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Orbiting 250 miles above Earth
the International Space Station is helping researchers peer into
space in ways they can’t from the ground. From this unique
vantage point, the station’s suite of specialized instruments
scans into the galaxy, revealing fundamental insights about
black holes, dark matter, and the very composition
of our universe. One key instrument
has been NICER, an X-ray telescope that has studied
neutron stars, remnants of massive stars that exploded
as supernova. These stars are so incredibly dense
that scientists can’t recreate their conditions in Earth-based labs
so NICER has provided crucial data we can’t get otherwise.
NICER has captured sudden X-ray bursts
and mapped “hot spots” on pulsars. Hot spots produce
flashes of light from spinning neutron stars. These flashes can
be used as a distant navigational system for deep space missions.
NICER’s observations have not only produced
crucial astrophysics data, but its X-ray technology
could also advance medical care on Earth. A small
efficient X-ray source developed to test NICER could make CT scanners
more accessible to more people. NICER’s discoveries have
been enhanced through its automated network connection with
JAXA’s MAXI telescope which scans 95% of the X-ray sky
during the station’s orbit. This rapid response system proved
invaluable in 2018 when MAXI detected a previously
unknown black hole and alerted NICER in minutes.
NICER’s immediate observations provided new insights
into how these phenomena transform nearby material.
The space station also hosts the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer
or AMS-02, searching for antimatter
- matter’s mysterious opposite. And the invisible dark matter,
which we can only detect through its gravitational effects
on galaxies. The study of Dark Matter,
and the other various substances that make up the universe
could explain how galaxies formed and stay together.
JAXA’s CALET complements this
research by tracking cosmic rays – powerful particles from space
that can damage satellites and pose risks to astronauts.
By studying these particles, scientists can better
protect our space technology and future space explorers,
while also searching for signs of dark matter. The data helps us
understand both the fundamental nature of our universe and how
to safely explore it. Together, these
unique instruments aboard the International Space Station are expanding
our view of the universe while pioneering advances that bring
practical benefits to humanity.
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