From the Earth to the Moon, to Venus, Mars, and more
August 21, 2022 5:59 PM   Subscribe

A roundup of July and August 2022 in humanity's exploration of space. Humans and robots explored, rockets ascended and descended, various preparations are under way, and many plans were aired.

On Earth, getting off of it, and returning The European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched a Vega-C rocket for the first time. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) successfully launched the Wentian laboratory cabin module (问天实验舱) and connected it to their Tiangong space station, adding some new solar "wings" to the assembly. The next Tiangong module to be launched, Mengtian, arrived at the Wenchang spaceport. A SpaceX Dragon capsule returned to Earth with 4,000 pounds of material. China also launched two batches of spy satellites. SpaceX also launched more than 50 Starlink satellites.

The ESA is exploring plans to orbit solar collectors to provide electricity to Europe. Space Perspective shared its plans for balloon-based stratosphere tourism. American vice president Harris announced she would lead a revision of commercial space regulations.

In Earth orbit An Italian astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut conducted a joint spacewalk from the International Space Station (ISS), but an electrical problem cut it short. The Russian government announced it would quit the ISS in two years, then showed plans for its own space station. An experimental Chinese spaceplane remained in orbit, despite passing over its landing site.

Hubble imaged a spectacular globular cluster. A geomagnetic storm hammered a Galaxy 15 satellite.

From the Earth to the Moon, On, and Around the Moon The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, or Danuri, rode a Falcon 9 rocket to space and is heading to the moon now. NASA announced it would fire off the Space Launch System for the first time in an uncrewed test mission to, around, and back from the moon. NASA also published 13 potential landing locations for the first crewed mission. UCLA researchers found lunar pits where temperatures tend to stay in the 60s °F.

Earth's L2 point. The James Webb telescope continues to perform amazing work and one article reviewing its performance has appeared, although it took several micrometeoroid hits, including one which damaged a mirror. Plus the chorizo incident.

Venus Rocket Lab announced plans to send a mission into Venus' atmosphere.

Mars The ESA Mars Express orbiter shared new images of Valles Marineris. NASA is curious about some stuff stuck on Perseverance. The Curiosity rover celebrated ten years on the red planet.

NASA finished setting requirements for an upcoming Mars sample return mission. New companies Relativity Space and Impulse Space announced plans to launch a robot lander to Mars in 2024.

Asteroids Scientists detected truly ancient materials in samples returned from Ryugu, thanks to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構) (JAXA) Hayabusa2 mission.

Jupiter The Juno probe sent images of immense Jovian storms.

The Kuiper Belt New Horizons continues to fly. A group of scientists have pitched Interstellar Probe (IP) to the Decadal Survey of Solar and Space Physics.
posted by doctornemo (18 comments total) 34 users marked this as a favorite
 
Niiiice!

I refuse to use NASA's stupid "mega moon rocket" moniker. And I am especially PO'd that they tried to gaslight the press into pretending that they (NASA) didn't come up with it. Nobody called it that before Jim Free did, over and over, trying to coin a phrase.

SpaceX will let SLS have its moment in the sun as the most powerful rocket on the planet, but they are right on its heels with Starship and the Super Heavy booster, which is much more powerful and capable. They are rumored to be aiming for a 33-engine static fire no later than the day before the SLS launch; with the limits that are in place at Boca Chica, that likely means this Thursday.

The revised plan for Mars sample return is rather stunning and exciting. Helicopters work on Mars, cool cool cool. Put them to work!
posted by intermod at 8:08 PM on August 21, 2022 [2 favorites]


SpaceX has about 5-6 of the new upgraded rockets in the manufacturing pipeline right now. That's more than many programs every launch. It will change the entire industry, make spacestations possible.
posted by sammyo at 8:30 PM on August 21, 2022


Nice post!

The revised plan for Mars sample return is rather stunning and exciting. Helicopters work on Mars, cool cool cool. Put them to work!

I thought it a bit odd that the sample and return missions were so distinct, but it turns out to be a genius move.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 9:07 PM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]


"that's odd" said some researcher and I don't know how to do links with this browser lol https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/webb-telescope-shatters-distance-records-challenges-astronomers/
posted by baegucb at 10:44 PM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]


Parker Solar Probe Thriving Four Years after Launch

Lucy on its way to visit (2025-2033) six asteroids

BepiColombo continues to sneak up on Mercury, arriving late 2025

I could go on.
posted by neuron at 12:05 PM on August 22, 2022 [4 favorites]


I keep up in part by listening to Planetary Radio every week.
posted by neuron at 12:07 PM on August 22, 2022 [1 favorite]


Good ones, neuron.
posted by doctornemo at 12:10 PM on August 22, 2022


Look at these Webb images of Jupiter!
https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/08/22/webbs-jupiter-images-showcase-auroras-hazes/
posted by doctornemo at 4:17 PM on August 22, 2022 [3 favorites]


Venus Rocket Lab announced plans to send a mission into Venus' atmosphere.

I am working on this project!
posted by ngaiotonga at 4:48 AM on August 23, 2022 [10 favorites]


I refuse to use NASA's stupid "mega moon rocket" moniker. And I am especially PO'd that they tried to gaslight the press into pretending that they (NASA) didn't come up with it. Nobody called it that before Jim Free did, over and over, trying to coin a phrase.

To be fair, a mega moon rocket sounds so fetch.
posted by flabdablet at 5:24 AM on August 23, 2022 [1 favorite]


I was going to say a mega moon rocket is just streets ahead.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:30 AM on August 23, 2022


Amazing, ngaiotonga ! What can you tell us of it?
posted by doctornemo at 4:39 PM on August 23, 2022 [1 favorite]


Not as much as I would like to! I'm Rocket Lab rather than MIT (the people developing the probe) and mostly concerned with the propulsion system. I did similar work on Lunar Photon (satellite bus for the CAPSTONE mission) which was an amazing experience. The trajectory for Venus is incredible and everything is going to have to be perfect to the minute to work so it's a lot of pressure.
posted by ngaiotonga at 12:29 AM on August 24, 2022 [5 favorites]


So cool, ngaiotonga.
posted by doctornemo at 5:59 PM on August 24, 2022


Nice roundup, thanks.

I am currently sitting in the Austin airport waiting to fly to Orlando for the Artemis 1 launch, to be with my daughter who is an electrical test engineer on the Orion Crew Module. We have a car pass onto the range and will be as close as civilians can get. She’s giving up being a mile closer from the roof of her building in order to be with me… such sacrifice! I may take pictures, or I may just enjoy the moment. This is the culmination of a 15 year journey for her/us that started in 7th grade.

I know a lot of people are critical of the whole SLS program and rightly so, but as a dad I’m going to bask in this moment.
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:19 AM on August 28, 2022 [4 favorites]


TLDR MY KID MADE A SPACESHIP THAT IS GOING TO THE MOON HAHAHAHA…

*breathe, Chris, breathe*
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:21 AM on August 28, 2022 [4 favorites]


The trajectory for Venus is incredible and everything is going to have to be perfect to the minute to work so it's a lot of pressure.

Good luck , we’re all counting on you.
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:23 AM on August 28, 2022 [1 favorite]


Jupiter The Juno probe sent images of immense Jovian storms.
If you haven't signed up for Jovian Vortex Hunter (to help classify some of these)... I recommend you do so.

Same for Cloudspotting on Mars.
posted by plep at 5:52 AM on August 30, 2022


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