ESO: VLT captures sharpest images yet of a “dog-bone” asteroid

September 9, 2021 TopSpacer

A new report from the European Southern Observatory (ESO):

ESO captures best images yet of peculiar “dog-bone” asteroid

These eleven images are of the asteroid Kleopatra, viewed at different angles as it rotates. The images were taken at different times between 2017 and 2019 with the Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE) instrument on ESO’s VLT. Kleopatra orbits the Sun in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. Astronomers have called it a “dog-bone asteroid” ever since radar observations around 20 years ago revealed it has two lobes connected by a thick “neck”.

Using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), a team of astronomers have obtained the sharpest and most detailed images yet of the asteroid Kleopatra. The observations have allowed the team to constrain the 3D shape and mass of this peculiar asteroid, which resembles a dog bone, to a higher accuracy than ever before. Their research provides clues as to how this asteroid and the two moons that orbit it formed.

“Kleopatra is truly a unique body in our Solar System,”

says Franck Marchis, an astronomer at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, USA and at the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, France, who led a study on the asteroid — which has moons and an unusual shape — published today in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

“Science makes a lot of progress thanks to the study of weird outliers. I think Kleopatra is one of those and understanding this complex, multiple asteroid system can help us learn more about our Solar System.”

Kleopatra orbits the Sun in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. Astronomers have called it a “dog-bone asteroid” ever since radar observations around 20 years ago revealed it has two lobes connected by a thick “neck”. In 2008, Marchis and his colleagues discovered that Kleopatra is orbited by two moons, named AlexHelios and CleoSelene, after the Egyptian queen’s children.

This image provides a size comparison of the asteroid Kleopatra with northern Italy. The top half of the image shows a computer model of Kleopatra, a “dog-bone” shaped asteroid which orbits the Sun in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. End to end, Kleopatra is 270 kilometres long. The bottom half of the image gives an aerial view of northern Italy, with the footprint Kleopatra would have if it were hovering above it.

To find out more about Kleopatra, Marchis and his team used snapshots of the asteroid taken at different times between 2017 and 2019 with the Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE) instrument on ESO’s VLT. As the asteroid was rotating, they were able to view it from different angles and to create the most accurate 3D models of its shape to date. They constrained the asteroid’s dog-bone shape and its volume, finding one of the lobes to be larger than the other, and determined the length of the asteroid to be about 270 kilometres or about half the length of the English Channel.

In a second study, also published in Astronomy & Astrophysics and led by Miroslav Brož of Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, the team reported how they used the SPHERE observations to find the correct orbits of Kleopatra’s two moons. Previous studies had estimated the orbits, but the new observations with ESO’s VLT showed that the moons were not where the older data predicted them to be.

“This had to be resolved,” says Brož. “Because if the moons’ orbits were wrong, everything was wrong, including the mass of Kleopatra.”

Thanks to the new observations and sophisticated modelling, the team managed to precisely describe how Kleopatra’s gravity influences the moons’ movements and to determine the complex orbits of AlexHelios and CleoSelene. This allowed them to calculate the asteroid’s mass, finding it to be 35% lower than previous estimates.

Combining the new estimates for volume and mass, astronomers were able to calculate a new value for the density of the asteroid, which, at less than half the density of iron, turned out to be lower than previously thought [1]. The low density of Kleopatra, which is believed to have a metallic composition, suggests that it has a porous structure and could be little more than a “pile of rubble”. This means it likely formed when material reaccumulated following a giant impact.

Kleopatra’s rubble-pile structure and the way it rotates also give indications as to how its two moons could have formed. The asteroid rotates almost at a critical speed, the speed above which it would start to fall apart, and even small impacts may lift pebbles off its surface. Marchis and his team believe that those pebbles could subsequently have formed AlexHelios and CleoSelene, meaning that Kleopatra has truly birthed its own moons.

The new images of Kleopatra and the insights they provide are only possible thanks to one of the advanced adaptive optics systems in use on ESO’s VLT, which is located in the Atacama Desert in Chile. Adaptive optics help to correct for distortions caused by the Earth’s atmosphere which cause objects to appear blurred — the same effect that causes stars viewed from Earth to twinkle. Thanks to such corrections, SPHERE was able to image Kleopatra — located 200 million kilometres away from Earth at its closest — even though its apparent size on the sky is equivalent to that of a golf ball about 40 kilometres away.

ESO’s upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), with its advanced adaptive optics systems, will be ideal for imaging distant asteroids such as Kleopatra.

