Latest news with #Pioneer10
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
A probe that penetrated Jupiter's atmosphere
Getting there The Galileo Jupiter atmospheric probe was part of NASA's Galileo mission – among the agency's most ambitious deep space missions up until then. Before the probe could become Earth's first ever emissary to penetrate the atmosphere of any of the outer gas giant planets, there was the task of getting the Galileo spacecraft in the vicinity of the Jovian system. Following the successful flyby of Pioneer 10 and 11, and Voyager 1 and 2, in the 1970s, it became clear that a long-term mission to Jupiter was possible. It was nearly another decade before the Galileo mission became a reality, and it was launched on October 18, 1989. A Venus flyby in 1990 followed by two Earth flybys in 1990 and 1992 were used as three slingshots, enabling Galileo to gain momentum on its journey to Jupiter. This flight path was dubbed by mission planners as VEEGA, which stands for Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist. In 1991, Galileo encountered the asteroid Gaspra, becoming the first spacecraft to flyby an asteroid. In 1993, it discovered the first moon around an asteroid as it spotted Dactyl orbiting Ida. It provided the only direct observations of a comet crashing with a planet in 1994 as it observed fragments of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 crash into Jupiter. The following year, the mission reached a stage where the orbiter and probe could part ways. Parting of ways The Galileo mission carried a 337 kg probe that was based on the design of the large probe of the Pioneer Venus multi-probe and was tasked with returning data when it entered the atmosphere of Jupiter using a parachute. On July 13, 1995, when the main Galileo spacecraft was still around 80 million km from Jupiter, the atmospheric entry probe was released. Nearly five months later, on December 7, the probe hit the Jovian atmosphere. For the next 58 minutes, the probe returned invaluable data as it plunged into the cauldron that was the Jupiter's atmosphere. During the first two minutes of what was the most difficult atmospheric entry ever attempted, the probe endured maximum deceleration of 228 Gs (228 times the acceleration of gravity at Earth's surface) and the temperatures soared up to 16,000 degrees Celsius – over twice as hot as the temperatures on the sun's surface! Enormous pressure (22.7 atmospheres) meant that the probe's transmitter failed 61.4 minutes after entry into the atmosphere when the probe was around 180 km below its entry ceiling. It might have lasted for less than an hour, but whatever data was captured by the probe was first transmitted to the main spacecraft, which entered into orbit around Jupiter the same day the probe hit the atmosphere. The main spacecraft then transmitted this data back to Earth. Based on the data that was returned, there was indication of an intense radiation belt about 50,000 km above Jupiter's clouds. In addition to winds as high as 640 metres per second, there was also indications of a few organic compounds. As against expectations in the upper atmosphere of Jupiter, the probe's data revealed less lightning and water vapour, and half the amount of helium. What about the main mission? Having entered into orbit around Jupiter, the primary mission got under way. While the primary mission was scheduled until December 1997, it received three extensions, lasting eventually until 2003. In those eight years, Galileo returned unprecedented amount of data about Jupiter and its system. Beneath the icy, cracked, frozen surface of the moon Europa, Galileo found evidence for the possible existence of a salty ocean. The volcanic processes in the moon Io were observed and the spacecraft was able to show that some of these volcanoes were actually hotter than those on Earth. Additionally, the spacecraft was able to detect the first magnetic field around a satellite, in the case of Ganymede. In order to protect one of its own discoveries – the possible existence of an ocean beneath the surface of Europa – it was decided that Galileo would be deliberately destroyed. The fact that Galileo had not been sterilised meant that it could contaminate surfaces that it impacted. Hence, Galileo forcibly plunged into Japan's crushing atmosphere on September 21, 2003, bringing to an end a mission that changed the way we look at our solar system. Numbers from the descent of Galileo's probe When the probe slammed into the atmosphere of Jupiter, it was moving at the speed of 170,590 km per hour (more than 138 times the speed of sound). While such supersonic speeds of travel aren't yet possible in our daily travel, it would be fast enough to jet from Chennai to Delhi in less than 40 seconds! Deceleration from that speed to Mach 1, which is the speed of sound, took just a few minutes. As the probe slowed from 170,590 km per hour to 160 km per hour, it experienced a force more than 200 times the Earth's gravity at maximum deceleration.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
