25 Years Ago: The First Pieces of the International Space Station

Images

Wednesday, 06 December 2023

The mated Russian-built Zarya (left) and U.S.-built Unity modules are backdropped against the blackness of space and Earth's horizon shortly after leaving Endeavour's cargo bay. The photo was taken with an electronic still camera at 21:20:21 GMT, Dec. 13.

Image Credit: NASA

Planetary Positions

22.12.2024 at 13:03:25 UTC

Planet	Longitude
The Sun	01 Cap 10' 33"
The Moon	26 Vir 59' 51"
Mercury	09 Sag 28' 06"
Venus	17 Aqu 21' 56"
Mars	04 Leo 30' 30" R
Jupiter	14 Gem 18' 54" R
Saturn	13 Pis 52' 19"
Uranus	23 Tau 53' 49" R
Neptune	27 Pis 11' 33"
Pluto	00 Aqu 46' 59"

Solar Status

BZ Status:	-3
Proton Density:	1.63
Proton Speed:	698.5 k/sec
KP Status:	3.00

Type	Dec 22	Dec 23	Dec 24
Active	20%	20%	30%
Minor	5%	5%	15%
Moderate	1%	1%	5%
Strong	1%	1%	1%
Kp Index Prediction
00-03UT	3.00	2.33	2.67
03-06UT	2.00	2.67	2.00
06-09UT	3.00	2.00	2.33
09-12UT	2.00	2.00	2.33
12-15UT	2.00	1.00	2.33
15-18UT	1.00	2.00	2.33
18-21UT	1.00	2.00	2.33
21-00UT	2.00	2.67	2.67
Solar Activity
Solar activity reached moderate levels. Region 3932 (S17E49, Ekc/beta-gamma) produced an impulsive M1.0 flare at 22/0410 UTC; the largest event of the period. Regions 3928 (S13E27, Dki/beta-gamma), 3930 (S22W54, Cai/beta), 3932, and 3934 (N13E54, Dao/beta) underwent minor growth while the remaining regions were either stable or in decay. No Earth-directed CMEs were detected in available data.
Solar Wind
Solar wind parameters were mildly enhanced this period. Total field decreased from a peak of 9 nT to around 6 nT and Bz varied between +/-8 nT. Solar wind speeds ranged between 475-625 km/s.
Energetic Particle
The greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained elevated above background with a peak flux of 5 pfu observed at 21/1235 UTC. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux was at normal and moderate levels.

25 Years Ago: The First Pieces of the International Space Station

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