Quantcast
Channel: Earth Headlines on One News Page [United States]
Viewing all 46736 articles
Browse latest View live

Russia spends about $10 billion on ISS in 20 years. USA spends $100 billion

$
0
0
Russia has spent about $10 billion on the project of the International Space Station (ISS) during the time of its existence. At the same time, the United States has spent more than $100 billion, Yuri Koptev, the head of the Scientific and Technical Council at Roscosmos told RIA Novosti. According to the official, the USA has spent such an amount because of expensive flights of space shuttles to the ISS. Russia created the safe transport system and advanced search and rescue facilities for space explorers. Koptev also said that Russia was trying to save on "everything" during the time when the ISS project was being implemented. Most of the project is based on the experience of Soviet scientists, he added. The functional cargo module Zarya, which became the first element of the International Space Station, was launched into space on November 20, 1998. The ISS was created by the United States and Russia with the participation of Japan, the EU and Canada.Even though the International Space Station has been functioning for 20 years, many still question the expediency of the project. For example, Russia's Zarya module technically belongs to the Americans because it was built in the 1990s for the money of Boeing Corporation. The module is used as a warehouse.Unlike the American part of the ISS, which has three full-fledged laboratories, the Russian part has no laboratory at all. Instead, Russian cosmonauts have small laboratory modules that are as big as shower cubicles. Russia's science on board the ISS is limited to only three areas: studying the presence of human beings in space, studying the state of the ISS and various materials in space (mainly outside the station) and photographing the Earth through portholes. Russia has not been able to launch its first full-fledged laboratory module for eleven years already. The construction of the scientific module was started in 1996, and there were many changes introduced in the project since then. From the technological point of view, it looks like the Russian segment of the ISS lags behind the American one: narrow manholes and a maze of air ducts, bulky hatches and equipment for which there is not enough space. The American segment of the ISS differs noticeably from the Russian one: the US segment is more spacious and lit brightly. It is worthy of note that the Russian segment is powered by American electricity. A pair of batteries on the Zvezda module is shaded by large panels of the American segment, while panels on the Zarya module are folded. The source of Russian electricity, the Scientific Energy Platform, which is a full-fledged remote stand with eight solar panels for the Russian segment, still lives only on paper. When there are three Russian cosmonauts working on board the ISS, one of them lives with the Americans, because there is simply no room in the Russian segment. The working life of the ISS will end in six years - in 2024. It is not clear yet what is going to happen to the International Space Station afterwards. Reported by PRAVDA 2 hours ago.

Madhuri Dixit Nene to perform at Men’s Hockey World Cup opening night

$
0
0
The opening ceremony will highlight the message of the power of a united world. To showcase the same, the ceremony will feature a theatrical production and dance ballet titled “The Earth Song”. The theme of “The Earth Song” is ‘Oneness of humanity’. Created, written and directed by Nupur Mahajan, the production will feature Madhuri as […]

The post Madhuri Dixit Nene to perform at Men’s Hockey World Cup opening night appeared first on Bollywood latest news. Reported by Filmy Friday 31 minutes ago.

Elon Musk's SpaceX is the latest big tech company to tap the risky leveraged loan market

$
0
0
Elon Musk's SpaceX is the latest big tech company to tap the risky leveraged loan market· *SpaceX, one of Tesla CEO Elon Musk's major business ventures, tapped the risky leveraged loan market.*
· *The $250 million deal received a mixed reception from investors given SpaceX's cash burning history.*
· *The company previously relied on private equity funding but now follows Tesla in tapping debt markets.*

Elon Musk is loving high yield debt.

SpaceX took a leveraged loan worth $250 million on Monday, having initially sought to borrow as much as $750 million, according to numerous reports. The smaller loan was taken as a result of deteriorating credit conditions during the fundraising period.

Bank of America led the financing which will help fund SpaceX's push into sending astronauts into space and eventually humans to Mars. The loan had previously been led by Goldman Sachs, who helped take Tesla public, before rejected the proposed terms regarding future debt funding.

Previous private equity funding valued SpaceX at more than $20 billion, but loan investors were wary of the company's record of burning cash as it seeks to expand its operations. 

The leveraged loan market has expanded dramatically in recent years into a $1.6 trillion industry. Doubts have been raised about the quality of these deals by former Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen and the IMF this year as companies pile on more and more debt.

Another of Musk's companies, Tesla, also tapped the high yield market earlier this year. Other major tech companies Netflix, Uber, and WeWork have also expanded into leveraged financing in the past 18 months. 

Space X's seven-year loan was issued at 99 cents on the dollar with a coupon of 4.25% — a higher interest rate than previously expected. Investors committed $750 million forward for the loan, suggesting interest was still strong in providing funding despite renewed concerns about leveraged loans, although SpaceX eventually took the smaller amount.

The S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index saw the average price of loans fall 0.3% in the past week indicating investors see the product as more risky. 

Musk has become a controversial figure for investors due to his often volatile behaviour, according to the Wall Street Journal. The SpaceX chief executive, who is also CEO of Tesla, mocked the SEC earlier this year after it settled a lawsuit against him following a tweet claiming he had secured funding to take Tesla private.

SpaceX's current business model involves sending commercial and government satellites into space. However it's opportunities could be diminished following news that NASA, which has contracted the company to fly astronauts to the International Space Station, will launch a safety review of the company, according to the Washington Post. 

