National Space Society

New research reveals surprising variations in sound behavior across the Red Planet. 🔊🔴

From eerie dust devils to mountaintop echoes resembling Earth, sounds on Mars defy expectations. 🌌🎶

Atmospheric conditions like temperature and carbon dioxide levels dramatically influence sound speed and attenuation. This insight from the study, published in JGR: Planets, is crucial for future Mars missions, including human exploration. 🚀👩‍🚀

Understanding these acoustic quirks helps scientists interpret rover recordings and prepare for communication challenges in Martian environments. Dive into the science behind Mars' audial mysteries!

Image credit: ASA/JPL-Caltech

Saturn's rings steal the show! 🪐✨

While methane gas in Saturn's atmosphere absorbs most sunlight, making the planet itself appear dark, the iconic rings shine bright in this near-infrared image.

Saturn's rings are a captivating mix of rocky and icy fragments, ranging from tiny sand-sized particles to giants as big as mountains!

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Matt Tiscareno (SETI Institute), Matt Hedman (University of Idaho), Maryame El Moutamid (Cornell University), Mark Showalter (SETI Institute), Leigh Fletcher (University of Leicester), Heidi Hammel (AURA). Image processing: J. DePasquale (STScI)

This may look like a smear, but it's history in the making! 🌍📸

On August 14, 1959, Explorer 6 captured the first-ever image of a sunlit area over the Central Pacific Ocean and its cloud cover. 🛰️✨

Taken from 27,000 km above Earth's surface as the satellite passed Mexico, this groundbreaking achievement paved the way for our understanding of space and our planet.

Image Source: NASA.gov

Join us for a powerful NSS Space Forum on August 15, 2024! 🌌

We invite you to hear the incredible story of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the heroic efforts to bring her and her crew home after the tragic accident in 2003.

Authors Michael Leinbach, former Space Shuttle Launch Director, and Jonathan Ward, space historian, will share their firsthand accounts and reflections.

Don’t miss this chance to honor the Columbia crew and learn about the lessons that continue to shape space exploration today.

🗓️ Date: Thursday, August 15, 2024
⏰ Time: 9:00 PM to 10:15 PM EDT
📚 Special Bonus: Signed copies of "Bringing Columbia Home" will be given away as door prizes!

Register now to secure your spot and be part of this meaningful discussion: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3816316335963/WN_UxfUMjkGSmanooD-e4wODg

Dive into the fascinating world of Spacelab with "The Spacelab Story: Science Aboard the Shuttle" by Ben Evans! 📚 🚀

This comprehensive book takes you from its inception in the 1970s through its pivotal role in international space cooperation and its impact on science.

Discover the challenges, triumphs, and legacy of this orbiting science laboratory that shaped our understanding of space. It's perfect for anyone captivated by space exploration history!

Read the full review on our blog: https://nss.org/book-review-the-spacelab-story/

Behold the universe in the palm of your hand with NSS! 🌌✨

Join us and unlock a galaxy of benefits including:

✅ Quarterly issues of AdAstra magazine 📖
✅ Downlink newsletters 📨
✅ Access to our lively Space Forums and Town Halls 🚀
✅ Reduced rates on the International Space Development Conference®
✅ Play a crucial role in advancing NSS's mission 🌟
✅ Plus, additional perks valued at over $500! 💫

Don't miss out on joining Earth's oldest and most influential space advocacy group! 🛰️

Follow the link to join NSS today and start your cosmic journey.

https://inside.nss.org/page/membership-special-offer

The Crab Nebula in a whole new light! 🦀🌌

This incredible image combines data from Chandra X-ray Observatory (blue & white) and the new Webb Space Telescope (red & orange). It shows the aftermath of a supernova explosion witnessed in 1054!

At the center lies a super-dense neutron star, spinning 30 times per second. It blasts jets of energy outward, shaping the surrounding gas and dust into a cosmic light show. ✨

This image is a testament to the power of collaboration, unlocking the secrets of the universe piece by piece.

Image Credit: NASA/CXC/SAO, STScI, J. Major

Did you know? Without space travel, we wouldn't have camera phones! 📸🚀

Back in the 1990s, a team at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) pioneered miniaturized cameras for spacecraft, maintaining scientific quality.

Today, one-third of all cameras feature this tech, showing how space exploration drives everyday innovation. 🌌📱

This is just one of the many ways that space travel has impacted our every day lives, even if we don't realize it!

