Space achievements of modern Russia. Space achievements of modern Russia Latest events in space exploration

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Date of publication: October 23, 2017

Astronomy is a great science that is developing in our century with rapid force. From year to year, with the development of technology, scientists manage to discover more and more new facts not only about the universe as a whole, but also about individual space objects.

Numerous studies have led to discoveries that previously seemed unthinkable. The knowledge gained today can become an excellent basis for the development of not only science, but also humanity as a whole.

Among the discoveries of 2017, the most striking and unusual were:

Astronomers have discovered the most “voracious” black hole

In the process of studying the constellation Virgo, astronomers came to the attention of an unusual object - a black hole, which has been absorbing huge amounts of energy and matter for more than 10 years.

During the period when small cosmic bodies approached the black hole, it absorbed them, splitting them into numerous particles.

In connection with the ongoing absorption processes, astronomers were given the opportunity to observe the high brightness of dying stars, observed for several months.

The black hole was discovered while studying the galaxy cluster NGC 5813. The study revealed the fact that the black hole was discovered back in 2005, when the brightness of SDSS J1500+ 0154 became more pronounced and visible in X-rays.

What's unusual about this discovery? The fact is that the volumes of energy consumed are significantly higher than the so-called Eddington limit, according to which the amount of matter absorbed by a black hole is determined before it begins to return it.

Detection of an asteroid the size of Moscow State University flying close to the Earth

A shocking statement was that on the night of September 1-14, 2017, an unknown asteroid flew past our planet at great speed. According to data received from astronomers, the size of the space object was approximately 200 kilometers. At the same time, it was 15.8 million kilometers closer to Earth.

The discovered object was given the name 2017 RU1. According to studies, this body is recognized as one of the largest objects visiting the vicinity of our planet in recent times. It is worth noting that the object was discovered several days before its approach to the Earth.

A small asteroid almost touched the Earth's atmosphere

At the beginning of the year, on January 30, an ultra-small asteroid 2017 BH30 was unexpectedly spotted, flying at a distance of 65 thousand kilometers from Earth. This distance is approximately equal to the orbit of some artificial Earth satellites and is six times less than the distance from the Earth to the Moon.

According to experts, the dimensions of the unexpectedly discovered asteroid are small - from 3 to 10 meters. The discovered body belongs to near-Earth asteroids that revolve around the Sun.

The risks of an asteroid colliding with our planet were minimal.

Astronomers have solved the mystery of the appearance of the most powerful cosmic rays

In 1912, Victor Hesses discovered cosmic rays while flying in a hot air balloon by measuring the level of radiation in the atmosphere. The rays are particles of various elements that pose a high danger to astronauts.

There is an opinion among scientists that there is no specific consensus regarding their origin. Long-term research lasting more than 8 years has revealed that powerful cosmic rays are of extragalactic origin. Their source remains a mystery, but all that is known is that, according to the incidence frequency and other properties, the rays were formed in nearby galaxies, which are most likely located at a relatively close distance from the Milky Way.

Astronomers have discovered several exoplanets at once

The star TRAPPIST-1, discovered in May 2016 in the constellation Aquarius, turned out to be the owner of several Earth analogues. Scientists suggest that three of the seven discovered planets are located in the “life zone” and have water and a thick atmosphere.

The TRAPPIST-1 system is located 40 light years from our planet. Based on the results of the research, scientists determined that, according to the spectrum of rays that passed through the shells of the planets, rocky planets most likely may have an atmosphere and contain water.

Modern equipment has allowed scientists to accurately determine the diameter and mass of most of the planets found suitable for the development of life and obtain information about the composition of their atmosphere.

Astronomers have found a “super-Earth” that may be habitable

Thanks to a spectrograph installed at an observatory in the Spanish Canary Islands, astronomers have discovered a potentially habitable “super-Earth.”

The mass of the discovered cosmic body is 2.8 times greater than the mass of the Earth, and the daily period is 350.4 hours. The surface temperature of the planet does not exceed 75°C.

Scientists are interested in the found planet and in the near future they intend to determine the composition of the atmosphere and the presence of liquid water.

A group of scientists discovered six new galaxies

A group of scientists, formed by specialists from China, the USA and Chile, managed to discover six galaxies at once that were previously unknown to mankind.

