What it would take to discover life on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus
Thursday, 22 December 2022 07:42
The mystery of whether microbial alien life might inhabit Enceladus, one of Saturn's 83 moons, could be solved by an orbiting space probe, according to a new study led by University of Arizona researchers. In a paper published in The Planetary Science Journal, the researchers map out how a hypothetical space mission could provide definite answers.
When Enceladus was initially surveyed in 1 How Hera asteroid mission will phone home
Thursday, 22 December 2022 06:44
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How Hera asteroid mission will phone home Saturn finalizing funds for $500 million small GEO satellite program
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 23:46
Saturn Satellite Networks is close to securing funds for another attempt at getting its small geostationary satellite manufacturing business off the ground, according to an executive for the U.S.-based firm.
The post Saturn finalizing funds for $500 million small GEO satellite program appeared first on SpaceNews.
Assembly begins on NASA's next tool to study exoplanets
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 20:36
Scientists have discovered more than 5,000 exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system. As technologies for studying these worlds continue to advance, researchers may someday be able to search for signs of life on exoplanets that are similar in size, composition, and temperature to Earth. But to do that they'll need new tools, like those being tested on the Coronagraph Instrument on NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
Europe's access to space in jeopardy after Vega-C rocket failure
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 20:25
Flights of the new European Vega-C rocket have been suspended pending an investigation into an overnight launch failure, French firm Arianespace said Wednesday, leaving Europe with few avenues into space.
Just minutes after the Vega-C rocket lifted off from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 10:47 pm local time on Tuesday (0147 GMT Wednesday), its trajectory deviated from its pro NASA delays spacewalk because of debris
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 20:25
NASA postponed a spacewalk from the International Space Station originally scheduled for Wednesday morning because of the potential of space junk in the area.
The space agency said the debris was from a fragment from the upper stage of a Russian Fregat-SB that appeared scheduled to pass near the ISS.
"Based on this new data, flight control teams directed the crew to stop spacewal NASA retires InSight lander after four years on Mars
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 20:25
NASA said farewell on Wednesday to the InSight lander that spent four years probing the interior of Mars.
The US space agency said mission control had been unable to contact the spacecraft on two consecutive attempts, leading to the conclusion that its solar-powered batteries have run out of energy.
"InSight may be retiring, but its legacy - and its findings from the deep interior of Ma NASA retires InSight Mars lander mission after years of science
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 20:16
Laser links are great for satellite relay, but challenges abound for taking it to ground
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 18:29
While optical technology shows great promise for intersatellite relay links, ground segment providers doubt it will be widely adopted among their terrestrial networks any time soon.
The post Laser links are great for satellite relay, but challenges abound for taking it to ground appeared first on SpaceNews.
NASA declares end of InSight Mars mission
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 17:00
NASA has officially ended the mission of the InSight Mars lander after power levels on the spacecraft dropped to the point where it could no longer communicate with Earth.
The post NASA declares end of InSight Mars mission appeared first on SpaceNews.
Flight VV22 failure: Arianespace and ESA appoint an independent inquiry commission
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 13:44Press Release N° 72–2022
Arianespace announced early today the failure of Flight VV22 carrying Pléiades Neo 5 and 6 satellites.
Virgin Orbit receives license for U.K. launch
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 12:00
British regulators have issued a launch license to Virgin Orbit for its first LauncherOne mission from the United Kingdom, now expected to take place in January.
Young ESA team prepare Ariane 6 passenger
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 11:44
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Young ESA team prepare Ariane 6 passenger Omnibus includes budget increases for Office of Space Commerce and FAA commercial space office
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 11:21
The fiscal year 2023 omnibus spending bill provides two agencies with much, but not all, of the budget increases they requested to take on new or expanding commercial space work.
The post Omnibus includes budget increases for Office of Space Commerce and FAA commercial space office appeared first on SpaceNews.
Year in images 2022
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 10:10
Year in images 2022
Our year through the lens: a selection of our favourite images for 2022