Connect with us

Published

1 year ago

on

After India’s solar mission, Aditya L1 began its journey towards Lagrange point 1 following a key manoeuvre, it has started studying energetic particles in the solar wind from space and will continue to do so for the rest of its life, a senior astrophysicist said. The study of the solar wind, the continuous flow of charged particles from the sun which permeates the solar system, will be carried out with the help of a device named Supra Thermal & Energetic Particle Spectrometer (STEPS), a part of the Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) payload.

“STEPS is now working from space. However, it was not sitting idle earlier. It has started functioning from within the magnetic field of the Earth since September 10 when Aditya was 52,000 kilometres above our planet,” Dr Dibyendu Chakrabarty, professor of Space and Atmospheric Sciences at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) said.
STEPS was developed by the PRL with support from the Space Application Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad.

“During the travel time of four months (till Aditya L1 reaches its destination), it will study energetic particles in the solar wind. The data will help maintain the health and performance of our space assets in a better way,” Dr Chakrabarty told PTI.

The key aim of STEPS is to study the environment of energetic particles from the spacecraft’s position on the L1 point till it will function, he said. “The data from STEPS in the long term will also help us understand how space weather changes,” the space scientist said.

STEPS comprises six sensors, each observing in different directions and measuring supra-thermal and energetic ions. The data collected during the Earth’s orbits helps scientists to analyse the behaviour of particles surrounding the planet, especially in the presence of its magnetic field.

Aditya-L1, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on September 2, will go up to the First Lagrangian point, about 1.5 million km from the Earth ISRO on September 18 said on X: “Off to Sun-Earth L1 point! The Trans-Lagrangean Point 1 Insertion (TL1I) manoeuvre is performed successfully. The spacecraft is now on a trajectory that will take it to the Sun-Earth L1 point.” Lagrangian points are where gravitational forces, acting between two objects, balance each other in such a way that the spacecraft can ‘hover’ for a longer period of time.

The L1 point is considered the most significant of the Lagrangian points, for solar observations, which were discovered by mathematician Joseph Louis Lagrange. 

Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Science

Get ready! ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket launches on October 4

Published

3 days ago

on

October 4, 2024

By

Get ready! ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket launches on October 4

United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket is all set for its second launch on Friday, 4th October 2024, at 6 a.m. EDT (10:00 GMT) from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This launch, called Cert-2, is a crucial step toward certifying the rocket for use by the U.S. Space Force.

Launch Readiness Review Successfully Completed

The launch readiness review, held on 2nd October, went smoothly, with ULA leadership and Space Force officials confirming the readiness of the rocket and payload. Weather conditions are predicted to be favourable, with a 75% chance of meeting launch conditions.

Payload and Objectives of Cert-2

Cert-2 is primarily a test flight and will carry a mass simulator and additional instrumentation to assess the rocket’s performance. Although Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser space plane was initially planned for this mission, it wasn’t ready in time, so a replacement payload is being used.

Future Plans for the Vulcan Centaur Rocket

The launch is part of ULA’s efforts to secure the rocket for future national security missions, with plans for more flights before the year ends. If the Cert-2 flight goes as planned, ULA’s Vulcan Centaur could become a workhorse for missions in 2025, with 10 launches already scheduled alongside Atlas V missions.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


October 2024 Skywatching: Comet C/2023 A3, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and More Expect Over the Coming Weeks



Harvard Students Develop Meta Smart Glasses App That Reveals People’s Sensitive Details

Continue Reading

Science

Did a River Capture Event Make Everest Taller?

Published

3 days ago

on

October 4, 2024

By

Did a River Capture Event Make Everest Taller?

A fascinating study suggests that Mount Everest, standing at 29,031.69 feet (8,848.86 m), may be taller than expected due to an ancient river “capture” event. This geological phenomenon occurred approximately 89,000 years ago and involved a river located around 46 miles (75 kilometres) from the mountain. Researchers propose that the erosion resulting from this event caused significant landmass loss, enabling Everest to rise by as much as 164 feet (50 metres). According to Adam Smith, a researcher in Earth Sciences at University College London, this height discrepancy indicates that something unusual is happening within the Himalayan region.

The Mystery of the Arun River

Mount Everest’s height surpasses that of its nearest rival, K2, by approximately 820 feet (250 metres). The difference in height is intriguing, leading scientists to investigate the potential influence of the surrounding river systems on the mountain’s elevation. One notable river, the Arun, flows in an atypical L-shaped pattern, diverging from the usual straight-flowing rivers. Smith highlights that this strange configuration suggests that the Arun River may have been altered through a “capture” process, whereby it was diverted by the larger Kosi River network.

Research Methods and Findings

The recent study, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, utilised numerical models to trace the evolution of the Kosi River network across China, Nepal, and India. By comparing these models with the current topography, researchers determined that the Arun River was likely captured by the Kosi around 89,000 years ago. This diversion intensified erosion, creating the Arun River Gorge and removing enough landmass to lighten the surrounding area, prompting Everest to rise.

Future Research Directions

The exact cause of the river capture remains uncertain. It could have been the result of one river eroding into another or possibly a glacial lake overflowing, leading to a massive flood that erased natural barriers. Smith believes that Everest’s growth is ongoing and will continue until the river systems fully adapt to these geological changes. Future research will focus on the gorge and other affected regions to better understand the timing and implications of this event.

Continue Reading

Science

Alien Civilisations Might Destroy Themselves With Climate Change

Published

3 days ago

on

October 4, 2024

By

Alien Civilisations Might Destroy Themselves With Climate Change

A recent study by astrophysicists suggests that advanced alien civilisations might only have a thousand years before their planets become uninhabitable due to climate change. This alarming finding stems from simulations exploring the trajectory of technological growth and energy consumption of these hypothetical societies. Even those relying on renewable energy could face dire consequences, as any increase in energy production inevitably leads to heat generation that the planet cannot support. This research has been shared on the preprint server arXiv and is currently awaiting peer review.

Comparisons to Human Energy Consumption

The study’s lead authors, Manasvi Lingam, an astrophysicist at Florida Tech, and Amedeo Balbi, an associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Tor Vergata University of Rome, are drawing parallels between human energy consumption and the potential fate of extraterrestrial societies. Since the 1800s, human energy use has surged dramatically, with 2023 estimates indicating approximately 180,000 terawatt hours (TWh) consumed. This level of energy consumption, primarily from fossil fuels, has escalated global temperatures at an unsustainable rate. Even a shift to renewable sources would not halt this growth and would still result in increased energy demands.

The Role of Thermodynamics in Planetary Health

The second law of thermodynamics plays a crucial role in understanding this phenomenon. It posits that no energy system is perfect, meaning some energy is always lost in the form of heat. Lingam uses the analogy of a leaky bathtub to illustrate how, as a society grows, even a small leak can lead to catastrophic outcomes when the bathtub becomes overfilled.

Challenges for Astrobiology and the Search for Life

The implications of this study extend beyond the survival of alien life; they also pose significant challenges for astrobiologists in their quest to find intelligent life beyond Earth. With such a short window for survival, the study indicates that many potential civilisations may self-destruct long before they could be detected.

A Sustainable Path Forward for Civilisations

Lingam emphasises that there is an alternative. Civilisations could opt for a balanced growth approach, allowing them to coexist sustainably with their environments, potentially enabling survival for millennia.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


Harvard Students Develop Meta Smart Glasses App That Reveals People’s Sensitive Details



Oura Ring 4 With Upgraded Sensors, Up to 8 Days of Battery Life Launched: Price, Specifications

Continue Reading

Trending