NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was established in 1958 in response to the Soviet Union’s space achievements. Since its inception, NASA has led America’s space exploration efforts, including iconic missions like Project Mercury, Project Gemini, and the Apollo Moon landings. NASA’s budget has fluctuated over the years, peaking during the Apollo era when it consumed about 4% of federal spending. In recent years, NASA’s budget has hovered around 0.5% of federal spending, $24.875 billion was allocated for fiscal year 2024.
Despite budget constraints, NASA continues to pursue groundbreaking projects. Five of NASA’s most remarkable endeavors include: the Mars Perseverance Rover, exploring the Red Planet’s geology; the James Webb Space Telescope, providing unprecedented views of the cosmos; the Artemis program, aiming to return humans to the Moon; the International Space Station, fostering international scientific collaboration in space; and the Parker Solar Probe, studying the Sun’s corona up close. These projects exemplify NASA’s ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and space exploration.
I am familiar with the first four projects, but knew nothing about the Parker Solar Probe, so I set out to see what I could learn. My first question was who is Parker? Eugene Newman Parker was a pioneering astrophysicist who made significant contributions to solar physics. In 1958, Parker published a groundbreaking paper in the Astrophysical Journal which predicted the existence of the solar wind, a constant outflow of material from the Sun, which is actually a star, affecting planets and space throughout our solar system. This theory, initially met with skepticism, was later proven correct and revolutionized our understanding of the Sun and its influence on the solar system.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is a groundbreaking mission which has revolutionized our understanding of the Sun and its environment. Launched in August 2018, this intrepid spacecraft has embarked on an unprecedented journey to study our star closer than any human-made object before it. It was the first time a spacecraft was named after a living person. Parker watched the launch at age 91.
The goal of the Parker Solar Probe is to answer long-standing questions which have puzzled scientists for over 60 years, such as why the corona is much hotter than the Sun’s surface and how the solar wind accelerates. The specific objectives are threefold:
I called the Probe amazing because of the record-breaking achievements. On December 24, 2024, the probe flew just 3.8 million miles from the Sun’s surface, marking the closest any spacecraft has ever come to the Sun. While 3.8 million miles may not seem like a particularly close encounter, the Earth is 93 million miles from the Sun. During its closest approaches, the probe reaches speeds of up to 430,000 miles per hour, making it the fastest human-made object ever. The spacecraft’s heat shield faces temperatures of up to 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit during its closest passes.
To withstand the Sun’s harsh environment, the Parker Solar Probe relies on cutting-edge thermal engineering. A 4.5-inch thick carbon-composite heat shield protects the spacecraft and its instruments from the intense heat and radiation. Despite the extreme external temperatures, the probe’s internal instruments remain at a comfortable room temperature of about 85°F.
The Parker mission has already yielded significant scientific breakthroughs. In December 2021, Parker became the first spacecraft to fly through the Sun’s upper atmosphere, the corona, sampling particles and magnetic fields directly. The probe has provided unprecedented data on the origins and behavior of the solar wind, helping scientists understand its acceleration mechanisms. Parker has revealed complex magnetic field structures in the Sun’s atmosphere, contributing to our understanding of solar dynamics.
There are more amazing feats. As of December 2024, the Parker Solar Probe has completed numerous orbits around the Sun, each bringing it closer to our star. The spacecraft uses Venus flybys to adjust its orbit, gradually reducing its perihelion (closest point to the Sun). With its optimal orbit achieved, Parker will continue to make close passes every three months for the remainder of its primary mission.
The Parker Solar Probe’s mission has far-reaching implications. Improved understanding of solar processes will enhance our ability to predict and mitigate the effects of space weather on Earth, protecting satellites, power grids, and communication systems. The data collected will help refine models of solar activity, potentially leading to breakthroughs in plasma physics and stellar evolution theories. Innovations developed for the mission, such as high-temperature materials and advanced cooling systems, may find applications in various industries on Earth.
The Parker Solar Probe represents a pinnacle of human ingenuity and scientific ambition. By venturing into the Sun’s atmosphere and withstanding extreme conditions, this mission is unlocking the secrets of our star and reshaping our understanding of the solar system. As it continues its journey, the Parker Solar Probe promises to deliver even more groundbreaking discoveries, paving the way for future solar exploration and advancing our knowledge of the universe.
Axios reported the spacecraft “has transmitted a beacon tone back to Earth indicating it’s in good health and operating normally”. The probe sent data back to the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory on Jan. 1. While this initial transmission provided important status updates, the full scientific data collected during the flyby is expected to be transmitted later in January 2025, when the probe’s most powerful antenna will be better aligned with Earth for higher data transmission rates.
Read more about Space at johnpatrick.com.
In this section, I share what I am up to, pictures of the week, what is new in AI and crypto, and more.
I apologize for the error which appeared in my prior weekly blog post. The problem originated at Mailwhimp, which is what I use to make the weekly distribution to readers. Click on the image below to watch the astronauts offer a New Years greeting (a few years ago). It is short and very well done by the astronauts.
I have joined the board of the Digital Democracy Project. The Executive Director, Ramon Perez, does a great job of explaining what the Project is all about. Click below to hear.
Another great Forecast webinar featured Collective[i] co-Founder Stephen Messer. Very smart gentleman shared his predictions and insights on the future of AI. His was the most positive outlook on AI I have heard. The Q&A lasted 90 minutes. There were more than 175 Zoom attendees.
