The enduring stellar lifecycle in 30 Doradus
Wednesday, 11 January 2023 06:12
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The largest and brightest region of star formation in the Local Group of galaxies, including the Milky Way, is called 30 Doradus (or, informally, the Tarantula Nebula). Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small neighbor galaxy to the Milky Way, 30 Doradus has long been studied by astronomers who want to better understand how stars like the Sun are born and evolve.
NASA's Chandra X-ray NASA missions find 'jetlets' could power the solar wind
Wednesday, 11 January 2023 06:12 Write a comment
Scientists with NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission have uncovered significant new clues about the origins of the solar wind - a continual stream of charged particles released from the Sun that fills the solar system.
Observations from multiple space and ground-based observatories show the solar wind could be largely fueled by small-scale jets, or "jetlets," at the base of the corona - the S NASA scientists study life origins by simulating a cosmic evolution
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Amino acids make up millions of proteins that drive the chemical gears of life, including essential bodily functions in animals. Because of amino acids' relationship to living things scientists are eager to understand the origins of these molecules. After all, amino acids may have helped spawn life on Earth after being delivered here about 4 billion years ago by pieces of asteroids or comets. SwRI scientists find evidence for magnetic reconnection between Ganymede and Jupiter
Wednesday, 11 January 2023 06:12 Write a comment
In June 2021, NASA's Juno spacecraft flew close to Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon, observing evidence of magnetic reconnection. A team led by Southwest Research Institute used Juno data to examine the electron and ion particles and magnetic fields as the magnetic field lines of Jupiter and Ganymede merged, snapped and reoriented, heating and accelerating the charged particles in the region. NASA wants you to help study planets around other stars
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More than 5,000 planets have been confirmed to exist outside our solar system, featuring a wide array of characteristics like clouds made of glass and twin suns. Scientists estimate there could be millions more exoplanets in our home galaxy alone, which means professional astronomers could use your help tracking and studying them.
This is where Exoplanet Watch comes in. Participants in the First ABL Space Systems launch fails
Tuesday, 10 January 2023 23:34 Write a comment
The first flight of ABL Space Systems’ RS1 rocket failed to reach orbit Jan. 10, the second loss of a commercial small launch vehicle in 24 hours.
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NOAA might revise geostationary weather satellite timeline
Tuesday, 10 January 2023 21:18 Write a comment
High demand for space weather data is prompting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to consider revising the schedule for its geostationary weather satellite fleet.
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Scientific samples, hardware return from International Space Station for more study
Tuesday, 10 January 2023 21:16 Write a comment
A radiation protection vest, olive oil, and sutured tissues are among the scientific samples returning from the International Space Station on the 26th SpaceX commercial resupply services mission for NASA. The Dragon spacecraft, which arrived at the station Nov. 27, is scheduled to undock on January 9, with splashdown January 11 off the coast of Florida.
The cargo returns to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where scientists can make additional observations and analyses of their experiments before the effects of gravity fully kick back in. Many also conduct more in-depth analysis later in their home labs.
CAES Space Systems becomes Frontgrade Technologies
Tuesday, 10 January 2023 20:17 Write a comment
CAES Space Systems, a supplier of radiation-hardened electronics, rebranded as Frontgrade Technologies Jan. 10 after being sold to private equity firm Veritas Capital.
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Full steam ahead for NOAA’s $20 billion GeoXO program
Tuesday, 10 January 2023 19:48 Write a comment
The $19.6 billion budget for the GeoXO program, approved in December, covers six satellites, operations and support extending from 2022 to 2052.
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Geospatial industry investor Keith Masback joins board of directors of Cognitive Space
Tuesday, 10 January 2023 18:53 Write a comment
Cognitive Space announced Jan. 10 the appointment of Keith Masback as an independent board member.
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China unable to reestablish contact with its Zhurong Mars rover
Tuesday, 10 January 2023 17:43 Write a comment
China's National Space Administration (CNSA) has been hoping to reestablish communications with the Zhurong Mars rover, but so far, their efforts have been unsuccessful. Zhurong was put into hibernation over six months ago as it hunkered down in attempts to survive the Martian winter.
But it's been a tough winter in Utopia Planetia in Mars northern hemisphere where Zhurong is located. Not only were the temperatures extremely low, colder than -100°C (-148°F), but a regional dust storm severely reduced the likelihood of the rover collecting any power with its solar panels. This is the same dust storm that has hastened the end of NASA's Mars InSight mission.
According to the South China Morning Post, the mission team predicted Zhurong would resume operations around December 26 as the planet's northern hemisphere entered its spring season and environmental conditions improved.
Rep. Mike Rogers named chairman of House Armed Services Committee
Tuesday, 10 January 2023 17:30 Write a comment
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) on Jan. 10 was officially selected to serve as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee in the 118th Congress.
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Astronomers celebrate performance of JWST
Tuesday, 10 January 2023 16:50 Write a comment
Six months after the release of the first science images from the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers and NASA officials say the observatory continues to exceed expectations while providing lessons for future space telescopes.
UK space chiefs vows to try again after failed rocket launch
Tuesday, 10 January 2023 15:13 Write a comment
Space sector bosses on Tuesday said they were disappointed by the failure of the country's historic first attempt to launch satellites from UK soil but pledged to investigate and try again.
The failure of the mission late on Monday is a blow to the UK's fledgling space sector.
Had it been successful, it would have made the UK one of only nine countries able to launch rockets into Earth's orbit.
A Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 carrying the 70-foot (21-metre) rocket took off from a spaceport in Cornwall, southwest England, at 2202 GMT on Monday.
The rocket then detached from the aircraft and ignited as planned at a height of 35,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean to the south of Ireland at around 2315 GMT.
But as the rocket was due to enter orbit and discharge its nine satellites, scientists reported an "anomaly" that prevented it from reaching orbit.
Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart praised the launch teams but said their task had been complicated by the "first time nature of this mission" which had "added layers of complexity".
"We will work tirelessly to understand the nature of the failure, make corrective actions and return to orbit as soon as we have completed a full investigation and mission assurance process," he added.