What's that you say? It's impossible to actually build a city on Mars? How about a small settlement on the Moon? No? That's one message of the 2023 book "A City on Mars," though the authors do suggest it might be possible in hundreds of years... but we don't think you will have to wait that long. Or shouldn't. Join Isaac Arthur and me as we discuss the book, and its implications, with NSS COO Dale Skran, and let us know what *you* think. National Space Society Burt Dicht Fred Becker Lisa Laporte Martin Lollar Susan Holden Martin

No City on Mars? | TWiT.TV It's been said that Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids, and that's certainly the assertion of the popular 2023 book, 'A City on Mars' by Kelly and Zack

Hubble is back in action with a stunning view of galaxy NGC 1546!🔭🌌

Operating in '1-gyroscope mode', this image showcases the success of Hubble's new stable pointing mode.

Located 50 million light-years away in Dorado, NGC 1546's "flocculent" spiral structure reveals bursts of star formation amid dusty clouds, a testament to its vibrant cosmic chemistry.

Despite challenges, Hubble's resilience promises years of groundbreaking discoveries ahead. 🚀💫

NASA's Juno Mission captures stunning images of Jupiter's vibrant belts and zones! 🌌🚀✨

During its 54th close flyby on Sept. 7, 2023, Juno's spacecraft snapped this incredible view of Jupiter. Citizen scientist Tanya Oleksuik processed the raw data from the JunoCam instrument, enhancing the details in the planet's colorful atmosphere, which stretches approximately 1,860 miles (3,000 kilometers) deep.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS Image processing by Tanya Oleksuik CC BY NC SA 3.0

Could AI be the reason we haven't found aliens yet? 🤖👽

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), possibly leading to artificial superintelligence (ASI), might explain why our search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) hasn't detected advanced civilizations in the galaxy 🛸

As AI progresses towards ASI, it could present a "great filter" that civilizations struggle to overcome. This hypothesis suggests that civilizations may falter during the critical transition to becoming space-faring, a phase where AI's autonomous and self-improving nature could outpace our ability to control it or expand beyond our planet. 🚀🌌

The potential risks are immense. Autonomous AI systems, if unchecked, could lead to unforeseen consequences, threatening both biological and AI civilizations. This challenge underscores the urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks to guide AI development and ensure our long-term survival as a species. 🌍💡

This research isn't just about caution; it's a call to action.

Humanity must navigate the integration of AI responsibly, setting the stage for a future where we thrive alongside advanced technologies, rather than succumb to them. 🌟

53 years ago today, Apollo 15 Commander David Scott made history by driving the lunar roving vehicle on the Moon for the very first time! 🌕🚀

Apollo 15 launched on July 26, 1971, and landed on the lunar surface on July 30, 1971. During this groundbreaking mission, Scott and lunar module pilot James Irwin spent over 18 hours exploring the Moon, collecting 170 pounds of lunar material.

Join us in celebrating this incredible milestone in space exploration! 🌌👨‍🚀

📷 Image Credit: NASA

What an incredible year for the National Space Society! 🚀 🌌 2023 was a stellar year for a number of reasons...

Here are some of the BIGGEST NSS highlights:

1️⃣ New Office at Kennedy Space Center: We proudly opened our new office at the iconic KSC, placing us at the heart of America's spaceport.

2️⃣ Saving New Horizons: Thanks to our advocacy, NASA restored funding to this mission, allowing it to continue exploring the Kuiper Belt.

3️⃣ Space Settlement Summit: Leaders like NASA's Pamela Melroy and USSF's Dr. Joel Mozer joined us for inspiring discussions on the future of space settlements.

4️⃣ March Storm: Our citizen advocates held nearly 60 meetings with key policymakers in DC, influencing critical space policies.

5️⃣ Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Contest: Showcasing the creativity of over 26,000 students worldwide, inspiring the next generation of space leaders.

6️⃣ CFF Grants: Thanks to Blue Origin’s generous grant, we expanded our STEM education efforts, impacting thousands of students through various programs.

7️⃣ International Space Development Conference (ISDC): Over 1,000 attendees, including 500+ students, gathered for sessions on space exploration and development.

8️⃣ Ad Astra Magazine: Won the 2023 MARCOM Gold Award, recognizing excellence in covering key space topics.

We couldn’t have achieved all this without your support. Thank you for being part of our mission. Here’s to an even more exciting 2024! 👨‍🚀🚀🛰️

Ready for the ultimate space experience? 🚀🌌 Join the National Space Society (NSS) today!

Stay updated with the latest in space exploration, technology, and discoveries.

