NASA Launches Instrument that Could Predict Volcanic Eruptions
2022-02-28
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1The American space agency NASA has launched a new instrument designed to collect data on volcanic activity and air quality.
2NASA said in a statement it hopes the small orbiting instrument could help predict a volcanic eruption before an explosion happens.
3The device recently launched aboard a Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft.
4Cygnus arrived at the International Space Station on February 21, carrying a large load of supplies and scientific experiments.
5NASA calls the instrument NACHOS, which stands for Nanosat Atmospheric Chemistry Hyperspectral Observation System.
6It contains imaging sensors designed to identify gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
7The presence of those gases can signal possible volcanic activity.
8NACHOS was built to observe trace gases in areas as small as 0.4 square kilometers.
9The six-kilogram instrument is set to be deployed in May.
10It will operate attached to a CubeSat, a small satellite weighing less than 10 kilograms.
11NASA says NACHOS will observe from about 480 kilometers above Earth's surface.
12NASA considers the instrument a "prototype," meaning its operations and observations will be studied during its orbit, which is expected to last one year.
13The agency says NACHOS will be "the smallest, highest resolution space-based instrument" ever sent to observe atmospheric gases.
14Steve Love is a scientist with the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory, which is cooperating with NASA on NACHOS.
15He said in a statement that "a dormant volcano just waking" may give off sulfur dioxide before there is any observable volcanic activity.
16"That gives us a chance to identify a potentially erupting volcano before it actually blows," Love said.
17Such a device could help emergency officials take early measures to protect citizens and property from volcanic eruptions.
18But NASA says NACHOS can help scientists on Earth in other ways, too.
19The instrument can also be used to observe gas levels from natural and human-made sources that can be harmful to humans.
20One gas that NACHOS will search for is nitrogen dioxide, which often comes from burning fossil fuels.
21Identifying the gas could help scientists find areas with high levels of harmful pollution.
22"When we recognize that these gases are present and can localize their sources ... we have the opportunity to take action and minimize negative health outcomes," Love said.
23In the past, NASA has created satellites to observe these kinds of gases.
24But Love said those traditionally required high-resolution images and sensitive instruments that were costly to produce and operate.
25Smaller devices, like NACHOS, could enable a wider use of the technology at a much lower cost.
26If it proves successful, the technology could also be used in Earth-based systems, NASA says.
27"More power and less weight set NACHOS apart and make it an excellent candidate for future atmospheric trace gas missions," Love said.
28NASA says after NACHOS is deployed, Love and his team will spend three months testing its systems and getting the instrument fully operational.
29During its yearlong mission, the team will study the instrument's performance to learn whether the technology should be further developed.
30A second NACHOS instrument, NASA, said, will be deployed to low-Earth orbit in the winter of 2022 as part of a U.S. Department of Defense program.
31I'm Bryan Lynn.
1The American space agency NASA has launched a new instrument designed to collect data on volcanic activity and air quality. 2NASA said in a statement it hopes the small orbiting instrument could help predict a volcanic eruption before an explosion happens. 3The device recently launched aboard a Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft. Cygnus arrived at the International Space Station on February 21, carrying a large load of supplies and scientific experiments. 4NASA calls the instrument NACHOS, which stands for Nanosat Atmospheric Chemistry Hyperspectral Observation System. It contains imaging sensors designed to identify gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. The presence of those gases can signal possible volcanic activity. 5NACHOS was built to observe trace gases in areas as small as 0.4 square kilometers. The six-kilogram instrument is set to be deployed in May. It will operate attached to a CubeSat, a small satellite weighing less than 10 kilograms. NASA says NACHOS will observe from about 480 kilometers above Earth's surface. 6NASA considers the instrument a "prototype," meaning its operations and observations will be studied during its orbit, which is expected to last one year. The agency says NACHOS will be "the smallest, highest resolution space-based instrument" ever sent to observe atmospheric gases. 7Steve Love is a scientist with the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory, which is cooperating with NASA on NACHOS. He said in a statement that "a dormant volcano just waking" may give off sulfur dioxide before there is any observable volcanic activity. 8"That gives us a chance to identify a potentially erupting volcano before it actually blows," Love said. 9Such a device could help emergency officials take early measures to protect citizens and property from volcanic eruptions. But NASA says NACHOS can help scientists on Earth in other ways, too. 10The instrument can also be used to observe gas levels from natural and human-made sources that can be harmful to humans. One gas that NACHOS will search for is nitrogen dioxide, which often comes from burning fossil fuels. Identifying the gas could help scientists find areas with high levels of harmful pollution. 11"When we recognize that these gases are present and can localize their sources ... we have the opportunity to take action and minimize negative health outcomes," Love said. 12In the past, NASA has created satellites to observe these kinds of gases. But Love said those traditionally required high-resolution images and sensitive instruments that were costly to produce and operate. 13Smaller devices, like NACHOS, could enable a wider use of the technology at a much lower cost. If it proves successful, the technology could also be used in Earth-based systems, NASA says. 14"More power and less weight set NACHOS apart and make it an excellent candidate for future atmospheric trace gas missions," Love said. 15NASA says after NACHOS is deployed, Love and his team will spend three months testing its systems and getting the instrument fully operational. 16During its yearlong mission, the team will study the instrument's performance to learn whether the technology should be further developed. 17A second NACHOS instrument, NASA, said, will be deployed to low-Earth orbit in the winter of 2022 as part of a U.S. Department of Defense program. 18I'm Bryan Lynn. 19Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from NASA. 20We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 21_____________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23eruption - n. the bursting out of material from a volcano 24trace - n. a small amount of something 25prototype - n. an original or first model of something from which others are copied or developed 26dormant - adj. not presently active or developing, but possibly active in the future 27fossil fuel - n. fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas formed in the earth from dead plants or animals 28opportunity - n. a situation in which it is possible for a person to do something 29minimize - v. to reduce to a very low level 30negative - adj. bad or damaging 31mission - n. an important project or trip, especially involving space travel