Latest news with #Kosmos482
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5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
A failed Soviet Venus probe from the '70s crashed to Earth in May — why was it so hard to track?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The recent fall to Earth of a failed Soviet Venus probe from the 1970s has become a detective story of sorts. Different computer models were used to predict the reentry. But why were they divergent, and how can we improve our ability to nail down the "whereabouts and when" as a space object crashes into Earth's atmosphere? The long and troubled history of the would-be Venus spacecraft, known as Kosmos-482, can shed some light on these key questions, scientists say. So, let's have a look. On May 10 of this year, the egg-shaped Kosmos-482 descent module, weighing roughly 1,091 pounds (495 kilograms), likely fell into ocean waters. According to calculations by specialists from TsNIIMash, part of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, the spacecraft entered the dense layers of the atmosphere and fell into the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta. The hardware was lofted in the spring of 1972 to study Venus, but due to a malfunction of its rocket's upper stage, it remained in a high elliptical orbit around Earth, gradually closing in on our planet. The probe was one of a pair of Venus atmospheric landers hurled skyward during their respective go-to-Venus launch windows. The twin Venera-8 spacecraft was launched a few days earlier, sent onward to become the first station to land on the illuminated side of Venus, successfully transmitting data on temperature and pressure from the planet's surface. Meanwhile, the botched probe that failed to get from Earth to Venus was "renamed" Kosmos-482. According to the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI), a few months later, Kosmos-482 was purposely split into a descent module and a flight module. The flight module "left orbit" (fell to Earth) in 1981, an IKI posting adds. As for the descent module's nosedive to Earth, Oleg Korablyov, head of the department of planetary physics at IKI, said it should have had sufficient heat protection. "If it could be found," Korablyov said, "it would be very interesting to study it in order to understand the effects of long-term exposure to cosmic radiation on structural materials." Russian space historian Pavel Shubin is floating the idea that Kosmos-482's Venus landing hardware might be found bobbing in ocean waters. Shubin placed the last orbit of the station on a sea traffic map, noting where it entered and where it could have flown. Shubin's posting reads (in Russian; translation by Google): "The capsule has no aerodynamic quality, so it should land along the route. Maybe someone will find it. The question is in the buoyancy of the station. It turns out to be at the limit, but it still looks like it should float in seawater. If it sinks, there is no chance of finding it. Although it can withstand a kilometer of water" (in the event the object has sunk out of sight). That said — and apologies to TV's David Letterman — will it float? Marco Langbroek is a leading satellite tracker and lecturer in optical space situational awareness at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. He and astrodynamicist Dominic Dirkx created an open-source TU Delft Astrodynamics Toolkit (Tudat) that they used to predict when and where the wayward Venus probe would come down. Langbroek and Dirkx wrote an informative post mortem on the descent craft's interesting reentry and the confusion it left in The Space Review, which you can find here. "And now it has finally reentered," Langbroek and Dirkx wrote. "The big question on everybody's mind is: Where did it reenter, and when exactly?" Several organizations followed the doomed probe, such as the U.S. Department of Defense, the European Space Agency (ESA) and The Aerospace Corporation, Langbroek and Dirkx explain. All of these groups posted somewhat different reentry estimates. Langbroek said it is very likely that the space leftover survived reentry through Earth's atmosphere intact, before impacting at an estimated speed of 65 to 70 meters per second after atmospheric deceleration. "Maybe, one day, something odd with Cyrilian markings will wash up on an Australian or Indian beach," Langbroek and Dirkx write. Ralf Vandebergh, also of the Netherlands, is a photographer specialized in imaging small objects orbiting Earth, tracking spacecraft and producing informative images using small to moderate aperture telescopes. Vandebergh stacked imagery data captured from his first observation of the errant spacecraft in 2011, followed by processing of more recent observations. All results pointed to the existence of an "attached structure" to the Kosmos-482 descent craft. He speculated that, perhaps, the descent vehicle had deployed its parachute. Whatever the case, that appendage is now long gone following reentry. Vandebergh published his pre-reentry Kosmos-482 photo assessment here. "In general, reentry predictions have a certain amount of challenge. You're trying to pinpoint something that is coming down that's moving really fast," said Marlon Sorge, executive director of The Aerospace Corporation's Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies (CORDS). CORDS offers expertise regarding space debris and space traffic management and maintains a reentry database that documents objects and payloads that plow into Earth's atmosphere, such as Kosmos-482. "Being off even a little bit represents hundreds or thousands of kilometers in distance on the surface of the Earth," Sorge told