This weekend I will complete week #5 of the MIT AI in Healtcare course.
Joanne and I had a very nice post-Christmas dinner at our favorite restaurant, Della Francesca in Danbury, CT. An admirer of the work of 17th Century Venetian artist Piero Della Francesca, restaurateur Johnney Rugovac of Woodbury, CT named his new restaurant Della Francesca. He added several pieces of the artist’s work to his dramatically appointed dining room enhanced with lovely glass-etched panels. At Christmas time, Johnny and his team go all out with decorations. The restaurant offers a Northern Italian Menu. After immigrating to the United States from Yugoslavia in 1978 when he was 14, Mr. Rugovac worked in high-end restaurants in Manhattan.
I invested in Voatz in 2021 and was a pro bono adviser from time to time in the early days before that. Voatz reflects what I wrote about in Election Attitude – How Internet Voting Leads to a Stronger Democracy.
Voatz has announced the successful completion of historic elections in Mexico. Not only was this arguably the most advanced online election ever conducted anywhere, it also created a unique piece of history with Mexico electing its first woman president. It was also Voatz’s first million-dollar election contract. Voatz now holds the unique distinction of pioneering blockchain-backed digital voting for public elections in all three major countries of North America.
Voatz also announced a new win in the State of Wisconsin with an expected revenue of $250k over 5 years. Nearly 60k new voters will become eligible to use the Voatz system for the first time starting this November.
The US Commercial Service (a part of the Dept. of Commerce) has selected Voatz for the official USA Pavilion at the 2024 Africa Tech Festival. This partnership may help provide a boost to its international expansion efforts and add credibility for larger procurement opportunities.
Several significant developments in AI have emerged this week brought to you by Perplexity AI chatbot:
OpenAI’s New Models: OpenAI announced new reasoning models, o3 and o3-mini, which outperform previous models in problem-solving and step-by-step reasoning tasks. These models are designed to work through answers methodically, improving accuracy in areas like math, physics, and logic.
Google’s Quantum Computing Breakthrough: Google unveiled its Willow quantum computing chip, demonstrating the ability to solve complex computations exponentially faster than traditional supercomputers. This advancement could potentially revolutionize AI development, particularly in data processing and model training.
Amazon’s Nova Foundation Models: Amazon Web Services introduced Amazon Nova, a new generation of multimodal foundation models. These include text models (Micro, Lite, Pro, and Premier) and creative models for image and video generation (Canvas and Reel).
AI in Healthcare: A new AI model developed by Columbia University computational biologists can accurately predict gene activity within human cells, potentially transforming our understanding of diseases like cancer. Additionally, AI is improving breast cancer detection rates in screenings.
AI for Weather Prediction: Google DeepMind researchers published a paper in Nature about GenCast, a new machine-learning weather prediction model that can outperform traditional forecasting systems in certain situations.
AI in Construction: Experts predict that 2025 will see AI redefining construction operations, offering smarter planning, resource allocation, and on-site execution. AI-powered tools are expected to simplify difficult workflows and reduce time spent on repetitive tasks.
Regulatory Developments: The European Data Protection Board issued an opinion addressing critical data protection aspects in AI model development and deployment. Meanwhile, a technology industry group urged the U.S. administration to reconsider rules that would limit global access to AI chips.
These developments showcase the rapid advancement and integration of AI across various sectors, from quantum computing and healthcare to construction and weather forecasting, while also highlighting ongoing regulatory discussions.
Several significant developments have occurred in the crypto market this week brought to you by Perplexity AI chatbot:
Bitcoin Price Volatility: After reaching an all-time high above $108,000 in late December, Bitcoin has experienced a sharp correction. It’s currently trading below $94,000, representing a decline of over 7% this week. This pullback is attributed to strong U.S. economic data, which may impact Federal Reserve interest rate decisions.
Macro Influences: The crypto market is showing increased sensitivity to macroeconomic factors. Positive U.S. economic indicators, including job openings and manufacturing data, have reinforced the Federal Reserve’s stance on potentially slowing the pace of interest rate cuts. This has led to a broader sell-off in risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.
Institutional Interest: Despite the recent price volatility, institutional interest in crypto remains strong. Fidelity predicts that more governments and central banks will begin buying Bitcoin in 2025. Countries like the United States, Brazil, and Russia are reportedly considering creating Bitcoin reserves.
New Presales and Projects: Several new crypto presales are gaining attention, including Wall Street Pepe ($WEPE), Solaxy ($SOLX), and iDegen. These projects are attracting significant investment, with Wall Street Pepe’s presale already surpassing $44.5 million.
Ethereum Developments: Ethereum has seen increased accumulation from large whales, despite a recent price decline. The second-largest cryptocurrency is facing potential further downside, with analysts eyeing the $3,110 level.
Regulatory Expectations: With Donald Trump’s anticipated return to the presidency, there’s growing optimism about potential pro-crypto policies in the U.S. This sentiment is influencing market expectations for 2025.
AI and Crypto Convergence: AI-driven tokens are gaining popularity, with projects like iDegen showcasing the growing synergy between artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.
These developments highlight the dynamic nature of the crypto market as it enters 2025, with a mix of price volatility, institutional adoption, and emerging trends shaping the landscape.
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