Earlier this year, SpaceX was shut out of a U.S. Air Force contracts worth more than $2 billion to develop boosters for US military and spy satellites in the mid-2020s.

Musk's company is planning to launch thousands of satellites to cover the Earth with internet access while SpaceX has also introduced a larger rocket, called BFR, in 2016 with test flights set to begin next year. 

*SEE ALSO: Giant tech firms like Uber and Tesla are lapping up junk debt — here's why investors are lining up to lend it*

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The science of why human breasts are so big Reported by Business Insider 34 minutes ago.

Freeze Tag Announces New ''Cyber Munzday'' Products

$
0
0
Freeze Tag Announces New  ''Cyber Munzday'' Products *TUSTIN, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2018 / *Freeze Tag (OTC PINK: FRZT), a leading creator of location-based mobile social games, has announced a variety of new products that will launch on the online holiday shopping day Cyber Monday.

Playfully nicknamed "Cyber Munzday," this annual online shopping celebration has been a successful sales day for Freeze Tag in year's past, particularly for their flagship game Munzee. Munzee launches at least one new product on this day each year.

"We're excited to kick off this year's Cyber Munzday celebration with a wide variety of new products we know our players will love," said Rob Vardeman, President of Freeze Tag. "Set your smartphone alarm to remember this mega event starts at 12:00 PM CST on Monday, November 26th."

*Munzee Advent Calendar:*

This Munzee spin on a Christmas tradition will give players the opportunity to earn themed rewards each day in December leading up to the holiday. Although each day's item will be a secret, the Advent Calendar set will include virtual game pieces, hidden badge achievements, access to special discounts, in-game specials and more. The Munzee Advent Calendar will be on sale for $25 on Cyber Munzday and then the price will increase throughout the month of December.

*Muru Pouch Creature Munzee:*

The latest cuddly critter from the Pouch Creature Munzee line is the rockin' roller Muru. Muru is an earth Pouch Creature that travels around the world bouncing on regular Munzees and Earth Mystery Munzees. The Pouch Creatures line of products are based on set items in another Freeze Tag game, WallaBee. Muru, like Vesi and Tuli, also has the ability to evolve based on capture streaks. Similar to other Pouch Creatures and Mythological Munzees there will be a limited number of Muru Munzees released at various times on Cyber Munzday for $20 each.

*Bowling Ball Munzee:*

This all new addition to the gaming line of Munzees (which includes Rock, Paper, Scissor Munzees and Prize Wheel Munzees) is sure to knock a few pins loose. The Bowling Ball Munzee is a physical game piece that initiates a real-world mini game. When a player captures a Bowling Ball Munzee a new munzee type called "1st Roll" will be deployed nearby. When they scan that munzee the player can either earn a Strike or another munzee called "2nd Roll" will be deployed nearby for a chance to earn a Spare. Bowling Ball Munzees will come in sheets of 10 for $15 ($1.50 each) on Cyber Munzday, but will normally be $25 ($2.50 each).

*New Myth Variants and Myth Upgrades:*

Certain Mythological Munzees have been given a makeover. On Cyber Munzday new variants will be released for the Mermaid and Leprechaun Mythological Munzees. Players will have the option to convert their Mermaids into Hot Spring Mermaids (which bounce to Fire and Water Mystery Munzees) or Melusine Mermaids (which bounce to Air and Water Mystery Munzees). Leprechauns will be able to be converted into Goblin Leprechauns (which are attracted to Jewel Munzees) and Dwarf Leprechauns (which are attracted to Clan Weapon Munzees). These variants are only available to Myths that have been "Upgraded" and players can only change the type once. Myth Upgrades, which usually cost $5 per Myth, will be on sale during Cyber Munzday for $4 each.

For more information follow the Munzee Blog at https://www.munzeeblog.com/.

*About Freeze Tag, Inc.*

http://www.freezetag.com

*Forward Looking Statements*

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial uncertainties and risks. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations, estimates and projections and reflect our beliefs and assumptions based upon information available to us at the date of this release. We caution readers that forward-looking statements are predictions based on our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including but not limited to, our ability to market our games, and our ability to implement new changes and release them. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason.

*Contact:*

info@freezetag.com
714-210-3850 x26

*SOURCE:* Freeze Tag, Inc.
View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/528659/Freeze-Tag-Announces-New-Cyber-Munzday-Products Reported by Accesswire 7 hours ago.

Massive 4,000-year-old termite mounds can be seen on Google Earth

$
0
0
The mounds, some still inhabited, are believed to be the world's most extensive bioengineering effort by a single insect species.

 
 
 
 
 
 
  Reported by USATODAY.com 6 hours ago.

Travelers Save Big on Small-Ship Cruises During International Expeditions’ Holiday Sale

$
0
0
Adventurous guests save $1,500 per person on 2019 cruises to Latin America

HELENA, Ala., Nov. 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- International Expeditions, a pioneer in upscale experiential adventure, has announced $1,500 per person savings on select 2019 small-ship cruises to the Galapagos Islands, Peruvian Amazon, and Pacific coasts of Costa Rica and Panama during their annual holiday sale.