According to experts, the discovered galaxies formed 800 million years after the big bang. The discovered galaxies allowed for a breakthrough in the observational activities of astronomers and helped lay the foundations for the study of star formation.

American experts have been observing the star N6946-BH for several years in a row, but recently, according to NASA astronomers, the star disappeared from view.

Current information says that there are no exact reasons for the disappearance of the celestial body from view. Scientists have hypothesized that an adequate cause could be gravitational collapse—the disappearance or transformation of an object into a black hole.

At the stage of observing and studying the object, such a scenario was not expected, however, despite this, astronomers assumed the possibility of a star explosion.

The star N6946-BH1 was located 22 million light-years from our planet and was 25 times heavier than the Sun.

The article was prepared based on materials from RIA Novosti

Another year is coming to an end and we still haven't found any aliens. Fortunately, during this time there were many other very interesting events related to space. Over the past time, we have managed to witness several unique cosmic phenomena, solve several mysteries that have tormented our imagination for a long time, and also correct a couple of theories and hypotheses. Space never ceases to amaze with new stories. Now it's time to look back and look at some of the biggest ones that happened this past year.

A recent discovery by Japanese scientists has renewed interest in the topic of lunar colonization. In October, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced the discovery of a cave 50 kilometers long and 100 meters wide on our natural satellite. The object was discovered by the Kaguya lunar orbiter and is located beneath the surface of a volcanic region called the Marius Hills. Current findings suggest that the subsurface cavity is a lava tunnel formed by volcanic activity that occurred there about 3.5 billion years ago. The presence of these lava tunnels has been suspected for a long time, but official evidence has only now been obtained.

The main excitement among scientists about the discovery of these tunnels is due to the fact that these objects may be an ideal place for the establishment of future lunar bases. The walls of the tunnels are very strong and thick, and therefore are able to protect future colonizers from extreme temperatures on the surface of the satellite, ranging from -153 to +107 degrees Celsius. Moreover, such underground shelters could offer excellent protection for colonists and equipment from the effects of cosmic radiation and micrometeorites, which are quite common on the Moon. There are even suggestions that in these tunnels there are areas with deposits of ice or even water, which will certainly prove useful in the colonization of the satellite.

The Missing Link in the History of Planetary Formation

In 2014, one of the biggest news stories related to space was the story of the Rosetta probe and the first ever successful landing of a spacecraft (the Philae module) on a comet. This mission continued until 2016, until scientists decided to crash Rosetta into comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. As part of this event, the spacecraft managed to transmit, as it turned out, invaluable information to (the owners of the probe and landing module). But we were able to find out that this information was so important only a year later.

According to a study published by the Royal Astronomical Society, data obtained by the Rosetta spacecraft contains a missing link in the history of planetary formation. Scientists have found that millimeter-sized dust particles covering the outer layers of the 4.5 billion-year-old comet are mixed with internal ice particles located inside the comet. And such a symbiosis can be explained by only one model that describes the formation of large objects inside the Solar System - the nebular hypothesis.

After further analysis of the data, scientists concluded that these dust particles originally appeared from the matter of the nebula (from which, according to the nebular model, the Solar system was formed), and then constantly mixed with each other as a result of cosmic collisions with larger objects, constantly being attracted between an increasing level of gravitational force. According to the hypothesis, these particles can be attracted to each other so tightly that under the influence of their own gravity they can eventually collapse. However, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has not yet reached this point, thereby allowing scientists to confirm their assumptions.

Solving the mystery of the missing star

In 1437, Korean astrologers found a new star in the constellation Scorpio, which shone brightly for two weeks and then disappeared. Where it came from and where it went – ​​no one could answer. It took almost 600 years to solve this riddle. The author of the decision was astrophysicist Michael Shara from the American Museum of Natural History, who found out that his Korean colleagues witnessed a cataclysmic event in the 15th century. As it turned out, the actors in this event were two objects - a white dwarf and an ordinary star, which actually became a mass donor for the dwarf.

When the temperature and density of a white dwarf reach critical values ​​for starting thermonuclear reactions, the dwarf creates a powerful burst of energy called nova. This astronomical phenomenon is accompanied by an incredible flash, which Korean astrologers witnessed. After a couple of weeks, the nova faded, and the “new” star disappeared from the sky.