June 13-19, 2025 Sky Watch: Mars Meets Regulus, Saturn & Moon, Venus Shines
I was just thinking about Ray Bradbury - how he had this extraordinary gift for blending the fantastical with the deeply human. (Side note: If you're somehow unfamiliar with Bradbury, he's basically the literary giant who made science fiction respectable. You know Fahrenheit 451? The Martian Chronicles? That's our guy. He brought rocket ships and time machines into the realm of "serious literature" while the literary elite weren't looking, and by the time they noticed, it was too late - everyone was already in love with his work.) "We are an impossibility in an impossible universe," he once wrote. And doesn't that just hit you right in the existential sweet spot? Here we are, tiny specks on a spinning rock, somehow conscious enough to look up and wonder about it all. As we dive into this week's skywatching events, I keep coming back to this feeling - this profound appreciation for the mystery, the beauty, and yes, the privilege of witnessing the cosmos unfold above us. Whether you see it as divine creation or a marvel of nature, there's something utterly humbling about staring into the vast unknown. Stars are waiting - let's roll! There's something downright majestic about a nearly full moon hanging in the evening sky. At 97% illumination, our lunar neighbor is serving serious celestial drama on the 13th. While not technically full, this waning gibbous phase reveals crater details and highland regions that are often washed out during the full phase. Why should you care? Because this is the moon showing off its best features! Think of it as the lunar equivalent of perfect golden-hour lighting - all those crater shadows create a stunning three-dimensional effect. Time: Just after sunset until early morning Direction: Rising in the eastern sky Pro Tip: Those shadows along the terminator (the line between light and dark) make for absolutely stunning viewing through even modest binoculars. If you've never done a serious moon-gaze, now's your moment. Speaking of June 13th, here's a little cosmic perspective for you: On this day in 1983, Pioneer 10 quietly crossed Neptune's orbit, becoming the first human-made object to venture so far. Talk about a cosmic milestone! Launched back in 1972 with a modest 21-month mission plan, this overachiever kept communicating with Earth for over three decades - its last "hello" reaching us in 2003. Pioneer 10 is still traveling outward today, over 20.5 billion kilometers from Earth. It's just one of five spacecraft (along with Pioneer 11, Voyagers 1 & 2, and New Horizons) on trajectories that will eventually carry them into interstellar space. Our little mechanical emissaries to the stars, wandering eternally among them. Now this is celestial chemistry at its finest. Mars and Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, will perform an elegant cosmic dance just 0.8 degrees apart - that's less than the width of your pinky finger held at arm's length. Why should you care? It's a stunning color contrast - Mars with its distinctive rusty-copper glow and Regulus shining brilliant white-blue. The pair creates a visual treat that's both scientifically fascinating and aesthetically gorgeous. Time: After sunset for several hours Direction: Western sky in the Leo constellation If you're willing to sacrifice some sleep, you're in for a real celestial treat as the third-quarter Moon cozies up to ringed Saturn in the pre-dawn sky on the 19th. Their proximity in Aquarius creates one of those "wow" moments that makes even casual skywatchers reach for their phones to snap a picture. Time: Around 1:30 a.m. local time Direction: Eastern sky What you'll see: Third-quarter moon positioned near Saturn Pro Tip: A telescope will reveal Saturn's rings, which are currently tilted at an angle that offers a spectacular view. Set your alarm - this one's worth the early wake-up call. Venus is absolutely showing off right now as the "Morning Star," rising about two hours before the sun and outshining literally everything else in the pre-dawn sky. If you're an early riser (or haven't gone to bed yet - I don't judge), you simply can't miss it. Time: 2-3 hours before sunrise Direction: Eastern horizon Pro Tip: Venus is so bright that you