Month: March 2020

Ever since the space age came about, humans have launched many rockets and satellites into space. Going to space is one thing, but what about getting them to come down? Unfortunately, this is a problem that hasn’t really been solved yet, as many of these machines are just left up in the atmosphere, orbiting endlessly. Called space debris (or space junk), this term refers to anything that has died in space, or just left up there after its mission ended. And when one piece of debris collides with another, it creates even more debris. According to space.com, “over 21,000 pieces of space trash larger than 4 inches (10 centimeters) and half a million bits of junk between 1 cm and 10 cm are estimated to circle the planet.” Debris in low orbit can reenter the atmosphere and burn up, preventing any harmful pieces of metal from hitting anything on Earth. However, debris that is higher than 36,000 kilometers stay in orbit, circling for hundreds or thousands of years.

Fortunately, space junk doesn’t currently pose a threat to exploration efforts. What it does endanger, though, is other satellites. In 2009, satellite Iridium 33 collided with Cosmos 2251, a Russian satellite. According to U.S. Navy Lieutenant Charlie Drey, the collision caused the U.S. Defense Department’s Space Surveillance Network to track “more than 500 pieces of debris which pose an additional risk to satellites.”

Space debris is a problem that is rising; as more and more debris form in space, near-Earth atmosphere will become less and less safe for satellites. Currently, mission controllers are forced to take action and physically maneuver satellites out of the way, but this type of solution isn’t exactly the most reliable. Aside from human error, these operations take time and fuel, which are precious resources that can’t always be afforded. As such, researchers are now investigating new ways of handling this problem. Methods include improving how teams can better assess what is in orbit, which raises the efficiency moving in a crowded space, compiling a data set on where everything is, or developing ways to measure space debris properties, such as shape and size, allowing for better foresight. This is a critical part of space science because alternatively, if enough debris is generated, then the space near us can become unusable.  According to Carolin Frueh, a researcher at Purdue University, “If we go on like this, we will reach a point of no return.” Fortunately, we are in the early stages, and there is plenty of time before space truly becomes trashed beyond the point of no return.

In this modern age, we are all used to using WiFi to browse the internet, online shop, or post a new picture to social media. It’s become so integrated into our lives it’s like second nature; however, there are places close by that live a completely different life. Welcome to Green Bank, West Virginia, home of the world’s largest radio telescope. Astronomers use this telescope to look at deep parts in the sky, advancing our cosmic knowledge and hopefully find signs of extraterrestrial life. Green Bank lies smack dab in the middle of the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ), which was established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC) to minimize interference received by the telescopes. Basically, people living in this area must agree not to use WiFi. Say goodbye to bluetooth, microwave ovens, remote control toys, etc. How do people do it? Well, it’s not as bad as it sounds. For one, browsing the internet is allowed, but one must use an ethernet cable to do so. Residents can use landlines to call each other.

I actually got the chance to go to the Green Bank Observatory, and it was every bit as interesting as I thought it would be. Obviously, my phone didn’t work, but there was a computer lab in the science center… surrounded by a Faraday cage. A Faraday cage is an enclosed space that blocks electromagnetic signals, which is why it was safe to browse the internet within this space. The point of my trip wasn’t just to go on the computer inside a Faraday cage, it was actually to use a telescope! I got the chance to use the forty-meter educational telescope, and learned how to use and interpret that data. The telescope could only change its declination, which is the vertical direction. The other direction, called right ascension, would depend on the time of day. There was a list of objects in the night sky, and using the telescope, we were able to track these celestial objects in the night sky. Galaxies, nebulas, star clusters, etc. were all able to be observed with the telescope. I also got a change to go and see the actual Green Bank Telescope up close, but didn’t get a change to use it. Going to Green Bank was a really special experience, and even though I didn’t get to use my phone, I would definitely go again!

Recently, NASA announced some new astronauts that were being added to their ranks. The 11 new astronauts brought the number in NASA’s corp to 48. The ultimate mission of these new recruits was to go to Mars, but they may also be assigned to the International Space Station and the Moon. According to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, “2020 will mark the return of launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil, and will be an important year of progress for our Artemis program and missions to the Moon and beyond.” This announcement reminded me of when I was little, when my goal, like many other kids, was to be an astronaut. But how exactly does one become an astronaut, exactly?

To preface, being an astronaut takes a lot of willpower and a lot of commitment. Lots of these candidates leave behind luxurious careers for a space to go to space. Yet, in 2017, more than 18,000 hopefuls applied to become a member of NASA’s 2017 graduating class. Being an astronaut is no easy feat. It takes both physical and mental prowess. At the base level, NASA requires future astronauts to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, biology or physical science, computer science, or mathematics. Following the degree, they need three years of professional experience or 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in a jet aircraft. However, they will take an advanced degree as substitution for experience. Like I mentioned, astronauts need to be in top physical shape, which means they need to pass a grueling physical examination. Astronauts need to pass these tests because they need to prove that they have what it takes to go to space.

Once an astronaut has been selected, what exactly do they do? It’s a job most people can only dream of, but do those dreamers know what the job truly consists of? The astronauts on the Space Shuttle perform experiments, release and capture other satellites, and even assemble the ISS. However, the Space Shuttle isn’t the permanent research facility that the International Space Station is. Crew members aboard the ISS working on science experiments in space, monitor experiments controlled from the ground, and take part in medical experiments that determine how well their body is adjusting to microgravity. Importantly, the ISS needs maintenance. Astronauts aboard this satellite are constantly fixing systems, clearing filters, and updating computer equipment. Being an astronaut means representing the best of the best of human population. It’s an extremely challenging job, but a rewarding one. I’ll probably never be an astronaut, but I will always respect those in the profession.