The solution to this riddle was helped by the incredible accuracy with which 15th-century Seoul scientists recorded this event. It occurred on March 11, 1437 and was observed between the second and third star of the constellation during the sixth lunar eclipse. But even so, Michael Shara had to consult historians and study Chinese astronomical maps to find out the exact location of the white dwarf. The work took as long as 30 years.

Estimating the probability of life on Enceladus

The results of the study, published in the journal Science, indicate that the subsurface ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus is undergoing chemical reactions similar to those found near geothermal vents on Earth. Scientists came to these conclusions after analyzing data collected as a result of the flight of the Cassini automatic interplanetary station in 2015 through the emissions of ice particles from the surface of the satellite and determining molecular hydrogen in them.

The astronomers behind the study believe the source of the hydrogen in this case is ongoing reactions between hot water and rock deep in the ocean and near the moon's core. The findings support an earlier study in 2016, which found that silica particles discovered by Cassini on Enceladus were likely exposed to hot water from the deep ocean.

On Earth, microbes living near deep-sea geothermal vents use a primitive metabolic process called methanogenesis to survive. Cassini's analysis suggests that Enceladus's ocean has all the resources needed to support this process. This does not prove the presence of life on Saturn’s satellite, but it significantly increases its habitability potential, scientists say.

Enceladus began to be seriously considered as a potential habitat for extraterrestrial life after the discovery of a subsurface ocean in it in 2005. Private and government space agencies are considering sending orbital probes and landers carrying scientific equipment to search for life to Enceladus in the 2020s.

Solving the mystery of the “Weird!” signal

In 1977, astronomers from Ohio State University (USA) were conducting routine monitoring of the sky in search of alien intelligence and suddenly caught an anomalous radio message of extraterrestrial origin. The scientists were so amazed by what they saw that on a printout of the radio data readings, one of them could not find anything better than to write a signature in the form of the word “Wow!” This is how the “Wow!” signal appeared. ("Wow!"). And this year we have a signal “Weird!” ("Strange!").

It was first caught by researchers at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico on May 12. Its source was from Ross 128, also known as FI Virgo, a dim red dwarf star located 11 light-years away with no planets around it. For 10 minutes the signal was observed "with almost constant frequency" and then disappeared.

Of course, when astronomers announced this event, the public’s first reaction was – aliens! In turn, the Arecibo team, although they admitted that the signal was “very unusual,” immediately made the assumption that, most likely, it represents fragments of broadband radio transmissions from one or more geostationary satellites. Further collaboration between Arecibo and SETI astronomers confirmed this assumption. It turned out that the signal “Weird!” creates one satellite that travels in a very distant geostationary orbit.

However, this is not the last time we heard something about the star Ross 128. In November, astronomers announced that there was at least one planet near the red dwarf. Moreover, scientists have found that the planet has a very low rotation speed and, being only 11 light years away, is the second closest candidate for an Earth-like planet. In this regard, it even outperforms the exoplanet Proxima b, since it is located near a quieter red dwarf that does not create huge emissions of radiation that could destroy the planet’s atmosphere (if it has one).

Collision of two neutron stars

Representing the cores left over from supernova explosions formed from once very massive stars, neutron stars are quite rare and at the same time mysterious objects. This year, scientists had the opportunity to have a front-row seat to watching two neutron stars collide.

Using the LIGO and VIRGO gravitational wave detectors, scientists were able to observe light and gravitational waves from the same cosmic event for the first time. The collision was also observed by dozens of other telescopes, which also helped shed light on many other astrophysical and astronomical mysteries.

As part of the observation, scientists confirmed that the event of the collision of two neutron stars (dubbed a kilonova) produces a short burst of gamma rays. In addition, the Fermi space telescope, which also observed this event, was able to confirm the previously predicted hypothesis that gravitational waves move at the speed of light, or at least very close to it. The Spitzer telescope, in turn, witnessed the longest burst of infrared radiation, which would indicate that kilonovae are the main source of the emission of heavy elements, since these elements cannot appear in supernovae.

Of course, observing such a rare and fantastic event not only helped answer many previously unresolved questions, but also gave rise to many new ones. For example, scientists were very puzzled by the short burst of gamma radiation that accompanied this phenomenon. Although its brightness level was comparable to a normal burst, overall it was 1/10 lower than any other previously recorded gamma-ray burst. In other words, it turned out to be very dim, and scientists can't figure out why. It seems that over time, when scientists sort through the colossal amount of data provided by this event, we will still hear many new revelations and encounter no less interesting mysteries.

