For those who seek, skies always have something to offer. Last week, the Orionid meteor shower peaked but don’t worry if you missed it for its going to go on for a while. The forecasts by the American Meteor Society shows that a few meteors per hour will be visible.
When Earth passes through the debris of the famous Comet Halley, an Orionid meteor shower is produced. This happens every year around this specific time, as the cosmic shingles go through the upper atmosphere of our planet and burn up, giving us sights to enjoy and marvel at. Shooting stars and fireballs also pop up every now and then. The shower is considered to be a major one as the amount during the active period, i.e. first week of October to the first week of November, is high.
The Orionids enter our atmosphere with a speeding velocity of 66 kilometers per second (147,000 miles per hour). A lot of the meteors last for just a few seconds and some show fantastic displays. To be able to enjoy it, stargazers are advised to find places where there is less or preferably no light pollution and open sky is visible. Focus on specific regions of the sky is not needed. Though, the name ‘Orionids’ is given because their trails come from the same area where constellation Orion is located.
The best time to view them would be early morning hours and given their extended peek, one should be able to catch them through the weekends and early days of November.
Coming up: Leonids Meteor Shower
If you happen to miss the October meteor shower, worry not, as the month of November will also bring another shower with it. From November 16 to 17, the Leonids Meteor Shower will grace the skies. There will be an estimated 15 shooting stars per hour.
Nasa spacecraft Osiris-Rex has successfully landed on an asteroid, dodging boulders the size of buildings, to collect a handful of cosmic rubble and dust samples for analysis back on Earth.
NASA’s team behind the Osiris-Rex project issued a statement that the preliminary data showed the sample collection went as pre-planned and the spacecraft had now lifted off the surface of asteroid Bennu.
The scientific and space enthusiasts have been long-awaited this event and #ToBennuAndBack remains the top hashtag for more than three days on Twitter.
The back-away burn is complete 🛑✅ I'm now moving to a safe distance away from Bennu. pic.twitter.com/bXk2ufSneS
Today, the Osiris-Rex spacecraft sent back confirmation of its brief contact with asteroid Bennu more than 200m miles (322m km) away, drawing cheers from the mission team. But it will take a week or so before scientists know how much, if anything, is grabbed, or nothing at all and another try will be needed. According to NASA’s officials, If successful, Osiris-Rex will return the samples in 2023.
The asteroid Bennu
The asteroid Bennu is just 1,670 feet across, and its gravity was too low for Osiris-Rex to land, which forced the spacecraft had to reach out with its 3.4-meter robot arm and attempt to grab at least 2 ounces (60 grams) of Bennu.
Therefore, on Bennu, the Osiris-Rex spacecraft took around four-and-a-half hours to successfully landed down from its tight orbit to the surface, following the commands sent well by ground controllers located near Denver.
🔥 Checkpoint burn completed. "Okay, we're heading down towards the asteroid surface at this point." Our @OSIRISREx spacecraft is making its descent toward asteroid Bennu for sample collection. #ToBennuAndBackpic.twitter.com/VVCQuhyt7F
According to the resources, this US mission follows one run by Japan’s Hayabusa2, which is due to return to Earth in December 2020 and is bearing samples collected from the 4.5bn-year-old asteroid Ryugu back in May 2019. When it lands in the Australian desert as planned, it will be the first ever sub-surface asteroid sample to return to Earth.
In the first week of October, after a half-century for his work, Penrose just has won the long-awaited, deserving “Nobel Prize in the Physics for 2020”, while in a rush to celebrate his 90th Birthday next year. Today, Penrose still serves as the Professor Emeritus Rose Ball Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and continues to open and inspire the minds of young scientists and enthusiasts globally with the same energy he had decades ago when he produced visionaries such as the Late Stephen Hawking.
In an interview, Penrose once said, “I was always plodding, I was good at mathematics, yes, but I didn’t necessarily do very well in my tests.” “But, my teacher realized if he gave me enough time, I would do well. I basically had to do everything by working it out from first principles.” The above statements show the much foundational curiosity and depths of the eminent physicist to engage and pursue problems, eventually shining with creativity and intellect in the end, what every scientist should have and can practice for. None could have thought that Sir Roger would later go on and become such an influence and founder of the new field of “Black Holes” in Cosmology.
