Sci-Tech

High resolution and stunning photos of Sputnik Planum region of Pluto were revealed again from the departing spacecraft just 15 minutes before the spacecraft zoomed past the planet. Alan Stern, the principal investigator of New Horizons, stated that these new images showing Pluto’s geology are super high resolution and breathtaking. Nothing of the same quality was available for Mars or Venus till decades after their flybys, but Pluto already has it among the craters, ice fields, and mountains. This has happened within five months following the flyby. The science that can be done with these images remains unbelievable, he added.

These images are a part of the planet’s 50 mile wide strip that starts at its horizon that stretches across catered terrain, the al-Idrisi mountains. It the shoreline like a boundary that lies between the mountains and Sputnik Planum, the heart shaped region and on the icy plains.

These pictures were captured by LORRI (Long Range Reconnaissance Imager) of New Horizons. The instrument is at a range of 10,000 miles from the surface of Pluto. These pictures are around six times sharper than the previous photos than the previous photos that are used to create a global map of the planet and assuring stunning new views in the coming days.

One of the photos shows dune like features of the Sputnik Planum region of the planet and the intersection with the mountainous land. John Spencer, a science team member of the New Horizons, states that Sputnik Planum, the mountains bordering looks quite stunning at this resolution. The new details that were revealed, especially the crumpled ridges that surround several mountains reinforce the earlier impression that the mountains are nothing but huge blocks of ice that has tumbled and somehow moved to their current locations.

Another frame shows huge craters in extraordinary detail showing dark layers and regions that seem to have been filled by transported ice. Going by another shot, the evidence of faulting as well as erosion in the mountain region called “the Badlands” is evident.

The Director of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, John Grunsfeld, stated that the photos demonstrate the power of the robotic planetary voyagers to return the intriguing information to scientists here on Earth.

He stated that the New Horizons spacecraft thrilled them during the July flyby with images of Pluto that were very close. As the spacecraft sends the images in its memory back to them, they continue to be amazed, he added. Pluto is over 3 billion miles far, and the modest power of the radio transmitter of the New Horizon will take 16 months for the spacecraft to beam all the data that has been recorded during the flyby that took place in July last year.

It is expected that more high resolution images will be sent in a few days.

Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, is in plans to launch satellites into the space from a Boeing 747 jumbo jet. Branson unveiled the plans for an aircraft that will double as an airborne launch pad. The plane called Cosmic Girl has already flown for Virgin Atlantic airline.

The main objective of this project is to send LauncherOne rockets from the company into the Earth’s orbit. The company currently has many deals in the relatively small commercial satellite market segment to launch devices that can be used to bring the Web access to more number of people across the world. This has proposed a rocket system that can also be utilized by NASA.

When it comes to the functionality of this rocket, it could sit below the wing of the jet before it is deployed as the 747 aircraft is traveling at a speed of 500 miles per hour. Around 10 minutes later, the rocket will reach the orbit at a speed of 1,700 miles per hour.

The reliable and accomplished 747 jumbo set has created an evident record of supporting the space missions. First, via the Space Shuttle Enterprise test flight program and later as NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, stated Branson. The LauncherOne team of Virgin Galactic stated the multitude of advantages to this program due to the usage of Cosmic Girl.

The Christmas lights are sure to brighten the home across the country, but there is a report stating that these glowing lights might damper your plans of live streaming or watching holiday specials online. Well, a report by Ofcom, a Britain based communications regulator states that 20 percent of the poor Wi-Fi performance is due to the electronic gadgets as well as lights in the home. This brings concern on the Christmas lights as they might probably take a toll on the Wi-Fi speed.

Ofcom warns that halogen lamps, stereo or computer speakers, electrical dimmer switches, thin strings of decorative bulbs called fairy lights, monitors, AC power cords and TV have all been known to result in interference to the broadband routers. The report suggests that the routers should be kept far from the other electrical devices, and this also includes the baby monitors.

The experts claim that the electronics can generate a very strong electromagnetic field that can compete with the broadband frequency.

On the other hand, Kate Biberdorf, a chemistry professor at the University of Texas states that the impact from the Christmas lights is not too severe, and most homeowners might not be able to differentiate clearly.

She states that it is silly as you will not even notice the difference. People who are playing highly intense video games or those who download a movie or music might experience a tiny amount, but it will not be a great issue.

She also stated that if there is a slowdown, there is also an easy fix. All one has to do is to make sure the Wi-Fi router and Christmas lights are not connected to the same outlet. More than Christmas lights, microwave will worsen the Wi-Fi. She added that Christmas lights have a very small magnetic field, so the interference will also be very minor.