Topps Blog

Tuesday, 4 January 2022

NASA Begins Tensioning Webb Telescope’s Vital Sunshield

NASA spent 20 years designing and building the James Webb Space Telescope on Earth, and it left the planet behind forever on Christmas Day 2021. Since then, NASA has been working to unfurl the observatory, which was bundled up to fit inside the Ariane 5 launch vehicle. After a brief delay over the weekend, the team has started the painstaking process of tensioning the sunshield. This is one of those make-or-break parts of Webb — if the sunshield doesn’t deploy correctly, the telescope may never work as intended.

Getting Webb into space was a nerve-wracking experience for all involved, but that was only the beginning. Hundreds of tasks need to go right over the next few weeks as Webb deploys all its hardware. Shortly after launch, NASA confirmed deployment of the solar panel and the primary communications array. Webb also extended its tower assembly (where the mirrors attach to the spacecraft) and the momentum flap, which counters the force of solar wind on the solar panel. That brings us to the sunshield, which began deploying last week.

Webb requires a sunshield because it was designed to operate in the mid-infrared. Hubble, by contrast, operated mainly in the visual spectrum. Infrared wavelengths of light can reveal much older, dimmer objects, as well as objects like protoplanets hiding behind dense clouds of dust and gas. To observe in the infrared, Webb needs to keep its instruments cool, thus the sunshield.

Last week, the spacecraft extended two support arms for the shield, one on the front and the other on the rear. Then, the team activated the left and right booms that opened the shield into its distinctive diamond shape. Rather than move immediately to the tensioning step on Sunday, NASA opted to assess the observatory’s status — they only get one chance at this.

The Webb Telescope during testing on Earth.

The sunshield consists of five layers (see above) of polyamide film known as Kapton. To cool the instruments as designed, the layers need to be tensioned to create a small gap between each one. NASA started on Monday with just the first layer, triggering embedded cables to pull the ultra-thin material taut. It will take two or three days to get all five layers aligned, but that will take care of one of the most perilous parts of the deployment process.

It will take several more weeks to get Webb into its final configuration, but it won’t be ready to start operating when it reaches the Earth-Sun L2 Lagrange point. Outside the moon’s orbit, Webb will be able to block solar radiation with the sunshield and cool down its instruments over the course of months. NASA will also need to conduct tests and calibration on the observatory before it starts doing science. We should get the first Webb data around the middle of 2022.

Now read:

Astronomers Make the Case for Calling Pluto a Planet Again

Like many people, I grew up in a solar system of nine planets. It’s the same solar system we live in now, of course, but the definition of a “planet” changed in 2006 to exclude poor little Pluto and its frosty kin. That was before we’d even seen the little ice ball up close, but New Horizons paid it a visit in 2015. Since then, an increasingly vocal minority of scientists has suggested that maybe kicking Pluto out of the planet club was a mistake. A study from a team of noted astronomers soon to be published in the journal Icarus lays out the argument for readmitting Pluto. However, it’ll bring a lot of friends.

Pluto was generally accepted as a planet from the moment it was discovered in 1930, but we didn’t know much about the outer reaches of the solar system at the time. In the intervening years, astronomers discovered more Pluto-like objects in a region of space we now know as the Kuiper Belt — Pluto was just the first one we spotted. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) adopted a new definition of what constitutes a planet: it has to be round, orbit the sun, and have cleared its orbit of other objects. Pluto misses on the third, as would other Kuiper Belt objects.

Is that correct, though? The new study argues that it isn’t, claiming the change was based more on astrology than astronomy. By 2006, we already know about objects like Eris and Makemake which would have fit the old definition of a planet. Rather than boost the number of planets every time we spotted a new spherical thing out there, astronomers opted to narrow the definition. According to the study, this improperly sets aside Earth and the other inner planets as “special” in the same way astrology does.

If we invite Pluto to the planet party again, it’s going to bring friends. Ceres and Vesta (not shown) might also qualify as planets under a more relaxed version of the definition.