A young Penrose. Credits: University of Leicester
Sir Roger was a Topology Mathematician; the field of mathematics where you can explain the geometry of twisted and weirdly stretched objects; then he, later on, proved the possibility of “This extremely dense zones of space, where matter collapses on itself, where gravity is superficial and not even the escape of light is possible, what we know today as the Black Hole.” As predicted in Dr. Albert Einstein’s ‘Field Equations,’ the existence of singularities calling for the robust explanation of possible space-time curvatures to infinity, forming a Black Hole.
In 1965, 55 years ago, “Sir Roger Penrose,” the Legendary Mathematical Physicist and Philosopher of Science wrote a paper precisely “Proving the possibility of Black Holes mathematically as a manifestation of General Theory of Relativity” when it was regarded as a radical, rebellious, yet an intrepid idea in cosmology. The year 1965 was crucial for the history of General Theory of Relativity, a decade of revival since the discovery of “Cosmic Background Radiation,” Penrose’s “Modern Singularity Theorem” was published.
Incredibly from the perspective of discovering, Sir Penrose was one of the first ingenious to show the that the “core of a star can collapse itself, which is about to die in a supernova, can produce such objects” he also suggested that the “Big Bang” could have happened due to a singularity on such a massive, universal scale, or what we believe is the creation of our own universe.
Nobel Prize in Physics 2020 winners.
Summary of Penrose’s work showing details about the black hole formation.
They discovered that an invisible and cumbersome object governs the orbits of stars at the center of our Galaxy. A supermassive black hole is the only currently known explanation.
Dr.Ghez and Genzel have measured the orbits of stars around the massive object in the center of our Galaxy for decades through international collaborations of different teams; this fundamental scientific discovery is an eventual result of the seed planted by Roger Penrose in 55 years ago, in 1965.
After questions from Pakistani school kids created a buzz on social media, prompting responses from astronauts, the space agency NASA and its STEM engagement circuit also answered their questions.
These questions came from students at Cornerstones school in Karachi, where the teacher posted the queries from the young space enthusiasts on Twitter. She tagged the agency and requested to share it so that everyone else can see and respond. Luckily, a very positive response was generated and soon answers started pouring in from professional astronauts and the space agencies.
In the post, we get a glimpse of the questions that ranged from inquires about the fuel used in a spaceship and whether it rains diamonds on Jupiter or not.
The teacher, Ms. Aimun, says that the kids were over the moon after hearing back from their heroes and couldn’t contain their excitement and surprise. It was definitely an encouraging and happy moment that will hopefully keep them motivated. She said that the students read about the advancements and in the field of space exploration in their course books and were inspired by their achievements.
Here’s a compilation of the recent responses received on the Twitter post of Ms. Aimun.
Hi Alisha! A spaceship, or "launch vehicle” is rocket-propelled & used to carry a spacecraft or humans to space. They may look similar, but no two are alike as they are very complex! @NASA rockets are powered by burning solid, liquid or gas rocket fuel 🚀 https://t.co/qAMvzVFph4pic.twitter.com/hdWxub3mHF
Alisha, Minahil, Haniyah, Mahrukh, Anabiya, & Rayyan – we're so happy you reached out! 🤩 We hope the stars align, so we can see you one day. ✨ Until then, we have virtual tours for you: https://t.co/GogRaIVUPx
💙 Stay curious & keep reaching for the stars. We believe in you!
Hi Minahil, there are a variety of careers to explore!🤩
STEM fields are a great starting point! Check out https://t.co/qEpWN5ZtSm, sharpen those STEM skills & you are on your way to launching an amazing career!🚀
Space sciences are definitely very interesting and there is a dire need for encouraging interests amongst the youth regarding this field. In Pakistan unfortunately, not much interest is laid on it. The conventional educational system rarely encourages to think out of the box. Making science fun and exciting should be the teacher’s priority so that we can have young energetic blood aiming for the skies. We wish these kids the best and hope that they will continue their quest for learning.
According to the famous scientist and philosopher Aristotle, our knowledge of the outside world depends on five sensory organs and most people would argue that our eyes are probably the most important one of them.
Visually-impaired people are those who suffer either completely or partially from eye sight issues. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 285 million people around the world are visually impaired, and among them 39 million are completely blind.
Countless attempts have been made to help blind people in society, and today’s technology has brought an absolute change in their lives.
After all, the very purpose of technology from its birth has been to assist human beings and make their life better.