On International Expeditions’ 10-day Galapagos cruises, guests travel aboard the 32-guest yacht M/V Evolution, enjoying oversized, newly renovated cabins as well as the archipelago’s best guide-to-guest ratio on small-group departures of just 26-32 travelers. In addition to daily snorkeling and hiking through deserts, rainforests and volcanic terrain, other highlights include calling on a family run sugar cane farm, which also produces small-batch moonshine, and stopping at the Charles Darwin Research Center, famous for its tortoise breeding programs. Discounted pricing for the May 10, June 28 and August 9, 2019 Galapagos Islands cruises starts at $5,998.

Nature enthusiasts and river cruise connoisseurs alike will love a luxurious adventure deep in the Peruvian rainforest. Guests on International Expeditions’ 10-day Amazon Voyage enjoy a refined stay aboard the 18-cabin Zafiro, while days are spent plying the creeks and tributaries of the pristine Pacaya-Samiria Reserve during kayaking, hiking and boating excursions. This modern riverboat features airy suites, delicious cuisine and even a spa. Discounted pricing for the May 17, June 7, June 28, July 5 and August 16, 2019 Amazon River cruises starts at $4,198.

Travelers seeking a warm-weather escape blending beaches, snorkeling and rainforest can cruise south for the holiday on IE’s 10-day Costa Rica to Panama Voyage aboard the sleek yacht Voyager. Alongside an incredible field staff, guests explore famed national parks including the remote Darien. Tuna, rays and dolphins are common, while humpback and sperm whales migrate through the protected waters of the Pearl Islands, Manuel Antonio National Park and Restingue Island, where guests will enjoy swimming and snorkeling. Pricing for the December 21, 2018 departure starts at $4,299.

International Expeditions’ holiday sale runs until December 14, 2018.

For additional information on International Expeditions’ journeys, visit http://www.ietravel.com or contact 800-633-4734.

###

*About International Expeditions*
Celebrating 38 years of nature travel, International Expeditions specializes in small-ship voyages and escorted journeys to more than 20 countries worldwide. Hosted by knowledgeable local naturalists, International Expeditions’ travelers survey the habitats, cultures, cuisine and traditional lore of Earth’s most exhilarating destinations. A pioneer of environmentally responsible travel, IE is committed to preserving natural habitats and improving the welfare of the people and communities it visits.

*Attachments*

· Amazon-Zafiro-2
· Galapagos-photographer

CONTACT: Emily Harley
International Expeditions
205-565-2160
emily.harley@ietravel.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 5 hours ago.

NASA Explains How It Will Track InSight’s Mars Landing Next Week

$
0
0
NASA Explains How It Will Track InSight’s Mars Landing Next Week inSight should touch down on Mars within one week, and NASA has detailed how it'll monitor the landing from 91 million miles away on Earth.

The post NASA Explains How It Will Track InSight’s Mars Landing Next Week appeared first on ExtremeTech. Reported by ExtremeTech 4 hours ago.

Why doesn't Michelle Obama's memoir have an index? Blame Trump

$
0
0
The most recent sufferer of US politics? The index, with Michelle Obama’s bestselling memoir Turning into noticeably missing one. “What had been her publishers pondering?” wrote Ann Treneman within the Instances. “Why on the earth wouldn’t they need to supply what quantities to a highway map for readers?” Taking a look at contemporary memoirs, the … Reported by The News Articles 3 hours ago.

Mars landing comes down to final 6 minutes of 6-month trip

$
0
0
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — For NASA's InSight spacecraft, it all comes down to the final six minutes of a six-month journey to Mars. The lander will enter the Martian atmosphere at supersonic speed, then hit the brakes to get to a soft, safe landing on the alien red plains. After micromanaging every step of the way, flight controllers will be powerless over what happens at the end of the road Monday, nearly 100 million miles (160 million kilometers) away. Project manager Tom Hoffman says by the time they hear anything, the whole thing will be over. The communication lag between Mars and Earth is eight minutes. If all goes well, the lander will spend the next two years digging into Mars and doing other experiments. Reported by SeattlePI.com 2 hours ago.

NASA's Mars lander is just days from reaching the red planet — here's how to watch the InSight landing live

$
0
0
NASA's Mars lander is just days from reaching the red planet — here's how to watch the InSight landing live· NASA's Insight lander, the first mission to Mars since 2012, is scheduled to land on the red planet Monday, November 26.
· Once there, the lander will study Mars' temperature and check for marsquakes.
· The landing is expected to be difficult because of the planet's thin atmosphere and potential dust storms.

NASA's InSight lander, the first mission to study the deep interior of Mars, is scheduled to complete its six-month trip to the red planet on Monday afternoon. 

InSight, the first spacecraft NASA has sent to Mars since the Curiosity rover landed there in 2012, will drill about 16 feet down to check the red planet's temperature and insert a seismometer into Martian soil to study marsquakes.

But before it can do any of that, the spacecraft has to land. 

It won't be easy — the atmosphere on Mars is very thin compared to Earth's, so it does not produce enough friction for a spacecraft to slow down to a safe landing speed. Only 40% of missions to Mars have survived the landing; the United States is the only country to have successfully landed anything on the red planet.

According to NASA, the InSight lander will enter the Martian atmosphere going about 12,300 mph. It will only have about 6.5 minutes to slow down to about 5 mph, which it will do by using a parachute and firing descent thrusters. If everything goes according to plan, the spacecraft is expected to land on a flat, stable surface at Elysium Planitia — a broad Martian plain with few rocks or boulders — at about 3 p.m. EST on Monday. 

