July ‘12 – Sept’12Quarterly Newsletter from SPACE

Cover Story:

Falcon Dragon - First Private Commercial Spaceflight In Outer Space

Guest Article:

Get ready for Total Solar Eclipse

at Australia in November 2012

SPACE NEWS

Chief Editor : Sachin Bahmba, Editors : Amit Verma & Divya Kanchanbaras

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Get ready for Total Solar Eclipse at Australia in November 2012 - Joseph A Cali is an avid astronomer. He is on the panel of advisors at Eclipse Chaser Anthenaeum, SPACE

I saw my first total solar eclipse from the south end of Lake Poopo on the altiplano in Bolivia on November 3rd, 1994. A saros, is a period of 223 synodic months (18 years, 11 days and 8 hours). This November’s total eclipse will mark my first full saros cycle as an eclipse chaser. In Bolivia, observing from 4500m, we were treated to a spectacular show. The very clear air at that altitude during the middle of a solar minimum allowed us to observe coronal streamers 3-4 degree long. The streamers created a spectacular object spanning 7 degrees. This November’s conditions are very different. We are in solar maximum and observing from just a few metres above sea level. Instead of long streamers we’ll probably see many shorter symmetrically radiating streamers and many prominences something like during the 2001 eclipse in Zambia.

The eclipse in November 2012 at Australia, begins near Darwin where weather prospects are poor. The umbra heads east soon reaching Cape York. On the east coast of the Cape lies the Cairns-Port Douglas region. SPACE has put together two expeditions to this region to observe the eclipse. This area has the best weather prospects and a little over two magical minutes of totality.

I have arranged the use of a 50 acre or 20 hectare farm near the centre line just out of Port Douglas that will host, the 200 members of the SPACE tours, 105 eclipse chasers from my own tour and 40 from the Sydney observatory.

On eclipse day, rise very early because traffic might be heavy. The eclipse begins just 9 minutes after sunrise. If it looks like being cloudy, we won’t just sit around waiting to miss the eclipse, we have two more sites 50 km and 100 km inland that we can relocate to. We are hiring a meteorologist to specifically advise our group on relocations.

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Across the highway, the property runs up a small hill. The area on the hill is just 30 metres above sea level and a few hundred metres walk. From the hill, you may watch sunrise over the water and first contact as well as the rest of the eclipse.

Fig.1

Fig.2

We have two observing areas at the farm. A flat field is suitable for heavy equipment set up next to your car. The field has a 1ohorizon to the east. Sunrise won’t be visible but first contact probably will just be visible over or through distant trees.

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It may be dark when you arrive on site so bring a small flashlight so you can see where you are walking. Do not shine the light in anyone’s eyes. Sunrise occurs at 05:35 am and first contact occurs at 05:44 local time. The partial eclipse lasts for 55 minutes. Two minutes before totality, look for two phenomena. Shadow bands (fig. 3) are interference fringes caused by the interaction of sunlight from the razor thin crescent and air masses of various temperatures. Start looking for these from about 6:35am onwards. They are easiest to see 20s before totality.

During the final minute, we should see the umbra approach. The farm site was chosen in part because it has good views and a low horizon to the northwest – the direction of umbral approach. Keep one eye to the east and one to the west a minute before totality. Get ready! Your senses are about to be overwhelmed by many phenomena in rapid succession. I prefer to sit facing north or south so I can just turn my head from east to west to observe both hemispheres in rapid succession. The umbra approach, if atmospheric conditions permit us to see it, is a truly overwhelming site. The sky seems to be swallowed up by the lunar shadow. In Bolivia, it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up on end.

Fig.3 Shadow Band

Fig.4 Diamond Ring

As the umbra approaches the Sun, you will see the thin solar crescent shrink at a rapid rate. At the same time, light will rapidly drain out of the landscape. At about 6:37:30EST, about 30 seconds before totality it is time to remove your eclipse shades or remove filters from telescopes, cameras or binoculars. During these seconds you will see the razor thin crescent break up into small points of light called Baily’s Beads, the limb of the Sun’s photosphere shining through valleys between mountains on the limb of the Moon. These beads are relatively short lived and soon shrink to one last bright and spectacular point of light known as the diamond ring. (Fig 4)