can often spot it in twilight before other stars become visible. Use it as your anchor point to orient yourself to the morning sky. Leo is having quite the moment this week with the Mars-Regulus conjunction. This majestic constellation is one of the few that actually resembles what it's supposed to be—a lion, complete with the distinctive "sickle" forming the lion's mane and head. Finding Leo is easy: look for the backward question mark (the sickle) with Regulus as the dot at the bottom. The bright triangle of stars to the east forms the lion's hindquarters. And this week, with Mars visiting Regulus, you get an extra beacon guiding you right to it. While the planets and moon tend to steal the spotlight, this week also offers prime viewing for several magnificent deep-sky objects: The Milky Way Core: Late night observers get a special treat as our galaxy's center rises, revealing a dense band of stars, dust, and gas that creates one of the most breathtaking sights in astronomy. You'll need dark skies away from city lights, but it's absolutely worth the drive. M13 Hercules Globular Cluster: High overhead in the evening, this ancient ball of thousands of stars looks like a fuzzy cotton ball to the naked eye, but explodes into a dazzling sphere through even modest telescopes. Beehive Cluster (M44): This open star cluster in Cancer is visible after sunset and looks spectacular through binoculars. The universe is putting on quite the performance - all you need to do is look up. And remember, every time you gaze at these celestial wonders, you're participating in the same activity that has captivated humans for thousands of years. There's something profoundly connecting about that, don't you think? NASA Astronaut Shoots Breathtaking Aurora From Space Strawberry Moon Stunner: Full Moon Views Around The Globe Astronaut Marvels At Lightning From Space
Chicago Tribune
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Today in History: Supreme Court rules in Miranda v. Arizona
Today is Friday, June 13, the 164th day of 2025. There are 201 days left in the year. Today in history: On June 13, 1966, the Supreme Court ruled in Miranda v. Arizona that criminal suspects had to be informed of their constitutional rights to remain silent and consult with an attorney. Also on this date: In 1942, during World War II, a four-man Nazi sabotage team arrived by submarine on Long Island, New York, three days before a second four-man team landed in Florida. (All eight men were arrested within weeks, after two members of the first group defected.) In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall to become the first non-white justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1971, The New York Times began publishing excerpts of the Pentagon Papers, a top secret study of America's involvement in Vietnam since 1945, that had been leaked to the paper by military analyst Daniel Ellsberg. In 1983, the U.S. space probe Pioneer 10, launched in 1972, became the first spacecraft to leave the solar system as it crossed the orbit of Neptune. In 1996, the 81-day-old Freemen standoff in Montana ended as the 16 remaining members of the anti-government group left their ranch and surrendered to the FBI. In 2000, the first meeting between leaders of North Korea and South Korea since the Korean War began as South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung met North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in Pyongyang. In 2013, the White House said it had conclusive evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad's government had used chemical weapons against opposition forces seeking to overthrow him. In 2022, the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was told that Donald Trump's closest campaign advisers, top government officials and even his family were dismantling his false claims of 2020 election fraud ahead of the insurrection, but the defeated president was becoming 'detached from reality' and clinging to outlandish theories to stay in power. Today's Birthdays: Actor Malcolm McDowell is 82. Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is 81. Actor Stellan Skarsgård is 74. Actor Richard Thomas is 74. Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Weaver is 74. Actor-comedian Tim Allen is 71. Actor Ally Sheedy is 63. Sportscaster Hannah Storm is 63. Musician Rivers Cuomo (Weezer) is 55. Actor-comedian Steve-O is 51. Actor Ethan Embry is 47. Actor Chris Evans is 44. Actor Kat Dennings is 39. Fashion designers and former actors Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen are 38. Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson is 35. Actor Kodi Smit-McPhee is 29.
