Science
Solar Flare Heads Toward Earth
According to experts, one of the largest solar storms in years is headed to our planet, arriving as early as Thursday morning.
According to experts, one of the largest solar flare in years is headed to our planet, arriving as early as Thursday morning.
Solar flare heads toward earth
The storm is carrying a blast of charged particles that can trigger power grid problems, scramble GPS signals, and result in airlines having to reroute.
“It’s hitting us right in the nose,” said Joe Kunches, a scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He called it the sun’s version of “Super Tuesday.”
The storm is a result of an eruption on Tuesday that exploded around 7 p.m., according to NASA.
As reported by the LA Times:
A powerful solar flare Tuesday evening caused the surface of the sun to shudder. A second smaller flare followed about an hour later, and the blasts caused by those flares have hurled a “big blob of magnetized material” toward Earth.
The results of the coming geomagnetic storm may be pleasant — auroras as far south as Illinois — or unpleasant, such as GPS and communications problems, according to Young.
The first flare was the second largest of the current 11-year solar cycle, which began in 2008, with activity expected to peak next year, he said. The second was less impressive but also did its part in kicking up a storm.
“The main concern for space weather is the blast,” or “coronal mass ejection,” that follows a flare, Young said. That blast releases a huge amount of material into space — solar plasma as well as ionized gas that contains a magnetic field.
On a scale of 1 to 5, Young said, the geomagnetic storm has been pegged at 2 or 3, moderate to slightly strong.
When the material from the coronal mass ejection hits the Earth’s magnetic field — or magnetosphere — it causes the field to “ring like a bell,” or oscillate, Young said. This generates electrical currents that move around in the upper atmosphere and, when strong enough, causes electrical currents on the ground.
That means possible disruptions in electricity distribution — “severe storms can knock out power grids,” Young said. GPS and radio communications can be affected, and electrical currents can even be picked up by oil pipelines, contributing to their corrosion.
The coronal mass ejection is expected to hit the Earth at about 1:30 a.m. Eastern time Thursday — with a margin of error of plus or minus seven hours.
But if they’re lucky, in the wee hours of Thursday morning, residents of northern New York and Idaho — or even Illinois if the conditions are right — could be treated to auroras, those colorful light displays in the nighttime sky that are usually confined to the high and low latitudes.
LA TIMES
Science
From Classroom to Cosmos: Kids and educators invited to enter second annual International Space Art and Poetry Contest for chance to see their creations in space
Astronaut and contest visionary John Shoffner invites students and educators to submit in the International Space Art and Poetry Contest.
For the second year, astronaut and contest visionary John Shoffner invites students and educators from across the world to submit a drawing, painting or written poetry in the International Space Art and Poetry Contest.
About the International Space Art and Poetry Contest
Participants from around the globe will have the chance to showcase vivid color and curiosity as they take us on a journey into space as they envision it.
Eight category representatives will receive special recognition from the International Space Station (ISS) in addition to receiving physical prints of their creation sent down from space.
Entries will be categorized by age division (5-8, 9-13, 14-18, and a newly added educator category), as well as by genre (visual art and poetry).
Judges
Submissions will be scored by an esteemed panel of judges including:
- NASA Icon and Axiom Space Director of Human Space Flight Peggy Whitson, who holds more time in space than any American or woman in history
- STEAM advocate, contest visionary and Axiom Mission (Ax-2) Pilot John Shoffner
- Executive Director of Limitless Space Institute, Kaci Heins
- Visual Artist, poet and published author, Monique Lorden
Science
1st moon crew in 50 years includes Black, woman, Canadian astronaut
The first moon crew in 50 years was introduced during an event at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA has announced the four astronauts who will fly around the moon late next year, including the first African American, the first woman, and the first Canadian assigned to the mission.
First moon crew in 50 years
The first moon crew in 50 years was introduced during an event at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist 1 Christina Hammock Koch, and Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen, will work as a team to execute an ambitious set of demonstrations during the flight test.
Historic mission
The flight will set the stage for the first woman and first person of color on the Moon through the Artemis program, paving the way for future for long-term human exploration missions to the Moon, and eventually Mars.
“For the first time in more than 50 years, these individuals – the Artemis II crew – will be the first humans to fly to the vicinity of the Moon. Among the crew are the first woman, first person of color, and first Canadian on a lunar mission, and all four astronauts will represent the best of humanity as they explore for the benefit of all,” said Director Vanessa Wyche, NASA Johnson. “This mission paves the way for the expansion of human deep space exploration and presents new opportunities for scientific discoveries, commercial, industry and academic partnerships and the Artemis Generation.”
Launch date
Artemis II is set to take off around November 2024. The crew members, strapped inside the Orion spacecraft, will launch atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The mission is expected to last about 10 days and will send the crew out beyond the moon, potentially further than any human has traveled in history.
Science
Jessica Watkins To Become The First Black Woman To Join International Space Station Crew
When NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins launches to the International Space Station next year, she will make history.
When NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins launches to the International Space Station next year, she will make history.
ISS Mission
The Maryland native is set to become the first Black woman to join the international space station crew, and live and work in space on a six month mission on the orbiting outpost.
The agency announced Tuesday that Watkins will fly to the space station in April 2022, alongside NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Robert Hines and astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency.
The crew for this mission — known as Crew-4 — will be the fourth rotation of astronauts on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS.
Jessica Watkins Space Journey
Watkins became a NASA astronaut in 2017 and has worked in the space agency’s research centers, particularly on the Mars rover, Curiosity.
Watkins says she grew up admiring astronauts like Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. And she hopes her work aboard the ISS will inspire more kids of color to aspire to space travel.
“I do hope that all young girls, especially young girls of color that are interested in STEM and interested in exploring space, feel empowered to do so,” Watkins told Colorado Public Radio last year. “I just hope young girls across the country feel that way now.”
Photo Source : NASA
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