Unique prediction of 'modified gravity' challenges dark matter
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 00:10
An international group of scientists, including Case Western Reserve University Astronomy Chair Stacy McGaugh, has published research contending that a rival idea to the popular dark matter hypothesis more accurately predicts a galactic phenomenon that appears to defy the classic rules of gravity.
This is significant, the astrophysicists say, because it further establishes the hypothesis - Apollo Fusion propulsion systems selected by Saturn Satellite Networks
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 00:10
Saturn Satellite Networks Inc. has selected Apollo Fusion propulsion systems for Saturn's NationSat geostationary communications satellites. The Apollo 1.4 kW ACE Max propulsion system will be used for orbit transfer to geosynchronous orbit and on-orbit station keeping on 15 year missions.
Saturn selected Apollo Fusion because Apollo's unique Electric Propulsion system supports the Saturn Kleos appoints Chief Operating Officer
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 00:10
Kleos Space S.A. has appointed Heribert Kramer as Chief Operating Officer who will join the team headquartered in Luxembourg on 1st January 2021. Mr Kramer is a highly qualified professional who brings a significant expertise to the company, having held diverse senior leadership roles with extensive experience in operations management, change management and business transformation. Mr Kramer's e Space Force trying to change negative perceptions about military procurement
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 23:47
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military wants to shake its reputation as an unfriendly customer to space startups and commercial tech companies, Lt. Gen. John Thompson, head of the Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, said Dec.
Canadian astronaut to fly on first crewed Artemis mission
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 22:52
WASHINGTON — NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) have finalized an agreement regarding Canada’s participation in the Artemis program, which includes flying a Canadian astronaut on a mission around the moon in 2023.
The agreement, announced by the two agencies Dec.
Space Force official: Russian missile tests expose vulnerability of low-orbiting satellites
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 21:43
WASHINGTON — Russia on Dec. 15 conducted a ballistic missile test that U.S. Space Command condemned as a threat to satellites in orbit.
“The nation must do something about this,” said Lt.
Data models point to a potentially diverse metabolic menu at Enceladus
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 19:41
Using data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, scientists at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) modeled chemical processes in the subsurface ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus.
Chinese craft carrying Moon rocks returns to Earth
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 18:40
An unmanned Chinese spacecraft carrying rocks and soil from the Moon returned safely to Earth early Thursday in the first mission in four decades to collect lunar samples, the Xinhua news agency said.
The capsule carrying the samples collected by the Chang'e-5 space probe landed in northern China's Inner Mongolia region, Xinhua said, quoting the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
The agency's director, Zhang Kejian, declared the mission a success, Xinhua said.
With this mission, China became only the third country to have retrieved samples from the Moon, following the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s.
Beijing is looking to catch up with Washington and Moscow after taking decades to match its rivals' achievements and has poured billions into its military-run space programme.
Chang'e-5, named after a mythical Chinese Moon goddess, landed on the Moon on December 1.
Italy orders second pair of Cosmo-SkyMed radar satellites
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 18:38
WASHINGTON —The Italian government has ordered two additional Cosmo-SkyMed radar imaging satellites from Thales Alenia Space and tapped Telespazio to upgrade the constellation’s ground segment under a contract announced Dec. 15.
Thales Alenia Space spokesperson Marija Kovac said the contract provides nearly €300 million ($365 million) to build two second-generation Cosmo-SkyMed satellites scheduled to launch in early 2024 and early 2025 — likely aboard a Vega C or Soyuz rocket.
China recovers Chang’e-5 moon samples after complex 23-day mission
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 18:24
HELSINKI — China has recovered precious lunar samples after a successful reentry and landing of the Chang’e-5 return capsule.
The roughly 300-kilogram Chang’e-5 return capsule performed a ballistic skip reentry at 12:33 p.m.
World's space achievements a bright spot in stressful 2020
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 18:20
Canadian will join Moon mission for first time in 2023
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 18:09
A Canadian astronaut will take part in a lunar mission for the first time in 2023, as part of the NASA-led Artemis project, the minister for innovation, science and industry announced Wednesday.
"I am proud to announce another first: Canada will join the US on the first crewed mission to the Moon since the Apollo mission," the minister, Navdeep Bains, told a press conference.
"This will make Canada only the second country after the US to have an astronaut in deep space."
The mission, Artemis II, will see a crewed test flight sent into orbit in 2023 but will not involve an actual landing on the Moon, according to the US space agency.
White House releases space nuclear power strategy
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 17:30
WASHINGTON — The White House released a new space policy directive Dec. 16 intended to serve as a strategic roadmap for the development of space nuclear power and propulsion technologies.
Space Policy Directive (SPD) 6, titled “National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion,” discusses responsibilities and areas of cooperation among federal government agencies in the development of capabilities ranging from surface nuclear power systems to nuclear thermal propulsion, collectively known as space nuclear power and propulsion (SNPP).
Comspoc embraces startup metality after AGI spinoff
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 16:59
SAN FRANCISCO – Now that it’s spun out of Analytical Graphics Inc., Comspoc operates more like a startup focused on space situational awareness, space domain awareness and space traffic coordination and management than a corporate business unit, Travis Langster, Comspoc vice president and general manager, told SpaceNews.
Comspoc embraces startup mentality after AGI spinoff
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 16:59SAN FRANCISCO – Now that it’s spun out of Analytical Graphics Inc., Comspoc operates more like a startup focused on space situational awareness, space domain awareness and space traffic coordination and management than a corporate business unit, Travis Langster, Comspoc vice president and general manager, told SpaceNews.