Martian sand or water

The announcement of the discovery of liquid water flows on Mars became one of the hottest topics in 2015. However, as a result of further research into the issue, it turned out that this statement turned out to be erroneous. The discovered flows are indeed present on Mars, but they most likely consist not of water, but of sand.

Since their first discovery, similar “slope repeat lines,” as the researchers neutrally called them, have been found in more than 50 other areas of the Red Planet. They appear seasonally at higher elevations. Presented in the form of dark stripes. With the change of season to a warmer one, they expand downwards, and then when the cold season returns, they disappear, appearing again next year. Only water exhibits such behavior on Earth, so scientists immediately assumed that on Mars we are talking about the same thing. But findings from a study by the Arizona-based Astrogeology Research Center suggest that these flows are composed of granular matter. The researchers note that "repetitive slope lines" were only found at steeper elevations with an angle greater than 27 degrees, which is comparable to terrestrial dunes. And if these streams really consisted of water, then they should also be found on the less steep slopes of Mars.

However, a complete explanation for these flows has not yet been found. The movement of sand masses, for example, cannot yet explain some of the features that are found in these lines on the slopes: the same seasonal appearance, the gradual expansion of the flow, as well as the noted presence of salt and rapid disappearance with the change of season. Some experts believe that these showers may be due to some unique weather mechanism present on Mars, but a final solution to the question requires new observations. Ideally, on the spot.

Zombie Star

In September 2014, as a result of large-scale observations of the sky, a new star was discovered, ready to enter the supernova phase. At first glance, the star seemed completely unremarkable to scientists, so it was given the same unremarkable name iPTF14hls. Even when it exploded, it still looked like a normal Class II-P supernova, which was expected to go out in about 100 days or so.

And it really went out. But only for a while. A few months after this, the star lit up again and began to increase its brightness. Since that moment, the iPTF14hls object has already changed its brightness at least 5 times, becoming either brighter or dimmer. When astronomers finally realized that what they were looking at was something unusual, they turned to the archives and discovered something interesting: in the same place where iPTF14hls is now located, a supernova was also discovered in 1954.

In the end, it turned out that the star went supernova, miraculously survived, and exploded again 60 years later. For such unusual behavior by all standards, some even called her a zombie star. According to one hypothesis, this star is the first living evidence in history of the existence of so-called pulsating para-unstable supernovae - stars so massive and hot that they generate antimatter in their cores. This, in turn, would explain its extremely unstable behavior, accompanied by many ejections of matter before it is finally destroyed and turns into a black hole.

However, not everyone shares this point of view, pointing to the inconsistency of some factors predicted by the hypothesis of pulsating para-unstable supernovae. Others, in turn, say that such phenomena could have been expected during the early Universe, but not now. Discovering one of these today is tantamount to discovering a living dinosaur.

First visitor from outside the solar system

Earlier this year, astronomers discovered the first confirmed object from outside the solar system. The reddish, cigar-shaped visitor was initially mistaken for a comet, but after closer observation with the Very Large Telescope (VLT), it turned out that our visitor was an asteroid. They decided to give the “lost soul” the Hawaiian name Oumuamua, (Oumuamua), which means “messenger.”

The length of the asteroid is more than 400 meters with a diameter of less than 40 meters. Interestingly, with rotation, the brightness of Oumuamua changes by several orders of magnitude every 7.3 hours, which again has not been observed for other similar space objects. Currently, scientists believe that the asteroid came to us from Vega, the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, but the journey took so long that by now the star is not at all where it was before.

The Oumuamua asteroid is officially recognized as the first object to arrive from outside our solar system, but scientists hope that with the help of new and more powerful telescopes we will be able to detect even more interstellar objects that decide to visit our system. At the same time, researchers are now deciding whether it would be advisable to send a space probe to the asteroid. The problem is that Oumuamua is now hurtling through the solar system at 138,000 kilometers per hour, more than twice as fast as any man-made and launched spacecraft. But even in this case, some astronomers believe that it is still possible to catch up with the asteroid, and are considering the possibility of such an attempt within the framework of the new Project Lyra project.

Discovery of the first white dwarf pulsar

In February, astronomers from the University of Warwick reported the discovery of a white dwarf pulsar - the first of its kind in the known Universe.

