Colony Worlds

JUNO To Trek Where Humans Dare Not Travel (Jupiter)

Darnell — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:00:46 +0000

(Image Credit: NASA)

Despite its romantic place in celestial history, Jupiter is one hostile region.

Of the four Galilean moons that orbit this Jovian world, only Callisto is is known to be habitable for humans due to the planet’s radiation belts.

But before we can even attempt to conquer the Galilean moons is a distant future, we are going to have to scout out the gas giant in order to ensure that our species is able to survive orbiting our star systems largest gas giant.

Using a spinning, solar-powered spacecraft, Juno will make maps of the gravity, magnetic fields, and atmospheric composition of Jupiter from a unique polar orbit. Juno will carry precise high-sensitivity radiometers, magnetometers, and gravity science systems . During its one-year mission, Juno will complete 33 eleven-day-long orbits and will sample Jupiter’s full range of latitudes and longitudes. From its polar perspective, Juno combines in situ and remote sensing observations to explore the polar magnetosphere and determine what drives Jupiter’s remarkable auroras. (New Frontiers, NASA)

NASA has already begun building the titanium shield that will protect the delicate satellite from the raging ions, protons and elections of the planet (which are strong enough to kill robots, let alone humans).

“For the 15 months Juno orbits Jupiter, the spacecraft will have to withstand the equivalent of more than 100 million dental X-rays,” said Bill McAlpine, Juno’s radiation control manager, based at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. “In the same way human beings need to protect their organs during an X-ray exam, we have to protect Juno’s brain and heart.” [...]

With guidance from JPL and the principal investigator, engineers at Lockheed Martin Space Systems designed and built a special radiation vault made of titanium for a centralized electronics hub. While other materials exist that make good radiation blockers, engineers chose titanium because lead is too soft to withstand the vibrations of launch, and some other materials were too difficult to work with.

Each titanium wall measures nearly a square meter (nearly 9 square feet) in area, about 1 centimeter (a third of an inch) in thickness, and 18 kilograms (40 pounds) in mass. This titanium box — about the size of an SUV’s trunk – encloses Juno’s command and data handling box (the spacecraft’s brain), power and data distribution unit (its heart) and about 20 other electronic assemblies. The whole vault weighs about 200 kilograms (500 pounds). (Astrobiology Magazine)

JUNO is expected to survive at least 15 months in Jovian orbit, which should give scientists plenty of information on not only how extensive Jupiter’s radiation belts are, but their exact width and strength as well.

These measurements could determine whether Ganymede (which is larger than the planet Mercury) is worthy of human settlement.

While this information will not benefit our species in this day and age (or even our grandkids for that matter), it may help us map out safe locations of travel within the Jupiteran system, helping humanity survive within the system without being radiated like popcorn in a microwave.

(Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LMSS)

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Carnival Of The Space Geeks (Planetary Society)

Darnell — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:51:48 +0000

Last weeks Carnival of Space was hosted by Emily Lakdawalla upon The Planetary Society, which featured articles ranging from deadly space weather to the first solar flight (from Japan at least) to questions on when humanity will revisit the Moon.

Articles of interest from within our star system included:

Paul Sutherland of SkyMania reports that Titan’s methane lakes are depleting due to the mid summer season.
Aron Sora from Habitation Intention highlights silly arguments against colonizing our star system (and how to overcome them).
Our host Emily Lakdawalla blogs about a close encounter of the rocky kind, displaying images of enormous space boulders in mid-celestial dance.

Be sure to read the rest of the articles, and for those of you desiring to join our rowdy space ranks, be sure to contact Universe Today for more info on how to join our growing numbers.

(Image Credit: JAXA)

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Under Construction (Revamping Site)

Darnell — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:25:41 +0000

After taking a weird blog sabbatical (or rather I was busy posting upon other numerous blogs to post anything here) I’ll be returning starting Monday as I’ve been itching to write upon Colony Worlds for quite some time!

Although I love this theme dearly, the time has come to embrace change and adopt a common (or at least similar) theme throughout all the sites that I own, with the exception of one (which will simply act as a static website).

Once the theme is done, I should return to my regular space geek schedule (as lurking around other space blogs via iPhone is getting old). I’ll finish the theme by today, and begin posting on Monday.

Until then, Live long and prosper.

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India Delays Human Space Launch

Darnell — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:06:06 +0000

After promising the world that India would become a space power by 2015, it looks as if the world’s largest democracy is now scheduling its first human encounter with the stars by 2017.

India has aspirations to establish a lunar colony in the future as well, and has even proposed teaming up with Japan as well as Russia to help achieve their space goals.

Hopefully the land of a billion people will be able to to meet its timeline within seven years, as any further delay could result in India ceding dominance to China (who currently reigns as the space king in the east).

(via Spaceports)

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NASA: Omega-3 Everyday Can Keep The Bone Loss Away (Micro Gravity)

Darnell — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:57:29 +0000

One of the biggest hurdles preventing humanity from settling the final frontier is micro gravity.

While it may be fun to float in the air like jelly fish floats in water, micro gravity can wreck serious damage upon our bodies, turning strong bones into brittle skeletons.

Fortunately it looks as if the boys and girls at NASA may have found a solution to our woes via a fatty acid by the name of Omega-3.

(NASA) NASA-sponsored studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may play a role in mitigating bone breakdown that occurs during spaceflight and in osteoporosis. Ongoing research for decades has looked for ways to stop bone density loss in astronauts. [...]