“I can’t wait to point the ELT at Kleopatra, to see if there are more moons and refine their orbits to detect small changes,” adds Marchis.

Notes

[1] The newly calculated density is 3.4 grams per cubic centimetre, while previously Kleopatra was believed to have a mean density of about 4.5 grams per cubic centimetre.

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Space policy roundup – Sept.7.2021

September 7, 2021 TopSpacer

A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest (find previous space policy roundups here):

Schedule:
- What’s Happening in Space Policy September 5-12, 2021 – SpacePolicyOnline.com
NASA lunar programs:
- Artemis human landing system selection:
  - Blue Origin HLS :
    - Blue Origin hires advisory firm linked to messy JEDI contract process | Ars Technica
Biden space:
- How will Biden’s Afghanistan debacle impact NASA’s Artemis return to the moon? | TheHill
Congressional space:
- Draft House Infrastructure Bill Funds NASA & NOAA Space Programs, But Not HLS – SpacePolicyOnline.com
- House budget reconciliation package funds NASA infrastructure but not lunar lander work – SpaceNews
Govt. launch:
- The problem Starship poses to NASA and Congress – Behind The Black/Robert Zimmerman
SLS/Orion:
- NASA’s hopes waning for SLS test flight this year – Spaceflight Now
US space goals:
US and China in space:
- NASA has no plans to exchange lunar samples with China – SpaceNews
US and Russia in space:
- International Space Station: Russian space chief says ‘divorce is not possible’ with US – CNN
NASA science programs:
- The James Webb Space Telescope is almost ready for launch – Planetary Society
Space technology:
- Liquid nitrogen shortage delays Landsat 9 launch – SpaceNews
Commercial space:
- This Is the Space Race You Are Looking For – WSJ
- Space industry grapples with COVID-19-related oxygen fuel shortage – UPI.com
- Human spaceflight/Space tourism:
- Constellations
  - Kleos secures A$12.6 million to grow constellation – Kleos
  - iPhone 13 rumored to have satellite phone connectivity – CNBC
- Finance:
  - Space company Redwire begins trading NYSE after closing SPAC deal – CNBC
  - E2MC Update On Space-Financing Rounds in August 2021 – SpaceWatch.Global
- Insurance:
Space settlement:
- The Space Resource Newsletter – August 2021 — The Space Resource
Regulation – spectrum, export control, launch, etc:
- Blue Origin vs SpaceX Starlink:
  - SpaceX says Amazon’s call to dismiss Starlink amendment is a delay tactic – SpaceNews
  - Elon Musk v. Jeff Bezos: Billionaires continue battle over space-based internet – CNBC
- Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo flight:
Space law:
- New legislation gives companies legal rights to lunar resources – The Asahi Shimbun
Space traffic & environment issues:
- Space agencies support space traffic management but differ on how it should be developed – SpaceNews
- Anti-satellite weapons must be banned before they cause ‘major fragmentation event’, astronauts and space agencies warn | The Independent
US states space:
- Florida:
  - SpaceX, Blue Origin could benefit from proposed tax breaks – Florida Today
- Guam:
  - Virgin Orbit clears FAA hurdle for small satellite launches from Guam | Space.com
- Texas:
  - North Texas Inno – The space race runs through Texas – Bizjournals.com
  - Reduced Beach Access Part Of Battle Between South Texas Community And SpaceX | KUT Radio, Austin’s NPR Station
Weather & other earth observation satellites:
- Satellites track huge Tropical Storm Ida at night from space (photos) – Space.com
US Defense space:
- Bipartisan group of lawmakers presses DoD to back Lockheed-Aerojet merger – SpaceNews
- Norms:
  - Draft House FY2022 NDAA Calls for International Norms of Behavior in Space – SpacePolicyOnline.com
- Organizational:
  - House Armed Services Committee approves Space National Guard, challenges DoD on space programs – SpaceNews
  - House Armed Services Committee votes to postpone Space Command’s move from Colorado Springs – gazette.com
- Commercial services:
  - HASC Makes Plan To Force DoD Use Of Commercial Space – Breaking Defense
- Space transport:
  - HASC chairman wants updated DoD plan for ‘tactically responsive space launch’ – SpaceNews
  - A responsive launch capability will deter enemies, boost national security – Defense News
- Reconnaissance:
  - DoD to extend intelligence agency program that helps track wildfires – SpaceNews
- Satellites:
  - Op-ed | While satellites are cool, military space networks must focus on interoperability – SpaceNews
  - Space Force delays selection of weather satellites – SpaceNews
- Acquisition:
  - Space Development Agency targets multiple vendors for Transport Layer satellite deal – SatellitePro ME
  - Aerospace Corp. CEO sees winds of change in space procurement – SpaceNews
Space advocacy/activism
- The people’s space telescopes | The Planetary Society

