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A major milestone in spaceflight was reached by SpaceX on Wednesday (November 27) with the successful launch of 24 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The mission, conducted from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, began at 11:41 pm EST (10:11 am IST, November 28) and marked the Falcon 9’s 400th successful mission since its debut in 2010. The satellites were deployed into low Earth orbit approximately 65 minutes after launch, according to SpaceX’s announcements on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Booster Recovery Highlights Reusability

The first stage of the Falcon 9 returned to Earth approximately eight minutes post-liftoff, landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This achievement represented the 375th successful recovery of a Falcon first stage.

Details shared in a mission description confirmed that the booster used in this launch had completed 15 flights, 11 of which were dedicated to Starlink deployments.

Reports indicate that SpaceX has launched 117 Falcon 9 missions in 2024 alone, with 81 focused on expanding the Starlink satellite constellation. Five such missions have taken place within the past eight days, underlining the company’s accelerated efforts to build out the Starlink network. Astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell has estimated that nearly 6,700 Starlink satellites are currently active in orbit.

Context and Future Prospects

The Starlink network, the largest satellite constellation in history, is being developed to provide global internet coverage. These launches demonstrate the scalability of SpaceX’s reusable rocket technology, which has significantly reduced the cost of accessing space. Falcon 9 has become a cornerstone of SpaceX’s operations, with each successful mission reinforcing its position as a reliable workhorse for orbital payload delivery. The milestone further cements Falcon 9’s pivotal role in modern space exploration and satellite deployment.

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NASA’s Europa Clipper Probe Begins Deploying Science Instruments

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November 28, 2024

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NASA’s Europa Clipper Probe Begins Deploying Science Instruments

NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft has begun deploying its scientific instruments during its journey to Jupiter. The probe, launched on October 14, 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Centre, is set to study Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. Europa is believed to possess a subsurface ocean, potentially harbouring conditions suitable for life. According to NASA, the spacecraft has travelled over 13 million miles (20 million kilometres) since its launch, moving at 35 kilometres per second relative to the Sun.

Instrument Deployment and Purpose

The spacecraft has successfully extended two major instruments, the magnetometer’s boom and several radar antennas, according to NASA reports. The magnetometer, deployed on an 8.5-metre boom, will measure Europa’s magnetic field, aiding in confirming the existence of an underground ocean while providing details about its depth and salinity.

The radar antennas, part of the Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON) instrument, include four high-frequency antennas measuring 17.6 metres each and eight smaller antennas. These components are

designed to analyse Europa’s icy crust.

Jordan Evans, project manager for the Europa Clipper mission at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explained in a statement that the deployment process is being carefully monitored to ensure the spacecraft’s instruments function as expected. Data sent back to Earth is assisting engineers in assessing the behaviour and performance of the deployed equipment, as per reports.

Upcoming Mission Milestones

NASA officials have outlined a series of gravity-assist manoeuvres planned for the spacecraft. The first of these will involve Mars in March 2025, allowing tests of some instruments and thermal imaging of the planet. Another gravity assist around Earth in December 2026 will fine-tune its trajectory toward Jupiter, calibrating instruments like the magnetometer along the way.

The spacecraft, described by NASA as the largest ever built for a planetary mission, is expected to reach Jupiter in 2030 and conduct 49 flybys of Europa starting in 2031. These flybys will gather data to help determine if the moon’s environment could support life.

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Ryugu Sample Study Reveals Earth Microbes Colonising Asteroid Material

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November 28, 2024

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Ryugu Sample Study Reveals Earth Microbes Colonising Asteroid Material

A study published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science has reported the discovery of terrestrial micro-organisms in a sample returned from asteroid Ryugu by Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission. According to researchers, these microbes, identified as Earth-based in origin, had colonised the sample after its return to Earth in December 2020. The findings have highlighted concerns regarding the resilience of terrestrial life forms and the challenges of maintaining uncontaminated extraterrestrial samples for scientific analysis.

Microbial Growth Observed on Asteroid Sample

As per a Space.com report, it was confirmed by Dr Matthew Genge, planetary scientist at Imperial College London, that micro-organisms were detected on the asteroid fragment. Dr Genge stated during an interview with the publication that it was observed that microbes appeared on the rock and multiplied before dying. It was clarified that the bacteria were not extraterrestrial, as the growth occurred only after exposure to Earth’s atmosphere.

As per reports, the sample, which was initially tested using nano-X-ray computed tomography, had shown no signs of biological presence. However, following exposure to Earth’s environment, rod- and filament-shaped structures resembling bacteria were identified. The microbial population reportedly increased from 11 to 147 within a week, with their rapid colonisation attributed to the resilient nature of Earth’s microbes.

Implications for Space Exploration

It has been noted in the research that terrestrial contamination poses risks to planetary exploration. Dr Genge emphasised that microorganisms capable of surviving on extraterrestrial materials may complicate future missions aimed at detecting alien life. He told Space.com that it demonstrates how easily Earth-based microbes can colonise foreign materials.

The study’s findings underline the necessity for rigorous planetary protection protocols. These measures, designed to minimise biological contamination of extraterrestrial environments, are being implemented to ensure the integrity of future missions.

According to sources, further investigations of Ryugu samples and material from asteroid Bennu are being planned, with scientists aiming to mitigate the contamination risks observed in this study.

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Sea Turtles Reveal Hidden Seagrass Meadows for Better Marine Conservation

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November 28, 2024

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Sea Turtles Reveal Hidden Seagrass Meadows for Better Marine Conservation

Seagrass meadows, which serve as critical marine ecosystems, have been mapped more accurately using satellite-tagged green turtles compared to conventional satellite imagery, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. These underwater habitats are vital for biodiversity, carbon storage, and stabilising seabeds. However, their mapping has remained a challenge due to technological limitations. The research was conducted in the Red Sea, an area with limited seagrass data, as reported by marine ecologists from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

Tracking Green Turtles to Locate Seagrass

The study involved the tagging of 53 green turtles (Chelonia mydas) on Saudi Arabian beaches in the Red Sea. Led by Dr. Hugo Mann, marine ecologist at KAUST, the researchers equipped the turtles with satellite transmitters after their nesting cycles to avoid disruptions.

The devices transmitted location data whenever the turtles surfaced for air, revealing consistent movement patterns over specific sites. These areas were identified as seagrass meadows, with 34 previously unrecorded patches being discovered.

Validation efforts confirmed seagrass in all visited locations identified by turtles, while only 40% of sites flagged by the Allen Coral Atlas, a remote sensing tool, were verified. As stated by Carlos Duarte, a senior marine ecologist at KAUST, the findings highlight the limitations of existing mapping techniques for underwater habitats.

Environmental and Conservation Implications

Seagrass meadows contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, storing up to 4 teragrams of carbon, the study estimated. Dr. Mann emphasised the necessity of identifying these ecosystems to enhance conservation strategies. Seagrass is increasingly threatened by human activities, making accurate mapping crucial for its protection.

Dr. Jennifer Dijkstra, a marine ecologist at the University of New Hampshire, noted in the study’s findings that animal tracking could improve artificial intelligence-based mapping, offering a potential global solution for resource-constrained regions.

The researchers hope the method will lead to large-scale surveys, aiding efforts to conserve both seagrass habitats and the green turtles that depend on them.

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