These days we are talking about flying cars but visually impaired persons have been using just plain white sticks. A blind stick is an easily recognizable special device that has been used by visually impaired people for centuries. It’s traditionally a white stick that’s used as a tool for directing them when they move and walk. It helps to locate and identify any obstacles or changes in their path, making it easier to navigate around.
The traditional blind stick, while incredibly useful, still presents some limitations that can be very easily solved with modern technology.
This brings us to the smart blind sticks of today, which are developed by using different components that work in tandem including an Arduino microcontroller, ultrasonic sensor, water sensor, heat sensor, a push button and a buzzer.
The smart stick helps visually impaired persons during their walk, by providing an alarm if any hurdle is detected within the set range.
This not only helps them detect and avoid obstacles ahead of time, but can also help them create a virtual mental map of their surroundings from a distance.
Ultrasonic sensor and Water sensor (from left to right)Image credit: Google images
An Arduino is basically a microcontroller – a tiny sized computer with an internally contained CPU and RAM that is used for data analysis and control purposes.
An Arduino microcontroller board not only contains on board power supply, but also USB port to communicate with PC and can be programmed accordingly by using an Arduino software named IDE(integrated development environment).
Arduinos offer a wide range of applications. A larger number of people are using Arduino boards for developing sensors and instruments for use in scientific research.
Arduino Board Image Courtesy: Google Images
Sound waves that have frequencies above the audible range for humans (20-20,000 Hertz) are termed as ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasonic sensors provide an easy method of distance measurement by using these ultrasonic waves to measure the distances between two points. On a smart blind stick, they can help detect how far away an object or an obstacle is.
Ultrasonic waves are emitted from the sensor head known as transmitter, which also receives the waves reflected back from the target.
A water sensor is used to detect the presence of water and provide an alert in time for path change. This component has a high sensitivity ratio and low power consumption which is the biggest advantage of this module.
Circuit Diagram
The technology behind smart sticks is upgrading day by day. The product has a great scope, and promises convenience and ease that can be achieved for really vulnerable members of society.
It is a really accurate device and large scale production can effectively bring down prices and improve design.
The best part is that the system is neither too bulky nor heavy to prove a hindrance for long journeys, and it also does not require any special training.
From SpaceX sending missions to the International Space Station to the development of state-of-the-art passenger planes, the aerospace industry worldwide seems to be moving in the right direction with a lot of progress and buildout. But in countries like Pakistan, it lags behind and needs a lot of rerouting to get in line with the rest of the developed world. We sat down with a design engineer to hear his thoughts on the current conditions of the aerospace industry of Pakistan and how it can catch up with the rest of the world.
Anique Ajmal Siddiqui did his O levels from Beaconhouse Karachi and later got admission to a Foundation Program at the Queen Mary University of London. He also completed his Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering from Queen Mary. After graduating in the summer of 2018, Anique returned to Pakistan and worked at Integrated Dynamics Aerospace and Robotics, a UAV manufacturing firm in Karachi.
Anique Ajmal Siddiqui is a design engineer and has a Bachelors degree from Queen Mary University of London.
Maham: You are primarily an aerospace engineer. Can you share a little about this industry’s background and how it is perceived in Pakistan, and what kind of work is being done these days, both nationally and internationally?
Anique: To be honest, if I tell someone in Pakistan that I am an aerospace engineer, they usually don’t know much about it, and the only company they can think of is NASA. For sure, it is one of the biggest names in the industry, but it is primarily a part of the spacecraft industry, which differs from the aircraft industry.
Internationally, a lot of work is being done on space exploration; all of this is part of the extensive research and development, from Europe to the USA to even India, as we have seen with their recent attempt to send a lunar lander.
In Pakistan, unfortunately, not much work is being done in R&D. Overall, in our sciences, there is not ample provision of funding that can lead to productive outcomes. Nationally, the organizations working at the government level include SUPARCO. But it isn’t making any strides. People here have a lot of interest; even my fellows from O levels used to speak about their fascination and discussed their desires to pursue it as a career. But I was the only student who did aerospace engineering; everyone else feared for lack of scope in Pakistan. People I met during the early days of my career echoed that thought.
The current Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, has pushed SUPARCO and has announced several projects, including a satellite launch in collaboration with China which is under consideration. However, the development and execution of the proposed projects are still much slower. In recent years, many startups have emerged. I’d like to mention Sara Qureshi of Aero Engine Craft, working on contrail-free aero engines. If her startup is provided funding and resources, it has the potential to be upscaled.
