Hubble Space Telescope Sees Ancient Galaxy Cluster and Mysterious Object

Galaxy Cluster IDCS J1426.5+3508 and Mysterious Blue Arc Image Credit: NASA / ESA /University of Florida, Gainsville / University of Missouri-Kansas City / UC Davis In an article in The Astrophysical Journal, astronomers report a massive galaxy cluster 10 Billion light years away, the largest known at that distance, and a bright blue arc (gravitational lense?) perhaps 13 Billion light years away. The astronomers state that for that brightness and distance “…we expect to find no arcs over the entire sky as bright”. The abstract: The galaxy cluster IDCS J1426.5+3508 at z = 1.75 is the most massive galaxy cluster yet discovered at z > 1.4 and the first cluster at this epoch for which the Sunyaev-Zel’Dovich effect has been observed. In this paper, we report on the discovery with Hubble Space Telescope imaging of a giant arc associated with this cluster. The curvature of the arc suggests that the lensing mass is nearly coincident with the brightest cluster galaxy, and the color is consistent with the arc being a star-forming galaxy. We compare the constraint on M 200 based upon strong lensing with Sunyaev-Zel’Dovich results, finding that the two are consistent if the redshift of the arc is z ~ 3. Finally, we explore the cosmological implications of this system, considering the likelihood of the existence of a strongly lensing galaxy cluster at this epoch in a ΛCDM universe. While the existence of the cluster itself can potentially be accommodated if one considers the entire volume covered at this redshift by all current high-redshift cluster surveys, the existence of this strongly lensed galaxy greatly exacerbates the long-standing giant arc problem. For standard ΛCDM structure formation and observed background field galaxy counts this lens system should not exist. Specifically, there should be no giant arcs in the entire sky as bright in F814W as the observed arc for clusters at z ≥ 1.75, and only ~0.3 as bright in F160W as the observed arc. If we relax the redshift constraint to consider all clusters at z ≥ 1.5, the expected number of giant arcs rises to ~15 in F160W, but the number of giant arcs of this brightness in F814W remains zero. These arc statistic results are independent of the mass of IDCS J1426.5+3508. We consider possible explanations for this discrepancy.

Masten Space Systems Flies Xaero

Rockets for the Fourth of July. Masten released this video, and this commentary: Happy Independence Day from Masten headquarters! It’s been a while since we released a video but trust us, we’ve been busy! In addition to multiple client projects and bending metal in the shop on yet-to-be-unveiled rocket hardware, we’ve been spending a significant amount of time on Xaero, culminating in a flight to 444 meters AGL today.

Soyuz TMA-03M Undocks and Returns to Earth.

Soyuz TMA-03 Undocking from the Mini Research Module (MRM-1) Image Credit: NASA TV The Russian Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft undocked from the Mini-Research Module at the International Space Station (ISS) at 9:48 PM Saturday night, while flying above China. This brought Expedition 31 to a close and inaugurated Expedition 32 under the command of Gennady Padalka. The other two crew members on ISS are Russian Sergey Revin, and American Joe Acaba. The deorbit burn occurred at 12:19 AM Phoenix time Sunday. Russian cosmonaut and Soyuz commander Oleg Kononenko, NASA astronaut Don Pettit, and ESA astronaut Andre Kuipers, returned to Earth aboard the Soyuz Descent Module. The landing in Zhezkaghan took place at 1:14 AM Phoenix time (0814 UTC). The remainder of the year is heavily booked with activity: 15 July – launch (with 17 July docking) of the Soyuz TMA-05M/31S spacecraft, carrying three additional members of Expedition 32 – Russian Yuri Malenchenko, American Suni Williams, and Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide. 21 July – the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle-3 (HTV-3) spacecraft will launch to the ISS, for a rendezvous and berthing to the ISS 22 July – the Progress M-15M/47P spacecraft will undock from the Docking Compartment-1 (DC-1) module 24 July – the Progress M-15M/47P spacecraft will perform a re-docking to the ISS to test a new Kurs-NA antenna. 30 July – Progress M-15M will undock for the final time and reenter the atmosphere and burn up. 1 August – Launch of Progress M-16M/48P, which will dock to the ISS just a few hours after launch to test a new fast-rendezvous profile. 6 September – departure of the HTV-3 and burn up on reentry 17 September – departure of Soyuz TMA-04M/30S with Gennady Padalka, Sergey Revin and Joe Acaba, marking the end of Expedition 32 23 September – departure of Europe’s ATV-3 spacecraft 5 October – Launch of the first Dragon flight under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract – known as SpX-1 7 October – Docking of SpX-1

Glide Test for SpaceShipTwo

SpaceShipTwo Glide Test Image Credit: Virgin Galactic / Chris Van Pelt This past week on 26 June, Virgin Galactic conducted the first glide test of SpaceShipTwo since completing a recent integration of rocket motor systems, as well as maintenance. On the same day, RocketMotorTwo (RM2) completed a full 55 second test firing by Sierra Nevada Space Systems, the prime contractor for the engine. In addition, on 20 June, a full-scale RM2 test firing took place for the first time at Scaled Composites’ test site in Mojave, California, under full direction of the spaceship’s Rocket Motor Controller. In May, Virgin Galactic received an experimental launch permit from the Federal Aviation Administration for SpaceShipTwo and its carrier vehicle, WhiteKnightTwo. Since then, there have been seven test flights, and three full scale rocket motor firings. Virgin Galactic expects to reach powered flight by the end of the year.

