Thursday, April 18, 2024

Sweden becomes 38th country to sign NASA's Artemis Accords for moon exploration

Ingenuity team says goodbye to pioneering Mars helicopter | Sweden is 38th country to sign NASA's Artemis Accords | How to see 'horned' comet 12P/Pons-Brooks this month
Created for znamenski.spacecom@blogger.com |  Web Version
April 18, 2024
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The Launchpad
Ingenuity team says goodbye to pioneering Mars helicopter
(NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/CNRS)
Saying goodbye is never easy, especially from a world away. The Ingenuity Mars helicopter team convened one last time on Tuesday (April 16) to oversee a transmission from the little rotorcraft, the first robot ever to explore the skies of a world beyond Earth.
Full Story: Space (4/17) 
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Sweden is 38th country to sign NASA's Artemis Accords
(Margareta Stridh/Regeringskansliet)
Sweden is the newest nation to sign onto NASA's Artemis Accords for peaceful and responsible exploration. During a signing event in Stockholm on Tuesday (April 16), Swedish Minister for Education Mats Persson penned the agreement alongside U.S. Ambassador Erik D. Ramanathan.
Full Story: Space (4/17) 
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Skywatching
How to see 'horned' comet 12P/Pons-Brooks this month
(Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
All you'll need to see comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, besides fair weather and a little luck are good binoculars or a telescope and sky map to help guide you to where this celestial vagabond happens to be. The comet bears the names of two of the most renowned comet hunters of all time.
Full Story: Space (3/8) 
Spaceflight
Boeing's spacesuits have astronauts buzzing (exclusive)
(NASA)
CFT will see NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams do an approximately 10-day shakedown cruise to the ISS to assess the performance of Starliner and all of its related hardware, including the Boeing-made spacesuits.
Full Story: Space (4/17) 
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Science & Astronomy
Moon Mimas may have ocean from Saturn's pull
(Robert Lea/NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science Institute)
Earlier this year, researchers discovered that a vast liquid ocean lurks beneath the icy shell of Saturn's tiny moon, Mimas. Now the same team may have discovered how it was created.
Full Story: Space (4/17) 
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SpaceX
SpaceX launches another 23 Starlink satellites
(SpaceX)
It was the 12th launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description. That's eight shy of the company's reuse record, which it set on a Starlink mission just last week.
Full Story: Space (4/17) 
Technology
XB-1 test plane gets FAA green light for supersonic flight
(Boom Supersonic)
Colorado company Boom has received a first-of-its-kind approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to exceed Mach 1 during test flights of its XB-1 supersonic jet. These flights are slated to occur sometime this year within the Black Mountain Supersonic Corridor in Mojave, California.
Full Story: Space (4/17) 
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Wednesday, April 17, 2024

How To Get Rid of iron In Well Water

If you're struggling with rusty-looking stains on your sinks, a metallic taste in your water, or concerns about the safety of your well, the culprit is likely excess iron. Several proven methods exist to remove iron from your well water, including filtration, aeration, and oxidation. Understanding the causes of iron in your well and the various removal solutions empowers you to make the best decision for your home.

Iron naturally occurs in soil and rocks. As rainwater percolates through the ground, it can dissolve iron minerals, carrying them into your well water. This issue is particularly common in areas with naturally iron-rich geology or if you have older well components that may be corroding.

How Does Iron Get Into My Well Water?

The primary way iron enters well water is through natural processes. Groundwater seeps through iron-rich soil and rock formations, dissolving iron minerals along the way. Additionally, older well casings, pipes, or pumps made of iron-based materials can gradually rust, contributing to elevated iron levels in your well water.

What Problems Does Iron in Well Water Cause?

  • Staining: Iron in well water is notorious for leaving unsightly reddish-brown stains on your plumbing fixtures, sinks, tubs, laundry, and even dishes.
  • Metallic Taste and Odor: You may notice an unpleasant metallic taste or even a rusty odor in your drinking water and in beverages made with it.
  • Appliance Damage: Over time, iron buildup can clog pipes and reduce the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances.
  • Potential Health Concerns: While iron is an essential nutrient, the EPA notes that excessive long-term consumption could pose health risks, primarily for individuals with certain medical conditions.
  • Iron Bacteria: Iron in well water can promote the growth of iron bacteria, leading to slimy buildups and a worsening of taste, odor, and clogging issues.

How Do I Test for Iron in My Well Water?

  • DIY Kits: Simple home test kits provide a basic indication of iron presence, but they may not be accurate enough for precise decision-making.
  • Professional Lab Testing: For comprehensive results and critical information about your exact iron levels and other water quality parameters, send a water sample to a certified lab. Local health departments or water treatment companies can often help you find testing services.

What Are the Best Ways to Remove Iron from Well Water?

  • Filtration Systems

    • Sediment Filters: These basic filters can remove some larger iron particles, but may be insufficient for higher iron levels.
    • Iron-Specific Filters: Specialized filters with various media types trap and remove iron effectively, making them a popular treatment solution.
    • Water Softeners: Traditional water softeners can remove small amounts of iron through ion exchange, but are more focused on addressing water hardness.
    • Maintenance: Regardless of the filter type, regular replacement according to the manufacturer's instructions and monitoring your water quality with testing will ensure continued effectiveness.
  • Aeration

    • Process: Aeration injects air into the water, oxidizing soluble ferrous iron into insoluble ferric iron, making it filterable.
    • Best for: Aeration is ideal for high iron levels and is often combined with filtration for optimal results.
  • Chemical Oxidation (Chlorination)

    • Process: Chlorine injection oxidizes iron and disinfects the water. Filtration then removes the oxidized particles.
    • Considerations: Chlorine can affect water taste, requiring additional filtration steps, and needs careful handling due to its potential hazards.
  • Other Methods

    • Reverse Osmosis: This removes a wide range of contaminants, including iron, but may be less cost-effective for targeting iron specifically.
    • Distillation: Similar to reverse osmosis, it's very effective but may not be practical as a primary solution for whole-house iron removal.

