Daily Archives: December 17, 2024

Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander to study space weather, pesky moon dust using NASA science

NASA is gearing up to fly more science to the surface of the Moon with its next commercial mission on a Firefly Aerospace lunar lander.

Firefly Aerospace is among NASA’s selected U.S. companies for its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Under this program, the space agency sends its payloads to the Moon via private robotic missions to prepare for the next human Moon landing in 2027. Firefly has named its first CLPS mission Ghost Riders in the Sky.

The lander Blue Ghost was shipped from Firefly Aerospace’s headquarters outside of Austin, Texas, to Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week, where it awaits liftoff. Firefly Aerospace and its launch provider, SpaceX, are targeting a six-day launch window that opens in mid-January.

Unlike the previous two CLPS missions from Intuitive Machines and Astrobotic, Firefly is only flying NASA payloads instead of also offering space to commercial and marketing companies. All 10 payloads are for the U.S. space agency.

What does NASA hope to achieve with Blue Ghost? 

The next human Moon landing is set to be in 2027 according to NASA. Firefly Aerospace

After launch and 45 days of spaceflight, Blue Ghost will attempt to land on the far side of the Moon near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium. The region was the site of three Soviet-era robotic Moon landings in the 1970s.

NASA Program Scientist Ryan Watkins said the landing site was chosen because of the data the agency hopes to collect about the Moon and future landings there. The payloads flying on Blue Ghost 1 include instruments to study the Moon’s dust, its geophysical characteristics and the interaction of space weather.

The CLPS program will assist in preparing for the next human Moon landing. Firefly Aerospace

“This particular landing site was chosen because it avoids large magnetic anomalies on the lunar surface that could disrupt some of our payloads measurements. It’s also believed to have limited rocks in abundance, which will allow for safe operations with our onboard drill,” Watkins said. “In addition, this volcanic feature will serve as a good landmark for our terrain relative navigation capabilities onboard the spacecraft, and also payloads on Firefly.“

Among the concerns for upcoming human missions to the Moon is lunar dust, known as regolith. These tiny and sharp particles can stick to everything and everyone.

Several payloads on Blue Ghost will study how the lunar dust sticks to different materials and investigate how electromagnetism could prevent dust buildup. A set of cameras on the lander will capture the moment the robotic mission touches down to help engineers understand the lunar dust plume created.

Some of the payloads on Blue Ghost will use X-ray imagery to study Earth’s magnetosphere from the Moon. FIREFLY HEADQUARTERS

“As we design technologies and experiments for the lunar surface, regolith needs to be better understood and accounted for,” Watkins said. “Lunar dust can affect mechanical components, Earth-based material degradation and human health.”

Other payloads will use X-ray imagery to study Earth’s magnetosphere from the Moon.

“We can use this data to inform decisions on Earth about things like weather predictions, protecting GPS and satellite connectivity,” Watkins said.

Following 45 days of spaceflight, Blue Ghost expects to land on the far side of the Moon. Firefly Aerospace

Firefly Aerospace CEO Jason Kim said the mission will operate for 14 days on the lunar surface. Blue Ghost will be collecting payload science data the entire time. 

At the end of operations, Kim said the lander will capture a celestial site last documented by Apollo 17 astronaut Eugene Cernan. 

“We’ll then wrap up the mission by capturing a solar eclipse and a lunar sunset in high definition video, before operating for several hours into the lunar night,” Kim said, adding they “expect to capture a phenomenon seen and documented by Eugene Cernan during his final steps on Apollo 17, where he observed a horizon glow as the lunar dust levitated on the surface.”

The Ghost Riders in the Sky mission is expected to last 60 days from launch until the end of operations on the Moon. 

Goodbye Refrigerants, Hello Magnets: Scientists Develop Cleaner, Greener Heat Pump