I am glad that in Pakistan, people are now acknowledging the potential. They have interest but are hesitant because of the lack of jobs. Even in the development of unmanned systems, communities and hobbyists are doing magnificent work.
Maham: In recent years, the aviation industry of Pakistan has been through several ups and downs. PIA is now in a state of downfall. What do you think went wrong?
Anique: PIA is marred by political issues and influences. The management hired people for jobs under political pressure and in excessive amounts; double and triple the number required. Now PIA is catering to them and providing benefits to everyone, including those who do not perform any work. On the other hand, Airblue and Serene are small aviation companies, but they are working really well. Serene recently purchased an A330-200 airplane, and Airblue made similar airbus purchases. Both these companies are moving forward slowly but progressively, unlike PIA, which I don’t see making progress anytime soon.
In recent years, PIA’s reputation has been severely damaged and it is unable to redeem itself due to constant political interruptions.
Fortunately, in Pakistan, new airlines are emerging. There is a lot of paperwork and documentation in the aviation industry, from managing routes to exporting aircraft. It takes 3 to 5 years for an aviation company to take off. Aviation is the backbone of tourism, which is being boosted by the Pakistani government, so our overall economic cycle will soon improve.
Maham: Where does the world stand in terms of progress in the aerospace industry, and what are the challenges being faced?
Anique: There is a lot of investment being done internationally in this field. The primary work is Research and Development. Space missions are costly, so the big companies are pouring in money. People like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are pursuing it, and they obviously know the general benefits of exploration. And the way they are investing, I am sure that we will see a lot of development in the coming decade.
If I use my insight generated from my experience in this industry, travel should take much less time than it does. In the coming years, people won’t have hours to spend on traveling. So, technologies are being developed to address that. There are also interests in renewable processes for aviation like electric airplanes, which are in the development phase in various countries. Technology is thriving, but issues arise from civil and federal aviation administration. It’s tough working along with their rules because one has to comply with many safety factors. In Pakistan, the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) industry in the private sector is unable to grow because there is no support from civil aviation. Secondly, the military also raises many red flags. This is a worldwide issue. But changes are being introduced so that people can get more opportunities.
Maham: In the middle of the last century, we saw many milestones being achieved. From the space race to imaging of the cosmos, it felt like we would soon reach other planets. But the pace reduced. What were the reasons?
Anique: There were a number of reasons for that. In America, many people opposed space exploration. There were conservative groups that called it natural exploitation and argued that there were no gains whatsoever. Now there is much more awareness. People are looking at other bodies that may support life, for Earth is being damaged. There were also several major setbacks like the 2003 Columbia disaster in which the entire crew lost their lives, which heavily impacted the space shuttle program, with people calling out for the risks and high stakes. There were funding issues as well because this type of work requires massive financing. Rockets were not reusable back then. The technology has just been perfected recently with the SpaceX initiatives. It was not practical at that time, but research and development continued.
TIME magazine cover depicting the tragic Columbia disaster. It was a severe blow to NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. Credits: TIME
Maham: With the current pace of development, can we really reach to Mars in the next decade?
Anique: In the coming decades, you will certainly see the product of a lot of work being done now. I don’t think it’ll be possible by the next decade, but indeed within the next 50 years, humans will reach Mars. Worldwide, there are a lot of precautions followed for experimenting with human life. Going to space takes a lot of time. But all big companies are looking into further exploration. Elon Musk himself is quite a visionary person and is very enthusiastic about Mars. Going to the Moon will be relatively easy. Considering the current progress, within 20 years, I think it will be feasible as a vacation spot.
Maham: As your work is on UAVs, how much progress do you think is being made in this sector in Pakistan? What are the problems arising?
Anique: In Pakistan now, quite a few companies have started working on UAVs. When I did my internship three years ago, there wasn’t any other company working on it. When you tell someone from the public that you are working on drones, they ask whether you will go to Waziristan to drop a bomb. People who are not aware think of these as instruments of terror. There is a need to educate and change such perceptions.
Most of the work is being done in those sectors that are closely linked with the forces. There is a company in Islamabad called SATUMA that makes drones for forces. Recently, NUST students and faculty also designed a quadcopter for pesticide spraying and aerial imaging, showing that there is a lot of potential in this market. UAVs can help us do a lot of work in much less time. For example, courier services take a day to send something from Karachi to Islamabad, even though a flight takes two hours. One can send a fixed-wing that can drop a payload on the desired destination within hours. But the government doesn’t give that much of a free hand and prohibits the use of airspace. There are a lot of factors, documentation, legalities to comply with.