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At 6:38 am local time, the diamond ring will shrink and vanish. At first you’ll see the bright pink chromosphere, very inner coronaand prominences. (fig. 5). Your eyes will quickly adapt to these lower light levels and the magnificent corona will seem to growrapidly before your eyes. (fig. 6)

During totality, look around at the whole sky, mesmerizing as the corona may be, see how the umbra overhead is leaving a bright ringof light around the horizon and slowly creeping toward the east horizon (fig 7)

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

The two minutes of totality will seem to pass quickly. The event ends with a dazzling diamond ring that seems much brighter than the first. This is because you see it appear with your eyes already dark-adapted. In the minute after totality is over, keep an eye out for shadow bands. Then sit back and enjoy the next hour of partial eclipse as we say goodbye to totality for another year.

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NEWS IN FOCUSI. UNIVERSE IN THE SCHOOL

Exclusive VT Observations for CSE * Schools

A series of rare VT (Transit of Venus) observations were organised by SPACE on June 6, 2012, at CSE-Member schools namely Indraprastha International School, Dwarka, Step by Step School, Indraprastha World School, Paschim Vihar, G.D. Goenka, Rohini and Bal Bharati Public School, Pitampura. Participants were trained on various equipments to conduct observations and experiments related to the transit. Along with students and teachers, parents also participated with lot of enthusiasm. They commented that such space science observations are a great learning experience and should be done in all Delhi schools.

Astrophotography Workshop at BBPS, Pitampura, to Capture the Celestial Beauty

An astrophotography workshop was conducted for senior students on 16th May 2012 at Bal Bharti School, Pitam Pura. Enthusiastic young photographers learnt about the basic principle behind working of a SLR (single lens reflector) camera and its various settings, like aperture, shutter speed etc. Students tried different settings to click photograph of Sun, with the help of a telescope and solar filter. There after students went to a dark site to capture sunrise, sunset and star trails.

A picture of sun taken with the help of solar filter by a studentVT observation through telescope conducted by SPACE educator for students at Indraprastha International School

*CSE - Centre for Student Excellence

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Astronomy Exhibition at Step By Step Junior School,Noida

On 17th March 2012 an Astronomy Exhibition was organized for parents in Step by Step Junior School. Some of the most fascinating models made by students were - Sputnik 1(first artificial satellite of Earth),International Space Station, Hubble Space Telescope, Rockets, etc. One of the parent shared about their son, “It is Reyhaan’s favourite subject. He cannot stop talking about what he learns in his astronomy class”.

Solar Observation on Parent Teacher Meet at G D Goenka, Rohini

A Safe Solar Telescopic Observation for Parents was conducted on 12th May 2012 at GD Goenka by students of class 10th at PTM (Parent Teacher Meet). The idea was to promote awareness among parents about SPACE’s astronomy programs run in the school .The parents observed the Sun, day time star, which cannot be seen otherwise due to its brightness.

Science Exhibition during 40th Anniversary of DPS, R.K Puram

40th Anniversary of Delhi Public School, R. K. Puram was celebrated on 18th April 2012, by hosting a Science Exhibition. In the exhibition, SPACE Astronomy Club students put up a stall and exhibited their learning and understanding about different topics of astronomy such as Hydro-Rocketry, Telescope observation of Sun and Venus , Comet Making, Astrometry Software.

The Chief Guest for the evening was Smt. Pratibha Patil, Honorable President of India, along with Mr. Salman Khursheed, MP and former Minister of State for External Affairs and Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission. The dignitaries appreciated students space science knowledge and wished them “All the Best for future”.

1. Venus Transit June 6th, 2012 marked a day in the history as the citizens saw the century’s last and a exceptional celestial phenomenon - The Transit of Venus. SPACE conducted many public observations at various places to show the spectacular view of planet Venus passing the fiery face of sun. A brief of these observations are below -

Mass Observation at Jantar Mantar

General public marked their presence in large numbers at Jantar Mantar to see the Transit. SPACE made necessary arrangements - telescopes with projection, ball projectors, live webcast and other equipments to enable everyone to observe this phenomenon. There was a footfall of close to 700 including students, parents, teachers and general public. Everyone and specially students were excited and happy as they witnessed century’s last Venus Transit.