Pulsars typically emerge from neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation at regular intervals. Since this radiation can only be observed when its beam is directed towards our planet, we perceive it as a pulsation. Scientists have long argued that pulsars can emerge from white dwarfs, and this year researchers finally received the missing confirmation.

The object of study in our case is the remnants of the star AR Scorpii, located 380 light years from Earth in the constellation Scorpio. Like all white dwarfs, this object is incredibly dense. With a size comparable to our Earth, its mass is 200,000 times greater. AR Scorpii is part of a binary star system. Its companion is a red dwarf star, which is hit by the pulsar's beam approximately once every minute (1.97 times per full rotation).

The new discovery has already created a new mystery for scientists. The researchers assumed that the brightness of the binary star system would change in a minute-by-hour ratio: in the minute due to the peculiarity of the movement of the ejected beam of the pulsar, and in the hour due to the difference in the orbital periods of the two stars. However, after comparing their data with archival information obtained about this binary star system in 2004, scientists discovered that this variability actually stretches over decades. Scientists are confident that the whole point is in the interaction between the two stars, and are currently trying to develop a model that could explain such a feature.

Almost gone, 2017 turned out to be a year of great discoveries - space agencies began to use reusable rockets, patients can now fight cancer cells with their own blood cells, and a group of scientists discovered a lost continent in the Southern Hemisphere called Zealand.

These and other mind-blowing discoveries and incredible scientific advances of 2017 are described in more detail below.

Zealand

An international team of 32 scientists has discovered the lost continent of Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean. It is located under Pacific waters, on the seabed, between New Zealand and New Caledonia. Zealand was not always under water, as scientists were able to discover fossilized remains of plants and land animals.

New form of life

Scientists have managed to create in laboratory conditions something that is closest to a new form of life. The fact is that the DNA of all living beings consists of natural pairs of amino acids: adenine-thymine and guanine-cytosine. Most of DNA is built from these nitrogenous bases. However, scientists were able to create an unnatural base pair that coexisted quite comfortably with natural pairs in the DNA of E. coli.

This discovery has the potential to influence the further development of medicine and may contribute to the retention of drugs in the body for a longer period of time.

All the gold in the universe

Scientists have discovered exactly how all the gold in the universe (as well as platinum and silver) is formed. The collision of two very small but very heavy stars located 130 million light years from Earth created a hundred octillion dollars worth of gold.

For the first time in the history of observing stars, astronomers were able to witness the collision of two neutron stars. Two massive cosmic bodies were heading towards each other at a speed equal to a third of the speed of light, and their collision resulted in the creation of gravitational waves that could be felt on Earth.

Secrets of the Great Pyramid

Scientists have taken a fresh look at the Great Pyramid of Giza and discovered a secret chamber there. Using new scanning technology based on high-speed particles, scientists have discovered a secret room deep in the pyramid that no one had even suspected before. For now, scientists can only guess why this room was built.

New method to fight cancer

Scientists can now use the human immune system to fight some cancer cells. For example, to fight childhood leukemia, doctors remove the child's blood cells, modify them, and reintroduce them into the body. While this process is extremely expensive, the technology is developing and has enormous potential.

New indicators from the poles

Not all discoveries in 2017 were positive. For example, in July, a huge piece of ice broke off from the Antarctic ice sheet, becoming the third largest iceberg on record.

In addition, scientists say that the Arctic may never regain its title as the eternally icy pole.

New planets

NASA scientists have discovered seven more exoplanets that could theoretically support life in the form we know on Earth.

As many as seven planets have been spotted in the neighboring star system TRAPPIST-1, at least six of which are solid, like Earth. All these planets are located in a zone favorable for the formation of water and life. What is most remarkable about this discovery is the proximity of the star system and the possibility of further detailed study of the planets.

Farewell to Cassini

In 2017, the automated Cassini space station, which had been studying Saturn and its many moons for 13 years, burned up in the planet’s atmosphere. This was the planned end of the mission, which scientists chose to do deliberately in an attempt to avoid Cassini colliding with possibly habitable moons of Saturn.

Just before its death, Cassini flew around Titan and flew through the icy rings of Saturn, sending unique images to Earth.

MRI for babies

The tiniest babies being treated or examined in hospital now have their own magnetic resonance imaging scanner, safe to use in the same room as the babies.

Reusable rocket booster

SpaceX has invented a new rocket booster that doesn't fall back to Earth after the rocket launches and can be used multiple times.

