TOM JONES

ASTRONAUT SPEAKER

The Biggest Asteroid in our Solar System Is…

June 20, 2023 By TOM JONES Leave a Comment

A student question came my way asking me which object holds the title of “largest known asteroid.” Out in the main asteroid belt, beyond Mars and inside Jupiter’s orbit, over a million asteroids represent the leftovers of solar system formation–small fragments of rock and dust and a little ice that never coalesced into a planet. Altogether, the mass of the asteroid belt is about five percent of the mass of Earth’s moon. About sixty percent of the asteroid belt mass is contained in the four largest asteroids: Ceres, Vesta, Pallas, and Hygiea.

The largest asteroid (in fact it’s known as a minor planet) is 1 Ceres, about 950 km in diameter, roughly the size of Texas. No other asteroid is larger than 600 km in diameter. NASA’s Dawn spacecraft rendezvoused with asteroid 4 Vesta in 2011-2012, then reached Ceres orbit in 2015, where it still orbits today, its mission concluded.

Asteroid 4 Vesta, seen from Dawn on July 24, 2011. (NASA)

Dawn’s mapping and exploration mission finally concluded in 2018, with the spacecraft running out of fuel. Here’s an image of Ceres captured by Dawn:

Dwarf planet Ceres, the largest asteroid in our solar system, is shown in this false-color rendering of Dawn imagery, highlighting differences in surface materials. (NASA)

Ceres shows extensive evidence of mineral alteration by liquid water, and even today it may harbor subsurface pockets of liquid water. Small icy areas are exposed at the surface, along with bright white salt deposits. Ceres’ density is so low that it may still contain large amounts of ice and water.

While the Dawn mission ended five years ago, NASA continues its asteroid exploration program with the Lucy mission on its way to Jupiter’s mysterious, dark-red Trojan asteroid groups. In late 2023 NASA hopes to launch the Psyche mission to the large asteroid 16 Psyche, whose surface may be mostly metallic iron and nickel.

Our study of these large main belt asteroids helps us to understand the composition and origin of their many fragments, nudged by collisions and Jupiter’s dominant gravity into Earth-approaching orbits, where they may someday threaten a collision with Earth. Asteroid exploration both helps us understand the story of the solar system’s birth, and the hazards and resources stemming from near-Earth asteroids, which have long influenced the path of life on our world.

Dan Durda’s painting showing a human expedition to a near-Earth asteroid. (Dan Durda, SWRI)

www.AstronautTomJones.com

Filed Under: Space

Pad Flyby of Shuttle Discovery, 1993

May 11, 2023 By TOM JONES Leave a Comment

Shuttle Discovery, STS-51, is readied on Pad 39B on Aug. 18, 1993. The Vehicle Assembly Building rises in the background. (photo by author)

On Aug. 18, 1993, I was flying a Cessna Citation II down to Kennedy Space Center for some test work on our upcoming mission, STS-59, when Rick Hieb and I arrived for landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility. We requested a pad flyby, and permission granted, swung out over the shoreline to circle the two shuttle pads of Launch Complex 39. Less than a week before, Discovery STS-51 had suffered a pad abort at T-3 seconds due to faulty fuel flow sensors in one of the space shuttle main engines. That was STS-51’s third launch scrub with the crew already strapped in, so we took several snapshots of Discovery as we banked past Pad 39B, then headed for the runway for touchdown and parking.

STS-51 Discovery rests on pad 39B. The crawlerway and ramp up to the pad show up well, as do the water suppression system tower and two propellant spheres for the shuttle’s external tank. The rotating service structure nestles against the orbiter, protecting most of its surfaces from weather and providing access to the payload bay. Photo by author, 8-18-93.
STS-51 Discovery rests atop its mobile launch platform. At ignition, solid rocket motor exhaust will vent largely from this end of the flame trench. Photo by author, 8-18-93
STS-51 Discovery on pad 39B, with empty Pad 39A at rear. The pad’s personnel blast bunker is the square-topped structure at far right, below the crawlerway. Launch complexes 41 and 40 are visible on the distant shoreline. Photo by author, 8-18-93.

Discovery did launch successfully on September 12, 1993. My astronaut classmates Dan Bursch, Carl Walz, and Jim Newman helped crew STS-51, along with Frank Culbertson and Bill Readdy. Dan came back in August 1994 to join me on STS-68, but first Dan had to suffer through another pad abort, on Aug. 18, ’94. We got off the ground, finally, on Pad 39A on September 30, 1994. But STS-68 is another story.