Shenzhou-9 Returns with Chinese Taikonauts

Liu Yang Emerges from the Shenzhou-9 Descent Module Image Credit: CCTV Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang and Liu Yang, the three member crew of China’s Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, returned to Earth, following a successful and historic mission with the unmanned space module Tiangong-1. The Descent Module touched down around 7:00 PM Phoenix time Thursday (0200 UTC Friday) at the landing site in Inner Mongolia. Three Taikonauts Seated Outside the Shenzhou-9 Descent Module Image Credit: CCTV

SpaceX Test Fires Merlin 1D – 55 Percent Power Upgrade

Wednesday, SpaceX conducted a full length test firing of the new Merlin 1D rocket engine at their test facility in McGregor, Texas. Merlin 1D is the fifth version in the Merlin 1 series, all of which have been built in-house at their manufacturing facility in Hawthorne, California. The first generation Merlin flew on several Falcon 1 missions. The Merlin 1B never flew, and the Merlin 1C flew a couple of Falcon 1 flights before being superseded by the Merlin Vacuum in 2009, which has powered all the Falcon 9 rockets. The Merlin 1D produces 147,000 pounds of thrust (55% more than the Merlin Vacuum) and burned for 185 seconds, simulating a complete Falcon 9 first stage launch. The Merlin 1D engines will first see flight on Falcon 9 Flight 6, expected to launch in 2013.

Chinese Crew Conducts Manual Docking With Tiangong-1

Beginning of Manual Docking of Shenzhou-9 with Tiangong-1 Image Credit: CCTV Chinese taikonauts completed another objective of their current mission aboard their spacecraft, Shenzhou-9, when they completed a manual docking maneuver with the orbital module Tiangong-1 around 0450 UTC Sunday (9:50 PM Saturday night Phoenix time). Several hours prior to this, the crew set Tiangong-1 for independent flight in case an emergency was encountered. Then commander Jing Haipeng and the other two crew, Liu Wang and Liu Yang, entered the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, donned their flight suits and performed an automated undocking. This was followed by backing away to 400 meters. The crew then closed to 140 meters and the two vehicles maintained their positions while the ground control evaluated the data. Approval was given for the manual approach controlled by Liu Wang. The spacecraft approached to within 30 meters for a short hold. Finally closing at 0.4 meters per second, Shenzhou-9 completed the docking procedure. With this objective completed, the taikonauts will continue their testing of the orbital module, and medical and physiological tests and exercises. They are scheduled to return to Earth on Friday, 29 June. Final Moment Before the Manual Docking of Shenzhou-9 with Tiangong-1 Image Credit: CCTV

Chinese Crew Enters Tiangong-1 Space Station

Three Chinese Crew Members Occupy The Tiangong Space Orbiter Image Credit: CCTV Three hours after automatically docking with the Tiangong-1 space orbiter, Jing Haipeng opened the hatch between the Shenzhou space craft and the orbiter and floated aboard. The mission commander was followed by Liu Wang and Liu Yang. The Tiangong-1 has been in orbit for 262 days following its launch on 29 September 2011. It was previously visited by the Shenzhou-8 unmanned mission, which was launched on 31 October 2011, docked on 3 November and returned on 19 November. Tiangong-1 is a test bed for a future space station scheduled for 2020. The module weighs 8.5 metric tons (19,000 pounds) with an interior of 15 cubic meters (540 cubic feet). The module is 3.35 meters in diameter, and 10.4 meters in length. The crew is scheduled to conduct medical experiments, and to perform a manual docking on 24 June.

Shenzhou-9 Carries Female Taikonaut to Orbit

Liu Yang Prior to Launch Aboard the Shenzhou 9 Space Craft Image Credit: AFP/ STR Liu Yang, China’s first female taikonaut, was launched aboard the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft on top of a Long March 2F rocket. Jing Haipeng, a veteran of two other spaceflights, will command the mission, and Liu Wang the third member of the crew is making his inaugural flight. Liftoff from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Saturday in the Gobi Desert occurred Saturday morning at 3:37 Phoenix time (10:37 UTC). The planned rendezvous with the Tiangong-1 mini-spacelab, which is already in orbit, is scheduled for 18 June. The crew will conduct one automated docking and then a manual docking. Once the docking is complete, two of the crew will work in the space station, while the third member remains on the Shenzhou-9 space craft to handle any emergency that might arise. The expectation is that the mission will last around 20 days, after which the craft will undock and return to Earth. Long March 2F Carrying the Shenzhou-9 Space Craft into Orbit Image Credit: China Daily

NASA Gains Breathing Room On Commercial Crew Program

NASA has negotiated a continuation of its successful Space Acts Agreements (SAA) procedures for contracting and funding of the next phase of its Commercial Crew Program (CCP). The SAA has also been the process for NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS), which saw the flight of the SpaceX Dragon to the International Space Station (ISS) with cargo, and its return with science experiments and no longer needed space station equipment. The deal, worked out between NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and the chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee, Representative Frank Wolf (R-Va), will allow NASA to select 2.5 partners under the CCP using SAA rather than the more restrictive and cumbersome Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Wolf’s statement on his website was followed by a letter from Bolden. The agreement allows the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCAP) phase of CCP to proceed under SAA rules, but then commits NASA to using FAR procedures for certification and procurement of services. There was also agreement to fund the program at the Senate level of $525 million, although Bolden in his letter urged the conference committee to fund the CCP at a higher level for 2013. The Administration had originally requested $836 million. Contenders in the Commercial Crew arena include: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation – SpaceX – Dragon Sierra Nevada Corporation – SNC – Dream Chaser Boeing – CST-100 Blue Origin – New Shepherd