Boosters are one of the most expensive parts of launching a rocket into space, and they usually all end up on the ocean floor immediately after launch. A very expensive disposable device, without which it is impossible to reach orbit.

However, SpaceX's new heavy boosters can be retrofitted relatively easily and cheaply, saving $18 million per launch. In 2017, Elon Musk’s company has already carried out about 20 launches followed by the landing of a booster.

New advances in genetics

Scientists are one step closer to being able to edit a person's DNA, eliminating birth defects, diseases and genetic abnormalities before birth. Geneticists in Oregon have successfully edited the DNA of a living human embryo for the first time.

In addition, eGenesis announced that it will soon be possible to transplant large vital organs from pig donors into humans. The company managed to create a genetic virus blocker that does not transmit animal viruses to humans.

Breakthrough in quantum teleportation

The possibility of teleportation of quantum information has long been studied by scientists. Previously, it was possible to teleport data over a distance of several tens of kilometers.

For the first time in the history of quantum teleportation, a Chinese scientist managed to transmit information about photons (light particles) from Earth to space using mirrors and lasers.

This discovery could fundamentally change the way we transmit information around the world and transport energy. Quantum teleportation could lead to a completely new kind of quantum computers and information transfer. The Internet of the near future may become faster, safer and virtually impenetrable to hackers.

In total, in 2017, the authors of the In-Space website published 544 news items covering the most interesting and exciting discoveries, observations and research of astronomers around the world. On average, each news was read by more than a thousand visitors, but there were those that stood out among the total, but more on that later.

In 2017, In-Space began collaborating with the Hubble and Kepler telescope teams, as well as NASA departments. Now you can read on our website press releases about the most high-profile discoveries at the time of their English-language publications in leading scientific journals.

Artist's impression of ESO's Extremely Large Telescope. Credit: ESO

The most interesting topics of the past year for In-Space readers were observations of Jupiter by NASA's Juno spacecraft, searches for the nature of dark matter, data on the first recorded interstellar asteroid 'Oumuamua, discoveries of exoplanets, photographs of distant stars and galaxies obtained by instruments of the European Southern Observatory and the telescope " Hubble", gravitational waves and, of course, the finale of the Cassini mission. First things first:

10th place. Native asteroids

In 2017 (at the time of publication of the article), 785 asteroids rushed past the Earth at a distance of less than 10 million kilometers, of which 99 are potentially dangerous. The complete list is presented on the page. The most interesting of them were the asroids, and, which on October 12 flew past our planet at a distance of only 50 thousand kilometers.

An artist's representation of the collision of two neutron stars in the galaxy NGC 4993, producing a kilonova flare and gravitational waves. Credit: ESO/L. Calgada/M. Kornmesser

3rd place. Fall of Cassini

A joint project between NASA and ESA, the Cassini spacecraft has provided scientists around the world with unique data about the Saturn system for 13 years. Launched in 1997, the daring explorer studied the gas giant and its moons, transmitting unique data back to Earth and baffling scientists. But on September 15, this event became a landmark for all space lovers around the world.

One of the latest portraits of Saturn from Cassini. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

2nd place. Oh that 'Oumuamua

On October 19, 2017, a significant event for all humanity took place: . At the time of discovery, the guest was at a distance of 0.2 astronomical units from Earth. Observatories around the world pointed their telescopes at the intruder in an attempt to determine the nature of the foreign object. The instruments of the European Southern Observatory have advanced the furthest, determining the size, proportions and composition of the guest.

'Oumuamua as imagined by the artist. Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser

Subsequently, project scientists hoped for the “intelligent” origin of the wanderer, but no signs of intelligent life were recorded on the asteroid.

1 place. Jupiter and Juno

“Juno”, Juno, whatever is more convenient for you. The spacecraft, named after the ancient Roman goddess of family and motherhood, spent the entire 2017 studying the largest planet in the solar system -. The world has never seen such a giant, hiding the secrets of the origin of the Solar System.

A perspective view of Jupiter's Great Red Spot. Credit: NASA

Probing of the Great Red Spot, radiation spots, colorful photographs and discoveries made by the spacecraft, which traveled to Jupiter for 5 years, became the most significant for In-Space readers in 2017.

2017 is coming to an end, and it’s time to remember what bright and important events happened this year in space. Even though we didn't find aliens or get to Mars, this year brought a lot of interesting things.

