Trump's 2024 Presidential Victory Overview

Donald Trump's 2024 Presidential Victory

• Trump was re-elected US President on November 5, 2024, securing 292 electoral votes (22 more than needed).
• Trump is projected to win the national popular vote with nearly 72 million votes, exceeding Vice President Kamala Harris's approximately 67 million votes.
• This would make Trump the first Republican candidate to win both popular and electoral vote since President George W. Bush in 2004.
• At 78, Trump is the oldest person elected US president.
• Trump is the second person to win the presidency in non-consecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland.
• Trump's running mate, JD Vance, is projected to become the first millennial vice president (born between 1981 and 1996), and one of the youngest US vice presidents.
• The Republican Party secured a majority in the Senate.
• Republicans won 201 of the 218 House seats needed for a majority, though the race was still undecided as of November 6, 2024.
• In his victory speech, Trump vowed to fight for a strong, safe, and prosperous America.

NASA's Europa Clipper Mission

• Europa Clipper spacecraft launched to Jupiter on October 14, 2024, from the Kennedy Space Center.
• One hour and ten minutes after launch, NASA confirmed the spacecraft's successful orbital entry into the orbit.
• The spacecraft deployed its solar arrays, powering its journey to Jupiter.
• Europa is considered a top candidate for alien life due to potential liquid water, energy, and essential chemical elements beneath its icy crust.
• Scientists believe Europa's subsurface ocean may be twice the volume of Earth's oceans.
• Europa's interior heating comes from Jupiter's gravitational pull.
• Europa's surface may contain essential elements for life, including carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.
• Europa Clipper will travel 1.8 billion miles (2.8 billion km) over 5.5 years to reach Jupiter, using gravity-assist maneuvers.
• First boost will involve a flyby of Mars in February 2025.
• A flyby of Earth in December 2025 provides final speed adjustment.
• Europa Clipper will enter Jupiter's orbit in April 2030.
• 49 flybys of Europa are planned over three years, mapping different areas, and getting as close as 16 miles (25 km) to the surface.
• The spacecraft's nine instruments will measure Europa's icy shell thickness and ocean composition.
• The mission's objective is to determine if areas beneath the icy surface of Europa could support life, not a direct search for life.
• Europa Clipper will intentionally crash into Ganymede's surface after completing its mission.

November 2024 Supermoon

• The November 15, 2024, supermoon is the last for 2024.
• It follows the August's Blue Moon, September's Harvest Moon, and October's Hunter Moon.
• The next supermoon is not until October 7, 2025.
• Supermoons can be up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than average full moons.
• This occurs when the full moon aligns with the lunar perigee (closest point to Earth).
• The November 15, 2024, supermoon will be approximately 224,853 miles from Earth. (slightly farther than the 2016 November supermoon)
• The lunar distance varies due to the Moon's elliptical orbit, ranging from perigee (226,000 miles on average) to apogee (253,000 miles).
• The November full moon is often called the Beaver Moon, marking the time beavers build lodges for winter.
• Also known as the Frost Moon, Freezing Moon, or Digging Moon.
• Scientists dismiss claims that supermoons cause earthquakes or tidal waves.

Drone Recharge Technology

• Drones can recharge from overhead power lines using an internal computer, radar sensors, and cameras to locate nearby power lines.
• A specially designed gripper attaches to the power line allowing the drone to draw power.
• The process is similar to a wireless phone charger.
• Drones can recharge multiple times and remain airborne for over two hours.
• Potential to revolutionize industries, particularly power line inspections, reducing costs and improving safety.

Ancient Silver Coins Discovery

• Metal detectorists unearthed 2,584 silver coins in a field in Chew Valley, Somerset, England in January 2019.
• Dated from 1066-1068, the coins were minted in 46 different locations across England.
• The hoard, known as the Chew Valley Hoard, was acquired by the South West Heritage Trust for $5.5 million in October 2024.
• The discovery represents a significant historical event, following the Norman Conquest.
• Roughly half the coins bear King Harold's image, while the other half feature William I's.
• The coins, likely buried for safekeeping, were concealed due to uprisings following the Norman Conquest
• The metal detectorists will receive $400,000 each, and the landowner will receive $2.8 Million.
• Some coins are cut in half, a common ancient practice for smaller denominations.
• Estimated value of the hoard was 500 sheep or the annual income of a large estate.
• The coins will be toured across UK museums, before permanently housed in the South West Museum of Somerset.

World's First Wooden Satellite

• LignoSat, the world's first satellite made mostly from wood, reached the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX cargo capsule on November 5, 2024.
• It will be launched from the ISS into Earth's orbit later that month.
• LignoSat's mission is to determine if wood can withstand the harsh conditions of space.
• This could pave the way for more environmentally friendly spacecraft designs.
• LignoSat is a collaboration between Japan's Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry.
• They sent a panel of wood samples to the ISS in 2022 and analyzed the results to choose magnolia wood for the satellite.
• The reason for a wooden satellite is to reduce space junk. Aluminum, which makes up current satellites, releases aluminum oxide particles in the atmosphere that can damage the ozone layer. Wooden satellites would leave only water and carbon dioxide.
• LignoSat will orbit Earth for 6 months collecting data before burning up in the atmosphere.
• The team aims to use this data to build larger wooden satellites and devices.

Student-Built Rocket

• A rocket built by students at the University of Southern California (USC) Rocket Propulsion Lab (RPL) broke a 20-year-old amateur rocket altitude record.
• Aftershock II, launched from Nevada's Black Rock Desert on October 20, 2024, reached an altitude of 470,000 feet (143.3 km), exceeding the previous record by 90,000 feet (27.4 km).
• It broke the sound barrier within two seconds of launch, reaching a maximum speed of 3,600 mph (5,800 km/h), 5.5 times the speed of sound.
• Aftershock II left Earth's atmosphere in 85 seconds and reached its peak altitude in 92 seconds, deploying a parachute for a safe landing.
• The rocket's success was attributed to technological innovations, including titanium-coated fins and heat-resistant paint, enabling it to withstand extreme temperatures.
• Student-designed computer systems provided real-time tracking and data transmission.
• The RPL team plans to focus on developing sounding rockets for scientific research purposes, as they aim to stay within amateur rocketry limits of 490,000 feet.

Winter Solstice 2024

• The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on December 21, 2024, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year.
• The Southern Hemisphere experiences the summer solstice on the same day.
• Earth's axial tilt (23.5 degrees) and orbit around the sun cause seasonal variations.
• The winter solstice held significance for ancient cultures, with rituals marking the Sun's "rebirth".
• Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland are examples of locations used for solstice celebrations.
• Modern-day celebrations include bonfires in San Francisco and various activities in Anchorage, Alaska.

Explore the key highlights of Donald Trump's reelection as US President in 2024. This quiz covers electoral results, historical significance, and the impact on the Republican Party. Test your knowledge on this pivotal moment in American politics.