II. EVENTS UPDATE

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Scientific Tour to Udaipur Solar Observatory

SPACE collaborated with Udaipur Solar Observatory – the only of its kind in India to conduct a public outreach program at the observatory premises with members of Astronomicans, a group of amateur astronomers led by SPACE. Approximately 500 general public joined to observe the Venus transit at Udaipur Solar Observatory. Scientists from the observatory and SPACE expert’s team-up for the transit was a mutually knowledge enriching experience.

Tihar Prison Officials witnessed Venus Transit

A team from SPACE conducted scientific observation at Tihar jail premises. A public outreach was organised for residential staff which gave them a once in a life time opportunity to observe the transit of Venus. More than three hundred people turned up including Tihar staff and their family members.

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2) Internet Telescope (IT)

IT is a dynamic project In collaboration with IASC (International Astronomy Search Collaboration), USA, that enable astronomy students to remotely control telescopes and click deep sky pictures. SPACE conducted Internet Telescope in India on 8 days in April ’12. Students control and monitor 10” and 16" Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes located at the Ironwood North Observatory, USA while sitting right here in New Delhi! After a pilot run of the project in 2011, SPACE hosted nearly 80 schools and organizations which made Internet Telescope as one of the 2012’s biggest Astronomy Projects.

Participating Schools –

1.SPACE-CSE Schools – Bal Bharati Public School, Pitampura; G.D. Goenka, Indraprastha World School, Paschim Vihar and Dwarka; Step by Step, Noida and Astronomica participated in IT.

2.Other schools - The Air Force School Subroto Park; Modern School Barakhamba; ITL Dwarka; Army Public School, Amity International Vasundhara; Pathways School, Springdales Pusa Road.

Deep sky images taken by students during Internet Telescope

3) GRAIL MoonKAM (Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students)

GRAIL MoonKam is a signature education and Public Outreach program led by Dr. Sally Ride, America's first woman in space, and her team at Sally Ride Science in collaboration with University of California San Diego. GRAIL is the first NASA Planetary mission with instruments fully dedicated to education and outreach, and allows classrooms to request pictures of the lunar surface from cameras on the twin satellites. SPACE conducted training workshops in 5 member schools, around 250 schools students participated in the project. Participants enthusiastically requested photos of Lunar surface. They were thrilled to receive the images of Craters & Maria Regions.

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4) Great Indian Star Count 2012 & Globe at Night

GISC was organized in collaboration with Globe at Night in four phases from January to March 2012. It is an International Citizen science project to raise awareness about the impact of light pollution by counting the stars in night sky. Constellation to be observed in first three Phases was Orion and for last phase it was Leo. In phase I, Astronomicans, Space Nodal Centre and general public participated. In this phase around 8 Observationswere observed.

Current Events

1) AIASC 2012 - All India Asteroid Search Campaign is conducted by SPACE in collaboration with IASC (International Astronomical Search Collaboration). In 2012 AIASC will be conducted in three phases. Phase I was held from April 28th to June 3rd, 2012. Phase II was from 03rd June– 08th July. Phase III will be in July 9 -13 August. Students from all over India enthusiastically participated in this real time science project and got exclusive access to astronomy data taken at night with 24 and 32 Inch telescopes. Students were given specialized training on an astronomy software to filter through data and look for Asteroids as well as NEOs (Near Earth Orbit).

AIASC Phase I was a success with 15 schools participation, that ended with great achievements - 6 Preliminary Discoveries, 117 NEO Observations and 2 NEO Confirmations.

Grail Moonkam

AIASC participants with SPACE Team

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III. ASTRO TOURISM

1. Astro-expedition to Shanghai to witness the spectacular Venus Transit

An expedition of 47 students and teachers from different schools of Delhi, travelled to Shanghai (to get the Best view of the transit as per the predictions) with SPACE . Telescopes and ball projectors set up for the group , attracted local public amongst the early morning joggers! Teachers throughout the event guided the students and the public as how to do the observation & experiments. The gathering was amazed to see the marvel of the planet Venus and the sun spots through Telescopes.

