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ISS crew finally gets new supplies thanks to Russian Progress 60 cargo ship

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The ISS astronauts don’t have to worry any longer because fresh supplies are finally on their way. It’s not that resupply missions are all that few and far between, but the last couple of attempts resulted in failures, with the rockets not being able to reach the International Space Station. The latest such incident took place just days ago when a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that was carrying a Dragon capsule to the ISS exploded shortly after liftoff. This wasn’t the only recent failure though, as back in April a Russian Progress spacecraft saw a similar fate. Both of these were unmanned missions so at least no lives were lost, but unfortunately tons of supplies ended up being destroyed in the process.

The successful launch of today restored some much-needed hope to both the ISS astronauts and the crew on the ground. In an attempt to make things right again Russia launched another Progress spacecraft, only this time around the Soyuz rocket carrying it blasted off without any problems. The Progress 60 cargo ship is filled with more than 2 tons of supplies for the ISS astronauts, including food, water, oxygen and fuel among others. The ISS crew currently consists of Gennady Padalka, Mikhail Kornienko and Scott Kelly and according to the Russian space agency they can expect the fresh supplies to arrive on Sunday.

Despite the recent failed launches, NASA says that the three astronauts should have enough supplies to last until October, not counting the ones found on the Progress 60. However, the failures have undoubtedly affected the morale of the ISS astronauts so I’m sure on Sunday they’ll be very happy to see a ship from Earth docking with the station once again. The three astronauts form Expedition 44 and have now been in space for almost 98 days, with Scott Kelly and Mikhail Korniyenko planning to spend a total of 342 days as part of the OneYear mission and Gennady Padalka scheduled to return back to Earth this September.

Space Exploration

Can the Sun Exhibit Consciousness? Exploring the Unconventional Realm of Panpsychism

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The inquiry into the essence of consciousness, its origins, and its interconnectedness with the physical realm has been a prominent subject of philosophical and scientific contention throughout the course of human intellectual inquiry. Is there a separation between the mind and body? While there are differing opinions, a third faction posits an intermediate and even more revolutionary notion: all entities in the cosmos possess consciousness, including the Sun.

The term used to describe this perspective on the universe is panpsychism. The concept that consciousness originates from the physical realm is referred to as physicalism; however, our understanding of the factors that give animals consciousness remains ambiguous. The dualist perspective encompasses the notion of thought and matter as distinct entities. Panpsychism serves as a means of connecting the two. Consciousness emerges inside us, as it is inherent in all entities.

Similar concepts have been observed throughout history in various religious and philosophical systems. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in the concept of analytical philosophy. One notable paper, written by biologist Rupert Sheldrake, explores the possibility of the Sun having consciousness. Sheldrake is renowned for his research on morphic resonance, which suggests that similar organisms may have telepathic connections and collective memories.

In a scholarly article published in the Journal of awareness Studies in 2021, Sheldrake presents a compelling argument advocating for the existence of awareness in the Sun and other celestial bodies. The biologist posits that self-organizing systems can exhibit consciousness, awareness, or experience at various levels of complexity. According to Sheldrake, this perspective shifts our focus away from the physical origins of consciousness in a basic system and instead extends awareness to encompass celestial bodies such as stars, solar systems, galaxies, and the entirety of the universe.

According to Sheldrake’s statement to Popular Mechanics, consciousness is not limited to the confines of the brain. Rhythmic electromagnetic fields, which are present in the human brain naturally, appear to mediate the connection between cognitive processes and physiological systems. These entities are also found within and in the vicinity of the sun, potentially serving as the interface connecting the solar mind and the solar body.

There are many philosophical and scientific reasons against panpsychism, but for this paper, we were most interested in what would happen if the Sun and the 100 billion other stars in the Milky Way were all conscious. One possible outcome is that the stars can move by sending out guided jets that take them where they need to go.

According to Sheldrake’s research, some people think that stars don’t move because of dark matter’s gravity but instead move themselves into the right place. Claims that are out of the ordinary always need proof that they are out of the ordinary. Strong stellar jets are found in many things, but stars never use them to move.

Also, the Gaia observatory of the European Space Agency has made a beautiful picture of the Milky Way. It not only shows where almost two billion stars are but also how they are moving. We can turn back time in the Milky Way and see how the stars have moved over billions of years with this information.

Scientists would be very excited about stellar motions that were not subject to gravity because dark matter ought to exist in the universe. Dark matter was first thought of because of the way stars move, as if there were a lot more matter than we could see.

Many of the points made in the study are based on the sun’s complex magnetic field. But if we want to think about something even more complicated, we should check out Uranus’s magnetic field. Uranus’ magnetic field is not centered like the sun’s generator or Earth’s magnetosphere. It may open and close every day, moving around. The question “Is Uranus Conscious?” might not have the same ring to it as “Is the Sun Conscious?”

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America is currently constructing two massive telescopes, but unfortunately, there is only enough funding to complete one of them

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Three enormous optical telescopes are currently being constructed, surpassing anything we currently possess in terms of size. These three discoveries have the potential to provide answers to some of the most profound mysteries of the universe, which have remained elusive to current scientific instruments. Nevertheless, the proposed budget cap from the National Science Foundation (NSF) jeopardizes one aspect of the equation.

Even though the JWST has uncovered incredible discoveries, the future of astronomy extends beyond just space exploration. Building larger telescopes on the ground offers several advantages over their space-based counterparts. Not only are they easier to repair, maintain, and upgrade, but they also provide greater flexibility for scientific exploration. Future plans include the development of a telescope on the Moon, along with a base.