Maham: There is a lot of talent and interest in Pakistan, but there is still some hesitation and awareness issues. How do you think we can explore the potential and inspire people to come forward?
Anique: The most significant role in all of this will be of the organizations that are making progress even at a smaller level. People like Sara Qureshi can be symbols of motivation. I have met a lot of people who have a discouraging attitude. But it’s all about looking on the bright side.
Most of the companies in Pakistan are in the early phases. The general mindset is that people feel there aren’t enough engineers or facilities, which carries a lot of misconceptions. The basic conventional mindset compels people to look for a job after their degrees and earn just enough to support their homes, and they get stuck in a cycle. There is no personal or technical or even financial growth in it whatsoever. It is better to work and invest in your skills at an early level. Conventional businesses in Pakistan are going to be obsolete soon because, in the coming years, people will start investing in digital markets. People regularly complain about the lack of market. The market is always there; you just need to display that your work is feasible.
Most of the work is being done in those sectors that are closely linked with the forces. But many startups are emerging targeting the private sectors. Credits: Yang Shuo
Maham: What do you make of the environment in Pakistani universities given that you have studied abroad, and how can we excel like the rest of the world in the research sector?
Anique: The environment created in Pakistani universities pushes students to seek jobs after graduation. This primary mindset traps them, halting research. The faculty and universities should promote research, small businesses, use of technology. Folks should participate in science exhibitions, but they need to take it to the next level and commercialize their projects so that they can gain some incentive. There should be stimulation and incubation centers that can provide forums to think and collaborate. Where I used to study, multiple incubation centers were present that linked startups to various companies; 3D printers were readily available that were used by students for their projects, but that’s not the case in Pakistan. When there is the introduction of new concepts and deployment of exciting technologies, people get motivated.
Maham: We also hear a lot about air travel causing global warming and the aviation industry not being environment friendly. Does it really have that much damaging effects as claimed?
Anique: Air travel does have an impact on global warming, causing roughly 5 percent of it. Air traffic will increase massively by 2050. The aviation industry is set to grow on an even bigger level. But for such processes, you make sure it doesn’t exceed its boundaries. You will see engines in a few years that will be developed in a way not to impact global warming. Better electrical batteries are being developed to support green aviation and a zero emission, liquid hydrogen fuel aircraft by Airbus is also under development. All these new concepts will significantly change the dynamics of this industry.
Maham: What are your recommendations for those who want to enter this field?
Anique: There are technologies and small startups to which people should look up to in terms of increasing their knowledge but not for financial support as everything is still in the growth phase. Those still studying should expand their networks and learn about the recent developments. Visit forums outside the university as there is always a chance of stumbling upon a project that has the potential to be commercialized. Interested people should read more and invest some years in familiarizing themselves with the market.
For the folks longing for some stargazing events, here is a compilation of everything coming up in the skies of the fall season. It is going to be fantastic, so mark your calendars and get your telescopes ready.
Mars at Opposition
Keep the night skies of October 13 in check as Mars is going to make its closest approach to Earth. It will be in all its glory and is expected to be at its best since 2003. And such a fantastic opportunity is not going to come until December 8, 2022.
Orionids Meteor Shower
From Wednesday to Thursday, October 21 to 22, you will get to witness the Orionids meteor shower. It will appear its brightest after midnight when it will pass Earth with a speed of 20 meteors per hour.
Halloween Hunter’s Blue Moon
The second full moon of October will occur on Halloween night. It will not really be blue though and is given the name “Hunter’s Moon” because it rises in the east near the time of the sunset.
Leonids Meteor Shower
If you happen to miss the October meteor shower, worry not, as the month of November will also bring another shower with it. From November 16 to 17, the Leonids Meteor Shower will grace the skies. There will be an estimated 15 shooting stars per hour.
Moon Eclipse
The ‘Frosty’ or ‘Beaver’ Moon of November will hide behind the Earth’s penumbral shadow on the 30th day. It will be visible only from North and South America, Australia, and East Asia and will be the last penumbral lunar eclipse of the year.
‘Geminids Meteor Shower’ and a ‘Total Solar Eclipse’
Astronomy lovers and stargazers are in for a treat on December 14, 2020, as these two fantastical events will occur in the skies just hours apart. The 120 multi-colored shooting stars per hour will shower will be visible to everyone and will peak after midnight. The solar eclipse, on the other hand, will stretch through Chile and Argentina and will last for a few minutes only.