Read the STS-51 story in my new book, “Space Shuttle Stories,” due out from Smithsonian Books in October. It’s available now for pre-order on Amazon.

www.AstronautTomJones.com

Filed Under: History, Space

Fun Liftoff with Space Center Houston

January 31, 2022 By TOM JONES Leave a Comment

I enjoyed a fun weekend speaking to space explorers at Space Center Houston, next to the Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake, Texas. Outside, next to the NASA/Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft, SCH now displays a Falcon 9 first-stage booster rocket, recovered and reused on two cargo delivery missions to the International Space Station:

Space shuttle replica “Independence” atop the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. (author photo)
SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster (author photo)

Thanks to Space Center Houston for the invitation to speak this past weekend. I’ll be back in mid-November for another appearance.

www.AstronautTomJones.com

Filed Under: History, Recreation, Space

My “Science Headliner” Talk with Linda Hall Science Library

August 3, 2021 By TOM JONES Leave a Comment

Eric Ward (VP for Public Programs at the Linda Hall Science Library in Kansas City, MO) spoke with me about all things “astronaut”: my career path, what it’s like to fly (and walk!) in space, and the future of human spaceflight. Eric asks about my four Space Shuttle missions and the three spacewalks performed during the construction of the International Space Station. Back in 2008, the Library invited me and co-author, Dr. Ellen Stofan, to visit the library and give a talk about our book, “Planetology.” I think you’ll find this interview interesting and fun. Thanks to Eric and the Library for this opportunity. And when you’re in Kansas City, drop by the Library and see an original edition of Newton’s “Principia.” It’s almost as good as reading “Sky Walking.”

www.AstronautTomJones.com

Filed Under: History, Media, Space

“An Astronaut’s Faith” — A Conversation with Shalom World’s “Glory to God”

July 21, 2021 By TOM JONES Leave a Comment

Thanks to my friends at Shalom World for a great interview about “An Astronaut’s Faith” and the help God gave me on the way to the stars. I thought Pete Burak asked some excellent questions, and we talked about receiving Communion in orbit on STS-59. Enjoy the interview (link below), and God bless!

https://www.shalomworld.org/episode/an-astronauts-faith-dr-thomas-d-jones

sunrise with atmosphere layers from STS-59

www.AstronautTomJones.com

Filed Under: History, Space

“Off World” Friends at Spacefest XI

July 21, 2021 By TOM JONES Leave a Comment

Last weekend in Tucson I enjoyed the company of 16 Astronaut Friends — backdropped by some cool spacesuits at Spacefest XI!(back row) Ken Cameron, Clay Anderson, Anna Fisher, Walt Cunningham, Charlie Duke, Nicole Stott, Linda Godwin, Hoot Gibson, Rhea Seddon, Jack Lousma, Mario Runco; (front row) Mike Mullane, Eileen Collins, Tom Jones, Dan Bursch, Kathy Sullivan, Charlie Walker. (thanks to Nicole Stott for passing the photo along, and to Sally Poor and her company, NovaSpace, for hosting the event).

NASA astronauts at Spacefest XI, July 17, 2021

www.AstronautTomJones.com

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Filed Under: History, Space

Virgin Galactic’s Branson Reaches Space

July 12, 2021 By TOM JONES Leave a Comment

With Branson’s success yesterday (congrats to his team at #VirginGalactic, the door to paying passenger flights is open, at most a few months away. Bezos won’t be far behind. Expect a flood of “I’m in space!” viral videos in the months to come…popularizing the idea of space as a realistic adventure and entrepreneurial arena for many more. NASA will continue to draw the dreamers and innovators who want to push out and explore on the deep space frontier–Moon, nearby asteroids, and finally Mars. Here is my bit of coverage on #FNC just after Branson’s team’s personally historic flight yesterday .

https://video.foxnews.com/v/6263270743001?fbclid=IwAR1JlW1YGd1KgwrSkgM9Y1QRcGpa8v5h6G7-2Ahb5DEKFyzA_jmLTEG6dVg#sp=show-clips

I discuss Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, SpaceX, and other commercial space companies in my talk, “Beyond Earth: Humanity’s Future in Space.” See www.AstronautTomJones.com/speaking

Filed Under: History, Space, Uncategorized

On Mars Exploration & Perseverance: Feb. 26, 2021

February 27, 2021 By TOM JONES Leave a Comment

Thanks to Neil Cavuto for inviting me Friday to talk with him about Mars exploration. NASA’s Perseverance team continues to amaze. Here’s the video link:

https://video.foxbusiness.com/v/6235748879001

IDL TIFF file

Filed Under: Media, Space

STS-98 Atlantis Reentry and Landing: Feb. 20, 2001

February 20, 2021 By TOM JONES Leave a Comment

Today marks the 20th anniversary of my shuttle crew’s return to Earth, with Ken Cockrell, Bob Curbeam, Marsha Ivins, Mark Polansky, and myself. With our mission control teams and the help of the Expedition 1 crew at the International Space Station (Shepherd, Krikalev, and Gidzenko), we successfully berthed and activated the U.S. Destiny science lab at the Station. NASA furnished us with this video of our reentry and landing highlights, documenting our return from this 13-day mission. I find it very hard to believe that these amazing events took place two decades ago. Thank you to our families and all who made this successful mission possible. And a thankful prayer to God, who brought us safely home.

Video highlights of the landing: https://www.facebook.com/AstronautTomJones/videos/10220506776203593

Atlantis back on Earth:

Next day, we assembled for a crew portrait just before leaving for Houston and a reunion with our families.

www.AstronautTomJones.com

Filed Under: History, Space

Speaking at the Epson Envision Partner Conference

February 14, 2021 By TOM JONES Leave a Comment

I’m honored to be participating in this important meeting (2/17/21) with a talk on the importance of perseverance in space and in life.

Filed Under: History, Media, Space

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