International space

Webcasts:

** Episode 47: Thoughts on Coverage of Virgin Galactic Anomaly – Space Thoughts (YouTube) – Space Law & Policy Solutions/Michael Listner

** Taiwanese Rocket Company Gets Go-Ahead for Launch, China Working on a Mars UAV, Geely Space Updates – Dongfang Hour – YouTube

A summary of the presentation is available at Dongfang Hour China Aerospace News Roundup 30 August – 5 September 2021 – SpaceWatch.Global

** The Space Cafe Podcast #035: Elodie Viau – Getting Telecommunication Ready For Space And Beyond – SpaceWatch.Global

Episode 035 features a special guest Elodie Viau.

The European Space Agency ESA is known for spectacular landings on distant comets or the like. What is little known is that the ESA has no less exciting departments in completely different areas. Like telecommunications, for example. What exactly is ESA up to in this field and why is it probably one of the most exciting tasks of all? Elodie Viau, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at ESA has taken the time to answer this question in the current episode of the Space Cafe Podcast.

** Space Café WebTalk – Niklas Nienass – 29. June 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

During this week’s Space Café, SpaceWatch.Global publisher, Torsten Kriening spoke with a Member of the European Parliament and member of the German Alliance 90/The Greens party, Niklas Niennas, about Europe’s role and response to the space race 2.0.

Elected in 2019, he is a member of the committees on regional development, culture and education, however, he also takes great interest in space, with 20 percent of his workload dedicated to space policy. He also regularly writes about the sector on his blog and has hosted webinars on space law and policy, and the current upheavals facing the sector.

This week, he and Torsten discuss how Europe can prepare for a new space world that’s both brimming with private sector players and is increasingly militarised, through the creation of an international rulebook and European space strategy. …

** How Can US Space and Defense Startups Team with Primes and Government using govmates? – Cold Star Technologies – YouTube

Space and defense startups frequently have a tough time “being heard” in the field. Not only that, these small companies struggle with learning the byzantine paths to discovering and connecting with prime contractors and government organizations who could be looking for their technical help. Katie Bilek co-founded govmates in 2015 to smooth the way and assist in making teaming connections. If you’re a space or defense startup founder looking for help in developing these kinds of connections, listen in to our discussion. …

** The Space Show – Tuesday, Aug.31.2021 – Dr. David Brin discussed NASA’s

Artemis [program] and why our guest deeply opposes the program. Also, asteroid mining, resource minding the asteroids compared to the Moon, Tic-tac and ET matters, global society history and nefarious forces opposing the U.S. experiment and more.

** Hotel Mars – The John Batchelor Show/The Space Show – Wed. Sept.1.2021 – Steven Wolfe of the Beyond Earth Institute spoke with John Batchelor and Dr. David Livingston about

space solar power (SSP) and their project Catching the Sun: A National Strategy for Space Solar Power (pdf). Steve explained SSP, why it is about 10X more abundant in energy than ground based solar, why it is the ultimate green fuel, and more.

** The Space Show – Friday, Sept.3.2021 – Roman Chiporukha talked about “High end space, earth and ocean adventures, space missions, marketing, educational outreach, educating the general public about space, STEM goals“.

** September 3, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast – Behind The Black/Robert Zimmerman

** September 1, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast – Behind The Black/Robert Zimmerman

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The Space Show this week – Sept.6.2021

September 6, 2021 TopSpacer

The guests and topics of discussion on The Space Show this week:

1. Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021; 7 pm PDT (9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT): We welcome back Chris Blackerby of Astroscale for important updates on their orbital debris mitigation project.

2. Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021: Hotel Mars TBA pre-recorded. See upcoming show menu on the home page for program details.

3. Friday, Sept.10, 2021; 9:30-11 am PDT (11:30 am-1 pm CDT, 12:30-2 pm EDT): We welcome back Dr. Namrata Goswami for a look at our space and national space security efforts in Asia post Afghanistan.

4. Sunday, Sept.12, 2021; 12-1:30 pm PDT (3-4:30 pm EDT, 2-3:30 pm CDT): We welcome back John Bucknell for part 2 of his discussion around his new company focusing on SSP.