The year 2017 began with long-awaited news: the SpaceX company of American entrepreneur Elon Musk intends to organize a commercial flight around the Moon at the end of 2018. It was reported that the flight would be carried out on the Dragon spacecraft.

The Falcon Heavy rocket, which could not be tested this year, will act as the Dragon carrier. The launch was postponed to the fall, but Elon Musk recently said that his company did not have time to implement the plan this year, and the launch of the rocket will take place only in January 2018.

The company said that the launch difficulties were primarily due to the complex design of the rocket, which required constant improvements. Due to the fact that three launch vehicles had to be combined into one, the volume of acoustics and vibration increased, SpaceX noted. It took the developers time to replace the central accelerator.

2. Saturn’s satellite turned out to be a “dumpling”

The Cassini space probe discovered a moon of Saturn with an unusual shape. At close range, the space object called Pan reminded many people of a dumpling. But little is still known about the satellite; it is assumed that this shape could have arisen due to radioactive elements.

Pan, one of Saturn's 62 known moons, is located 950 million miles from Earth. The size of the ice object is about 26 kilometers.

At the annual Innovative Advanced Concepts conference, the American aerospace agency NASA presented a project for a spacecraft designed to study the surface of Venus.

Experts presented a rover designed to operate in difficult conditions on the planet, for example, strong winds will not only not break the device, but will also help it generate energy, and the computer installed on board the rover can operate in any weather.

The device is also unusual in its design, which resembles a “skeleton”. This is no coincidence, since the Dutch artist Theo Jansen, known for his sculptures in the form of animal skeletons that can move under the influence of the wind along sandy beaches, took part in the development of the rover.

4. The Sun attacked the Earth with flares

Since the beginning of September 2017, astronomers have observed numerous strong flares on the Sun, and exactly 12 years have passed since the last ones - they occurred on September 7, 2005.

In total, there are 5 classes of solar flares, depending on the power of X-ray radiation. The minimum is A (radiation power in Earth's orbit), the weak are B and C, the middle class is M and the most powerful class is X, which is what the September flares received.

Astronomers assured that everything was under control, and the outbreaks had long been predicted, but no one expected such a number. Due to the flares, clouds of plasma began to approach the Earth, which, fortunately, did not affect the condition of citizens in any way.

But the magnetic storms that followed the flares caused illness and headaches in many weather-dependent people. Nevertheless, we have survived the outbreaks, and new ones are not expected soon, astronomers report.

5. A model of the first Soviet satellite was sold at auction

At the end of September this year, a test model of the first Soviet satellite went under the hammer at an auction in New York for 847.5 thousand dollars. The original model of Sputnik 1, launched in October 1957, was valued at $150,000.

It is reported that the satellite was intended to study the effects of electromagnetic interference.

According to the Bonhams auction house, there are five more copies of the spacecraft created by the OKB-1 design bureau (now the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia).

Three of them are in private collections, one is kept in the Seattle Museum, and another is in the RSC Energia Museum in Korolev.

6. The legendary Cassini rested on Saturn

Another important event in September is the end of the mission of the Cassini probe, which spent twenty years studying Saturn and its moons.

Let us recall that the Saturn station reached June 30, 2004, after which the first part of its long operation began. The probe's stay at Saturn was extended twice: first after the completion of the main mission in 2008, and again in 2010. On April 4, 2017, due to the almost complete depletion of fuel reserves, the end of the mission was announced on September 15, 2017.

Over the years, the probe collected a lot of useful information and took a large number of images with which astronomers could study the surface of the planet.

In the final minutes of the mission, the probe entered the upper atmosphere of the gas giant at high speed, maintaining the antenna pointing towards Earth with the help of its engines and continuously transmitting data from 8 instruments in real time.

After another 30 seconds, Cassini began to collapse and became part of the planet Saturn.

7. Pluto still has no rings

Since 2015, a team of scientists has been analyzing data obtained by the New Horizons probe, which flew past the dwarf planet and looked for traces of rings and dust around it. Astronomers hoped to discover, if not rings, then remnants of rings that might have existed around the planet in the past.

But the search was unsuccessful, and so far no rings have been discovered on Pluto.

Astrophysicists believe that even if there are rings, they are rarefied and safe. Scientists attribute this unusual discovery to the fact that Pluto has a complex gravity system, due to which the rings may not be able to stabilize for long and are destroyed.

