Could game theory help discover intelligent alien life?
Thursday, 28 January 2021 13:50
New research from the University of Manchester suggests using a strategy linked to cooperative game playing known as 'game theory' in order to maximize the potential of finding intelligent alien life.
If advanced alien civilisations exist in our galaxy and are trying to communicate with us, what's the best way to find them? This is the grand challenge for astronomers engaged in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). A new paper published in The Astronomical Journal by Jodrell Bank astrophysicist, Dr. Eamonn Kerins, proposes a new strategy based on game theory that could tip the odds of finding them more in our favor.
SETI programs tend to use one of two approaches. One is to conduct a survey that sweeps large areas of sky in the hope of seeing a signal from somewhere. This survey approach can quickly generate huge volumes of data that can be very hard to search through comprehensively. An alternative approach is targeted SETI, where the search focuses more intensively on specific star systems where life might exist. This provides more comprehensive data on those systems, but maybe there's nobody there?
ExoMars orbiter's 20,000th image
Thursday, 28 January 2021 12:54
The CaSSIS camera onboard the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has captured its 20,000th image of Mars.
The image, taken on 13 December 2020, features Solis Dorsum, a segment of a prominent wrinkle ridge system in a vast volcanic plateau, known as Tharsis. Wrinkle ridges are tectonic features that form in layered basalt lavas due to loading and flexure of the planet's crust and upper mantle. These tectonic stresses are caused by the planet's interior cooling and subsequent contraction.
The study of wrinkle ridges, and in particular their distribution and orientation, can reveal details of the complex and dynamic geological history of Mars.
The scale is indicated on the image. Download high-res PNG for the full image swath.
NASA's MAVEN continues to advance Mars science and telecommunications relay efforts
Thursday, 28 January 2021 12:53
With a suite of new national and international spacecraft primed to explore the Red Planet after their arrival next month, NASA's MAVEN mission is ready to provide support and continue its study of the Martian atmosphere.
MAVEN launched in November 2013 and entered the Martian atmosphere roughly a year later. Since that time, MAVEN has made fundamental contributions to understanding the history of the Martian atmosphere and climate. A few science highlights include:
- Determination that the bulk of the Martian atmosphere has been lost to space through time, driving changes in the Mars climate and the ability to support life at the surface.
- Characterization of the mechanisms by which gas is stripped away from the atmosphere to space and of the role of solar storms hitting Mars in enhancing the escape rate.
- There is significant unexpected variability in the loss rate of hydrogen to space through the seasons, which has important implications for the history of water.
NASA may change MRO orbit to support Mars 2020
Thursday, 28 January 2021 12:20
WASHINGTON — NASA is considering changing the orbit of one of its oldest Mars spacecraft, a move intended to support the Mars 2020 mission after landing but which could affect both its science and support of other missions.
Rocket Lab demonstrates new orbital maneuvering capability
Thursday, 28 January 2021 12:13
Rocket Lab, the global leader in dedicated small satellite launch, demonstrated the increased maneuvering capability of the Kick Stage during the company's 18th Electron launch, successfully burning the Curie engine for more than twice the standard mission duration and delivering more than 1,700 km of perigee change.
On January 20, 2021, Rocket Lab successfully launched a communications sa Spacewalk to fit ground-breaking British kit to ISS
Thursday, 28 January 2021 12:13
Two astronauts will undertake a spacewalk to install a revolutionary piece of government-funded technology on the International Space Station (ISS), marking the UK's first major industrial contribution to the spacecraft.
Called ColKa for 'Columbus Ka-band Terminal', the UK Space Agency-funded system will revolutionise scientists' ability in the UK and Europe to access the results of their SpaceX engaged in legal battle with oil company for land to drill for gas
Thursday, 28 January 2021 12:13
The spat of land in question is located near SpaceX's Boca Chica launch site, which according to the company's CEO would be used exclusively for Starship super heavy-lift launch vehicles design for long-duration space missions.
SpaceX is locked in a legal battle with Dallas Petroleum Group, which claims ownership of some inactive wells sitting on the same 806-acre (326-hectare) piece of le Compelling evidence of neutrino process opens physics possibilities
Thursday, 28 January 2021 12:13
The COHERENT particle physics experiment at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has firmly established the existence of a new kind of neutrino interaction. Because neutrinos are electrically neutral and interact only weakly with matter, the quest to observe this interaction drove advances in detector technology and has added new information to theories aiming to explain myst MDA appoints new VP of Satellite Systems
Thursday, 28 January 2021 12:13
MDA is pleased to welcome Amer Khouri as the company's new Vice President of Satellite Systems. As the leader for this business, Mr. Khouri will be responsible for all business area activities including successful execution of existing programs and the continued growth of MDA's Satellite Systems business, which is based in Montreal, Canada.
Mr. Khouri has an extensive 25-year career in gen NASA, Rio De Janeiro Extend Disaster Preparedness Partnership
Thursday, 28 January 2021 12:13
NASA and the city of Rio de Janeiro have extended an agreement to support innovative and collaborative efforts to better understand, anticipate, monitor and respond to natural hazards and other impacts affecting the city. The collaboration leverages the unique attributes of NASA's satellite data and modeling frameworks and Rio de Janeiro's management and monitoring capabilities to improve awaren NASA seeks input on Europa Clipper launch options
Thursday, 28 January 2021 11:02
WASHINGTON — NASA has issued a request for information for launch services for its Europa Clipper mission, a sign the agency is taking advantage of language in a recent appropriations bill that allows it to consider alternatives to the Space Launch System.
Earth from Space: Lake Titicaca
Thursday, 28 January 2021 09:00
Ahead of World Wetlands Day, the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over Lake Titicaca – one of the largest lakes in South America.
Ariane 6 upper stage heads for hot-firing tests
Thursday, 28 January 2021 08:40
The first complete upper stage of Europe’s new Ariane 6 launch vehicle has left ArianeGroup in Bremen and is now on its way to the DLR German Aerospace Center in Lampoldshausen, Germany. Hot firing tests performed in near-vacuum conditions, mimicking the environment in space, will provide data to prove its readiness for flight.
ISS crew member reveals difficulties of filming virtual reality documentary in space
Thursday, 28 January 2021 06:43
The crew on the International Space Station (ISS) has faced unique challenges while producing a new virtual reality documentary although factors such as weightlessness have also provided an advantage, Russian cosmonaut and ISS engineer Sergey Kud-Sverchkov told Sputnik.
In December, Russia's Space Agency Roscosmos announced it is producing a documentary series - together with Canada's Feli Exposing unmentionable human functions in space
Thursday, 28 January 2021 06:43
America's first astronaut, Alan Shepard, took that first suborbital flight of 15 minutes on May 15, 1961. The expected flight time was so short that NASA assumed no toilet facilities would be needed. However, Shepard had to endure several hours in his Mercury capsule before lift-off due to launch delays. You can imagine the results, but it wasn't pretty.
By the time NASA began launching Ge