China rolls out rocket for Queqiao-2 lunar satellite launch
Monday, 18 March 2024 07:32Turion Space closing in on initial SSA service from first satellite
Monday, 18 March 2024 00:09The Necessary Collaboration between Robots and Humans in Space Exploration
Monday, 18 March 2024 00:05As automation and robots reshape the way many industries operate, there is an apprehension that human skill sets and collaboration will become obsolete in certain areas. The space sector is an industry that has utilized robots for decades. However, a question often looms even among some experts in the sector: Are humans needed to explore space? And are robots a better alternative to reach deep s
The Necessary Collaboration between Robots and Humans in Space Eexploration
Sunday, 17 March 2024 21:51As automation and robots reshape the way many industries operate, there is an apprehension that human skill sets and collaboration will become obsolete in certain areas. The space sector is an industry that has utilized robots for decades. However, a question often looms even among some experts in the sector: Are humans needed to explore space? And are robots a better alternative to reach deep s
CASC Welcomes Chen Mingbo as New Chairman in Strategic Leadership Refresh
Sunday, 17 March 2024 21:51In a significant leadership transition, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has announced the appointment of Chen Mingbo as its new chairman and Communist Party secretary. This move comes at a pivotal moment for CASC, positioning it for further competition with global space industry leaders. Chen Mingbo steps into the role previously held by Wu Yansheng, marking a
China's Chang'e-6 Mission Advances: Carrier Rocket Arrives for Upcoming Lunar Launch
Sunday, 17 March 2024 21:51The Long March 5 heavy-lift carrier rocket, designated for the Chang'e 6 lunar mission, has reached the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) confirmed. This development marks a significant step toward the launch, scheduled for the first half of this year. The assembly and subsequent ground tests of the rocket with the Chang'e 6 pro
NASA and JAXA advance Martian Moons study with instrument handoff
Sunday, 17 March 2024 21:51On March 14, NASA completed the delivery of its innovative gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for its incorporation into the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission spacecraft, marking a significant milestone in preparation for the mission's final system-level testing. Developed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in collaboratio
MONDYA RELAASE Euclid's Mission to Clear Vision: Innovative De-Icing Operations Commence
Sunday, 17 March 2024 21:51In a pioneering step towards maintaining the integrity of its mission, Euclid teams across Europe have embarked on a critical operation to remove thin layers of water ice affecting the spacecraft's optics. This ice, measuring just a few nanometers in thickness, has started to slightly diminish Euclid's ability to capture the universe's dark mysteries with its unparalleled precision. The success
Radical cosmological model proposes a Universe without Dark Matter
Sunday, 17 March 2024 21:51A groundbreaking study by the University of Ottawa contends with the long-standing cosmic model, suggesting the universe is devoid of dark matter. The prevailing cosmic model divides the universe into three main components: 'normal matter,' 'dark energy,' and 'dark matter.' However, recent research from the University of Ottawa introduces a compelling argument against this framework, indic
NASA's volunteer-driven project reveals 'ghostly' asteroid activity
Sunday, 17 March 2024 21:51In an astonishing feat, over 8,000 citizen scientists have identified 15 unique "active asteroids," showcasing comet-like characteristics, through NASA's Active Asteroids project. This revelation, derived from analyzing 430,000 images captured by the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on the Victor M. Blanco Telescope in Chile, not only expands our understanding of these cosmic bodies but also defies pr
Peregrine payloads returned useful data despite no lunar landing
Saturday, 16 March 2024 22:16Dune: What the climate of Arrakis can tell us about the hunt for habitable exoplanets
Saturday, 16 March 2024 15:00Frank Herbert's Dune is epic sci-fi storytelling with an environmental message at its heart. The novels and movies are set on the desert planet of Arrakis, which various characters dream of transforming into a greener world—much like some envision for Mars today.
We investigated Arrakis using a climate model, a computer program similar to those used to give weather forecasts. We found the world that Herbert had created, well before climate models even existed, was remarkably accurate—and would be habitable, if not hospitable.
However, Arrakis wasn't always a desert. In Dune lore, 91% of the planet was once covered by oceans, until some ancient catastrophe led to its desertification. What water remained was further removed by sand trout, an invasive species brought to Arrakis. These proliferated and carried liquid into cavities deep underground, leading to the planet becoming more and more arid.
To see what a large ocean would mean for the planet's climate and habitability, we have now used the same climate model—putting in an ocean while changing no other factors.
Mars Sample Return science continues amid budget uncertainty
Friday, 15 March 2024 22:39From Beyond Beyond, Voyager 1's unexpected message sparks hope and intrigue
Friday, 15 March 2024 21:26Since November 2023, NASA's Voyager 1 has been emitting a consistent radio signal back to Earth, albeit one devoid of decipherable data. This enigmatic signal has been traced back to an anomaly within the spacecraft's flight data subsystem (FDS), a key onboard computer tasked with the compilation and transmission of vital scientific and engineering data. On March 3, a deviation in the FDS'
Terran Orbital Debuts Advanced SmallSat GEO Solution for Satellite Communications
Friday, 15 March 2024 21:26Terran Orbital Corporation has made a significant move into the geosynchronous orbit (GEO) small satellite market with its unveiling of the SmallSat GEO solution, designed for satellites weighing over 500kg. This cutting-edge solution will be showcased at the upcoming SATELLITE 2024 trade show from March 18-21 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C., featuring an immersive