InSight's design, including its heat shield and parachute, are very similar to that of NASA's Phoenix spacecraft, which successfully landed near Mars' north pole in 2008. However, InSight will have more mass when it enters the Martian atmosphere than Phoenix did, which makes the landing more challenging. The new spacecraft is also expected to touch down at a higher elevation than Phoenix did, which means it will have less atmosphere to rely on for slowing down. 

The InSight mission is led by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. InSight, which set off from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base in May, was the first interplanetary rocket that NASA has launched from the West Coast. The lander left Earth accompanied by two small Mars-bound satellites that are collectively called Mars Cube One.

*Read more:* A tiny satellite bound for Mars just snapped a picture that makes the red planet look puny and insignificant

Once set up, InSight will stretch 20 feet long and weigh about 800 pounds. It'll be powered by two 7-foot-wide solar arrays. To measure marsquakes (which are similar to earthquakes but, of course, not on Earth), the lander has antennas that can record how much the planet shakes and wobbles. This data could help scientists determine whether Mars' core is solid or liquid. 

The lander is supposed to collect data on Mars until at least November 2020. NASA hopes to use this information to draw new comparisons between the interiors of Earth and the red planet. Eventually, the research could be used to learn more about which types of Earth-like exoplanets could support life. 

On Monday, NASA will be relying on other spacecraft and radio telescopes on Earth to monitor InSight's radio signals and determine when it reaches the red planet. The lander's design should allow it to touch down safely on Monday even if it reaches Elysium Planitia during a dust storm, thanks to the thick heat shield that protects InSight from dust. 

Although the entire landing won't be captured on video, NASA will broadcast live commentary and updates, along with photos showing InSight's descent.

You can watch the landing commentary live on NASA's stream below, starting around 2 p.m. ET on Monday:

 

*SEE ALSO: NASA is about to launch a new solar-powered lander to Mars — here's what the InSight will do on the red planet*

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What it's like to pretend to live on Mars for 8 months Reported by Business Insider 1 hour ago.

The PlayStation 4 will be cheaper than ever before this holiday — but that's not the only hot gaming deal Sony has

$
0
0
The PlayStation 4 will be cheaper than ever before this holiday — but that's not the only hot gaming deal Sony has· *Many stores have already launched their video game sales for Black Friday and the holiday season.*
· Sony's main offerings are a discounted PlayStation 4 bundle with "Marvel's Spider-Man," and a big price drop on PlayStation VR headset bundles.
· Plenty of PlayStation 4 games will be on sale during the weekend too, including PS4 exclusive titles like "God of War" and "Horizon: Zero Dawn."

With Black Friday just a few days away, early video game sales have begun.

Sony recently announced that the PlayStation 4 has sold 86 million units worldwide, making it the most popular video game console on the market. That number will certainly grow during this year's holiday sales with a special bundle dropping the PlayStation 4 to its lowest price ever and steep discounts on the console's virtual reality headset, the PlayStation VR.

*Here are the lowest prices for PlayStation consoles and games this holiday season:*

*SEE ALSO: Here are all the best deals for Xbox One consoles and games this holiday season*

*SEE ALSO: There's only one really good deal on the Nintendo Switch this holiday shopping season*

-This $200 PlayStation 4 bundle is the cheapest the system has ever been.-

This $200 PlayStation 4 bundle with "Marvel's Spider-Man" will be one of the most sought after video game gifts this holiday season. Sony is offering the redesigned slim model with the year's most popular PS4 exclusive. "Marvel's Spider-Man" broke sales records with a massive launch in September; the game is a open-world adventure for gamers of all ages.-PlayStation VR bundles are $100 cheaper for the holidays.-

The PlayStation VR is one of the most well-received virtual reality headsets, and it's reached its lowest price point so far. There are a few PSVR bundles out there offering different games, but I'd recommend the "Astrobot: Rescue Mission" and Moss" bundle pictured above. Both games came out this year and offer a wonderfully immersive VR experience.

If you're willing to pay a bit more, the "Creed: Rise to Glory" and "SUPERHOT VR" bundle comes with two PlayStation Move controllers, a slightly better value for the price. "SUPERHOT VR" is also one of the most exciting VR games I've played, making full use of the motion controls and VR headset.

Keep in mind that the headset must be hooked up to a PlayStation 4 to work, and games with motion controls may require the PlayStation Move controllers, which are not included in every bundle. Here are the available PlayStation VR bundles:

· PlayStation VR ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission and Moss Bundle - $199 at GameStop, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Amazon and NewEgg
· PlayStation VR "Creed: Rise to Glory" and "SUPERHOT VR" Bundle (Comes with 2 PlayStation Move Controllers) - $249 at GameStop, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Amazon and NewEgg
· PlayStation VR "Doom VFR" Bundle - $199 at GameStop, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Amazon and NewEgg

· PlayStation VR "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR" Bundle (Comes with 2 PlayStation Move Controllers) - $249.99 at GameStop and Target (only available in stores).-You'll find deals on PlayStation games new and old in stores and online.-

Hundreds of PlayStation games will be on sale for Black Friday and throughout the holiday season, including new games released during the last few months.

