Virgin Orbit and Arqit expand launch agreements
Tuesday, 28 December 2021 11:24
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Long Beach CA (SPX) Dec 28, 2021
Virgin Orbit, the responsive launch and space solutions company that has announced a planned business combination with NextGen Acquisition Corp. II, has signed a new launch contract covering two dedicated launches for Arqit Quantum, Inc. a global leader in quantum encryption technology, plus additional commitments.
The two Arqit satellites delivered to Earth orbit by Virgin Orbit's Launche
Virgin Orbit, the responsive launch and space solutions company that has announced a planned business combination with NextGen Acquisition Corp. II, has signed a new launch contract covering two dedicated launches for Arqit Quantum, Inc. a global leader in quantum encryption technology, plus additional commitments.
The two Arqit satellites delivered to Earth orbit by Virgin Orbit's Launche NASA Selects New Members for Artemis Rover Science Team
Tuesday, 28 December 2021 11:24 Write a comment
Washington DC (SPX) Dec 28, 2021
When NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, explores and samples the soils at the Moon's South Pole, scientists anticipate it will reveal answers to some of the Moon's enduring mysteries. Where is the water and how much is there? Where did the Moon's water come from? What other resources are there?
What other questions could VIPER answer? NASA sought ideas and re
When NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, explores and samples the soils at the Moon's South Pole, scientists anticipate it will reveal answers to some of the Moon's enduring mysteries. Where is the water and how much is there? Where did the Moon's water come from? What other resources are there?
What other questions could VIPER answer? NASA sought ideas and re Earth and Mars were formed from inner Solar System material
Tuesday, 28 December 2021 11:24 Write a comment
Munster, Germany (SPX) Dec 28, 2021
Earth and Mars were formed from material that largely originated in the inner Solar System; only a few percent of the building blocks of these two planets originated beyond Jupiter's orbit. A group of researchers led by the University of Munster (Germany) report these findings in the journal "Science Advances".
They present the most comprehensive comparison to date of the isotopic composit
Earth and Mars were formed from material that largely originated in the inner Solar System; only a few percent of the building blocks of these two planets originated beyond Jupiter's orbit. A group of researchers led by the University of Munster (Germany) report these findings in the journal "Science Advances".
They present the most comprehensive comparison to date of the isotopic composit Billions of starless planets haunt dark cloud cradles
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Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Dec 28, 2021
In Lovecraftian horror, the Universe is filled with "dark planets" ungraced by the light of a host star. New research shows that reality might be even scarier. An international team composed of French, Japanese, and Spanish astronomers has found about 100 planets floating freely in space rather than orbiting stars. Extrapolating this sample to the rest of the Milky Way Galaxy suggests that there
In Lovecraftian horror, the Universe is filled with "dark planets" ungraced by the light of a host star. New research shows that reality might be even scarier. An international team composed of French, Japanese, and Spanish astronomers has found about 100 planets floating freely in space rather than orbiting stars. Extrapolating this sample to the rest of the Milky Way Galaxy suggests that there ESO telescopes help uncover largest group of rogue planets yet
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Munich, Germany (SPX) Dec 28, 2021
"We did not know how many to expect and are excited to have found so many," says Nuria Miret-Roig, an astronomer at the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux, France and the University of Vienna, Austria, and the first author of the new study published in Nature Astronomy.
Rogue planets, lurking far away from any star illuminating them, would normally be impossible to image. However, Mir
"We did not know how many to expect and are excited to have found so many," says Nuria Miret-Roig, an astronomer at the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux, France and the University of Vienna, Austria, and the first author of the new study published in Nature Astronomy.
Rogue planets, lurking far away from any star illuminating them, would normally be impossible to image. However, Mir Astronomers Detect Signature of Magnetic Field on an Exoplanet
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Tucson AZ (SPX) Dec 28, 2021
An international team of astronomers used data from the Hubble Space Telescope to discover the signature of a magnetic field in a planet outside our solar system. The finding, described in a paper in the journal Nature Astronomy, marks the first time such a feature has been seen on an exoplanet.
A magnetic field best explains the observations of an extended region of charged carbon particl
An international team of astronomers used data from the Hubble Space Telescope to discover the signature of a magnetic field in a planet outside our solar system. The finding, described in a paper in the journal Nature Astronomy, marks the first time such a feature has been seen on an exoplanet.
A magnetic field best explains the observations of an extended region of charged carbon particl Wandering celestial bodies provide a glimpse into the formation of stars and planets
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Vienna, Austria (SPX) Dec 28, 2021
The nature of free-floating planets (FFPs) is still mysterious. FFPs might originate in two ways: they either form on their own, like stars, through the gravitational collapse of small clouds of gas, or they form like planets around stars and then get stripped off from their stellar systems. Until now it was hard to investigate which formation mechanism is more likely, as a large homogenous samp
The nature of free-floating planets (FFPs) is still mysterious. FFPs might originate in two ways: they either form on their own, like stars, through the gravitational collapse of small clouds of gas, or they form like planets around stars and then get stripped off from their stellar systems. Until now it was hard to investigate which formation mechanism is more likely, as a large homogenous samp Tracking down the forces that shaped our solar system's evolution
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Washington DC (SPX) Dec 28, 2021
Meteorites are remnants of the building blocks that formed Earth and the other planets orbiting our Sun. Recent analysis of their isotopic makeup led by Carnegie's Nicole Nie and published in Science Advances settles a longstanding debate about the geochemical evolution of our Solar System and our home planet.
