Florida Tech Astrobiologist explores likelihood of life originating on Earth
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39Florida Tech astrobiologist Manasvi Lingam has asked life's biggest questions from a young age. Though he can't recall his exact queries, he says his interests were perfectly consistent with those of other children: dinosaurs and aliens. On bus rides with his family, he would pepper his parents with questions about the mysteries of the universe. On long walks with his grandfather, he would
Locked in a glacier, viruses adapted to survive extreme weather
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39Ancient viruses preserved in glacial ice hold valuable information about changes in Earth's climate, a new study suggests. For decades, the Guliya Glacier, located above 6000 metres in the far northwestern Tibetan Plateau, has been one of the richest archives available to scientists to investigate large-scale paleoclimate shifts. Now, by analyzing recovered
NASA unveils new pod to enhance autonomous aircraft vision
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39To prepare self-flying aircraft for safe operation, understanding and reacting to environmental challenges is crucial. NASA aeronautics researchers have created a new camera pod equipped with sensors designed to improve computer vision systems for autonomous aviation. The device, named the Airborne Instrumentation for Real-world Video of Urban Environments (AIRVUE), was developed at NASA's
Global investment boosts Space Intelligence's nature mapping initiative
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39Space Intelligence, a leader in high-precision nature mapping using satellite data, has announced the successful completion of its Series A funding round. The investment was led by new backers, AzurX Space Ventures (ASV), with participation from Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE). The newly secured funds will be directed towards expanding Space Intelligence's global database of fo
Chinese GF-7 satellite enhances forest height measurement accuracy
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39Scientists have introduced a new technique to measure forest heights using advanced satellite technology, reducing the reliance on traditional, labor-intensive fieldwork. A recent study, published on July 29 in the 'Journal of Remote Sensing', involved an international team of researchers who used high-resolution satellite imagery from China's GF-7 satellite and historical images from Google Ear
Guidelines proposed for evaluating solar geoengineering research
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39Scientists have been exploring the potential of injecting sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere as a method to reflect solar heat and mitigate the effects of global warming. However, there is a growing need to ensure that these solar geoengineering strategies are assessed not only for their cooling potential but also for their technical viability and possible ecological and societal impacts.
Solar panels for Roman Space Telescope complete testing
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39The solar array sun shield for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has successfully passed a series of crucial tests, ensuring that the assembly remains on track for timely completion. These solar panels are essential for powering and shading the observatory, enabling mission-critical observations while maintaining optimal instrument temperatures. The Roman team has developed two sets
NASA supports research to enhance astronaut health on extended space missions
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39NASA has committed funding to 11 new research projects aimed at improving the health and performance of astronauts during long-duration space missions. These studies will be conducted on Earth and do not require direct data or samples from astronauts in space. The research will explore various physiological and psychological responses to the unique challenges of space travel, including tea
Chinese researchers unveil new method for generating water on the Moon
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39Chinese scientists have recently developed a novel technique to extract water from lunar soil, a breakthrough that could play a critical role in the future establishment of permanent human settlements on the moon. While some media outlets have sensationalized the discovery, the research itself is a significant step forward in the quest for sustainable lunar habitation. Over the course of t
NASA funds Virginia Tech research to investigate space weather
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39Rain delays at a sporting event. Tornado damage to a rural town in the Great Plains. Icy roads during a morning work commute in the winter months. We've all experienced the impacts of inclement weather, but did you know weather conditions high in our atmosphere also can affect our everyday lives? "While space weather can spark the beautiful auroras across our skies, it also has the potenti
Groundwork begins for LISA space detector
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39In early 2024, the European Space Agency approved the launch of LISA, the first gravitational-wave observatory in space, set for 2034. Unlike ground-based detectors, LISA will observe a distinct part of the gravitational-wave spectrum, revealing new types of signals. This advancement presents significant challenges for scientists, who must now develop theoretical frameworks and data-analys
UK Space Agency funds innovative satellite data projects to boost UK businesses
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39The UK Space Agency has awarded grants of up to GBP 400,000 each to several pilot projects aimed at exploring new ways to use satellite data and services in industries such as transport, logistics, and financial services. These projects will combine satellite data with terrestrial technologies like AI, quantum computing, machine learning, and geospatial data to deliver innovative solutions for U
Sentinel-2C encapsulated in Vega rocket for upcoming launch
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 21:39As the countdown to the launch of the Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite on September 4th progresses, the team at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, has completed a crucial step by sealing the satellite within the Vega rocket's fairing. Once deployed into orbit, Sentinel-2C will continue the mission of delivering high-resolution imagery for diverse applications in land, water, and
New algorithms could enhance autonomous spacecraft safety
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 19:47SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket grounded pending mishap investigation
Wednesday, 28 August 2024 18:25SpaceX's stalwart Falcon 9 rocket has been grounded while the Federal Aviation Administration investigates why its first-stage booster tipped over and exploded while attempting to land after its latest launch, the agency announced Wednesday.
The rare failure came after the rocket sent the latest batch of 21 Starlink internet satellites into orbit during an early morning launch.
A webcast from Elon Musk's company showed the first stage, which normally fires its thrusters to achieve a precise upright landing, tilting and blowing up as it descended onto a droneship off the Florida coast.
Although landing the booster is a secondary objective, and no lives or public property were at risk, the reusability of the entire rocket system is crucial to SpaceX's business model.
It snapped a more than three-year streak of hundreds of successful booster landings.
"An investigation is designed to further enhance public safety, determine the root cause of the event, and identify corrective actions to avoid it from happening again," the FAA said in a statement.