In a series of cell-based studies, scientists documented that adding a specific omega-3 fatty acid to cells would inhibit the activation of factors that lead to bone breakdown. This was true in both typical cell cultures and those designed to mimic weightlessness. The inhibited factor is known as “nuclear factor kappa B” or NFκB. NFκB is involved in immune system behavior and the inflammation process. The activation of NFκB in different tissues can lead to bone and muscle loss.

Combined with medical drugs (which will help keep our muscles strong), humanity may finally be able to dwell among the heavens above without fear of their bodies deteriorating in deep space.

While this probably means that sea food, will become apart of the future diet (especially for water rich worlds like the Moon, Mars and Callisto), this revelation may also help make living off world a little bit easier (if not tastier as well).

(via SpaceRef, Image Credit: Medline Plus)

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Keeping Recycled Space Water Clean (Via Ultraviolet Light)

Darnell — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:59:51 +0000

Unless you are fortunate enough to live on a water abundant world (like Earth, the red planet, and yes, even the Moon), future space travelers are going to have to recycle every drop of water that exits their body (regardless of origin).

Since bacteria have a tendency to thrive in micro gravity, astronauts will need to find a way to kill off these microscopic creatures before they kill us off via recycled sweat and other bodily fluids (especially since our immune system becomes weaker in zero-G).

Fortunately for us a company may have a quick solution that is not only effective but inexpensive as well.

(Homedics, note: PDF file) UVC [ultraviolet C] light, with wavelengths between 100 and 280 nm, is commonly referred to as “germicidal light” due to its effectiveness in destroying microorganisms. UVC light acts as a natural outdoor air purification system by deactivating the DNA of microorganisms and destroying their ability to multiply. [...]

Utilizing the germ-killing benefits of UVC light, HoMedics, the leader in health and wellness products, developed Restore®, a complete water purification system in an easy to use pitcher. Restore combines UV Clean technology to remove bacteria, viruses and microbial cysts with a filtration system to reduce heavy metals, chlorine (taste and odor), and some industrial and agricultural pollutants.

Although this technology could also be used for off world settlers (who may have to drink recycled water until they can melt enough space ice), this technology would also benefit residents of orbital space stations around Earth, Venus or even a gas giant.

It could also help reduce the overall cost of filtering space water, allowing corporations and governments alike to invest money into other area’s (like propulsion or food).

(via Gizmodo, Image Credit: HoMedics.com)

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No Bachelor’s Allowed: Chinese Astronauts Must Be Married?

Darnell — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:57:08 +0000

(Image: Zhai Zhigang waving from outside the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft, Credit: CCTV / Xinhua)

Probably seen as America’s biggest space rival, China has recently emerged as a major space power after conducting their first space walk in 2008 (not to mention launching a lunar satellite around the Moon).

With future plans of launching a space station and sending Taikonauts (aka Chinese astronauts) to the Moon, China is going to need a lot of space pioneers–provided they are hitched to a spouse.

(Space.com) Earlier this year, Chinese space officials said that one requirement for China’s first female astronauts was that they were married, a requirement that is also upheld for China’s male astronaut candidates.

Excluding the single masses from participating in the final frontier may sound like an odd rule, especially when you consider the fact that there are numerous single males in China on the prowl (which is of itself a major issue).

However by requiring Taikonauts to be married, China could be planning on moving families off world in the not so distant future (a strategy that may help them establish a permanent presence on both the Moon and Mars).

Note: To my knowledge neither NASA or Russia require their astronauts and cosmonauts to marry, respectively, although the Chinese are insisting that married astronauts are better than bachelors (at least psychologically).

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And We’re Back!

Darnell — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:51:43 +0000

Sorry about the lack of posts over the last few weeks. Apparently this site has become a favorite target of human spammers (I guess they were upset after I found a way to block their bots), plus I was busy posting upon other blogs I write for.

I have been staying updated on the space front, and while I am not too pleased with America’s new direction, I am still hopeful thanks in part to the private sector (mainly SpaceX and Bigelow).

Stay tuned! More posts should be coming later on!

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Carnival Of The Space Geeks (Celestial Spider)

Darnell — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:11:16 +0000

(Image Credit: No Where Nevada)

Last weeks Carnival of Space was hosted by Kathryn Laurent of Celestial Spider. Articles ranged from time machines to free falling from space to how to analyze the atmosphere of another planet.

Articles ranging within our own star system include:

Paul Spudis of The Once and Future Moon has an excellent post analyzing how NASA lost its way, which can be summed up in three words: lack of vision.
Brian Wang from Next Big Future has an excellent post about Nuclear rockets and Space planes.
Louise Riofrio from A Babe in the Universe shows her displeasure about the closing of Constellation.

Be sure to check out the rest of the articles, and if you are a space geek with a blog, website or podcast, feel free to contact Universe Today for details on how to enter.

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Carnival Of The Space Geeks (Weird Sciences 147)

Darnell — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:35:21 +0000

Grandma by ~Chase-SC2 on deviant ART

This weeks Carnival of Space was hosted by Bruce Leeeowe of Weird Sciences. Posts ranged from nuking asteroids to terrestrial atmospheres to some inspirational space art (as seen above).

Interesting articles within our star system included:

Dr. Bruce Cordell (via 21st Century Waves) predicts that Russia and China may conquer Mars via Phobos.

Alan Boyle of Cosmic Log highlights a company trying to create inexpensive fusion power (which could affect life off world as well as on our home world).

Brian Wang from Next Big Future goes more in depth with fusion propulsion, which could make it easier for humanity to escape our steep gravity wells.

Be sure to visit the rest of the articles, and if you are interested in submitting your post to the next Carnival of Space, feel free to visit Universe Today for more details on how to enter.