Jupiter and Saturn Conjunction
On the 21st day of December, which will also be the December Solstice, great conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn will occur and will be visible in the western sky right after sunset. A great way to end the stargazing calendar.
Since 1969, Neil Armstrong, the first astronaut to rocket away from Earth and loop around the Moon, space exploration has been the most debatable topic of the decade. To seek beyond the limits has been the native nature of humans. Simultaneously the intriguing human brain questions the reason for this endeavor that costs such a considerable amount of money with apparently no benefits to the human race.
People have a bifurcated opinion about spaceflights. There is a significant ratio out there who decry the importance of such space exploration as a total waste of money, believing that there are more sensitive issues on earth like hunger, famine, poverty that need the spotlight. Although, such criticism was still there when some five hundred years ago, the European powers decided to sail across the planet to colonize other countries. And even was, when in 1960, the first satellite was launched into space, but look at the wonders of it in the space today!
The money spent on such missions does not just float away into the galaxy. Still, it opens the door into the world of innovations and possibilities with a treasure of resources and knowledge one’s mind is still not able to comprehend. To get an insight into how such exploration opens the frontier, we run down five top reasons why space exploration is significant.
Natural Resources
As the population is increasing on earth, the resources are burning out. It is a matter of time that we will deprive the essentials needed for our survival. In space, there is an unlimited stock of resources that we can bring back to our planet and suffice people’s needs here on Earth. And will probably make us move beyond the excuse to hike up the prices of the oil barrel.
Outer space is also a potential source of heavy metals like silver, platinum, and gold of more than 100 trillion dollars that can be used to generate money. Moreover, helium-3 (used in MRIs) and rare earth elements have been discovered from Moon, are used in electronics & solar panels.
Inventions
Spaceflights are responsible for many nifty inventions that we use daily, making our lives more comfortable and fun-loving. Speaking of inventions, freeze-dried food comes to our mind but it more than that. Heating blankets is one such example that uses the plastic coated with a reflected agent that was primarily invented by NASA to protect spacecraft and people in space, now used in helping accident victims staying warm. Nitinol, a flexible, resilient alloy used in braces, was also first designed to be used in satellites.
A space blanket
Electrolyte silver Iodizer now widely used as a Water purification system in recreational pools to kill bacteria, was also invented by NASA to purify astronauts’ drinking water. JPL played a leading role in developing a technology for capturing an excellent digital image for space programs. Later that technology helped to create CAT scanners and radiography. Artificial limbs are also a byproduct of NASA’s innovation into shock-absorbing material with robotic and extravehicular activities.
Numerous other innovations, including dust busters, LEDs, scratch-resistant lenses, ear thermometers, ear insulation, and much more, are the ‘spin-offs’ of space travel. Within the next few years, the space program is expected to improve our knowledge of solar energy power, cryogenics, and robotics expected to offer significant improvements in health care, energy and the environment, standard technology, and many other areas.
NASA’s Environmental Research
One must think that the guys who burn million pounds of rocket fuel are not environment-friendly people, but NASA has done more in the Earth science arena than many of us are even aware of. NASA has a distinguished contribution to Earth’s health and the inhabitants of this planet while being up there looking at all of us. One such miraculous piece of equipment NASA has is High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) used to track and understand Earth’s air quality.
NASA’s airborne radar devices are used to study climate change, for research on the flow of glaciers, and map the surface topography of the areas’ ice. These researches help scientists better understand the effects of global warming and what the future holds in climate change.
HSRL deployed in NASA Langley King Air B200. Credit: NASA
Another area of research that focuses on the production of clean fuel for life on Earth. NASA also plays an active role in educating people, making them more considerate to take care of their planet, and developing their interest by initiating projects like FIRST; an international robotic competition held each year with the thought process to aspire kids with science and engineering talents that will yield a generation of scientist in the future capable of solving the world’s biggest problems, including global warming, energy issues, pollution, and countless other issues affecting the environment.
Put Ourselves into Perspective
Kathy Sullivan, the first American woman to perform a spacewalk, said in an interview that;
“The thing that grew in me over these flights was a real motivation and desire … to not just enjoy these sights and take these pictures but to make it matter.”