From inspiring events to exclusive content, NSS offers everything you need to fuel your passion for the cosmos.

Don't miss out—become a member and journey with us towards the future of space exploration!

Follow the link to embark on your cosmic voyage:

Special Offer to Join the National Space Society Welcome!  The National Space Society (NSS) is pleased to offer you this exclusive, limited-time offer to join at a special discounted rate — $29.95 — less than half our Regular dues. Membership includes a Print and Digital subscription to Ad Astra magazine and more.

Dive into the cosmic ballet! 💫✨

Here is Zeta Ophiuchi, a massive blue star blazing a trail through interstellar clouds in this mesmerizing image from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. 🌌💙

Witness the beauty of space as this hot, bright giant navigates through swirling dust and gas, painting a celestial masterpiece along its journey. 🎨✨

Image Credit: NASA/JPL

Every 11 years, the Sun undergoes a dramatic event: a magnetic field reversal☀️🧲🔄

This marks the halfway point of the solar cycle, signaling a shift from solar maximum to solar minimum.

What's fascinating about this flip is its potential effects on Earth. While you won't notice the change, it could have some benefits. The wavy "current sheet" created during this flip helps shield our planet from harmful cosmic rays.

🌟 Today marks a historic moment in space travel! On July 21, 2011, STS-135 made its final landing, marking the end of NASA's Space Shuttle program. 🚀✨

We celebrate the incredible achievements of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and the brave astronauts who paved the way for future space exploration.

Join us in honoring this momentous occasion that closed an era and inspired generations to reach for the stars. 🌌👨‍🚀👩‍🚀

Image Sources: NASA

On this 55th anniversary of the landing of Apollo 11, I'd like to share an essay I was commissioned to write a few years ago for the Library of Congress to mark the re-accession of Neil Armstrong's first words on the moon into the collection. What a pleasure and an honor.https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/Apollo-11-Armstrong-Broadcast_Pyle.pdf

On this 55th anniversary of the landing of Apollo 11, I'd like to share an essay I was commissioned to write a few years ago for the Library of Congress to mark the re-accession of Neil Armstrong's first words on the moon into the collection. What a pleasure and an honor.

www.loc.gov

Europe's first Ariane 6 flight launched with high ambitions, achieving most of its goals but ended prematurely 🚀🌟

The 3-hour mission saw the cutting-edge rocket soar into the sky, showcasing its impressive capabilities in its maiden voyage.

While it didn't quite reach its final destination, the mission provided invaluable data and insights, marking a significant step forward in European space exploration.

With a payload simulating a satellite, Ariane 6 demonstrated its potential to revolutionize space travel and satellite deployment.

This mission is just the beginning, paving the way for future triumphs and innovations in the cosmos. Onward and upward! 🌌🔭

Image Source: ESA - M. Pédoussaut

An interesting article on the use of AI in robotic space exploration from JPL--specifically about the AI involved in the PIXL camera on Perseverance on Mars. Worth a look.

www.jpl.nasa.gov

You are invited to a special Town Hall Open House featuring the senior leadership of the National Space Society! 🚀👨‍🚀👩‍🚀

📅 Thursday, July 18, 2024
⏰ 9:00PM EDT

Join senior leaders Karlton Johnson, NSS Chief Executive Officer and Board of Governors Chairman, Isaac Arthur, NSS President, and Dale Skran, NSS Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for conversations including key issues facing space advocacy organizations, the challenges of advancing space settlement missions, recent NSS achievements and the obstacles and opportunities in the space arena.

Don't miss out on this Town Hall to have your burning space questions answered! 🌕

Click on the link below to register for Thursday's Town Hall! 👇
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3816316335963/WN_cZD4TS5VQ62Isnl7NcU8QQ

Happy Birthday to NASA's iconic Meatball logo, turning 65 today! 🎉 🚀🌌

Since 1959, this emblem has represented exploration, innovation, and the quest for the stars. From moon landings to Mars missions, the Meatball has been there through it all, inspiring generations to reach for the cosmos. 🌍✨

Join us in celebrating this milestone and the legacy of discovery it symbolizes. Here’s to many more years of space adventures! 🌠

Today marks a historic moment as we received the first photos from Mars! 🚀📸

On July 15, 1965, Mariner 4 captured the first surface images of Mars from a distance of 7,830 miles. These high-resolution images reveal a cratered surface, giving us our first close-up look at the Red Planet.

This achievement paved the way for future Mars exploration and deepened our understanding of our neighboring planet. 🌌🔭

Image Source: NASA