According to the study, mislabeling Pluto as a dwarf planet is damaging to science and the popular understanding of the solar system. After seeing Pluto up close, many scientists wondered aloud if we had made a mistake in 2006. It has a thin atmosphere, complex geology, and maybe even a liquid ocean. The IAU, they argue, was influenced by unscientific “folk taxonomy” to simplify our picture of the solar system. If we’re going to do science the right way, the study says, we need to accept that there are not eight nor nine planets — the true number may be as high as 150. The paper in question goes well beyond Pluto and argues that the moons of various planets should be considered planets in their own right. It is not clear which objects would be considered moons, if any, under the proposed system.

Eris and Makemake have since been joined by Sedna, Quaoar, Orcus, and others. The more we look, the more “planets” we’re going to find. Should we ignore them simply because it’s inconvenient? And what if Planet Nine turns out to be real? Aside from needing a new moniker, it could again reshape our narrow ideas of what is and is not a planet.

Some scientists have already taken to calling Pluto a planet in their papers, basically ignoring the IAU definitions. If the ranks of Pluto’s defenders continue to grow, we may soon live in a solar system of 15, 50, or 150 planets.

Now read:

The HDMI 2.1 Specification is Getting Updated, Again

(Image: D-Kuru, Own work. Wikipedia.) Even though the ink hasn’t even dried on the last round of confusing news regarding the HDMI 2.1 specification, a new edition to the spec has been announced by the HDMI forum. It is likely to make things more confusing for people. Drum roll: say hello to HDMI 2.1a! This small-ish update, denoted by the letter a, obviously, will be on-display at CES 2022, pardon the pun, and contains just one addition to the bewildering specification stack: the addition of Source-Based Tone Mapping, or SBTM.

This addition to the spec is being offered as a feature to improve HDR on TVs, as it will allow the source of the content, such as your cable box, to do some of the tone mapping on content before it arrives on your television. As The Verge points out, this is not a new HDR standard, but rather a way to make HDR content look good on any TV without requiring the user to specifically calibrate their display for it. So for example, if you found that SDR content looked fine, but you had to adjust your TV for HDR content, this update should allow you to just sit on your couch and enjoy both types of content without having to fiddle with anything. As the HDMI website notes, “As with other HDR technologies, rather than adopt a fixed set of color and brightness ranges, SBTM allows the Source to adapt to a specific display. SBTM can also be used by PCs and gaming devices to eliminate manual user optimization for HDR.” This new feature will also allow content that has both SDR and HDR qualities to be displayed together without looking weird.

Some of you may recall the concept of source-based tone mapping from AMD’s FreeSync 2 / FreeSync Premium Pro standard. The application here is identical — it’s a way for color data to be passed directly from GPU to device (or player to device). The difference is that the capability is being baked into the HDMI 2.1a standard rather than supported in an AMD-specific product.

AMD discussed FreeSync 2 (later FreeSync Premium Pro) in terms of gaming, but the HDMI 2.1a feature can be used for video as well.

This new update to the spec adds to what is widely considered to be a messy situation, as the rollout of the HDMI 2.1 specification has caused head-scratching on a global scale. Though the list of features being included in the 2.1 update is indeed impressive — support for 8K displays at 60Hz, and 4K at 120Hz among many welcome upgrades — precisely none of the new features need to be supported by an HDMI 2.1 compatible device, and that includes this new feature as well. Since HDMI 2.1 is replacing HDMI 2.0, and all the new features are optional, you could find yourself with a brand-new HDMI 2.1 compatible device, that actually delivers zero new features over the previous spec.

HDMI 2.1 will require a new, high-speed cable, so even choosing the right cable will require reading carefully.

Toss SBTM on the pile of confusing and optional features that may or may not be supported by the new TV you will buy in the future. And if you are in the market for some new hardware, be sure to pay very close attention to the fine print that accompanies it, because just being “HDMI 2.1”-compatible means absolutely nothing.

Now Read:

Monday, 3 January 2022

Musk Says SpaceX Could Land Humans on Mars in Just Five Years

Humans walked on the moon half a century ago, and it looks like we’re heading back. NASA aims to send astronauts to the lunar surface in the coming decade with the Space Launch System (SLS) and SpaceX Starship HLS, but SpaceX’s Elon Musk has his sights set on a more distant target: Mars. He’s floated some very pie-in-the-sky timelines for sending people to Mars, but now he’s doubling down. In a recent interview, Musk said SpaceX will land the first humans on Mars in ten years, and that’s a worst-case scenario. It could be half as long if everything goes perfectly during upcoming Starship tests.