How Much Does Iron Removal Cost?

The cost to remove iron varies greatly depending on:

  • Iron Level: Higher iron concentrations may require more complex treatment systems.
  • Water Usage: The size of your household and water demand impact system capacity needs
  • Chosen Method: Simple filters are less expensive, while aeration or chlorination systems have higher upfront and potential maintenance costs.
  • DIY vs. Professional: Professional installation adds expense but is often recommended for complex setups.

Can I Remove Iron from My Well Water Myself?

The possibility of DIY installation depends on your skill level and the chosen method. Installing basic sediment filters or under-sink iron filters can be within a homeowner's capability. For whole-house systems, aeration, or chlorination, professional consultation and installation are usually the safest and most reliable route.

Resources:

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Object that slammed into Florida home was indeed space junk from ISS, NASA confirms

Boeing Starliner spacecraft rolls out to Atlas V rocket | Space Quiz! How much of the universe do scientists think could be dark matter? | Object slammed into Florida home was space junk from ISS
Created for znamenski.spacecom@blogger.com |  Web Version
April 17, 2024
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The Launchpad
Boeing Starliner spacecraft rolls out to Atlas V rocket
(Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)
Starliner rolled out on a trailer towards its United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket around 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT) in preparation for its International Space Station (ISS) mission no earlier than May 6. Onboard the mission, known as Crew Flight Test (CFT), will be two veteran NASA astronauts and former Navy test pilots: commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams.
Full Story: Space (4/16) 
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Space Quiz! How much of the universe do scientists think could be dark matter?
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Object slammed into Florida home was space junk from ISS
(NASA)
The mysterious object that crashed through the roof of a Florida home last month did indeed come from the International Space Station (ISS), NASA has confirmed. That home, in the seaside city of Naples, belongs to Alejandro Otero. Shortly after the March 8 incident, Otero said he thought the offending object was part of a cargo pallet packed with 5,800 pounds (2,630 kilograms) of aging batteries jettisoned from the ISS in March 2021. And he was right, according to a new NASA analysis of the object, which was performed at Florida's Kennedy Space Center.
Full Story: Space (4/15) 
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Total Solar Eclipse 2024
What's left of the 2024 solar eclipse lives in our hearts
(Josh Dinner)
Among the crowd, Vicki Stirm watched the sky through a palm-sized, iridescent black rectangle cut from the glass of a welding helmet, a tool that tinted the sun green as Earth's star mimicked a waning moon. It had belonged to her father, with whom she'd chased eclipses throughout her life, and who passed away in 2007. His name was Richard Ebert. "I just started crying," she said after totality was complete. "It was so beautiful. I was thinking of my dad, and when I was young."
Full Story: Space (4/16) 
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Spaceflight
Switzerland signs Artemis Accords with NASA
(NASA/Keegan Bar)
Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin joined NASA administrator Bill Nelson Monday (April 15), at the space agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C., to become the latest country to sign on to the agency's Artemis Accords for moon exploration.
Full Story: Space (4/16) 
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Science & Astronomy
'Einstein ring' suggests dark matter interacts with itself
(P. van Dokkum et al., Nature Astronomy accepted, 2023)
A fresh analysis of a remarkably massive yet compact galaxy from the early universe suggests that dark matter interacts with itself. The galaxy, JWST-ER1, which formed just 3.4 billion years after the Big Bang, was first spotted last October in images snapped by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). At over 17 billion light-years from Earth, JWST-ER1g is the farthest-ever example of a perfect "Einstein ring" - an unbroken circle of light around the galaxy, a result of light rays from a distant, unseen galaxy being bent due to the space-warping mass of JWST-ER1. The cosmic mirage is not just a pretty sight from a lucky alignment of galaxies; it also offers physicists a valuable probe for model-independent measurements of the mass enclosed within the ring's radius.
Full Story: Space (4/16) 
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SpaceX
SpaceX launching 23 Starlink satellites this evening
(SpaceX)
The Starlink launches just keep on coming. A Falcon 9 rocket topped with 23 of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites is scheduled to lift off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida today (April 17) during a four-hour window that opens at 5:26 p.m. EDT (2126 GMT). You can watch it live via SpaceX's account on X. Coverage will begin about five minutes before the window opens.
Full Story: Space (4/17) 
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Search for Life
SETI chief: No evidence of aliens, 'and we never have'
(Getty Images/Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo)
If all the reports of mysterious objects buzzing our skies are taken as true encounters, the Earth appears to be under assault. But spoiler alert: For the chief leader of the SETI Institute, established to search for and understand life beyond Earth, there's a need to step back and cuddle up to a cup of cosmic reality.
Full Story: Space (4/17) 
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Star Trek
'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Season 4 blasts onto Blu-ray, DVD
(Paramount+)
Thing are definitely heating up in the "Star Trek" universe this month. The fifth and final season of Paramount+'s "Star Trek: Discovery" rolled out on April 4, and "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" is fast approaching the completion of principal filming for its upcoming third season in Toronto. And sprinting onto home video to join the spring festivities is "Star Trek: Lower Decks" Season 4, whose Blu-ray and DVD versions were released today (April 16). The show stars the crazy crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos and their often-chaotic adventures in the final frontier.
Full Story: Space (4/16) 
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