Here are more than 20 discounted games to look out for, at the cheapest prices we could find (Keep in mind that most major stores will have sales on the same games, even if the prices are a few dollars apart):

· "Assassin’s Creed Odyssey"— $27 at GameStop
· "Call of Duty Black Ops 4"— $38 at GameStop
· "Dragon Ball FighterZ"— $17 at Walmart
· "Fallout 76"— $39.99 at GameStop
· "Far Cry 5"— $19.99 at Best Buy
· "Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition"— $19.99 at Best Buy and GameStop
· "God of War"— $17 at GameStop
· "Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition"— $19.99 at Best Buy and GameStop
· Horizon: Zero Dawn Complete Edition"— $9.99 at GameStop
· "Injustice 2: Legendary Edition"— $19.99 at GameStop and Best Buy
· "Marvel's Spider-Man"— $39.59 in the PlayStation Store
· "Madden 19"— $27 at GameStop
· "Middle Earth: Shadow of War"— $9.99 at GameStop
· "Monster Hunter: World"— $17 at Walmart
· "NBA 2K19"— $29.99 at Best Buy, Walmart, and Target
· "No Man's Sky —$24.99 at Best Buy
· "Onrush"— $19.99 at Best Buy
· "Overwatch: Origins Edition"— $15 at Target
· "Persona 5"— $19.99 in the PlayStation Store
· "Red Dead Redemption II"— $59.99 with $10 gift card at GameStop
· "Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition"— $17 at Walmart
· "Shadow of the Tomb Raider"— $27 at GameStop
· "Soulcalibur VI"— $35 at Walmart and Target
· "Star Wars Battlefront II"— $7.99 at Best Buy
· "Starlink: Battle for Atlas — $34.99 at Best Buy
· "Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection"— $19.99 at Best Buy and GameStop
· "We Happy Few"— $35 at Walmart and Target
· "WWE 2K19"— $27 at GameStop

If you're interested in getting digital copies of your games, Sony is also offering a bunch more sales in the PlayStation Store.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider Reported by Business Insider 58 minutes ago.

October 2018 was Earth’s second warmest on record

$
0
0
Scientists at NOAA say that October 2018 was the second hottest on record.

 
 
 
 
 
 
  Reported by USATODAY.com 9 minutes ago.

A Thanksgiving wish that we help heal the world

$
0
0
As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s consider inviting someone who is lonely or forgotten, or volunteering at a community kitchen. Let’s give thanks for our Earth, and resolve to take better care of, and share its beauty and resources. Let’s pray for our homeless sisters and brothers, for the tens of millions of refugees […] Reported by Seattle Times 1 day ago.

Researchers discover Oregon’s first dinosaur fossil

$
0
0
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — University of Oregon scientists discovered a dinosaur bone, the first fossil from a land-dwelling prehistoric creature found in the state. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported the discovery came in 2015 when earth sciences professor Greg Retallack was in central Oregon, leading a field expedition of students looking for fossilized plants near the town […] Reported by Seattle Times 23 hours ago.

A natural ‘wonder of the Earth,’ the size of Minnesota, was built by termites in Brazil

$
0
0
In Brazil, the insects built 200 million mounds of rock-hard dirt. Reported by Seattle Times 23 hours ago.

NASA's InSight robot is about to land on Mars. Here's how it might survive '7 minutes of terror' and make incredible discoveries about the red planet — and Earth, too.

$
0
0
NASA's InSight robot is about to land on Mars. Here's how it might survive '7 minutes of terror' and make incredible discoveries about the red planet — and Earth, too.· *NASA will try to land its InSight probe on the surface of the red planet around 3 p.m. ET on Monday.*
· *The robotic lander must survive "seven minutes of terror" before touching down and beginning a series of unprecedented scientific firsts.*
· *InSight won't move around Mars, but it could be the first mission to measure the "vital signs" of the planet and decode its internal structure.*
· *NASA will also listen for "marsquakes" caused by meteorite impacts and tectonic movements, which could reveal the interior structure of the 4.6-billion-year-old world.*

On Cyber Monday, while online shoppers hunt for deals, NASA will be trying to stick its first landing of a robot on the surface of Mars in six years.

The roughly $830-million mission is called InSight, which is short for "Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport."

NASA rocketed the InSight probe toward the red planet on May 5. The lander, which weighs about 789 lbs, is expected to complete a risky descent sequence around 3 p.m. ET on Monday, November 26. Part of that process is known as the "seven minutes of terror."

If all goes well, the golf-cart-size lander will be the first robot to touch down on Martian soil since NASA's nuclear-powered Curiosity rover, which landed there in August 2012.

*Read more*: 13 incredible facts you probably didn't know about the red planet

Scientists hope that InSight's two-year mission will probe Mars in ways they've only dreamed of until now.

"All of our past missions have really been surface missions," Robert Braun, NASA's former chief technologist, told Business Insider. "InSight's a very different mission in the sense that it is peering into the past by studying, really, the interior of Mars. In doing so, we're going to learn about Mars, but also about the early history of the Earth."

First, however, InSight will have to get safely to the surface.

*How InSight might survive '7 minutes of terror'*

Getting to Mars is relatively easy.

That's because modern rockets are safer and more reliable to launch than ever before. In fact, the vehicle that sent InSight toward Mars — an Atlas V rocket built by United Launch Alliance — has had only one partial failure since its debut in 2002.