Musk made this prediction on an episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast. The full conversation, which you can see below, is more than two and a half hours long. In it, the pair discuss Tesla self-driving technology, neural networks, memes, and of course, SpaceX. The conversation about Mars starts at around the 27-minute mark.

In the past, Musk has speculated that colonization efforts could begin this decade, featuring a fleet of Starships that congregate in Earth orbit before heading off to Mars when the planets pass each other. Musk has backed off from that level of detail as Starship takes shape. While the vehicle has accomplished some truly impressive things, it’s hard to see how it could be sending dozens of people to the red planet inside of a decade when it has yet to even reach orbit. When asked about the timeline on the podcast, Musk responded with a very pregnant pause. About 20 seconds later he answered that ten years was the outside range. The best-case, he said, was a mere five years.

Currently, NASA hopes to land Artemis 3 on the moon in 2025, but that timeline is looking suspect due to delays with the SLS and updated spacesuits. SpaceX is also just in the early stages of designing the Starship variant that will land the crew on the lunar surface. If those issues result in another Artemis delay, Musk’s proposed timeline could put people on Mars before the moon. That seems like a long shot, but it would be an incredible accomplishment and an indictment of traditional government contractors if it come to pass.

Getting Starship to Mars is primarily an engineering problem. The goal with this vehicle is to lower the cost per ton of reaching Mars to the point where a human presence is feasible. According to Musk, no amount of money will get you to Mars right now. In the past, Musk has cited 2026 as the year he believes SpaceX will land its first Martian astronauts, but a lot of things could go wrong between now and then. Starship still needs a lot of work, and the first-stage Super Heavy booster has yet to fly at all. Whether or not Musk is right about reaching Mars in five years, SpaceX is in the best position to give it a shot.

Now Read:

The Air Force Wants LIDAR on Robot Dogs

One of the Air Force’s robot dogs, crouched and ready for action. (Photo: USAF) Robot dogs have gained another superpower, and this time, it’s the ability to “see” spaces and produce digital replications on humans’ behalf.

The US Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (IMSC) has begun testing light detection and ranging, or LIDAR, on quadrupedal robots often referred to as “robot dogs.” Robot dogs, though slightly unsettling in appearance, are generally useful for navigating terrain and active situations considered too dangerous for humans or real dogs. They’re most often used by the military, though the New York Police Department tried deploying one in the Bronx earlier this year. (“Digidog” quickly had to turn in its badge after public outcry involving privacy and excessive force concerns.) Simply put, they’re a tactical tool.

With LIDAR, though, nimble robot dogs have the opportunity to bring their tactical practicality to the next level. A pulsing laser emits light waves into the robot’s environment, then measures variable distance based on the amount of time it takes for each pulse to “bounce” off surrounding objects and return to the sensor. The result is a 360-degree 3D rendering of the space, or as the IMSC puts it, a “digital twin.” According to a Popular Science report, the IMSC plans on using LIDAR to map out Florida’s Tyndall Air Force Base, which bore a significant amount of damage during Hurricane Michael in 2018. Rather than go straight to fixing the base’s facilities, the Air Force is using the assessment and repair process as an opportunity to brush up on advanced technologies that could expedite the process, as well as ensure the facilities are more resilient against weather-related damage in the future.

Air Force IMSC Staff Sergeant Javier Rodriguez says LIDAR-equipped robot dogs can also be used for reconnaissance and for emergency assessment. In a video produced by the IMSC, Rodriguez points out that LIDAR could be potentially life-saving in catastrophes such as aircraft crashes, in which it’s necessary to assess damage and potential for recovery prior to sending humans into the wreckage. LIDAR is considered the gold standard when it comes to scoping out new and familiar environments, as it reveals information that otherwise goes unseen, like how much of a material a crew might need to conduct a repair. The technology can also be used to investigate plumbing and HVAC problems, among other utility-related concerns.

LIDAR-equipped robot dogs have almost “endless” applications, the IMSC says. And, as a bonus, this LIDAR-focused move by the Air Force certainly leaves a better taste in one’s mouth than when the Army started giving robot dogs guns.