8. In Moscow they simulated a flight to the moon

In November, the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences launched a large-scale experiment to simulate a flight to the Moon, in which six volunteers took part - three women and three men.

The experiment lasted 17 days, during which the participants were in the closed space of a spacecraft in an environment similar to a real flight. For two and a half weeks, specialists daily studied changes in the microbiological parameters of the experiment participants, as well as their physical activity.

All participants kept diaries in which they recorded their condition and mood.

The project has already been officially completed, and now experts are studying the work of the crew, as well as inspecting the space of the ship for the presence of contamination of surfaces with microorganisms, since after the last 30-day test, scientists discovered sprouted mushrooms on the walls of the experimental ship, which can be dangerous to human health .

9. The secret of Enceladus's ocean has been revealed

In a 2017 study, scientists said the ocean on Enceladus, Saturn's sixth-largest moon, still exists because its core contains a large number of pores that are constantly compressed and unclenched by Saturn's gravity.

When scientists received data from Cassini, the question arose as to why the ocean did not freeze, since the ice crust covering it was not particularly thick. As further research has shown, the liquid not only does not freeze, but is constantly heated.

The fact is that the core of Enceladus has a porous structure: it contains a large number of voids, which occupy 20-30% of the entire core. Water enters these holes, where it interacts with core rocks and carries heat throughout the ocean.

One more question remains unclear: why gezairs appear only in the southern hemisphere of the satellite, and they do not exist in the northern hemisphere. Astronomers have suggested that Enceladus initially had an asymmetrical icy shell, so geysers in the southern hemisphere appeared much earlier, but in the northern hemisphere they simply had not yet formed.

Scientists are now studying this theory.

10. An explanation has been found for the dark streaks on Mars

About two years ago, astronomers recorded large, long streaks on Mars that were initially mistaken for streams. Then NASA confirmed this theory, saying that it was water protruding onto the surface of the planet.

But this year, astronomers disproved the theory, and the “water” turned out to be not a liquid at all, but the result of a flow of dry, granular particles.

The only point that researchers still cannot explain is where such amounts of fresh sand come from for new landslides. But experts said they have several theories that they are still testing.

If the scientists' assumption is confirmed, and there is no water on Mars, then this will seriously interfere with future missions on the Red Planet.

11. Musk on Mars

It should be noted that this year the founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk, repeatedly appeared in the news feed with new details about the colonization of Mars, which should take place in 2014.

Now the inventor’s company is in full swing preparing for the mission, but the rocket that should deliver astronauts to Mars has not yet been built, and it is not known whether it will be possible to carry out construction on time and test it so that in 2024 people will already appear on the Red Planet.

But Elon Musk is serious about colonizing Mars and says the company has everything under control. This year, an unusual concept of housing for colonists of the Red Planet was also presented.

The project is called Redwood Forest and consists of houses in the form of hemispheres, each of which can live up to 50 people. The developers plan to organize a familiar environment for living and working in each capsule, as well as create small ponds, the water for which will be taken from the northern plains of Mars.

All capsules are capable of collecting solar energy and using it to transport water throughout the hemisphere, providing protection from radiation and thermal stress. This system will also help create hydroponic systems for growing herbs, vegetables and fish.

The project looks promising, but we'll see what happens in practice.

12. Soyuz-2.1b rocket launch failure

At the end of November, the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle was launched unsuccessfully from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, which was unable to launch the Meteor-M Earth remote sensing satellite and 18 other small spacecraft from different countries into the intended orbit.

According to the developers, a technical malfunction occurred in the satellite navigation equipment installed on the upper stage and operating on GLONASS and GPS signals.

It was initially reported that the satellites were destroyed by a malfunction of the Fregat upper stage, which, instead of two activations of the propulsion system to increase the flight altitude, produced only one.

13. They created a cosmic dictionary of gestures for the deaf and dumb.

The International Astronomical Union recently released the first dictionary of astronomical gestures, which has been translated into the sign languages ​​of almost 30 countries, including Russian. So far there are only 48 words in the dictionary, but the authors of the work are confident that more words will be added.

The International Astronomical Union has decided to develop a dictionary of astronomical terms that will be understandable to deaf people in all countries of the world. The authors of the dictionary said that communities whose language does not have the corresponding signs can borrow words from the new dictionary or create new ones based on them.