Boston Globe
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Today in History: June 13, first Pentagon Papers excerpts published
In 1942, during World War II, a four-man Nazi sabotage team arrived by submarine on Long Island, N. Y., three days before a second four-man team landed in Florida. (All eight men were arrested within weeks, after two members of the first group defected.) Advertisement In 1966, the Supreme Court ruled, in Miranda v. Arizona, that criminal suspects had to be informed of their constitutional rights to remain silent and consult with an attorney. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall to become the first non-white justice on the US Supreme Court. In 1971, The New York Times began publishing excerpts of the Pentagon Papers, a top secret study of America's involvement in Vietnam since 1945, that had been leaked to the paper by military analyst Daniel Ellsberg. Advertisement In 1983, the US space probe Pioneer 10, launched in 1972, became the first spacecraft to leave the solar system as it crossed the orbit of Neptune. In 1996, the 81-day-old Freemen standoff in Montana ended as the 16 remaining members of the anti-government group left their ranch and surrendered to the FBI. In 2000, the first meeting between leaders of North Korea and South Korea since the Korean War began as South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung met North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in Pyongyang. In 2013, the White House said it had conclusive evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad's government had used chemical weapons against opposition forces seeking to overthrow him. In 2022, the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol was told that President Trump's closest campaign advisers, top government officials, and even his family were dismantling his false claims of 2020 election fraud ahead of the insurrection, but the defeated president was becoming 'detached from reality' and clinging to outlandish theories to stay in power.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'This is an attack on NASA.' Space agency's largest union speaks out as DOGE cuts shutter science institute located above 'Seinfeld' diner in NYC
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. NEW YORK — NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies has stood on a Manhattan corner near Columbia University's campus since 1966. The institute, called GISS for short, shares the building with Tom's Restaurant, a diner made famous by its regular appearance on the hit sitcom "Seinfeld." As George and Jerry discussed their dating lives over coffee, scientists two floors up were busy developing probes for NASA's Voyager program and analyzing the composition of Earth's atmosphere. But thanks to the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, led by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, all that is coming to an end. In April, GISS employees received word that their office was being shuttered as part of the administration's latest round of federal funding cuts. They had until May 31 to move out completely from the institute's offices at the corner of Broadway and West 112th Street. "This is an attack on NASA," Matt Briggs, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) — NASA's largest union — told Tuesday (May 27) during a news conference outside the GISS offices. IFPTE represents 8,000 NASA scientists and engineers, including a number at GISS. The air at the press conference was somber. We stood on the sidewalk outside Armstrong Hall, the Columbia building that houses GISS. As reporters approached, a few lingering GISS employees scattered. We were later told that they had been instructed not to speak with the press under threat of losing their jobs. "As part of the administration's government-wide review of leases to increase efficiency, NASA is canceling its lease of Columbia University's Armstrong Hall in New York City, home to the Goddard Institute for Space Studies," a NASA spokesperson said in a statement emailed to "Over the next several months, employees will be placed on temporary remote work agreements while NASA seeks and evaluates options for a new space for the GISS team." But critics point out that closing the office won't actually save the agency much money. NASA already signed a $3 million per year lease on the building through 2031, and they can't sublet the space to outside parties. Those dollars ultimately come from taxpayers. "It makes no fiscal sense whatsoever," said Briggs. In addition to the financial waste, the shuttering makes little sense from a research perspective. GISS has a stellar scientific pedigree going back decades. In 1966, it hosted the meeting that birthed the theory of plate tectonics. GISS personnel worked on instruments for NASA's historic Mariner 5, Pioneer 10 and 11, and Voyager missions. (Voyagers 1 and 2, launched in 1977, are now exploring interstellar space.) The facility also houses climate change records dating back to the 1880s, and its scientists were involved in modeling potential flooding in New York City that became invaluable during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. While Briggs spoke, movers began wheeling stacks of boxes bearing labels like "LONG TERM STORAGE/GISS LIBRARY" past us. Some were bound for storage on Columbia's campus, while others will likely be shipped to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. But it is unclear whether all of the files — both physical and digital — at GISS will end up in these locations. RELATED STORIES: — Trump administration cancels lease for NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies lab in New York City — Experts alarmed as White House proposes 'largest single-year cut to NASA in American history' — Scientists warn of consequences as over 800 NOAA workers are fired: 'Censoring science does not change the facts' Photos obtained by show the inside of the building gutted. Conference rooms stand empty. A handful of neon sticky notes, left by employees, speckle a NASA logo. Written on them is the oath that the researchers took upon becoming civil servants, according to one IFPTE member who asked not to be named. Briggs sees the closure as part of an ongoing attack by the Trump administration on both science and higher ed. Columbia in particular has been singled out by the administration, which withdrew $400 million in federal grants from the institution in March. But Briggs and IFPTE have no intention of throwing in the towel. Their next move is to petition congressional lawmakers to explicitly write GISS's funds into an appropriations bill. "What we're trying to do is get Congress to do their job and protect this place," Briggs said.
