First ‘glory’ on hellish distant world?
Friday, 05 April 2024 07:00
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For the first time, potential signs of the rainbow-like ‘glory effect’ have been detected on a planet outside our Solar System. Glory are colourful concentric rings of light that occur only under peculiar conditions.
Data from ESA’s sensitive Characterising ExOplanet Satellite, Cheops, along with several other ESA and NASA missions, suggest this delicate phenomenon is beaming straight at Earth from the hellish atmosphere of ultra-hot gas giant WASP-76b, 637 light-years away.
Seen often on Earth, the effect has only been found once on another planet, Venus. If confirmed, this first extrasolar glory will reveal
Blue Origin to resume crewed New Shepard flights
Friday, 05 April 2024 06:36
Total solar eclipse forecast: Will your city have clear skies Monday?
Thursday, 04 April 2024 20:20 Write a comment
Some who hope to witness Monday's total solar eclipse may see the sun obscured by clouds instead of by the moon.
There's still plenty of time for forecasts to change, but meteorologists predict that eclipse day storms could blanket parts of the path, which stretches from Mexico and Texas through Maine and parts of Canada.
If clouds don't get in the way, viewers in the path wearing eclipse glasses will see the moon begin to slowly cover the sun until it is completely blocked, a period of darkness called "totality" during which temperatures drop and the sun's corona will be visible.
What's the forecast along the eclipse's path?
Clouds are expected in much of the eclipse's path Monday thanks to storms that are moving across the central U.S.
Artificial Eclipses on Demand: ESA's Proba-3 Breakthrough
Thursday, 04 April 2024 19:06 Write a comment
Hundreds of millions of people will witness next week's total solar eclipse across North America, and solar physicists from around the globe are flocking to join them. Eclipses offer a brief glimpse of the Sun's ghostly surrounding atmosphere - the solar corona - normally kept invisible by the Sun's sheer glare. But the corona will soon be opened up for more sustained study: today in Belgium ESA Kayhan Space welcomes Mark Mueller to spearhead government growth in space traffic management
Thursday, 04 April 2024 19:06 Write a comment
In response to increasing government demand for advanced space traffic management capabilities, Kayhan Space, a frontrunner in space automation and flight safety software, has appointed Mark Mueller as Vice President of Government Growth. Mueller, a distinguished veteran with over 35 years of experience in the U.S. Intelligence Community, Air Force, and Space Force, will lead Kayhan Space's effo Music of Space: An Ode to the Sonic Frontiers Beyond Earth
Thursday, 04 April 2024 19:06 Write a comment
In the realm of space exploration and science fiction, visuals have always taken the front seat, painting our imaginations with the vast, starry unknown. However, it's the music that breathes life into these cosmic vistas, often becoming the soul of our interstellar narratives. Chris Carberry's book, "Music of Space," delves deep into this auditory journey, charting the evolution of space-themed Perseverance uncovers a watery past on Mars
Thursday, 04 April 2024 19:06 Write a comment
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover's recent analysis has revealed that its latest rock core sample, collected on March 11, experienced prolonged water exposure in Mars' distant past, possibly as part of an ancient Martian shoreline. This discovery was made possible by the rover's 24th sample, which includes various rock cores, regolith, and a sample of the Martian atmosphere.
Ken Farley, the p Unlocking the secrets of lunar soil for future moon construction
Thursday, 04 April 2024 19:06 Write a comment
The legacy of Buzz Aldrin's moonwalk, immortalized by his boot print, has evolved from a symbol of human achievement to a focal point of scientific inquiry as NASA embarks on its Artemis program, aiming to establish a permanent base on the moon. This endeavor necessitates a deep dive into the composition of lunar soil, a task undertaken by Northwestern University's mineralogist Steven Jacobsen w North Korea says it test-fired new solid-fuel hypersonic missile
Thursday, 04 April 2024 19:06 Write a comment
North Korea's Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of a new medium-to-long range solid-fuel hypersonic missile, state media said Wednesday, hailing the "important military strategic value" of the new weapon.
Video in state media showed the missile being carried into position on its launching vehicle, as Kim and an array of uniformed soldiers stood by watching, before the missile blasts off, traili Solar Orbiter ready for emergency scenarios amidst close encounter with Sol
Thursday, 04 April 2024 19:06 Write a comment
ESA's mission control team is on high alert as the Solar Orbiter embarks on its critical journey near the Sun, entering a phase of intense scientific activity and potential hazards. The spacecraft's proximity to our star during its perihelion introduces a heightened risk of operational complications, prompting extensive preparations to safeguard its mission and scientific yield.
Daniel Lak GOES-U set for June 25 launch following repairs to latest NOAA satellite
Thursday, 04 April 2024 19:06 Write a comment
NASA and SpaceX have rescheduled the launch of the GOES-U satellite, marking the culmination of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) - R Series, to June 25. This adjustment provides the necessary window to address and thoroughly examine a liquid oxygen leak discovered in the Falcon Heavy's core booster during a rou AERKOMM Merges with IX Acquisition Corp in a Deal Boosting Satellite Broadband Connectivity
Thursday, 04 April 2024 19:06 Write a comment
In a strategic move to enhance its position in the satellite technology landscape, AERKOMM Inc. (Euronext: AKOM), a frontrunner in providing broadband connectivity solutions across multiple orbits, has joined forces with IX Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: IXAQU, "IXAQ"), a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) with a focus on the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. This definitive A robot hopper to explore the moon's dangerous terrain
Thursday, 04 April 2024 19:02 Write a comment
Intuitive Machines recently had a major breakthrough, successfully becoming the first non-governmental entity to land on the moon in February. At least the landing was partially successful—the company's Odysseus lander ended up on its side, though its instruments and communication links remained at least partially functional. That mission, dubbed IM-1, was the first in a series of ambitious missions the company has planned. And they recently released a paper at the LPSC 2024 conference detailing features of a unique hopping robot that will hitch a ride on its next moon mission.
Known as South Pole Hopper (or S.P. Hopper), the robot will be the first of a new class called µNova. Weighing in at only 35 kg and standing only 70 cm tall, this miniaturized craft is a stand-alone spacecraft that can operate entirely autonomously. It must do this to complete its mission of exploring the region around the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) at the lunar south pole.
ESA to launch Arctic weather satellite in June
Thursday, 04 April 2024 17:20 Write a comment
The European Space Agency said Thursday it will launch a satellite in June which will improve weather forecasting in the Arctic—a region highly exposed to the effects of global warming.
The Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS) was designed over three years by European aerospace company OHB.
The satellite, which is to be launched by a SpaceX rocket taking off from California, weighs 125 kilograms (275 pounds) and is 5.3 meters (16 feet) long with its wings deployed.
The mission is particularly important for research into global warming, said Swedish Education Minister Mats Persson.
"Mitigating climate change is a priority and space data is essential for analyzing the changes and identifying" the effective solutions," he said.
With a lifespan of approximately five years, the satellite will support others already in orbit "and provide accurate short-term weather forecasts for the Arctic region," the ESA said.
The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the planet.
Its glaciers, forests and frozen carbon-rich soil are in danger of undergoing irreversible changes causing potential cascading repercussions across the globe.