Now Read:

NASA: Perfect Webb Launch Will Extend Observatory’s Lifespan

The James Webb Space Telescope left Earth behind on Christmas Day in a launch that, to all outside observers, appeared flawless. Now, NASA has confirmed that the Ariane 5 rocket did indeed complete its task with extreme precision. In fact, the launch went so well that the observatory’s fuel reserves are showing a surplus. NASA says it’s on track to have enough fuel to support more than ten years of science operations.

NASA has spent about 20 years and $10 billion building the Webb telescope, which will pick up where Hubble left off. Hubble was launched in 1990 with a planned life span of 15 years, but it’s now more than 30 years old. Webb won’t be close enough to Earth for servicing missions, so it has to carry everything with it out past the orbit of the moon to the L2 Lagrange point. NASA designed Webb to last at least five years with ten years being the best-case.

The limiting factor for Webb is fuel. The Lagrange point is a region of gravitational stability where the observatory can remain with relatively little adjustment. However, it also needs fuel to get pointed in the right direction for observations. Once it can’t do that, astronomers on Earth will be out of luck.

NASA originally estimated that Webb would have enough fuel for ten years, but the Ariane 5 managed to deliver Webb into a perfect orbit. This saved Webb from burning through too much of its own fuel during the early stages of the mission — the solar panel even deployed ahead of schedule because the team designed this as an automated function based on orbital parameters. The first course correction maneuver also went perfectly, adding 20 meters per second to the spacecraft’s speed.

Webb will spend the next several weeks deploying as it coasts toward its final destination. NASA is working on deploying the sunshield, and the main communication antenna is already up. There are hundreds of little things that have to go right along the way, and then it will take months of testing and calibration before we get the first images. But the observations could go well beyond ten years thanks to the abundance of fuel remaining after launch.

Once it reaches L2, Webb will be able to see farther and with greater detail than Hubble. Not only does Webb have a comparatively enormous primary mirror, but its instruments are designed to see deeper into the infrared, revealing things that we cannot see in the visual spectrum. Webb is so powerful that it might even be able to detect artificial lights on nearby exoplanets — assuming there’s anyone living there to build artificial lights.

Now read:

Microsoft Is Adding Games to the Edge Browser

Microsoft did everything it could to get people to use the Edge browser when it launched Windows 10, but in the end, it decided to start over from scratch with a Chromium base. The change to an open source foundation was Microsoft’s chance to streamline and compete with more modern browsers, but it’s increasingly falling into old patterns. Case in point, one Redditor reports having spotted a new gaming panel in the latest Edge Canary build. When activated, it adds game shortcuts to the address bar, which is surely what everyone has been wanting from a browser.

The games panel is accessible in the Appearance settings as a toggle. When enabled, Edge gets a new game button in the address bar. It opens a panel on the left side similar to the history or bookmarks popup. Microsoft has populated the panel with a plethora of mediocre HTML5 games, most of them pulled from the MSN Games page. There’s Solitare, Chess, Sudoku, and so on. You can click any game to load it up in the browser.

As this is only in the Canary build, it will probably be a few months before it’s available in the mainline releases. And while it’s disabled by default in Canary, that could change when the feature is complete. It’s possible you’ll just open Edge one day, and there will be a games button staring you in the face.

It’s not the end of the world to have another button in your browser, even if it’s an unnecessary annoyance, and it looks like you’ll be able to turn it off. However, it makes you wonder about Microsoft’s priorities. In an ideal world, Microsoft’s only motivation should be to make Edge the best browser possible. After all, it ships with the company’s flagship product. And yet, we’ve seen a string of questionable feature additions from Microsoft.

Just a few weeks ago, Microsoft announced the integration of instant loans via a company called Zip. It has also made it harder the change the browser defaults in Windows 11 (though it’s backtracking on that one). Along the way, Microsoft has also resumed its campaign to convince people not to download Chrome, but the warnings ring even more hollow now that both browsers use the same base code.

The good news for people reading this is most of you aren’t using Edge at all, so you’ll never have a chance to be annoyed by the game panel. As of last month, Edge owned about four percent of the browser market, just a bit above Firefox. Chrome, meanwhile, is sitting pretty with 64 percent of desktop browsers. I don’t know what it’ll take for Microsoft to gain ground, but I’d wager it’s not web games.

Now read: