Data centres are expected to consume over 3% of Europe’s electricity demand by 2030
The surge in artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly increased the demand for data centres, essential for the ‘exploding’ tech sector. This necessity has led Europe to consider spatial alternatives for digital storage, aiming to diminish reliance on energy-intensive ground facilities.
The Advanced Space Cloud for European Net zero emission and Data sovereignty (ASCEND), a 16-month study investigating the viability of deploying data centres in orbit, has reportedly reached a ‘very encouraging‘ conclusion, according to the report.
The ASCEND study, coordinated by Thales Alenia Space for the European Commission and valued at 2 million euros ($2.1 million), asserts the technical, economic, and environmental viability of space-based data centres.
“The idea [is] to take off part of the energy demand for data centres and to send them in space in order to benefit from infinite energy, which is solar energy,” according to a spokesperson for ASCEND.
Data centres are crucial for advancing digitalization; however, they demand substantial electricity and water to operate and cool their servers. The total global electricity consumption from data centres could reach more than 1,000 terrawatt-hours in 2026 – that’s roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of Japan, as reported by the International Energy Agency.
The ASCEND study is not alone in exploring the potential of orbital data centres. Microsoft, which has already trialed the use of a subsea data centre – positioned 117 feet deep on the seafloor, is collaborating with companies such as Loft Orbital to explore the challenges in executing AI and computing in space.
Voyager 1, launched in September 1977, holds the distinction of being the furthest human-made object from Earth.
It embarked on an incredible journey, venturing beyond the boundaries of our solar system and into interstellar space.
Here’s the latest update on this iconic spacecraft
Communication
On 14th November 2023, Voyager 1 experienced an unexpected glitch, rendering its binary communication code with NASA’s flight team incomprehensible.
However, after several months of indecipherable signals, Voyager 1 has resumed clear communication with Earth. On 20th April2024, the spacecraft reported back to its NASA team, detailing its health status for the first time in five months.
Although it is not yet transmitting scientific data, Voyager 1 is providing valuable information regarding the health and functionality of its onboard engineering systems.
Historic
Thirty-five years post-launch, Voyager 1 marked a milestone as the first human-made object to exit the solar system and enter interstellar space.
Six years thereafter, in 2018, Voyager 2 emulated its predecessor, venturing beyond the sun’s dominion. Together, these spacecraft stand as humanity’s lone envoys in the cosmic expanse, bearing our scientific endeavours and inquisitive spirit.
Technical repair
In March, the team operating NASA’s Voyager 1 sent a command to the spacecraft, which triggered its flight data subsystem (FDS) to transmit a complete memory readout to Earth.
The analysis of the memory dump reportedly indicated that the malfunction was due to a piece of corrupted code on a single chip, accounting for approximately 3% of the FDS’s memory.
While it’s not possible to physically repair or replace the chip, the team is adeptly shifting the problematic code within the FDS’s memory. This process apparently involves dividing the code into segments and reallocating them to different storage areas, with the goal of maintaining the smooth operation of Voyager 1’s systems.
Clever
Ultimately, Voyager 1’s recent successful communication serves as a remarkable example of human creativity and determination in space exploration. Even from its extraordinary distance from Earth, the venerable spacecraft continues to provide important updates on its status and insights into the unknowns of interstellar space.
15 billion miles and counting
Voyager 1 is approximately 15 billion miles from home. It takes about 1 day for information to travel from Voyager to Earth. Voyager 1 is travelling at an estimated speed of:38026
It’s true, space has a smell. Space is a vacuum, so no one can smell it directly. But astronauts can smell the things that have been in space, such as their suits or tools.
They report that space smells like hot metal, diesel fumes, barbecue, or burning hydrocarbons. These smells are believed to be caused by the by-products of dying stars, such as hydrocarbons.
‘What on EARTH is that smell – was it you?’ ‘No, it’s just the smell of space.’
Did you know that there are more moves in a game of chess than there are atoms in the Universe?
Well, it’s true.
The universe is so vast it is just mind bogglingly impossible to imagine how many atoms make it up. The estimated number of atoms in the universe is calculated at 10 to the power of 80 (1080).
But, the number of moves in a chess game is far greater coming in at a massive 10 to the power of 120 (10120).
This is known as the ‘Shannon number’.
So, there are more moves in a game of chess than there are atoms in the universe, as we know it Jim!
Alien dust samples from the ‘most dangerous known rock in the Solar System’ have been brought to Earth.
NASA safely landed the probe with the capsule containing the precious space dust in the West Desert of Utah state.
The samples had been collected up from the surface of asteroid Bennu in 2020 by the Osiris-Rex spacecraft.
NASA wants to learn more about the asteroid Bennu, not least because it has an outside chance of colliding with Earth in the next 300 years, but more importantly, the samples are likely to provide fresh insights into the formation of the Solar System 4.6 billion years ago and possibly even how life began here on Earth.
Touchdown was confirmed at 08:52 local time (14:52 GMT), three minutes ahead of schedule.
The container holding the precious cargo screaming into the atmosphere over the U.S. at more than 27000 mph. A heatshield and parachutes slowed its descent and dropped it gently to the ground.
Eager scientists applauded the remarkable achievement and now anticipate their chance to investigate the precious cargo further. Just 300 grams of asteroid dust were returned.
That might not sound like very much, but the scientists have access to exceptional technology that will enable them to analyse ultra small particles at a very high resolution.
Osiris-Rex is a NASA mission that aims to collect and return a sample from asteroid Bennu, which is believed to be a remnant of the early solar system. The mission hopes to learn more about the origins of life on Earth and the potential for asteroid mining in the future.
Osiris-Rex stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer. The spacecraft launched in 2016 and arrived at Bennu in 2018. It spent two years mapping and studying the asteroid before successfully collecting a sample of about 300 grams (10.6 ounces) of dust and rocks in October 2020.
Asteroid Bennu
Capsule
The sample capsule is now on its way back to Earth and is expected to land in Utah on September 24, 2023. Scientists are eager to analyze the material and look for clues about how the solar system formed and how organic molecules that are essential for life were delivered to Earth.
Osiris-Rex is also planning an extended mission to visit another near-Earth asteroid called Apophis in 2029. Apophis is considered a potentially hazardous asteroid because it has a small chance of hitting Earth in the future. Osiris-Rex will observe and measure Apophis to improve our understanding of its orbit and characteristics.
Nasa’s Osiris-Rex capsule will come screaming into Earth’s atmosphere on Sunday 24th September 2023 at more than 15 times the speed of a bullet.
It will make a fireball in the sky but a heat shield will protect the craft. Parachutes will then deploy to slow the descent and bring it to a gentle touchdown in Utah’s West Desert.
Bringing with it a special space cargo that may help the human race discover the origin of life.
Days after India’s successful moon mission, the country is now setting its sights on the sun.
According to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Aditya-L1 spacecraft will be launched from the Sriharikota Spaceport on 2nd September 2023 in a bid to study the sun and its effect on space weather.
Aditya (sun in Hindi)
Aditya, which refers to the sun in Hindi, is to be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 of the Sun-Earth system, where the sun can be observed without any obstructions, an ISRO report stated.
Lagrange points are positions in space where gravitational forces of two large masses produce ‘enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion’, according to NASA. The resulting force can be used to remain in position and reduce fuel consumption – and can be likened to ‘parking places’ for spacecraft.
To become India’s first space based observatory
The launch will mark India’s first space-based observatory to study the sun, and would offer a ‘major advantage of continuously viewing the sun without any occultation or eclipses’, the ISRO report stated.
India’s mission to the sun
The mission would also allow for the study of solar wind, which could potentially cause disturbances on Earth, such as disrupting communications, navigation systems and weather patterns.
India’s government had granted a $46 million budget for the mission back in 2019.
While a first attempt for India, other countries have successfully placed orbiters to study the sun. NASA’s Parker Solar Probe in 2021 which was sent to the sun’s corona to sample particles and magnetic fields, as well as the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter which was launched the year before.
The Voyager 2 spacecraft is a remarkable feat of human exploration and discovery. It was launched in 1977, along with its twin Voyager 1, to explore the outer planets of our solar system. It is the only spacecraft to have visited Uranus and Neptune, and it is now the second most distant human-made object in space, after Voyager 1.
Deep space
However, communicating with such a faraway spacecraft is not easy. It requires a powerful radio antenna that can send and receive signals across billions of miles. NASA uses its Deep Space Network (DSN), a network of giant radio dishes around the world, to keep in touch with Voyager 2 and other deep space missions.
Unfortunately, sometimes things can go wrong. On July 21, 2023, NASA accidentally sent a wrong command to Voyager 2 that caused it to tilt its antenna away from Earth. This meant that the spacecraft could not receive any more commands or send back any data. NASA lost contact with Voyager 2 for nearly two weeks.
