's DART mission NASA has already tested planetary defence strategies with its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) space mission. The DART mission was the first-ever mission aimed at demonstrating the kinetic impactor technique, a method of deflecting asteroids by intentionally crashing a spacecraft into them.
United News of India
13 hours ago
- United News of India
AX-4 crew fully immersed in their mission aboard ISS
Chennai, June 29 (UNI) The four member Ax-4 crew were fully immersed in their mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Axiom Space said today. On the fourth day updates, it said Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) Commander Peggy Whitson, Indian Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla 'Shux,' Mission Specialist Sławosz 'Suave' Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu are now fully immersed in their mission aboard the ISS wrapping up their day on orbit with a schedule full of scientific research and international outreach." The Ax-4 crew has transitioned smoothly from arrival protocols to hands-on research. With microgravity acclimation behind them, the crew is now diving into a diverse portfolio of experiments that could shape the future of medicine, agriculture, and space exploration, it said. Peggy led the charge on the 4th day yesterday with work on the Cancer in LEO-3 investigation. Building on previous Axiom Space missions, this study focuses on how cancer cells behave in microgravity. Specifically, it examines tumor organoids and how a new model of triple-negative breast cancer responds to drug treatments in space. "The goal? To validate earlier findings and potentially unlock new therapeutic strategies that could benefit patients on Earth and astronauts on long-duration missions", Axiom Space said. Shux spent time in the Life Sciences Glovebox (LSG) working on the Myogenesis experiment. This study aims to uncover the biological pathways behind skeletal muscle degradation in space —a major challenge for astronauts. By identifying these mechanisms, researchers hope to develop targeted therapies that could not only protect space travelers, but also aid people suffering from muscle-degenerative diseases on Earth. Tibor deployed the Rad Nano Dosimeter, a compact device designed to monitor radiation exposure aboard the space station. Understanding how radiation affects the human body in space is critical for planning future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The data collected could also enhance Earth-based radiation monitoring technologies, benefiting industries from healthcare to environmental science. Tibor began setting up the Vitapric investigation. This plant biology experiment explores how plant growth primers affect the development of microgreens in space. The goal is to enhance the nutritional value of space-grown crops—boosting vitamins, proteins, and minerals--to support sustainable food production for future long-duration missions. In addition, the crew initiated the Cerebral Hemodynamics study, completing the first session after installing the necessary software. Using ultrasound technology, this research explores how blood circulates in the brain under microgravity conditions. The findings could improve our understanding of cardiovascular adaptation in space and inform medical diagnostics and treatments for conditions like stroke and hypertension on Earth. Shux also took part in a historic outreach event by speaking with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The conversation highlighted the growing global collaboration in space exploration and inspired audiences back on Earth. Peggy and Suave are also preparing to join Axiom Space Chief Scientist Dr. Lucie Low for a special discussion on space radiation. They'll talk about the radiation research being conducted during Ax-4 and how it could help protect astronauts on future deep space missions. UNI GV 1710
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
SpaceX launches 27 Starlink satellites to expand global internet coverage
In the early hours of June 28, after a day of severe weather warnings and storm activity across Central Florida, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 27 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch, which occurred at 12:26 a.m. from Launch Complex 40, followed hours of anticipation as meteorologists issued multiple thunderstorm alerts and lightning watches that could have delayed the mission. Fortunately, the skies cleared just in time, granting the launch team a window of calm, 10-mile visibility, and ideal conditions. This mission adds to SpaceX's expanding Starlink constellation, which aims to provide global broadband internet coverage, especially in remote and underserved regions. It also coincided with a significant date in SpaceX's history — the 10th anniversary of a Falcon 9 rocket explosion that occurred on June 28, 2015, during a NASA resupply mission to the International Space Station. The stark contrast between the two events underscores the remarkable technological and operational progress SpaceX has achieved over the past decade. SpaceX and Starlink reusability in action with veteran Falcon 9 booster The Falcon 9 rocket used for this mission was not a newcomer to the skies. SpaceX confirmed that the first-stage booster was flying its fifth mission, having previously launched CRS-32, NROL-69, GPS III-7, and another Starlink deployment. Once its primary task of lifting the payload into low-Earth orbit was complete, the booster executed a successful landing on the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This routine yet remarkable display of reusability continues to demonstrate the economic and environmental efficiency of SpaceX's design. Each recovered booster reduces the cost of subsequent missions and supports SpaceX's long-term vision of sustainable space travel and interplanetary missions. A decade after failure, SpaceX looks ahead June 28 also marks a solemn moment in the company's history. On this day in 2015, a Falcon 9 rocket carrying over 5,000 pounds of cargo aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule for NASA broke apart just over two minutes into flight. The explosion was a major setback at the time, but it became a pivotal learning moment that shaped the company's future approach to reliability and design improvements. This latest launch occurred under the watch of newly appointed commander Col. Brian Chatman, who now leads Space Launch Delta 45 and oversees operations at Patrick Space Force Base and the broader Eastern Range. Responsible for ensuring safety over a vast 15-million-square-mile operational area, Chatman's leadership coincides with a period of increasing launch activity, making the success of such missions a reflection of both technical coordination and operational precision.