Seeing the Earth from space can change a person’s perspective of how small and fragile our habitat is, and how vulnerable it is to the abuse we have done over the years. Maybe we come to think of the fact of how majestic our planet is, one of the great wonders of the creature, and how ungrateful we are to the gift of God. At this very time, this realization is crucial; otherwise, we might lose it in the face of a great calamity due to our careless attitude.
Survival
According to the recent estimation, Earth’s carrying capacity is between 8-16 billion, and there’s already 6.8 billion of us. This overpopulation, other than forest fires and oil spills, is doing significant damage to the planet. Rightfully so, the scientists with a futuristic vision believe that we need to start looking for other habitable regions and start colonizing other planets; our survival might depend on it. For the very reasons, spaceflights are significant for searching for different regions with suitable conditions to move in case of Earth saturation.
Space exploration is not just limited to the human brain, intriguing to know the unknown. Still, it has the potential of discovering a land of unlimited resources, new home, and groundbreaking technological advancements. Moreover, it is the need to ease off our planet; otherwise, we are one major event away from extinction. Hence the journey from sailing the oceans of this planet to sailing the cosmic ocean is inevitable for our survival.
Haven’t you noticed how whenever we talk about space exploration or signs of life on other planets, it is either Mars, Jupiter, or the exoplanets? No one’s ever notified Venus, especially in recent decades, when it has been totally overlooked.
Why has Mars always stolen the spotlight?
Over the last decades, space exploration missions by NASA/ ESA has been focused on this peculiar planet. If we look closely at the night sky, Mars is visible as a tiny red dot. Telescopic analysis and early Viking missions reveal it to have a cold and barren surface pretty much deserted.
What changed this view of ours is when Mars attempted to hit us with meteorites. Scrutinizing the Martian meteorites viewed minuscule structures that resembled bacteria on Earth. Further expeditions revealed further hints and clues about these structures’ chemical compositions and thus the quest to find out more about them made Mars the ultimate mystery in our solar system.
A bit about Venus
Venus is the second planet after Mercury to be closest to the Sun. It has been named after a Roman Goddess who represents love and beauty. Since Venus lies within the Earth’s orbit, it can be seen as a bright reddish dot just after dusk or right before dawn. It takes 243 days to orbit the Sun, and it has got no moons, a similarity shared with Mercury and in contrast with all other planets.
Venus is the second planet after Mercury to be closest to the Sun.
Venus is a terrestrial planet, which means it is composed of silicate rocks and metals. This makes it similar to Earth. It has a very congested atmosphere, with more than 96 percent of it being Carbon dioxide. It also has a very high atmospheric pressure, approximately 92 times more than Earth’s sea level.
Venus is the hottest planet of our Solar system, with a standard temperature of 464 degrees Celsius. Its surface is wrapped in an opaque layer of sulfuric acid clouds, dry and desiccated with slabs of rock. Venus has a similar size to that of Earth. This adds another standard feature with Earth, the first being that both are two of the four terrestrial planets of the solar system. Its diameter is only 640 km less than that of Earth’s, and its mass is 82 percent of the Earth’s. 80 percent of the surface of Venus is covered with volcanoes.
Cloudy with a chance of microbial life
On September 14, a group of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced that they detected the presence of Phosphine gas on the surface. In an interview, they claimed that this did not necessarily prove life, but they got such an idea because this gas is produced by many microorganisms on Earth. More research needs to be done about the geochemistry of Venus before confirming any discovery.
Scientists propose that the clouds may create a humid and habitable land for microbial life since most bacteria prefer humid and warm conditions to thrive. The clouds also have a suitable atm to support life. The microbe floating in the clouds could be coated with cyclo-octa-Sulfur to convert UV light into visible one and use it for photosynthesis.
A brief timeline of missions to Venus
On March 1, 1966, the Soviet space probe Venera 3 crash-landed on the planet Venus, making it the first spacecraft ever to reach another planet’s surface. Following a few failed attempts, Venera 7 became the first successful probe to land on Venus on December 15, 1970, followed by Venera 8 (1972), and Venera 9 and 10 (1975). In 1978, Venera 11 and Venera 12 then dropped descent vehicles with cameras and other equipment on the planet, while in 1981, the Venera 13 and Venera 14 landers carried out further research. In 1983, Venera 15 and Venera 16 subsequently entered orbit around Venus and analyzed the planet’s upper atmosphere and surface geology.