Some recent shows:

** Tuesday, Aug.31.2021 – Dr. David Brin discussed NASA’s

** Hotel Mars – The John Batchelor Show/The Space Show – Wed. Sept.1.2021 – Steven Wolfe of the Beyond Earth Institute spoke with John Batchelor and Dr. David Livingston about

** Friday, Sept.3.2021 – Roman Chiporukha talked about “High end space, earth and ocean adventures, space missions, marketing, educational outreach, educating the general public about space, STEM goals“.

The Space Show is a project of the One Giant Leap Foundation .

The Space Show - David Livingston — The Space Show – Dr. David Livingston

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Videos: “Space to Ground” + Other ISS reports – Sept.4.2021

September 4, 2021 TopSpacer

Here is the latest episode in NASA’s Space to Ground weekly report on activities related to the International Space Station:

** Cosmonauts spacewalk outside Nauka module in these amazing views – VideoFromSpace

Cosmonauts Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov’s conduct a spacewalk outside the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module on Sept. 3, 2021.

** Animation Depicts First Russian Spacewalk to Outfit the New Nauka Module – NASA Video

The animation depicts the work to be conducted by Expedition 65 cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos during the first pair of up to eleven spacewalks that will outfit the new Russian Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module that was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 21 and docked to the International Space Station July 29. The first two spacewalks involve the connection of power, ethernet and telemetry cables between Nauka, the Zvezda Service Module and Pressurized Mating Adapter 1 that links the U.S. and Russian segments of the orbital complex.

** Space Station Crew Talks with Gateway Habitation and Logistics Outpost Team – NASA Video

** Expedition 65 – SpaceX CRS 23 Rendezvous and Docking – NASA Video

SpaceX Cargo Dragon docks with the International Space Station with science experiments and supplies.

** Planet Aqua: Solutions from Space for Clean Water – European Space Agency, ESA

Water is life, on Earth and in space. Dutch ESA astronaut André Kuipers recounts his experience living in space for 204 days, and his time looking back on the blue face of ‘Planet Aqua’, comparing notes with divers about what is going on beneath the waves. He goes on to explore how space technology is being used for water management, from orbital tracking of water quality and pollution to spacecraft-grade recycling systems deployed down on the ground, as well as ambitious efforts to identify marine plastic litter using satellites. Produced for SIWI World Water Week with the support of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

** Enter the airlock with Thomas Pesquet (in French with English subtitles available) – European Space Agency, ESA

ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet gives a tour of the International Space Station’s airlock – the module used to prepare for and carry out spacewalks. In this video, Thomas provides an overview of the EMU spacesuit used for US spacewalks and its different components. The spacesuits can be adjusted depending on an astronaut’s size, but the gloves are customised to ensure each astronaut has maximum mobility in their hands and fingers. Thomas shows the cameras and lighting systems that allow astronauts to continue work when over the side of Earth not lit by the sun, the visors they put down during periods of harsh light and the cooling garments worn under the suits that keep their bodies at the right temperature. He also explains the equipment lock and the crew lock, where astronauts breathe in a controlled way to rid their blood of nitrogen and adjust to the lower pressure of space.

** Node 2 | Space Station 360 (in French with English subtitles available) – European Space Agency, ESA

ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet takes you on a tour of the International Space Station like no other. Filmed with a 360 camera, the Space Station 360 series lets you explore for yourself alongside Thomas’s explanation – this is the Node 2 module. Node 2 is a European-built connecting module also known as Harmony that acts as an internal passageway and utility hub. Its exterior also serves as a work platform for the station’s robotic arm, Canadarm2, and has docking ports for spacecraft. In this video, Thomas shows the different modules that Node 2 connects: Europe’s Columbus Laboratory, the US lab Destiny and the Japanese Kibo Laboratory. He also shows workspaces and sleeping cabins where astronauts can have some personal space and sleep with their sleeping bags attached to the wall.

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Night sky highlights for September 2021

September 1, 2021 TopSpacer

** What’s Up: September 2021 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA JPL

What are some skywatching highlights in September 2021? Mercury provides a challenging target to spot in the fading light after sunset at the beginning of the month. Enjoy spotting two “fast” stars all month long: speedy Arcturus and fast-spinning Altair. Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/whats-up….

** Tonight’s Sky: September – Space Telescope Science Institute

In September, Pegasus becomes increasingly prominent in the southeastern sky, allowing stargazers to locate globular star clusters and a nearby double star, Alpha Capricorni. Keep watching for space-based views of densely packed, spherical collections of ancient stars in visible and X-ray light.