Keep talking
But NASA did not give up. The engineers tried to send a corrective command to Voyager 2 using the DSN, hoping that the spacecraft would somehow pick it up and respond.
Imaginary watercolour image of Deep Space
On August 1, 2023, NASA finally received a signal from Voyager 2. It was a faint ‘heartbeat‘ that confirmed that the spacecraft was still alive and broadcasting. NASA was overjoyed and relieved to hear from its old friend.
On August 4, 2023, NASA announced that it had successfully restored full contact with Voyager 2. The engineers had managed to send an ‘interstellar shout’ to the spacecraft, a powerful command that instructed it to point its antenna back to Earth. It took 37 hours for the command to reach Voyager 2 and another 37 hours for the confirmation to come back. It worked! Voyager 2 was back online and ready to resume its mission.
Amazing
Voyager 2 is an amazing example of human ingenuity and perseverance. It has been exploring space for nearly half a century, and it is still going strong. It has taught us so much about our solar system and beyond, and it continues to send us valuable data from the interstellar space. We are lucky to have such a faithful companion in our cosmic journey
Voyager 1 is an amazing spacecraft that has been exploring the outer solar system and beyond for over 45 years. It is currently the most distant human-made object from Earth, and it is still sending us valuable data from interstellar space.
According to the latest information from NASA, as of April 7, 2023, Voyager 1 is about 14,803,648,909 miles(23,837,577,852 kilometers) away from Earth. That is equivalent to 160.154936 astronomical units (AU), which is the average distance between the Earth and the Sun.
To put that in perspective, it would take light about 22 hours and 4 minutes to travel from Voyager 1 to Earth. That means that we are receiving signals from Voyager 1 that were sent almost a day ago! It takes approximately 8 minutes for light to travel from the Sun to planet Earth
Voyager 1 is also moving away from Earth at a speed of about 38,026.77 miles per hour (or 61,198.15 kilometers per hour) relative to the Sun. That means that it is getting farther and farther away from us every second. At this rate, it will take Voyager 1 about 40,000 years to reach the nearest star system to our Sun, which is Alpha Centauri.
A vision of futuristc space travel
Voyager 1 is a testament to human curiosity and ingenuity. It has taught us so much about our solar system and beyond, and it continues to inspire us to explore the unknown.
Nice one Voyager 1
Explore
NASA’s StarChild: This is a website that offers information and activities for children about stars and other astronomical topics.
Stellarium: This is a free software that simulates the sky in 3D and allows you to explore the stars and constellations from any location and time.
StarDate: This is a website that provides daily updates on the sky events, such as star sightings, eclipses, meteor showers, and planetary alignments.
Arthur C. Clarke, in full Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, (born 1917, Minehead, Somerset, England – died 2008 ). English writer, notable for both his science fiction and his nonfiction. His best known works are the script he wrote with American film director Stanley Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and the novel of that film.
It’s taken nearly 20 years, but Sir Richard Branson has finally begun commercial space flights with his Virgin Galactic rocket ship, Unity
On 29th. June 2023, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic successfully launched its first commercial flight to the edge of space. The flight was carried out by the company’s SpaceShip Two space plane Unity with a special passenger on board: the company’s billionaire founder Richard Branson. Branson was accompanied by three crewmates and two pilots on the historic flight.
Virgin Galactic 1
The flight took off from New Mexico in the US after being carried into launch position by Virgin Galactic’s carrier plane, Eve. The rocket ship reached an altitude of 53.5 miles above Earth’s surface before gliding back down to land at Spaceport America .
The vehicle flew high over the New Mexico desert on Thursday to enable three Italian astronauts to conduct science experiments in weightless conditions. Sir Richard will now begin sending up the 800 or so space flight customers who’ve bought tickets to ride on Unity.
72 minute mission
The 72-minute mission took off from Spaceport America at 08:30 local time (14:30 GMT) and was livestreamed around the world.
Just under an hour into the mission, after reaching an altitude of 13,600m (44,500ft), the carrier plane, Eve, then released Unity to ignite its engine and boost up to the edge of space. At the top of its climb, the rocket ship was at an altitude of 279,00ft (85km), touching the edge of space.
Success
This successful launch marks a major milestone for Virgin Galactic and the space tourism industry as a whole. With this achievement, Virgin Galactic has joined a small club of companies that can ferry paying customers to space, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin.
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic has made history with its successful rocket ship launch on June 29th, 2023. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the space tourism industry and opens up new possibilities for commercial space travel in the future.