It’s not just the Soviets/Russians that have been studying Venus, however, with the US Mariner 10 probe passing within 5,768 km of the planet Venus during a flyby on its way to Mercury in 1974, and probes that have been placed in orbit around the planet for a while including the American Magellan probe (1990) which collated data in for four years, and the European Space Agency’s Venus Express mission (2006).
What the future holds
Many projects have been planned to be launched by NASA throughout the 2020s to explore the atmospheric conditions and landscape of Venus. An example DAVINCI, all set to be launched in 2021 to probe atmospheric conditions. It stands for Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging.
REFERENCES:
Our long fascination with the journey to Mars, Paulo de Souza.
CSIRO On Venus, Cloudy with a chance of microbial life.
New York Times 10 interesting facts about the missions to Venus,
Marie Curie is truly a pioneer who helped pave the way for women in science. She roared the world in an era when there were almost no women in Physics. Marie dedicated her entire life for the progress and betterment of humanity. Her life offers perception into the changing role of women in science and academia over the past century.
Marie Curie
Marie Skłodowska Curie, the fifth child in the family, was born on November 7, 1867, in Warsaw, Poland. Her parents were both teachers; her mother was a school principal, and her father taught science. Marie was a bright and curious child with a great gift for different languages and an extraordinary memory. Marie lost her sister at the age of 11, and after four years, her mother died after affected by another disease. She won a gold medal at the age of 16 on the completion of her secondary education at the Russian Icyee. At that time, there was no university in Warsaw, and even in Poland that was admitting women.
Marie’s father didn’t have the means to send her to Paris for higher studies; locally, there were few universities accepting women. At her 18, she served as a governess to earn money for further studies. After a long period of hardship, she joined Sorbonne University in Paris and studied Physics and Mathematics. Through her insatiable appetite for learning, she had discovered her love for science. Marie started a study on the magnetic properties of steel. She struggled with her experiments but couldn’t get adequate results. Here, she met Pierre Curie, an expert in magnetism. They got married on July 26th, 1895.
Marie Curie and Perrie Curie. Credit: Google Images
At the School of Chemistry and Physics in Paris, the Curies became research workers. They kick-started their work into invisible rays given off by Uranium, a phenomenon identified by professor Henry Bacequerel. While studying Uranium rays, Curie said that these rays were independent of Uranium’s form and depended on its atomic structure. A new field of study, “atomic physics”, was created through her theory, and she coined the term radioactivity. Both Marie Curie and Perrie Curie discovered two radioactive elements, Radium, and Polonium through their work with pitchblende. In 1902, Marie isolated radium, determining its atomic weight as 225.93. The journey to the discovery was daring and long.
Marie Curie in her laboratory. Credit: newscientist.com
In 1903, Marie Curie, along with her husband, won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on radioactivity. She was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize. Pierre was killed in an accident just after three years of winning the Nobel Prize. In the time of hardships, Marie continued her research work. Moreover, she was offered Pierre’s teaching position at Sorbonne. She was the first woman appointed as a professor at a French university at that time. In 1911, she won another Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and by winning this prize, she became the first person to win the award twice.
Marie Curie made a great contribution to the fields of physics and chemistry, along with medicine. By studying x-rays and x-ray machines, at the time of World War I in 1914, she made advances in this field. She worked on an x-ray machine discovered by William Roentgen, a German physicist, and used her newly discovered radium to be the gamma ray source of the x-ray machine. In this way, during the time of World War I, she helped and saved many lives through her work.
Marie curie with her x-ray vehicle. Credit: Google Images
Marie wasn’t aware of the fact that radium is a harmful radioactive element. It is said that she used to carry radium tubes in her pockets. Years of close contact with harmful radiations made her suffer from leukemia. These harmful radiations took their toll, and she passed away on July 4th, 1934. Even a century later, her notebooks are still radioactive. Following her parents’ footsteps, Marie and Pierre’s elder daughter Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1925, in the field of artificial radioactivity and her contribution to the discovery of neutrons.
Marie Curie’s legacy continues to this day. Various research institutions have been named after her, including Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris. The Marie Curie Charity was established in 1948 and continues to provide care for people with life-limiting illnesses. Marie Curie is a wonder woman who shaped the world we live in. She is still one of the world’s most famous scientists, remembered not only for the excellence of her science, but also for her passion for science, her battles to allow women scientists to take their place alongside their male colleagues, her ability to convey science to the non-scientist, and her role in changing education for women.