Baseline model with a wedge cut out to show the interior. Credit: U. S. Department of Energy Ames National Laboratory
Scientists have developed a magnetocaloric heat pump that matches conventional systems in cost, weight, and performance, eliminating harmful refrigerants. By optimizing materials and design, the pump achieves comparable power density, offering a greener and efficient alternative for heating and cooling.
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory have developed a magnetocaloric heat pump that rivals traditional vapor-compression heat pumps in terms of weight, cost, and performance. Vapor-compression technology, which has been the foundation of heating and cooling systems for over a century, relies on refrigerants that pose significant environmental risks. These refrigerants contribute to global carbon emissions and, when leaked, release chemicals harmful to both humans and ecosystems.
Magnetocaloric heat pumps offer a promising alternative for heating and cooling by eliminating refrigerant emissions and operating with greater energy efficiency. However, until now, magnetocaloric devices have struggled to match vapor-compression systems in all three critical areas: weight, cost, and performance. This new advancement marks a significant step toward more sustainable heating and cooling technology.
Julie Slaughter, the research team leader, explained that their investigation began by building a magnetocaloric heat pump. “We first looked at what is out there, and how close the existing magnetocaloric devices are to matching compressors,” she said. “Next we developed a baseline design and then asked, ‘Okay, now how far can we push the technology?’”
A magnetocaloric heat pump works by changing the magnetic field applied to a magnetocaloric material while pumping fluid to move heat. Slaughter explained that this is typically done with permanent magnets. The core of the device involves spinning permanent magnets relative to the magnetocaloric material and using magnetic steel to keep the magnetic field contained. The arrangement of these three pieces plays a major role in the team’s predictions as they examined how to make the heat pump more power-dense.
Advancing Material Use and Efficiency
Another part of their investigation involved evaluating the two most common magnetocaloric materials used in these heat pumps. Gadolinium and lanthanum-iron-silicon-hydride-based material.
“In our baseline device, we kept it simple by using a single material, gadolinium. Lanthanum-iron-silicon materials have a higher power capability than gadolinium. So, that naturally increases the power density. They’re just not as readily available and require multiple materials in one device to get good performance,” said Slaughter. “In our evaluations, we included estimates of LaFeSi performance for the most power-dense devices.”
Slaughter’s team focused on using space and materials more efficiently, and reducing the amount of permanent magnet material and magnetic steel needed for the pump to operate efficiently. These efforts helped to make the core system pieces match the weight of compressors available today.
“We were able to show that we are competitive with the power density of some of the compressors that are out there today,” said Slaughter. “The permanent magnets and the magnetic steel make up most of the mass rather than the expensive magnetocaloric material, and that’s really helpful for affordability. We assumed, if a device weighs about the same, the cost will be about the same in mass production.”
Reference: “Scalable and compact magnetocaloric heat pump technology” by Julie Slaughter, Lucas Griffith, Agata Czernuszewicz and Vitalij Pecharsky, 28 October 2024, Applied Energy.DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.124696

Science-focused careers at FranU – Biochemical analysis graduates are lab ready

Sponsored by Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University provides a diverse array of programs, extending beyond healthcare, to support students in achieving their academic and professional goals. For instance, the Biochemical Analysis Track of FranU’s Bachelor of Science degree in Biology gives students high level education and experience in…

Scientists To Switch To Daily Volcano Updates As Kilauea Activity Increases

(BIVN) – Kīlauea volcano is not erupting. Although the USGS Volcano Alert Level remains at ADVISORY, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says an uptick in unrest at the summit has prompted scientists to switch from providing weekly Kilauea updates to daily updates.“Starting in the early morning of Saturday December 14, there have been several modest upticks in seismic activity underneath the volcano’s summit, lasting from an hour to a few hours, often accompanied by minor inflation,” the USGS HVO wrote on Tuesday. “Continued summit inflation and increased seismic activity suggests an increasing amount of magma is being stored underneath the summit area.”
The USGS HVO added that the daily updates will begin on Wednesday, December 18.

While earthquakes have increased at the summit, seismicity remains low in the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone.
From the Tuesday update by the USGS HVO:

Summit Observations: Earthquake activity at Kīlauea’s summit region was low in the first half of the last week. Starting in the early morning of Saturday December 14, there have been a few periods of increased seismicity activity, lasting from one to a few hours, often accompanied by minor inflation as recorded at the tiltmeter at Uēkahuna, northwest of Kaluapele, the summit caldera, and tiltmeter at Sand Hill, southwest of Kaluapele. Overall, there were about 250 earthquakes underneath the summit, most at depths of 1 to 3 miles under the surface, and most below magnitude-2.0. Since the September eruption in the East Rift Zone, there have been sustained rates of inflation at the summit. The most recent measurement of the sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate from the summit was approximately 70 tonnes per day on October 17, a value representative of noneruptive conditions at Kīlauea. Unfavorable weather and wind conditions have delayed acquisition of a new SO2 emission rate measurement.