Landing on the red planet, however, is one of the most challenging tasks an aerospace engineer can accomplish. About a third of robots sent there never make it.

"Although we've done it before, landing on Mars is hard, and this mission is no different," Rob Manning, the chief engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a video. "It takes thousands of steps to go from the top of the atmosphere to the surface, and each one of them has to work perfectly."

The Martian atmosphere is about 1% as thick as Earth's. But that's still plenty of air to completely destroy a spacecraft like InSight, which will be moving at about 12,500 mph when it arrives at the red planet.

NASA tries to take advantage of the Martian atmosphere by putting its robots in an entry capsule with a heat shield. This helps reduce the spacecraft's speed while also protecting it from 1,400-degree-Celsius temperatures — hot enough to melt steel — caused by plowing through the thin Martian air.

However, striking the atmosphere at anything other than the perfect angle — about 12 degrees, Manning said — can end a mission. Any shallower than this, and an entry capsule will "skip" off the atmosphere and out into deep space. Any deeper, and a robot gets vaporized.

This phase — when an entry capsule detaches from its mothership and descends — is sometimes called the seven minutes of terror. This is because NASA can't "hear" from its spacecraft for roughly seven minutes, and won't know if a landing has succeeded or failed until a radio signal arrives (or doesn't).

This time around, though, NASA is trying something new: It sent two briefcase-size satellites called MarsCubeOne with Insight. Both cubesats are trailing the lander en route to Mars, and they'll help relay landing data home.

"They'll be broadcasting that back to Earth so we know what's exactly happening at each step of the entry, descent, and landing process," Tom Hoffman, the InSight mission's payload manager, said during a press briefing in October.

Once InSight plows through enough of the Martian atmosphere to not burn up, its entry capsule will deploy a big supersonic parachute, then discard the heat shield seconds later.

InSight's dangerous journey isn't over at this point. The robot still has to deploy three landing legs and use radar to calculate how close it is to the ground — NASA can't control the robot remotely in real time because it takes light (and radio signals) about 15 minutes to travel to and from Mars.

About a mile above the surface of Mars, InSight will drop out of its protective capsule, fire its retro-rocket engines, and try to touch down without crashing or tipping over.

*How InSight will probe the ancient secrets of Mars — and Earth*

InSight will try to land in a region known as Elysium Planitia, which is a relatively flat place close to the Martian equator. If the robot safely lands and unfurls its two circular solar panels, NASA will begin its mission in earnest.

Like InSight's nearly identical predecessor mission, the Phoenix Mars Lander, the probe won't move locations. But unlike Phoenix, which dug for water in Martian soil for a few months in 2008, InSight hopes to last for two Earth years.

During that time, it will perform the first "checkup" of the 4.6-billion-year-old planet.

"InSight's goal is to study the interior of Mars and take the planet's vital signs, its pulse, and temperature," NASA said on its mission website. "To look deep into Mars, the lander must be at a place where it can stay still and quiet for its entire mission. That's why scientists chose Elysium Planitia as InSight's home."

Once InSight is powered up and in communication with Earth, one of its first tasks will be to unfurl a robotic arm.

InSight will use that robotic appendage to place a dome down on the Martian surface. The dome will contain six extremely sensitive vibration-detection devices called seismometers.

Seismometers on the Earth and the moon (Apollo astronauts deployed some on the lunar surface) have recorded earthquakes and moonquakes, which helped scientists figure out the internal structure of those rocky worlds. On Mars, NASA researchers hope to accomplish a similar feat.

Whenever a meteorite strikes Mars, or there's a landslide, or a big blob of magma suddenly shifts, or there's tectonic movement, InSight's seismometer should detect such vibrations. The devices can even record seismic activity from all the way across the planet.

Over time, data about marsquakes could reveal hitherto unknown information about the internal structure of the planet.

One of the most challenging tasks InSight will attempt, though, is drilling a heat probe deep into the ground. The probe will slowly drill down and stop every so often to heat up. Then a sensor will detect how long it takes that warmth to dissipate.

The probe is expected to dig 16 feet down — far deeper than any previous Mars mission has ever reached with scoops, shovels, or drills.

"When we get down that deep, we'll get away from all of the temperature variations of the surface," Suzanne Smrekar, the mission's deputy principle investigator, said during a press briefing. "That tells us about the heat coming out of the planet — that energy that's available for driving geologic activity."

Back on the surface, InSight will also use a sensitive radio science experiment to see how subtly Mars shifts during its two-Earth-year-long orbit around the sun. Such data should tell researchers what is going on in the deepest parts of the planet's core.

The ultimate goal is to figure out how Mars formed and what happened to the planet since then. Scientists know that Mars once generated an atmosphere-protecting magnetic dynamo, as Earth still does today. But the Martian core's dynamo eventually shut down and the planet's protective shield faded, which allowed the sun to blow away Mars' atmosphere and oceans of water.

In probing that history, scientists think we're bound to learn about our own planet's origins.

"Earth ... is a big planet that holds a lot of heat, a lot of energy, and it's been very geologically active over its entire history. So most of the record of the early processes that formed the Earth have been erased," Hoffman said. "We'd like to have a planet that's just a little bit calmer and that can retain that that evidence."

Mars, which is similar to Earth but has remained almost frozen in time, is thus the perfect place to go looking.

