Washington DC (SPX) Nov 16, 2021
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has recently mapped the central compact object of the galaxy M87 with an unprecedented angular resolution. Though the remarkable breakthrough has been interpreted based on theory that M87 contains a rotating or "Kerr" black hole. New research published in EPJ C by Chandrachur Chakraborty and Qingjuan Yu at the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics

Washington DC (SPX) Nov 15, 2021
On Monday Moscow Standard Time, the International Space Station (ISS) Flight Control team was notified of indications of a satellite breakup that may create sufficient debris to pose a conjunction threat to the station. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson released the following statement about the incident: "Earlier today, due to the debris generated by the destructive Russian Anti-Satellite (A

Washington DC (SPX) Nov 16, 2021
As reported, the Russian Federation tested a probable 'Nudol' direct ascent anti-satellite missile yesterday at 150250Z from Pllesetk, Russia with the target a defunct Russian satellite called Cosmos 1408. The US Space Command has reported there is a large debris cloud of up to 1000 pieces forming around Cosmos 1408's area of orbit. LeoLabs Australia Managing Director and former Air Commod

Pasadena CA (JPL) Nov 16, 2021
We are in the midst of the Zechstein drilling campaign. The SAM team are eagerly waiting for the results of their weekend EGA analysis on the drilled sample. Depending on the results, we might move onto characterizing the dumped sample with our contact science instruments and ChemCam in the next plan. Anticipating the return to contact science within the nex

Pasadena CA (JPL) Nov 16, 2021
A radiation sensor aboard the spacecraft is providing new data on the health risks humans would face on the surface. Could lava tubes, caves, or subsurface habitats offer safe refuge for future astronauts on Mars? Scientists with NASA's Curiosity Mars rover team are helping explore questions like that with the Radiation Assessment Detector, or RAD. Unlike Earth, Mars doesn't have a magneti

Tucson AZ (SPX) Nov 16, 2021
The existence of carbon dioxide (CO2) cold traps on the Moon has been confirmed, offering a potential resource for future exploration of the lunar surface, according to a new paper by Planetary Science Institute Senior Scientist Norbert Schorghofer. "After water, carbon is probably the most important resource on the Moon. It can be used for the production of rocket fuel, but also for bioma

Washington DC (UPI) Nov 15, 2021
Despite U.S. goals to land people on the moon again by 2024, delays of several years are likely, according to a NASA watchdog audit released Monday. Former Vice President Mike Pence set that 2024 goal in a 2019 speech, giving NASA just five years to accomplish the feat. While NASA reinforced the practicality of that goal for a long time, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said Tuesda

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Nov 16, 2021
Bremen, Germany (SPX) Nov 16, 2021 Astroscale today revealed a universal docking device the company hopes will become standard fitment on all future low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Following on from the COP26 climate conference, Paris Peace Forum Net Zero Space Declaration, and the G7 statement on space sustainability, Astroscale calls on operators to prepare their spacecraft with a Docking P

Washington DC (SPX) Nov 16, 2021
For the 11th straight year, NASA has received an unmodified, or "clean," opinion from an external auditor on its fiscal year 2021 financial statements. The rating is the best possible audit opinion, certifying that NASA's financial statements conform with accepted accounting principles for federal agencies and accurately present the agency's financial position. "NASA is committed to

Long Beach CA (SPX) Nov 16, 2021
Rocket Lab USA, a global leader in launch services and space systems, reports it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Planetary Systems Corporation (PSC), a Maryland-based spacecraft separation systems company, for $42 million in cash and 1,720,841 shares of the Company's common stock, plus the potential for an additional 956,023 shares of common stock for a performance earnout based on