2. Celestial Voyage to Hong Kong by students to see “The Ring of Fire” - Annular Solar Eclipse

On 21st May, 2012, SPACE has organised a scientific expedition to Hong Kong particularly to witness the “Annular Solar Eclipse”, when the moon hid most of the sun in a rare solar eclipse creating a dazzling "Ring of fire". The expedition of 70 people includes students from Delhi schools namely Air Force Public School (Subroto Park), Bal Bharati Public School (Gangaram), MVN School (Aravali) and Navy Children School (Chanakya Puri), along with their respective teachers. Also, an expert from SPACE - Mr. C.B. Devgun (President, SPACE) has accompanied this tour to observe the eclipse. SPACE also provided a live webcast of the eventon web. Students learnt various methods of how to observe the sun and the eclipses and they also captured breath taking pictures of the eclipse. Special camera filters were used by them for clicking pictures & also properly designed & certified solar filters or goggles were used to observe the eclipse. After the eclipse, Mr. Gaddam Dharmendra (Indian Consul General, Hong Kong) met the group and congratulated them for their observation of the eclipse.

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3. NASA Excursions

Approximately 200 students from various schools of Delhi travelled with SPACE to NASA in May 2012. Students from following prestigious schools of the capital had an international space science exposure and had a knowledge-enriching cum exciting experience at the coveted space agency - NASA, marking the best use of summer vacation -

• Mira Model School.• Army Public School• Indraprastha World School, Paschim Vihar.• Indraprastha International ,Dwarka• G.D. Goenka, Rohini• St. George School ,Mussoorie• DPS,Gr. Noida• Vivekanand School, Anand Vihar• ITL, Dwarka.

Students visited the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, the launch pad of NASA. It is the place from where Kalpana Chawla and Sunita William flew to outer space and also all of the Apollo missions were launched. The Space Camp introduced students to the latest of the space technology, from building of a rocket to the training of an astronaut. The students apart from NASA, also visited Orlando, New York and Niagara Falls.

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Upcoming Events

To commemorate Kalpana Chawla, an Indian American astronaut, SPACE will organize a Kalpana Chawla quiz competition in starting of September 2012, schools from all the states can participate including SPACE associated CSE and Club schools.

SPACE plans to conduct an Inter CSE schools Hydro – Rocketry competition . The competition between CSE schools will begin in last week of Nov, 2012. The winners will further compete at national level in July 2013 next year. The teams of astronomy enthusiastic students will launch Hydrorockets. The competition will be judged on parameters such as distance, aesthetics and deviation from the straight line. The objective is to arouse enthusiasm amongst students towards Rocketry and to demonstrate the scientific principles of rocketry and aeronautics in a ‘Hands on Activity’ fashion.

Kalpana Chawla Quiz Inter CSE Schools Hydro –Rocketry Competition

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Falcon Dragon – First Private Commercial Spaceflight In Outer Space

Private Spaceflight supporters saw a major validation with the successful launch and subsequent safe landing of the first ever commercial vehicle to visit the International Space Station. The unmanned Dragon capsule, built by the commercial firm Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), was launched on May 22, 2012, from a pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The launch was aimed to determine if vehicles like Dragon are ready to berth with the station and it proved to be a success. The vehicle orbited around earth for four days while being maneuvered for space docking, and returned successfully as per the mission on May 31, 2012. This is SpaceX's second demonstration flight under a 2006 Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement with NASA to develop the capability to carry cargo to and from the International Space Station. Demonstration launches are conducted to determine potential issues so that they might be addressed; by their very nature, they carry a significant risk.

Spacex Dragon capsule hovering over rocky mountains

This mission was a test flight for the Dragon under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services contract known as COTS. The Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) is a NASA program created in 2006 to work with the private sector to develop safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to the International Space Station. The program is fixed-price, milestone-based, and requires cost-sharing with the private sector to protect taxpayer dollars and incentivize performance. In a nutshell, SpaceX has been contracted by NASA to provide safe and reliable cargo delivery services to the ISS. SpaceX holds a $1.6 billion NASA contract to make 12 robotic supply runs to the orbiting lab with Dragon and its Falcon 9 rocket, and the capsule's performance on its current demonstration mission has made it look like a good investment.

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Mission Highlights:

May 22/Launch Day: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched the Dragon spacecraft into orbit from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.May 23: Dragon orbited Earth as it traveled toward the International Space Station.May 24: Dragon’s sensors and flight systems were subjected to a series of complicated tests to determine if the vehicle is ready to berth with the space station; these tests included maneuvers and systems checks in which the vehicle came within 1.5 miles of the station.May 25: NASA gave Dragon the GO to attempt berthing with the station. Dragon approached. It was captured by station’s robotic arm and attached to the station.May 25 - 31: Astronauts open Dragon’s hatch, unload supplies and fill Dragon with return cargo.May 31: Dragon is detached from the station and returns to Earth, landing in the Pacific, hundreds of miles west of Southern California.

