Castelldefels, Spain (SPX) Nov 08, 2021
Precise detection of magnetic fields is important for applications that range from magnetic brain imaging, to detection of sunken ships, to exploration of the solar system. For many of these applications, the most sensitive magnetic-field measuring instruments (magnetometers) are "optically-pumped magnetometers," which use laser light to probe magnetically-sensitive atoms. In many cases, t

Atlanta GA (SPX) Nov 05, 2021
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Georgia State University astronomy professor Stuart Jefferies a grant of nearly a million dollars to develop a technique to detect and characterize satellites in greater detail than ever before. The new technique could have implications for astronomers trying to spot small, dim objects hidden in the light of companions, and could assist the government in moni

London, UK (SPX) Nov 05, 2021
OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, and Leonardo DRS, a leading innovator in communications, defense, and security, have announced a new partnership to jointly offer LEO service for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Supported by a global network of gateways and user terminals, OneWeb's global connectivity platform will provide high-bandwidth and low-late

McLean VA (SPX) Nov 05, 2021
Intelsat, operator of the world's largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network, OneWeb (OWT), a global provider of innovative, secure satellite communications, and Linchpin Solutions, a leader in C5ISR systems and programs, successfully demonstrated a multi-orbit satellite communications solution for representatives of the U.S. Army and Department of Defense (DoD). This is a strate

Beijing (XNA) Nov 08, 2021
The Shenzhou XIII mission crew will soon carry out their first extravehicular activity, or spacewalk, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The agency said in a news release on Friday the three-member crew - Major General Zhai Zhigang, Senior Colonel Wang Yaping and Senior Colonel Ye Guangfu - are in good condition and ready for the operation. The astronauts had been inside the

Washington DC (UPI) Nov 08, 2021
Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to host the Biden administration's first meeting of the National Space Council on Dec. 1. Her announcement will come Friday during her visit to the Goddard Space Flight Center, which will focus on efforts to use space missions to monitor and address the climate crisis. She will be accompanied by NASA administrator Bill Nelson and officials fr

Pasadena CA (JPL) Nov 08, 2021
After our short bump on Tuesday, Curiosity has reached a new potential drill location. When we first arrived at the clay-sulfate transition, the science team decided on a strategy to drill every ~25 m in elevation gain. This allows us to systematically document any changes in the composition of the terrain while being reasonable with our limited rover resources. The terrain is beginning t

Pasadena CA (JPL) Nov 08, 2021
With conjunction over and our first flight at 2,700 RPM behind us, Ingenuity is ready to begin the journey back to the Wright Brothers Field at the Octavia E. Butler landing site, before venturing beyond. The above figure depicts the mission ahead of Ingenuity, which is to join Perseverance in the trek north along the east edge of Seitah, before traveling west to reach the Jezero ancient river d

Washington DC (UPI) Nov 08, 2021
NASA plans to launch a spacecraft as early as Nov. 23 and crash it into an asteroid next year so scientists can try to understand how to redirect dangerous space objects away from potential catastrophic Earth collisions. The mission is NASA's first flight demonstration for planetary defense, space agency officials said. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, is scheduled for

Heidelberg, Germany (SPX) Nov 08, 2021
A group of astronomers, led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, propose and have tested a mechanism that explains most of the properties observed in dispersing planet-forming disks around newborn stars for the first time. The key ingredients to this new physical concept are X-ray emissions from the central star and a calm inner disk, well shielded from the incident radiati