Scientists have high expectations for several ambitious projects in the field of astronomy. These include the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), the Thirty-meter Telescope (TMT), and the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). Additionally, there are other telescopes, like the Square Kilometer Array, that operate at wavelengths beyond the range of human vision. Interestingly, all three of these telescopes are sometimes collectively referred to as extremely large telescopes. Despite the presence of the atmosphere, both options would provide significantly higher resolution than the JWST.

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However, a new proposal suggests eliminating one of the initial two options.

Collaboration is a key aspect of astronomy, with many individuals and organizations working together towards common goals. In this context, it may not be of great concern to some who will be responsible for building and owning certain projects. It is important to note that while the third project is a collaboration between European and South American nations, the TMT and GMT projects are both run by American organizations. That provides the ELT with a certain level of protection in the event of budget reductions. None of the consortium partners want to compromise their reputation by failing to fulfill their commitments. The work on the ELT began in 2017. Building something of this magnitude, which requires both size and precision, is a time-consuming process. As a result, the first light is anticipated to happen in 2028. Despite potential delays, there is little doubt that it will eventually occur.

Both the TMT and the GMT are American projects, with the latter being located in Chile. The funding for the GMT primarily comes from the USA’s NSF, with support from several universities and scientific institutions. Additionally, six other countries are also contributing to the project. The TMT project, although involving Indian, Japanese, and Canadian participation, originated at two California universities and is intended to be located in Hawaii.

However, the National Science Board, which advises the NSF, has suggested a limit of $1.6 billion for NSF funding for giant telescopes. That’s a lower cost compared to either of the two projected expenses individually, although considering the other factors, it should be sufficient for one.

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The statement issued by the board indicates that they have no intention of merely postponing the costs and waiting for additional funding. Furthermore, it suggests that the NSF should engage in a discussion with the Board in the upcoming May 2024 meeting regarding their strategy for choosing between the two potential telescopes to support. This discussion should encompass estimated costs and a timeline for the project.

There is a chance that the NSF might reject the recommendation, or even that Congress could allocate an additional billion and a half towards astronomy due to its perceived significance. So far, that is the current focus of each team’s representatives, at least publicly, instead of engaging in arguments about who should be given priority. It is unlikely that new funds will be available, especially considering the current political climate characterized by partisan conflicts that hinder budget allocations.

In theory, it is possible for other contributors to increase their shares. However, according to John O’Meara, the chief scientist at Keck Observatory, neither telescope currently has a viable future without investment from the NSF.

Scientists have been expressing their concern and highlighting the importance of both.

Others in different scientific fields may not be very understanding; they might even quietly make fun of those who expected to receive two new toys but had to settle for just one. However, the two instruments have been carefully crafted to function in perfect harmony. Every spot on our planet has its limitations when it comes to observing the sky. To achieve comprehensive coverage, it is necessary to have at least one instrument in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern Hemisphere. Every design has been optimized to enhance specific capabilities, with the expectation that other areas will be compensated by alternative designs.

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Upon initial observation, the TMT would seem to be the most reasonable choice. Given its location in the Northern Hemisphere, it has the potential to work in collaboration with the ELT. Additionally, a suggested location in the United States could provide a group of supporters to advocate for it.

Nevertheless, there has been discussion about relocating the TMT to the Canary Islands, a northern region under Spanish jurisdiction, due to the significant opposition it faces from Native Hawaiians. In addition, discarding either project would result in a significant loss of the funds invested thus far. The GMT, being more advanced than the TMT, would incur a greater financial setback.

There are numerous valuable applications for $1.5 billion, such as medical research to combat diseases, scientific endeavors addressing global crises, or even non-scientific pursuits. However, basic research has a rich history of yielding unforeseen benefits over time. Constructing both telescopes would result in an additional $5 in taxes for every American, not on an annual basis but as a one-time payment. Their total cost will be significantly lower than that of the JWST, and each one will have a much longer lifespan.

Allocating budgets can be a challenging task, especially when comparing the potential benefits, which vary greatly. In this situation, one must consider the value of knowledge for its own sake versus options that offer practical but uncertain payoffs. In contrast, the NSF may find it relatively easy to choose between two instruments with different, but overlapping, capacities.

 

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SpaceX’s Starship has achieved a successful orbit and safely reentered the Earth’s atmosphere, ultimately disintegrating over the Indian Ocean

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The third test flight of Starship was a resounding success. The spacecraft and its booster were launched into space and achieved the primary objectives of this test. Although there were some deviations from the plan, it is worth noting that both components remained intact, which represents progress compared to the previous two flights.

A Starship was launched from SpaceX’s Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, at 8:26 am local time on March 14. This is the most distant and swiftest that Starship has ever flown. The objective of this experiment was to showcase the effective ascent burn of both the Starship and Super Heavy stages. Regarding Super Heavy, the team initially intended for a gentle splashdown. However, it seems that the descent was a bit too rapid, resulting in a forceful impact comparable to that of an F1 car colliding into the Gulf of Mexico.

Starship successfully entered into orbit and executed a series of complex maneuvers, demonstrating its capabilities in space. These included the precise opening and closing of its payload door, transferring propellant, and achieving the remarkable feat of relighting a Raptor engine while in space for the very first time.

Starship also experienced a failure towards the end, resulting in it burning up during reentry instead of executing a controlled splashdown. In this test, SpaceX did not have plans to recover either Super Heavy or Starship, despite their reusability as space vehicles.

 

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