*SEE ALSO: NASA will dig for signs of alien life on Mars in Jezero Crater — the landing site for its 2020 rover*

*DON'T MISS: These pictures show the exact hill NASA's longest-lived Mars robot may die upon*

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What humans will look like on Mars Reported by Business Insider 23 hours ago.

Rains douse California wildfire but raise flash flood risks, death toll at 83

$
0
0
he first significant rain in months in northern California helped firefighters battle the deadliest wildfire in the state's history on Wednesday, but raised the risks of flash flooding that could hinder teams searching for human remains.

Between 4-6 inches (15 cm) of rain was expected to fall through the weekend in areas around the town of Paradise, the community of nearly 27,000 people 175 miles (280 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco that was largely incinerated by the Camp Fire. The blaze killed at least 83 people, and 563 are still unaccounted for, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told a press briefing on Wednesday.

"The rain is a concern for us and there is the potential for mudflows," Honea said, adding that he would pull searchers out of areas if they faced any risk of being caught in mudslides.The rain added to the misery of evacuees camped out in a Walmart parking lot in nearby Chico, where local residents donated freight pallets and tarps to help evacuees shelter from overnight temperatures just above freezing.

"I'll get a pallet and get my tent up off the ground," said Mitchell Manley, who evacuated from the village of Concow and managed to get his elderly mother out of nearby Magalia.
Warehouses were being opened up in Chico to provide evacuees protection from the cold and rain and to move them out of the Walmart car park, said Manley's partner, Carol Daugherty.

STRAW TUBES

Forecasters said the rains, which in some areas are likely to be accompanied by winds of up to 45 miles per hour (72 kph), raised risks of debris flows. The fire has burned across 153,000 acres (62,000 hectares) of the Sierra foothills."There's no vegetation to hold the earth and there's a risk it could just start moving, with mud carrying everything in its path," said National Weather Service forecaster Johnnie Powell in Sacramento.

Firefighters installed straw tubes known as wattles to stop hillsides being washed away and were hoping to have the fire fully contained by the weekend, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Erica Bain.  Mass evacuations since the fire erupted on Nov. 8 have removed most people away from any debris flow, National Weather Service (NWS) hydrologist Cindy Matthews said.
Authorities in Butte County, where Paradise is located, have been gradually allowing residents evacuated during the fire back to see what is left of their homes.

Lisa Knight found only ash and rubble when she returned to her house in Butte Creek Canyon, east of Chico."I mourn for everybody. It's not just one personal loss, it's the loss of my neighbors and my community," Knight told KRCR-TV.

MORE VICTIMS

The death toll of the fire has been gradually rising, with two more names added to the list on Wednesday to bring the total to 83.The number of missing persons, which has fluctuated widely over the past week, continued to decline. There were some 1,200 people identified as missing over the weekend before falling to fewer than 700 on Monday, as some people who initially were unaccounted for either turned up alive or were confirmed dead.

The number of residents needing temporary shelter was unclear, but as many as 52,000 people were under evacuation orders at the height of the firestorm last week. The Camp Fire incinerated 13,503 homes in and around Paradise. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

Article Type: 
Report
Sections: 
World
Agencies: 
Reuters
Cities: 
CHICO
Calif
Tags: 
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
National Weather Service
Walmart
Milwaukee
SAN FRANCISCO
Sierra
camp fire
California fire
Thu, 22 Nov 2018-08:48am
Date updated: 
Thursday, 22 November 2018 - 8:48am
Article Images: 
AFP
Short URL: 
dnai.in/fM6W
Embargo: 
Syndicate: 
Hide lead image: 
Page views: 
1
Related Articles: 
California wildfire evacuees prepare their tents for heavy rains
From Print Edition: 
Highlights:  Reported by DNA 17 hours ago.

Relive the six-minute touchdown of NASA's InSight mission to Mars

$
0
0
It all comes down to the final six minutes of a six-month journey to Mars.

NASA's InSight spacecraft will enter the Martian atmosphere at supersonic speed, then hit the brakes to get to a soft, safe landing on the alien red plains.

After micromanaging every step of the way, flight controllers will be powerless over what happens at the end of the road Monday, nearly 160 million kilometres away. The communication lag between Mars and Earth is eight minutes.



#Mars, I’m coming to you. I left Earth 200 days ago and I’m now just five days from my #MarsLanding. My team is making final preparations and I’m on course for touchdown. Read: https://t.co/ompiNO93OF pic.twitter.com/66h6Tz3Xst

— NASAInSight (@NASAInSight) November 21, 2018



"By the time we hear anything, the whole thing is already done," said project manager Tom Hoffman of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

"Either it happened or it hasn't happened." Any small last-minute adjustments must be completed 1 hours before touchdown, said Rob Grover, lead engineer for the landing team.

"All of our efforts to make sure we're successful all happen in the years before," he explained.

A brief rundown of Insight's do-or-die entry, descent and landing:

SIX MINUTES BEFORE TOUCHDOWN

InSight will come in like a 19,800-kmph arrow, piercing the top of the Martian atmosphere about 114 kilometres above the surface. Engineers are shooting for a 12-degree angle of attack, almost parallel to the ground.