In their youth, stars are surrounded by a rotating disk of gas and dust. Over ti
Meteorites are remnants of the building blocks that formed Earth and the other planets orbiting our Sun. Recent analysis of their isotopic makeup led by Carnegie's Nicole Nie and published in Science Advances settles a longstanding debate about the geochemical evolution of our Solar System and our home planet.
In their youth, stars are surrounded by a rotating disk of gas and dust. Over ti China slams US after space station 'close encounters' with Musk's satellites
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Beijing (AFP) Dec 28, 2021
Beijing on Tuesday accused the United States of irresponsible and unsafe conduct in space over two "close encounters" between the Chinese space station and satellites operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Tiangong, China's new space station, had to manoeuvre to avoid colliding with one Starlink satellite in July and with another in October, according to a note submitted by Beijing to the United Na
Beijing on Tuesday accused the United States of irresponsible and unsafe conduct in space over two "close encounters" between the Chinese space station and satellites operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Tiangong, China's new space station, had to manoeuvre to avoid colliding with one Starlink satellite in July and with another in October, according to a note submitted by Beijing to the United Na UK firm closer to offering global internet via satellites
Tuesday, 28 December 2021 11:24 Write a comment
Moscow (AFP) Dec 27, 2021
A Russian Soyuz rocket on Monday took 36 more satellites from British operator OneWeb into orbit, bringing the company more than halfway towards its goal of providing global broadband internet.
The London-headquartered company is working to complete the construction of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites providing enhanced broadband and other services to countries around the planet
A Russian Soyuz rocket on Monday took 36 more satellites from British operator OneWeb into orbit, bringing the company more than halfway towards its goal of providing global broadband internet.
The London-headquartered company is working to complete the construction of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites providing enhanced broadband and other services to countries around the planet Russia stages 'successful' third launch of new rocket
Tuesday, 28 December 2021 07:52 Write a comment
Russia has conducted a third launch of its new heavy-class Angara rocket, the first developed after the fall of the Soviet Union 30 years ago this month.
Space agency Roscosmos announced late Monday that the next-generation Angara-A5 rocket had been launched with a mock payload from Plesetsk in northern Russia.
It was the third launch of the new rocket after its maiden voyage in 2014.
"Roscosmos congratulates the military-space forces and the entire Russian space industry," the agency said in a statement, calling the launch "successful".
Agency head Dmitry Rogozin welcomed the news on Telegram, writing: "Come on, baby!"
The defence ministry added: "All prelaunch operations and the launch of the Angara-A5 rocket took place properly."
The last launch of the heavy-class Angara rocket took place in December 2020.
Angara rockets—named after a Siberian river flowing out of Lake Baikal—are the first new family of launchers to be built after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
They are designed to replace the Proton rockets that date back to the 1960s and have suffered a series of failures in recent years.
President Vladimir Putin hopes the new launchers will revive Russia's space industry and reduce reliance on other former Soviet countries.
Virgin Orbit investing in startups as SPAC merger wraps up
Monday, 27 December 2021 21:40 Write a comment
As Virgin Orbit prepares to complete its merger with a SPAC, the launch provider has announced a series of partnerships and investments to diversify its business.
Arianespace wraps up 2021 with OneWeb launch
Monday, 27 December 2021 19:00 Write a comment
Arianespace completed its last mission of the year Dec. 27 with the launch of 36 satellites for low Earth orbit broadband operator OneWeb.
MIT engineers test an idea for a new hovering Lunar rover
Monday, 27 December 2021 08:52 Write a comment
Boston MA (SPX) Dec 27, 2021
Aerospace engineers at MIT are testing a new concept for a hovering rover that levitates by harnessing the moon's natural charge.
Because they lack an atmosphere, the moon and other airless bodies such as asteroids can build up an electric field through direct exposure to the sun and surrounding plasma. On the moon, this surface charge is strong enough to levitate dust more than 1 meter ab
Aerospace engineers at MIT are testing a new concept for a hovering rover that levitates by harnessing the moon's natural charge.
Because they lack an atmosphere, the moon and other airless bodies such as asteroids can build up an electric field through direct exposure to the sun and surrounding plasma. On the moon, this surface charge is strong enough to levitate dust more than 1 meter ab RUAG technology helped launch Webb into space
Monday, 27 December 2021 08:52 Write a comment
Zurich, Switzerland (SPX) Dec 27, 2021
Technology from RUAG Space protected the James Webb Space Telescope during launch and flight into space. A payload adapter placed the observatory into orbit. The launch happened on December 25.
The James Webb Space Telescope - or short "Webb" - is the largest and most powerful space telescope ever built. The successor of the Hubble space telescope will be able to peer into the oldest, most
Technology from RUAG Space protected the James Webb Space Telescope during launch and flight into space. A payload adapter placed the observatory into orbit. The launch happened on December 25.
The James Webb Space Telescope - or short "Webb" - is the largest and most powerful space telescope ever built. The successor of the Hubble space telescope will be able to peer into the oldest, most