Above Top: Number of earthquakes per day during the past week (blue bars). The red line is the cumulative moment (energy) release. Bottom: Depth of earthquakes during the past week in the area shown on the map above. Depth is reported relative to sea level, which is equal to a depth of zero on the above plot. On both figures, circle-size represents magnitude, and color indicates depth. (USGS graphs)

Rift Zone Observations: Shallow earthquake counts in the upper and middle East Rift Zone (ERZ) remain at low levels. There were approximately 70 located earthquakes in the middle ERZ, and approximately 40 in the upper ERZ as well, with most below magnitude-2.0. Deformation remains steady in the ERZ, as recorded by GPS instruments and tiltmeters. There are no indications of any changes downrift in the lower East Rift Zone.

Kilauea last erupted in September of this year, when lava covered more than 217 acres at Nāpau Crater on the middle East Rift Zone. The eruption lasted only five days.

PMFAI Announces 22nd International Crop Science Conference and Exhibition

The Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) has announced the 22nd Edition of the International Crop Science Conference & Exhibition (ICSCE), scheduled to take place on January 21-22, 2025, at Le Meridien Hotels & Conference Centre, Dubai. This highly anticipated event is a global platform for industry stakeholders in the Ag Chem and Ag Bio sectors to network, share knowledge, and explore business opportunities.
A Flagship Event Driving Growth
First launched in 1997, ICSCE has grown to become one of the most significant trade shows for agricultural inputs, focusing on B2B collaborations and knowledge sharing. The 2025 edition will bring together manufacturers, importers, exporters, researchers, scientists, and allied industry professionals from around the world.
The event is expected to attract more than 700 professional visitors and will feature over 80 exhibition stalls, showcasing the latest advancements in agrochemicals, bioproducts, packaging, and allied sectors.
Event Highlights
ICSCE 2025 offers unique opportunities for stakeholders to:
• Meet Buyers and Sellers: Connect with importers, exporters, manufacturers, intermediate producers, and packaging material suppliers.
• Network Globally: Interact with key industry players from across the globe.
• One-on-One Business Meetings: Foster strategic collaborations through direct interactions between buyers and sellers.
• Market Research and Insights: Gain a competitive edge by understanding market trends and developments.
• Plenary Sessions & Panel Discussions: Learn from industry experts, scientists, and researchers who will discuss emerging trends, challenges, and innovations in the sector.
• Explore Competitors: Assess the competitive landscape and identify new opportunities.
Spotlight on Indian Agri-Export Capabilities
India’s agrochemical sector has emerged as a global leader, ranking as the 4th largest manufacturer of agrochemicals worldwide. From 2014 to 2021, Indian agrochemical exports grew at a CAGR of 6%, with the sector expected to capture 55% of the global market share soon.
Indian companies are driving growth through the export of generic products, contract manufacturing, and the introduction of Ag Bio products. ICSCE 2025 will showcase India’s expanding capabilities in manufacturing and innovation, providing participants with an opportunity to explore collaborations with leading Indian manufacturers and exporters.
A Global Meeting Place for Agri-Inputs
ICSCE provides an inclusive platform for key players in the agricultural input ecosystem, including:
• Agrochemicals (Fungicides, Herbicides, Insecticides)
• Bioproducts (Biopesticides, Biofertilizers, Biostimulants)
• Intermediates (Solvents, Surfactants, and other intermediates)
• Fertilizers, Seeds, and Packaging Materials
• Storage & Logistics Providers
• Research Laboratories
This global gathering ensures that participants gain exposure to innovations, market trends, and the latest products while fostering long-term business partnerships.
About PMFAI
The Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) is a non-profit organization established in 1967. With over 220 members, PMFAI plays a pivotal role in supporting the Indian agrochemical industry through knowledge-sharing initiatives, trade exhibitions, and bilateral trade promotion activities. Since its inception, PMFAI has hosted multiple national and international events, cementing its reputation as a key driver for industry growth.
A Gateway to Growth and Collaboration
The International Crop Science Conference & Exhibition 2025 offers an unmatched opportunity for participants to connect with manufacturers, exporters, supply chain experts, packaging specialists, and technocrats. It also provides valuable insights into Indian manufacturing capabilities and the forces driving agricultural inputs in the region.
For more information and event registration, visit: www.pmfaiindia.org.

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Scientists developing potatoes that could withstand heatwaves

Scientists are developing potatoes that could withstand heatwaves to help crops grow in a future affected by climate change.A team of researchers carried out field trials at a single location in the US state of Illinois and observed that an adapted plant grew up to 30% more potatoes under heat stress.This was done by adding two genes to modify a process called photorespiration to improve efficiency, leaving more energy for greater growth.