Right Now: Hear from our science team about what we hope to learn about the interior of Mars from the @NASAInSight lander. Ask them your questions using #askNASA. Tune in and watch now: https://t.co/mzKW5uV4hS pic.twitter.com/UHFANGa2HS

— NASA (@NASA) November 21, 2018



Too steep, the spacecraft could burn up. Too shallow, it could bounce back into space. Atmospheric friction slows the spacecraft, but builds up heat.

Its heat shield is made to withstand the 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit (1,500 degrees Celsius). Once InSight is down to 11 kilometres, its parachute opens at a breakneck 1,400 kmph.

THREE MINUTES
Shortly after the white nylon chute opens with a yank, InSight ditches its heat shield and unfolds its three legs. After two minutes of descending under the parachute, the spacecraft, still supersonic, starts using radar to determine speed and altitude, from about 2 kilometres up.



Twice the fun today! Catch my live news briefings this morning. Watch the engineering overview at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET and the science overview at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET. Tune in here: https://t.co/oig27aMjZd #MarsLanding pic.twitter.com/wOMAPfTmdc

— NASAInSight (@NASAInSight) November 21, 2018



Less than a minute remains until touchdown. With its speed now down to 215 kmph, the lander dumps its back shell and parachute. It is less than a mile (one kilometer) above the ground.

FORTY-FIVE SECONDS
Almost immediately, InSight's 12 descent engines start firing to further slow the lander and keep it away from the severed back shell, still falling under the parachute. The lander turns itself so its solar panels will extend east and west at touchdown, and its robotic arm faces south. InSight's speed is now 27 kmph, at an altitude of 50 metres.

FIFTEEN SECONDS
Now in so-called constant velocity mode, InSight is aiming for a 8 kmph touchdown in a plain near the equator called Elysium Planitia.

There it will dig deep for heat measurements and scope out marsquakes over a full Martian year, or two Earth years. NASA picked this spot because it should be relatively flat and free of big rocks that could hamper science operations. Parking near the equator provides optimal sunlight for solar energy.

"It's a very safe place to land," Grover said at a press conference Wednesday.

TOUCHDOWN!
It will be around 2 p.m., Mars time, when InSight lands. That's 3 p.m. on the US East Coast and noon for the JPL flight controllers in Pasadena, California.

NASA estimates temperatures could be in the teens or even single digits Fahrenheit (well below zero Celsius). Overnight lows could reach minus 140 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 96 degrees Celsius.) It's wintertime on Mars. "Probably don't need an umbrella, but you may need a coat and definitely recommend a spacesuit, too, if you're there at the landing site," Grover joked to reporters while describing the bone-dry Martian plain.

HELLO? HELLO?
Since departing Earth in May, InSight has been shadowed by WALL-E and EVE, the first CubeSats to venture into deep space.

The briefcase-size satellites named after the characters in the 2008 animated movie will pass within a few thousand kilometres of Mars, as InSight lands.

NASA hopes one or both relay InSight's radio signals. If the experiment succeeds, flight controllers may be able to follow InSight's descent and landing, although with a lag of more than eight minutes at best. Otherwise, news will trickle in from NASA's Mars orbiters.

SAY CHEESE:

InSight's first job, just several minutes after landing, is to take a picture. Ground controllers want to see what they're up against. Big rocks or a hillside could interfere with the stationary lander's geology experiments. Once the red dust settles about 16 minutes after touchdown, the lander will spread its solar panels and settle in for its first long winter's nap at Mars.  

Article Type: 
Report
Sections: 
Science
Technology
Agencies: 
PTI
Tags: 
NASA
Earth
California
Cape Canaveral
Insight
Mars
Mission to Mars
Thu, 22 Nov 2018-09:21am
Date updated: 
Thursday, 22 November 2018 - 9:21am
Article Images: 
Twitter: NASA InSight
Short URL: 
dnai.in/fM75
Embargo: 
Syndicate: 
Hide lead image: 
Page views: 
1
From Print Edition: 
Highlights:  Reported by DNA 17 hours ago.

What would happen if a solar storm hit Earth?

$
0
0
What would happen if a solar storm hit Earth? Symbol copyright Getty Photographs A violent typhoon at the Solar may just cripple communications on Earth and motive massive financial harm, scientists have warned. Why are sun storms any such danger? In 1972, dozens of sea mines off the coast of Vietnam mysteriously exploded. It used to be just lately showed the motive used to … Reported by The News Articles 16 hours ago.

Kohl’s Black Friday Beauty Sale takes 50% off, stock up on some post-holiday self care from $1.50

$
0
0
As a part of its Black Friday Deals, Kohl’s is taking *50% off* a selection of beauty items. Prices are as marked and start at *$1.50*. Opt for in-store pickup or spend over $50 for free shipping. You know how I’m going to unwind from this crazy weekend? With a sheet mask. You should, too, especially since the Earth Therapeutics 5-Pack Essential Beauty Face Masks are only *$4.50 with in-store pickup*. That’s a $5 drop, or a mere 90 cents per mask. Not only do Kohl’s shoppers rate them highly at 4.5/5 stars, I can also vouch for the quality of these masks. Head after the jump for more of our favorites from this sale.

more…

The post Kohl’s Black Friday Beauty Sale takes 50% off, stock up on some post-holiday self care from $1.50 appeared first on 9to5Toys. Reported by 9to5Toys 15 hours ago.
Viewing all 46736 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images