High radiation tonight nasa

A conception of the Europa Clipper spacecraft flying by the Jovian moon, Europa, with dominant Jupiter in the distance. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech The brains of NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft are stored in a metal vault.It's where the large exploration vehicle — the length of a basketball court — safeguards its computers, software, and many electronics. On Oct.14, the craft launched to Jupiter's moon Europa, a world planetary scientists suspect harbors an ocean twice the volume of Earth's. With around 50 close swoops by Europa, NASA will be able to confidently answer the question of whether this ocean realm also hosts the ingredients, such as an energy source and telltale materials, to support life. Yet the radiation environs there are particularly harsh. "The charged particle environment at Europa's location is immense," Cynthia Phillips, a NASA planetary geologist and project staff scientist for the space agency's Europa Clipper mission, told Mashable.Jupiter, a gas giant planet 317 times more massive than Earth, generates a magnetic field shooting out between 600,000 to 2 million miles (1 to 3 million kilometers) towards the sun. It's created by the planet's liquid metal core, which spins and creates electrical currents (moving electric charges make magnetic fields). Crucially, this magnetic field grabs and then accelerates particles from the relentless solar wind — a stream of rapidly traveling charged particles emitted by the sun — which creates potent radiation belts around Jupiter. "It bombards everything." Any craft traveling around the planet will almost certainly pass through these hazardous zones and expose instruments to harmful particles, which can damage computer chips and electronics. "It bombards everything," Curt Niebur, Europa Clipper's program scientist, said at a press conference leading up to the mission's launch. Decades ago, during the Voyager mission, NASA's engineers were worried about the craft passing by Jupiter. A person hypothetically riding aboard Voyager as it passed Jupiter would have gotten hit with a radiation dose 1,000 times the lethal level. A depiction of Jupiter's sprawling magnetic field. If was visible to the naked eye, "it would appear two to three times the size of the sun or moon to viewers on Earth," NASA explained. Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center "The relative intensity of Jupiter's radiation bands is illustrated in this diagram," NASA explains, with darker reds depicting more radiation. Both Europa and Europa Clipper's orbits are depicted in the graphic. Credit: NASA Hence, the vault. "The vault seriously reduces the harmful radiation these electronics get," Phillips said. (NASA's Juno craft, exploring the greater Jupiter system, also carries a vault.) Mashable Light Speed Yet there are electronics outside this protective metallic box. And in May NASA received test data that suggested some transistors — which are electrical switches that control how electricity flows around the spacecraft — couldn't withstand the high radiation environs around Europa. Fortunately, intensive follow-up testing showed these switches will work as the craft makes some 50 flybys over three and a half years. "They unequivocally passed that review today," Nicola Fox, who heads

NASA scientists studying high-altitude radiation recently published new results on the effects of cosmic radiation in our atmosphere. Their research will help improve real-time radiation monitoring for aviation industry crew and passengers working in potentially higher radiation environments.Imagine you’re sitting on an airplane. Cruising through the stratosphere at 36,000 feet, you’re well above the clouds and birds, and indeed, much of the atmosphere. But, despite its looks, this region is far from empty.Just above you, high-energy particles, called cosmic rays, are zooming in from outer space. These speedy particles crash wildly into molecules in the atmosphere, causing a chain reaction of particle decays. While we are largely protected from this radiation on the ground, up in the thin atmosphere of the stratosphere, these particles can affect humans and electronics alike.Launched in September 2015 near Fort Sumner, New Mexico, NASA’s Radiation Dosimetry Experiment, or RaD-X, used a giant helium-filled balloon to send instruments into the stratosphere to measure cosmic radiation coming from the sun and interstellar space. The results, presented in a special issue of the Space Weather Journal, showcase some of the first measurements of their kind at altitudes from 26,000 to over 120,000 feet above Earth.“The measurements, for the first time, were taken at seven different altitudes, where the physics of dosimetry is very different,” said Chris Mertens, principal investigator of the RaD-X mission at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. “By having the measurements at these seven altitudes we’re really able to test how well our models capture the physics of cosmic radiation.”Cosmic radiation is caused by high-energy particles that continually shower down from space. Most of these energetic particles come from outside the solar system, though the sun is an important source during solar storms.Earth’s magnetosphere, which acts as a giant magnetic shield, blocks most of the radiation from ever reaching the planet. Particles with sufficient energy, however, can penetrate both Earth’s magnetosphere and atmosphere, where they collide with molecules of nitrogen and oxygen. These collisions cause the high-energy particles to decay into different particles through processes known as nucleonic and electromagnetic cascades.If you could see the particles from the airplane window, you would notice them clustering in a region above the plane. The density of the atmosphere causes the decay to happen predominantly at a height of 60,000 feet, which creates a concentrated layer of radiation particles known as the Pfotzer maximum.Radiation in the atmosphere can be measured in two ways — by how much is present or by how much it can harm biological tissue. The latter is known as the dose equivalent and is the standard for quantifying health risks. This quantity is notoriously hard to measure, as it requires knowing the both

NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said following a pivotal September decision to green-light the mission.But mission engineers will be watching these transistors closely. As the New York Times reported, NASA bolted a late add-on to the craft, a small "canary box" holding the different types of transistors. If any show signs of damage or dysfunction as Europa Clipper swoops through belts of radiation, planners could adapt the mission. In this graphic, the box illuminated in red shows the Europa Clipper's vault on the center of the spacecraft. Credit: NASA An artist's conception of the ocean, and geothermal energy sources, that could exist beneath Europa's thick ice crust. Credit: NASA Already, the mission's orbital plan — which is to zip away from damaging regions after making close flybys of the ice-covered moon — minimizes the time the craft is exposed to high radiation zones. During each orbit around Jupiter, the craft will spend under a day in an irradiated zone, before swooping out. It won't return for between two to three weeks."You get out of there," Phillips told Mashable. "You get out of there." The robotic spacecraft's exposure to radiation, however, comes with rewards. When the probe dips close to Europa between 2031 and 2034, it will have the chance to view, scan, and investigate Europa in unprecedented detail. A ground-penetrating radar will look under the ice, and potentially see areas of liquid water or even where the ice meets the alien ocean. An instrument called the SUrface Dust Analyzer, or SUDA, will literally sample particles of Europa that have been ejected into space by tiny meteorites. And, of course, Europa Clipper will capture a bounty of images. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. "The images are going to be spectacular," said Laurie Leshin, director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the agency center that built the craft.In sum, with this orbiting laboratory of instruments, NASA will be able to determine if the ocean moon has the right stuff — energy sources, a long-lived stable ocean, organic compounds (like carbon) — for life. If so, the agency plans to return to Europa and land on the icy crust. This time, they won't just be looking to see if it's habitable. They'll drill into the ice, looking to see if it's inhabited."We'll be knocking on the door for a second mission," Niebur said.This story has been updated with information about Europa Clipper's launch from Kennedy Space Center. Mark is an award-winning journalist and the science editor at Mashable. After working as a ranger with the National Park Service, he started a reporting career after seeing the extraordinary value in educating people about the happenings on Earth, and beyond.He's descended 2,500 feet into the ocean depths in search of the sixgill shark, ventured into the halls of top R&D laboratories, and interviewed some of the most fascinating scientists in the world.You can reach Mark at [email protected]. These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking

Looking for ISS Live?Want to see the International Space Station in your sky tonight? Experience the awe-inspiring views of Earth from the astronauts' perspective with the live transmission of the Space Station's cameras.If you're a space or astronomy enthusiast, you'll love ISS on Live.ISS on Live offers you real-time ISS live footage, showcasing stunning images of our planet Earth captured from the International Space Station by NASA. Immerse yourself in the day-to-day activities of astronauts as you witness them work inside the ISS.This exceptional app seamlessly integrates Google Maps, allowing you to track the ISS's orbit at all times. Customize your experience by selecting different map types, such as satellite or terrain view. Gain access to telemetry information, including speed, altitude, longitude, and latitude, along with the ISS's current location. Furthermore, explore the day/night map displaying visibility boundaries for both the ISS and yourself. Customize these features through the application's configuration menu.Additionally, ISS on Live now features a real-time "World Cloud Map" layer, integrated into Google Maps. This remarkable feature enables you to visualize the cloud coverage worldwide. Stay informed about visibility conditions for the regions the ISS passes over and witness them firsthand through the ISS's HD cameras.Experience live video transmissions from the following channels:1.- ISS CAM 1 HD: Provides breathtaking, high-definition images of our planet Earth.2.- ISS CAM 2: Offers mesmerizing views of Earth and captivating onboard footage of the ISS, including experiments, tests, maintenance, and communications with NASA.3.- Nasa TV Channel: Access the NASA Television Service, featuring STEM programs and documentaries.4.- Nasa TV Media Channel: Enjoy additional content from a secondary NASA TV channel.5.- ESA TV: Watch the European Space Agency Live channel, featuring science, exploration programming, and documentaries.And other occasional channels:✓ SpaceX Live Transmissions: Live coverage of SpaceX Crew Dragon launch events.✓ Roscosmos TV: Live coverage

Company Milestones 1960s Research began at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the late 1960’s, with the study of ultraviolet (invisible) and blue-light (visible) rays, after it was discovered that astronauts’ eyes were being damaged by the harmful properties of light in space. These radiation light sources from the sun and other environments are now known to contribute to cataract and age-related macular degeneration 1960s Research began at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the late 1960’s, with the study of ultraviolet (invisible) and blue-light (visible) rays, after it was discovered that astronauts’ eyes were being damaged by the harmful properties of light in space. These radiation light sources from the sun and other environments are now known to contribute to cataract and age-related macular degeneration 1970s NASA Scientists replicate the unique oil droplets found in eagles’ eyes and create a new, groundbreaking lens filter for astronauts’ use during space missions. Astronauts utilize this new technology while working in space. 1970s NASA Scientists replicate the unique oil droplets found in eagles’ eyes and create a new, groundbreaking lens filter for astronauts’ use during space missions. Astronauts utilize this new technology while working in space. 1980s Avian® and TriLenium® space-transfer lens technology is introduced to the general public and adapted for everyday use on earth. 1980s Avian® and TriLenium® space-transfer lens technology is introduced to the general public and adapted for everyday use on earth. 1990s SunTiger®, Inc. now Eagle Eyes® conducts further development and improvements of the lens technology. 1990s SunTiger®, Inc. now Eagle Eyes® conducts further development and improvements of the lens technology. 2006 The Space Foundation honors Eagle Eyes® with its Lifetime Certification award, the only lens manufacturer granted this distinction. 2006 The Space Foundation honors Eagle Eyes® with its Lifetime Certification award, the only lens manufacturer granted this distinction. 2010 In cooperation with NASA, Eagle Eyes® is inducted into The Space Foundation Hall of Fame for its lifetime of work in space-transfer technologies that target both protecting ones eyesight, but also improving overall clarity and vision 2010 In cooperation with NASA, Eagle Eyes® is inducted into The Space Foundation