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The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to launch a unique satellite in 2027, designed specifically to study how satellites break apart upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. This mission, named DRACO (Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object), will be an important step in ESA’s effort to develop technology that limits the creation of space debris. ESA has awarded the contract to Deimos, a European technology company, to build this spacecraft, which will provide invaluable data as it breaks apart during its reentry. This data will help scientists better understand satellite disintegration and its environmental impact.

Understanding Satellite Breakup

The goal of the DRACO mission is to collect data on how satellites disintegrate during reentry. By studying this, researchers aim to design future satellites that will fully burn up during reentry, reducing the risk of debris reaching the Earth’s surface. The mission will also examine how spacecraft reentry affects the atmosphere, including how different materials interact with it and what byproducts are produced.

Innovative DRACO Design

At 200 kilograms, DRACO will be about the size of a washing machine. Its design will allow it to break apart like a normal satellite, but a specially engineered capsule will survive reentry. This capsule, measuring 40 centimetres, will carry four cameras and 200 sensors to record crucial data during the breakup. After reentry, it will deploy a parachute and transmit the collected information before being lost at sea.

Advancing Zero Debris Technology

According to Holger Krag, ESA’s Head of Space Safety, the DRACO mission will play a key role in developing future satellite technology. The data it collects will be used to build more demisable satellites by 2030, aligning with ESA’s Zero Debris charter, which aims to stop the creation of space debris within this decade.

Tim Flohrer, head of ESA’s space debris office, also emphasised the mission’s importance in helping to advance zero-debris technologies, particularly as the number of satellite launches continues to increase worldwide.

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Ancient Bronze Statues Unearthed from Etruscan Healing Spring in Italy

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December 20, 2024

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Ancient Bronze Statues Unearthed from Etruscan Healing Spring in Italy

Bronze statues, including depictions of snakes and a child priest, have been uncovered from a hot spring at San Casciano dei Bagni in Italy, according to the Italian Ministry of Culture, as per reports. The site, located around 120 kilometres northwest of Rome, has been excavated since 2019 and is believed to have been used for sacred rituals dating back to the third century B.C. The spring, originally used by the Etruscans and later adopted by the Romans, was a place where votive offerings were made in hopes of divine protection or healing, as per reports.

Discovery of Snake Statues and Other Artefacts

Bronze snake statues, some measuring up to 90 centimetres in length, were among the latest findings during the 2024 excavation, as reported by the excavation team. These statues were discovered in the deeper layers of the spring and are thought to have symbolised protection for the sacred waters. Other artefacts include a nude male figure inscribed with the name “Gaius Roscius” and a child priest holding a ball, which may have been used in divination rituals.

Preserved Organic Remains Found

The excavation also revealed well-preserved organic remains, such as eggs with visible yolks, pine cones, and plant matter. According to the Italian Ministry of Culture, in a statement, these items may have been used in rituals symbolising rebirth and regeneration. The preservation of these items is attributed to their rapid burial in sediment.

Expert Perspective

Alexandra Carpino, an art history professor at Northern Arizona University, commented in an email to Live Science that these findings are among the most significant discoveries of the 21st century. The range of artefacts provides insights into the role of healing sanctuaries in ancient societies.

Ongoing Research at the Site

Research continues at San Casciano dei Bagni, with scholars examining the inscriptions and artefacts to uncover more about the Etruscan and Roman use of the spring.

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Study Explores Sun’s Magnetic Field Changes and Solar Wind Acceleration

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Study Explores Sun’s Magnetic Field Changes and Solar Wind Acceleration

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December 20, 2024

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Study Explores Sun’s Magnetic Field Changes and Solar Wind Acceleration

In The Astrophysical Journal, a University of Michigan-led study detailed how the Sun’s magnetic field evolves as it moves through space, providing insights into solar wind acceleration. Using data from rare alignments of the Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter, researchers observed that the Sun’s magnetic field transitions from sharp oscillations to smoother waves, with the surrounding solar wind gaining velocity. This discovery could enhance predictions of space weather, which impacts Earth’s technology and infrastructure.

Observations from Aligned Solar Probes

As per reports, the study focused on magnetic switchbacks—sharp bends in the Sun’s magnetic field. These phenomena influence the solar wind, a stream of charged particles that can disrupt power grids, communication systems, and satellites. The Parker Solar Probe, stationed within 30 solar radii (Rs) of the Sun, and the Solar Orbiter, located further out at 130 Rs, provided comparative measurements of magnetic fields and plasma moments.

The findings revealed that magnetic switchbacks smooth out into microstreams with 30 percent fewer reversals as they move outward, while the surrounding proton velocity increased by 10 percent. Researchers attributed this to magnetic relaxation, where magnetic energy is converted into kinetic energy, accelerating the solar wind.

Insights for Space Weather Forecasting

According to Shirsh Soni, research fellow in climate and space sciences at the University of Michigan and corresponding author of the study, in a statement, this marks the first direct observation of switchback magnetic energy decreasing with distance. He stated in reports that the collaboration between the Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter has been crucial for understanding the Sun’s magnetic processes.

Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, associate research scientist at the University of Michigan, highlighted the broader implications, in his statement, noting that magnetic switchbacks reveal the Sun’s dynamic energy processes and their influence on the solar system. Researchers aim to investigate whether magnetic energy transfers also generate heat, potentially solving mysteries about the solar wind’s heating.

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FAST Telescope Detects New Pulsar PSR J1922+37 in Open Cluster NGC 6791

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December 20, 2024

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FAST Telescope Detects New Pulsar PSR J1922+37 in Open Cluster NGC 6791

A new pulsar, PSR J1922+37, has been discovered with a spin period of 1.92 seconds using the Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in China, according to a report. The finding was made in the direction of the open cluster NGC 6791. If confirmed as a member of this cluster, it would be the first pulsar identified in an open cluster, a breakthrough in pulsar and stellar cluster research, according to sources.

Key Details of PSR J1922+37

The finding was reported in a paper published Dec. 11 on the arXiv preprint server. As per reports, the pulsar PSR J1922+37 has been observed with a dispersion measure of 85 pc/cm³ and a flux density of approximately 7.0 µJy. Its position aligns closely with the location of NGC 6791, with an offset of 14 arcminutes from the cluster’s centre. The estimated distance of the pulsar, 15,600 light-years, is consistent with the cluster’s distance range, which is calculated to be between 13,100 and 16,000 light-years.

According to the study, led by Xiao-Jin Liu of Beijing Normal University, the dense stellar environment of NGC 6791 increases the likelihood of pulsars being present within the cluster. Researchers have suggested that precise measurements of PSR J1922+37’s distance and proper motion will be necessary to confirm its association with NGC 6791.

Potential for Further Discoveries

The researchers indicated that NGC 6791’s compact and high surface brightness environment could host additional pulsars. An estimate provided in the study predicts that as many as nine pulsars may exist within this cluster. The team noted that further observations using advanced techniques could help verify these predictions.

The report further highlights that the discovery has been described as a significant development in the understanding of pulsars within open clusters, an area of study previously limited due to low stellar density in such regions. Verification of PSR J1922+37’s cluster membership will require additional studies, including proper motion analysis to establish a definitive connection.

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