Also at play, he said, are some "unhelpful physics." For example, solar activity affects the density of Earth's atmosphere, which then impacts when and where an object is going to reenter. Gregory Henning, a CORDS project leader, pointed out other issues that make reentry predictions tricky as well. "You don't know real-time how that object is behaving," Henning said. "Is it tumbling? Have pieces broken off? Is it in a stable orientation? So you don't really know real-time what kind of surface area the object is presenting to the atmosphere." The spherical nature of the descent part of Kosmos-482 was a literal "odd ball" in terms of a reentry. Keep in mind that it was built to enter and endure a punishing plunge into the atmosphere of Venus. The Venus lander was made to withstand the extremely harsh conditions of Venus' hostile atmosphere, ESA experts have said, and was designed to take 300 G's of acceleration and 100 atmospheres of pressure. "I have not seen anything that would suggest that there were any sightings. But again, being a design to survive a Venus entry, it's fairly likely that it could have survived," Sorge said. "That means you wouldn't see the whole spectacular display of a breakup and a bunch of pieces flaming down that make other reentries so noticeable," he said. "All models are wrong, and some are useful," said Darren McKnight, senior technical fellow at LeoLabs, a company that monitors activity in space to reveal threats to safety and security. The reentry of space objects has been a vexing problem since the beginning of the space age, McKnight told because there are at least three physical phenomena that all have large uncertainties. Those phenomena combine to represent the total uncertainty of where and when an object is finally going to meet its ultimate return to Earth, McKnight said. At the crux of reentry question marks are atmospheric density profiles, the orientation of the space object, along with the way that it melts, vaporizes, and (perhaps) breaks up. "The density of the atmosphere changes drastically for a given reentry point in space based upon the solar flux/activity, time of day, etc. There are diurnal bulges and dips in the atmosphere that change during the course of the day, which also are affected by solar storms that occur, overlaid on top of the background solar activity," said McKnight. The transit of these fluctuations also varies as Earth progresses through seasons of the year, he added. RELATED STORIES — Failed Soviet Venus lander Kosmos 482 crashes to Earth after 53 years in orbit — 3 big hunks of space junk crash to Earth every day — and it's only going to get worse — New images of Soviet Venus lander falling to Earth suggest its parachute may be out When a space object reaches a "magic altitude" of 50 miles (80 kilometers) above Earth, substantial heating starts to occur, McKnight said. "The orientation of the space object is critically important to accurately assess how the heating and drag effects will accelerate," he said. Toss into the mix that certain forces exerted on the space object cause an incoming object to rotate. "This may even cause there to be a net lifting effect that would delay the reentry of the space object," said McKnight. This is sometimes called skipping, because it's analogous to a thrown stone skipping over the surface of a pond. McKnight said that he's been working in aerospace engineering, space safety, and space operations since 1986. "Reentry physics and predictions in that domain have advanced the least over that timeframe," he concluded.


See - Sada Elbalad
6 days ago
- Health
- See - Sada Elbalad
Try Trending Okra Hair Mask for Stronger, Shinier & Thicker Hair
Pasant Elzaitony There's a new trend invading social media and beauty platforms, which is the okra hair mask. While it might sound unusual, it's proven effective countless times. The okra hair mask offers a variety of benefits: it moisturizes, nourishes, reduces frizz and split ends, adds natural shine, and soothes the scalp. Additionally, it may help promote hair growth and reduce dandruff. The Benefits of the Okra Hair Mask: Moisturizes Hair: Okra contains a natural gel-like substance that acts as an excellent moisturizer for dry and damaged hair, leaving it softer and more manageable. Nourishes Hair: Rich in vitamins and minerals, okra deeply nourishes the hair follicles, strengthening them and improving overall hair health and appearance. Reduces Frizz and Split Ends: This mask helps tame frizz and reduce split ends, especially at the tip, making the hair easier to style. Adds Natural Shine: Regular use of the okra hair mask gives the hair a naturally healthy shine. Soothes the Scalp: Okra has antibacterial and antifungal properties that help calm the scalp and fight dandruff. Promotes Hair Growth: Thanks to its nutrient-rich content, okra is believed to support and stimulate hair growth. Cleanses Hair: The mask also works to remove dirt and impurities from the hair and scalp. How to Use the Okra Hair Mask: Prepare the Okra: Wash the okra, cut it into small pieces, and place it in a pot of water. Boil until soft. Extract the Gel: Let it cool, then strain it using a sieve to collect the thick gel. Apply the Mask: Apply the gel evenly to your hair and scalp, ensuring full coverage. Leave it: Let the mask sit for 20–30 minutes. Rinse: Wash your hair with warm water and shampoo. You can enhance the mask by adding ingredients like coconut oil, honey, or lemon juice. You can use it once a week for best results. Contribute by Rana Atef read more 15 Ludicrous Cosplay Costumes That Will Blow You Away Watch... Dorra's natural beauty will blow your mind in latest photo session Exercising For As Little As 150 Minutes A Week Will Make You Happier، Study Claims ARIES: Your Horoscope for April 7 FDA Now Considers Vaping A Rising Epidemic In High School Lifestyle How to make Dried salted fish (feseekh) -By Chef El-Sherbini Lifestyle Batarekh Dip & Sardine Dip Lifestyle Best of Easter cookie and cakes Lifestyle ARIES friendship News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall


See - Sada Elbalad
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
It's Official: Summer 2025 Is On
Rana Atef Summer officially kicks off on 21 June, and it will last for 93 days, 15 hours, and 39 minutes. The summer solstice is taking place on June 21 at 5:42 am (Cairo time). Summer is the hottest of the four seasons, and it situates after spring and before autumn. During the summer solstice, daylight hours become longer, on the other hand, darkness hours become shortest. In addition, day length decreases as the season progresses after the solstice. The earliest sunrises and latest sunsets also occur near the date of the solstice. Summer is defined as starting at the summer solstice, the time of maximal insolation, identified on June 21. The season takes place in the months of June, July, and August in the northern hemisphere and the months of December, January, and February in the southern hemisphere. read more 15 Ludicrous Cosplay Costumes That Will Blow You Away Watch... Dorra's natural beauty will blow your mind in latest photo session Exercising For As Little As 150 Minutes A Week Will Make You Happier، Study Claims ARIES: Your Horoscope for April 7 FDA Now Considers Vaping A Rising Epidemic In High School Lifestyle How to make Dried salted fish (feseekh) -By Chef El-Sherbini Lifestyle Batarekh Dip & Sardine Dip Lifestyle Best of Easter cookie and cakes Lifestyle ARIES friendship News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand


See - Sada Elbalad
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Discover Aliaa Hassan's Delicious Chicken and Freekeh Salad
Pasant Elzaitony - Yara Sameh It's summertime and food blogger Aliaa Hassan has been searching for simpler recipes to make her life easier. Hassan shared with "SEE" one of her discoveries, the chicken and freekeh salad. She swears by the recipe and describes it to be "a quick, simple salad" and "a whole meal that satisfies my taste buds". Hassan recommends serving the salad with a light dressing and a drizzle of honey on top with fresh mint and coriander. Ingredients: One cup of freekeh was soaked in water for a couple of hours. Half a kilo of chicken breast 100 grams of feta cheese Fresh mint and coriander for garnish 1 tablespoon of flax seeds Chicken seasoning: 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika Dressing: 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper 2 tablespoons of olive oil 1 tablespoon of honey Directions: In a medium-sized pan put the freekeh in water with a teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil and turn down to cook it for about 20 minutes or until it's just tender. Drain and leave it to cool down. In a larger skillet add a tablespoon of vegetable oil season the chicken and grill it for about 3 minutes on each side. Mix dressing ingredients very well and add them to warm freekeh. Then start mixing the meal. Add sliced grilled chicken on top of freekeh, then add cubes of salty feta cheese. Add fresh greens, flax seeds, and a drizzle of honey on top for more sweetness. Serve it warm and enjoy. read more 15 Ludicrous Cosplay Costumes That Will Blow You Away Watch... Dorra's natural beauty will blow your mind in latest photo session Exercising For As Little As 150 Minutes A Week Will Make You Happier، Study Claims ARIES: Your Horoscope for April 7 FDA Now Considers Vaping A Rising Epidemic In High School Lifestyle How to make Dried salted fish (feseekh) -By Chef El-Sherbini Lifestyle Batarekh Dip & Sardine Dip Lifestyle Best of Easter cookie and cakes Lifestyle ARIES friendship News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand


See - Sada Elbalad
18-06-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
Trump Calls Powell ‘Stupid,' Predicts No Rate Cut
Taarek Refaat President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday, calling him 'stupid' and predicting that the central bank will not cut interest rates during its upcoming policy meeting. 'I don't think he's going to cut rates today. He's doing a bad job,' Trump told reporters ahead of the Federal Reserve's highly anticipated interest rate announcement. Markets are widely expecting the Fed to hold its benchmark interest rate steady at a range of 4.25% to 4.5%, marking the fourth consecutive meeting without a change. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which sets monetary policy, has maintained this level since December in an effort to bring inflation back toward its 2% target. In its most recent decision in May, the Fed opted to leave rates unchanged, citing ongoing progress in reducing inflation while noting the need for more data to justify a shift in policy. Recent economic indicators have shown moderating inflation, but Federal Reserve officials have remained cautious about cutting rates too soon. Trump's remarks reflect growing political pressure on the Fed as economic issues — particularly inflation and interest rates — dominate the national conversation. Trump has been a vocal critic of Powell, whom he originally nominated as Fed chair in 2018 during his first term. The Fed's decision and Chair Powell's post-meeting press conference are expected to offer further guidance on whether rate cuts could be considered later this year. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand