Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 01, 2024
In a significant move to foster innovation and expertise in the small satellite sector, NASA, alongside the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, has announced the selection of eight university teams for the 2024 Mission Concept Program. This summer program, spanning from May through August, is designed to refine small satellite project proposals from university teams, enhancing their chances of

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Apr 01, 2024
Quectel Wireless Solutions, a leader in the IoT industry, has announced the addition of new antennas to its product lineup, aimed at enhancing IoT device connectivity. Among the new releases are the YEMN016AA and YEMN017AA 5G 5-in-1 combination antennas, the YECN001J1A and YECT000WBA external 5G antennas, and the YEGB000Q1A and YEGN000Q1A active GNSS L1 and L5 antennas. Norbert Muhrer, Pre

Washington DC (SPX) Apr 01, 2024
In an ambitious expansion of lunar exploration, NASA's Artemis IV mission is working towards establishing the first human outpost in lunar orbit - the Gateway space station. This initiative, part of the broader Artemis campaign aimed at fostering long-term lunar exploration and serving as a springboard for Mars missions, follows the Artemis III mission's historic lunar south pole landing. Artemi

Washington (AFP) April 2, 2024
NASA said Tuesday it was analyzing an object that crashed from the sky into a Florida man's home - which could well be a piece of debris jettisoned from the International Space Station. Alejandro Otero of Naples, Florida, posted on X that the item "tore through the roof and went (through) 2 floors" of his house, almost striking his son, on the afternoon of March 8. He believes it was a

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 02, 2024
In a major stride for astronomy, scientists utilizing the Webb Telescope, equipped with advanced infrared technology partly developed by the University of Arizona, have captured the first direct views of the materials shaping a young planetary system. This research is directly helping our understanding of how planets emerge from the dense interstellar dust and gas. At the UArizona Steward

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 03, 2024
Scientists at Brown University, in collaboration with the SETI Institute, have unveiled findings from a new study that may rewrite the narrative on the behavior and composition of distant solar system objects, particularly a Kuiper Belt Object known as 486958 Arrokoth, affectionately dubbed the "space snowman." The research highlights Arrokoth's ability to retain ancient ices within its co

Pasadena CA (JPL) Apr 02, 2024
Earth planning date: Friday, March 29, 2024: Curiosity is approaching an intriguing pile of rocks called "Hinman Col" - a poorly sorted collection of clasts located along the margin of Gediz Vallis ridge. We're hoping to get closer to this deposit over the weekend, to set up for contact science on the different rock types next week. In doing so, we hope to investigate where the different clasts

Washington (AFP) April 3, 2024
The White House announced Tuesday it is directing NASA to create a unified time standard for the Moon and other celestial bodies, as governments and private companies increasingly compete in space. With the United States keen to set international norms beyond Earth's orbit, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) instructed the US space agency to formulate a plan by th

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 02, 2024
In a significant advancement for space research, NASA's OSIRIS-REx team has made the asteroid Bennu samples accessible for global scientific investigation, a mere six months following their Earth arrival. Managed by NASA's Johnson Space Center, the unveiling of the OSIRIS-REx sample catalog marks a key moment, offering researchers worldwide the opportunity to delve into the composition of these

Pasadena CA (JPL) Apr 02, 2024
Earth planning date: Wednesday, March 27, 2024: As someone who studies planetary atmospheres, the geology of Curiosity's mission often flies straight over my head. I like to think that I've picked up some of the basics just through exposure, but sitting in with the geology team at the start of planning each day can sometimes still leave me feeling like I've forgotten how to swim seconds before b