Dhathri Astronomy Blog

Aquarius: NASA's First Ocean Salinity Observations Hello Everyone! Today we are talking about one of the first missions of NASA to observe ocean surface salinity. 😊 Did you know that an Aquarius is a constellation and a zodiac sign (My zodiac sign is an Aquarius!!!)? Let's dive in! 🌊 Introduction The Aquarius/SAC-D mission was an instrument for mapping ocean surface salinity, providing important information into Earth's water cycle and ocean circulation. Scientists can better understand how freshwater moves between the ocean and the atmosphere by studying ocean surface salinity. The Aquarius mission was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on June 10, 2011, and placed into a 657 km (408 mi) Sun-synchronous orbit. The mission was a collaboration between NASA and CONAE, with participation from Brazil, Canada, France, and Italy. The data collected by Aquarius during its mission provided a clearer picture of how the ocean works, how it's linked to climate...

ISRO's Sucessful Completion; RLV Demonstrations Hello Everyone! Today I'm talking about ISRO's amazing RLV (Reusable Launch Vechicle) demonstrations. Let's dive in!                                           *The Reusable Launch Vehicle Introduction ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation, has recently made significant strides in its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) technology demonstrations through its Launch Experiment (LEX) trio. This achievement marks a major milestone in India's space exploration capabilities and opens up new possibilities for cost-effective and sustainable space missions. The Three Experiments The LEX trio consists of three key experiments: the Hypersonic Flight Experiment (HEX), the Landing Experiment (LEX), and the Scramjet Engine Experiment (SHEX). Each of these experiments plays a crucial role in testing and validating various aspects of the RLV technology...

 Exploration of the Moon through the Artemis Campaign NASA, along with its partners, is working hard to develop systems that are foundational for long-term exploration of the Moon through their Artemis campaign. Missions of Artemis Campaign The Artemis campaign consists of multiple missions that aim to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon. The first mission, Artemis I, is set to launch in 2021 and will be an uncrewed flight test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft. The second mission, Artemis II, will be the first crewed mission and will fly around the Moon without landing. The Artemis III mission will be the first to land near the Moon's South Pole, and the Artemis IV mission will see astronauts living and working in Gateway, the first lunar space station. Gateway: The First Lunar Space Station The Gateway will be a vital component of NASA's Artemis campaign. This station will provide new opportunities for science and prepare humans for the...