Built of Dragon

Dragon is a commercial Orbital Vehicle operated by Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX). It can be flown in two configurations: Dragon Cargo and Dragon Lab for unmanned and manned flights. The vehicle can carry up to seven crewmembers. Dragon is launched aboard the Falcon 9 Rocket that is also operated by SpaceX. Dragon is part of NASA’s COTS and CCDev Programs and will make at least 12 Cargo Resupply Flights to the International Space Station. The Vehicle can fly a variety mission profiles. Dragon is a re-usable spacecraft - equipped with a heat shield and parachutes to make a splashdown landing in the Ocean after completing its mission in orbit.

1. Draco Thrusters (Reaction Control System) maneuver Dragon in orbit and during re-entry, it is equipped with 12 to 18 Draco Thrusters. Each Draco engine provides 400 Newtons of thrust.

2. Thermal Protections System aka heat shield of the Dragon Capsule can withstand up to 1,600°C of heat.

3. Thermal Control System regulates temperatures inside the Capsule while flying through the Space Environment, Dragon is outfitted with two fully redundant pumped fluid cooling loops.

4. Dragon supports Communications via satellites such as NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System, but is also capable of communicating via Ground Stations on Earth.

5. The habitable, pressurized Volume of the Dragon Capsule is 10m³. In its regular configurations, 14m³of trunk volume are available for external payloads.

6. Power is generated by two Solar Arrays that are deployed after orbital insertion and jettisoned before re-entry. The arrays provide 1,500 to 2,000 Watts of power peaking up to 4,000 Watts.

7. Dragon’s Flight Computers (Avionics) provide all aspects of vehicle control and navigation.

Built Of Dragon

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With Dragon's historic mission to the International Space Station declared a success, the world is wondering, what's next? Dragon mission has signaled a new era in space exploration dependent not just on government for innovation, but on private enterprise. Dragon was an unmanned cargo mission. But on future missions, which will carry astronauts, the Dragon spacecraft will be equipped with a launch escape system capable of quickly carrying the capsule to safety in case of a dangerous situation during the launch sequence. Safety innovation is just the beginning.

8. Environment control and Air Circulation is provided by several fans and sensors. Internal Temperature can be adjusted between 10 and 46 degrees Celsius, Internal Humidity can be regulated within a range of 25-75% Relative Humidity.

9. For Navigation purposes, Dragon is outfitted with Inertial Measurement Units, GPS Systems, Iridium Recovery Beacons and Star Trackers.

10. Dragon’s Docking System is equipped with adapters such as Integral Common Berthing Mechanism with the low-impact docking system (LIDS) or androgynous peripheral attach system (APAS).

11. Dragon is capable of performing a lifting Re-entry to precisely target its Landing area in the ocean

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Why is Venus regarded as a morning and an evening Star?

Venus is called a Morning Star because it is the last star that can still be visible in the morning, after all the stars have faded away. It is the first star to appear in the evening as it is brighter than all other objects that can be seen, with the exception of the moon and the sun. The orbit of Venus is inside the orbit of Earth. Venus is relatively close to the Sun in the sky. When Venus is on one side of the Sun, it’s trailing the Sun and brightens up shortly after the Sun sets, when the sky is dark. It becomes visible just minutes after the Sun goes down, hence at this time Venus is seen as an Evening Star.

ASTROINQUISITES

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Follow these simple steps and make your own PERISCOPE –

Step 1. Material Required- An empty card board box, cello tape, scissors, paper cutter and two mirror pieces.

At Home Have Fun With Astronomy & Science

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Step 3. Secure the mirrors with cello-tape. The mirror surfaces should be facing

thebox.

Step 2. Mark 3 cm from each end of the box. Cut three sides only (one big and two small). Bend the cuts at right angles and fix it with cello-tape.

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A Periscope is an optical instrument for viewing objects that are above the level of direct sight or in an otherwise obstructed field of vision, consisting essentially of a tube with an arrangement of prisms or mirrors and, usually, lenses, used especially in submarines.

Step 4. Your Own Periscope Is Ready ! Now hold the periscope vertical and peep through the lower rectangular window. You will be able to see around corners, spy over walls or even see behind you without turning around.

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