China to launch “Earth 2.0” exoplanet observatory in 2028
Thursday, 22 August 2024 11:50SLS contract extension hints at additional Artemis delays
Thursday, 22 August 2024 10:46Cluster mission set to end with reentry over South Pacific
Thursday, 22 August 2024 07:00On 8 September 2024, the first of four satellites that make up ESA’s Cluster mission will reenter Earth’s atmosphere over the South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area.
This marks the end of the historic mission, over 24 years after it was sent into space to measure Earth’s magnetic environment. Though the remaining three satellites will also stop making scientific observations, discoveries using existing mission data are expected for years to come.
This ‘targeted reentry’ is the first of its kind. ESA’s efforts to ensure a clean end to the Cluster mission go beyond international standards, making the agency a world-leader in
Europe delivers for Artemis III
Thursday, 22 August 2024 06:02The European Service Module that will power the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis III mission to the Moon is soon on its way to the United States.
Juice trajectory reset with historic Lunar-Earth flyby
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 21:17ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) has achieved a significant milestone by completing the world's first lunar-Earth flyby. This maneuver utilized Earth's gravity to set Juice on a course toward Venus, facilitating its journey to Jupiter by navigating through the inner Solar System. The spacecraft made its closest approach to the Moon at 23:15 CEST (21:15 UTC) on August 19, followed b
New data on radiation show missions to Jupiter's moon Europa are possible
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 18:19Scientists from NASA's Juno mission have developed the first complete 3D radiation map of the Jupiter system, including characterizing the intensity of the high-energy particles near the orbit of the icy moon Europa, and how the radiation environment is sculpted by the smaller Jovian moons orbiting near Jupiter's rings.
The work relies on data collected by Juno's star camera Advanced Stellar Compass (ASC) designed and built by Technical University of Denmark, and Stellar Reference Unit (SRU), which was built by Leonardo, S.p.A. in Florence, Italy. The two datasets complement one another, helping Juno scientists characterize the radiation environment at different energies.
Planets Hold More Water in Their Interiors Than Previously Believed
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:51For years, scientists have modeled planets based on Earth's structure-an iron core, a silicate mantle, and surface water. This model has often been applied to exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system. However, "it is only in recent years that we have begun to realize that planets are more complex than we had thought," explains Caroline Dorn, Professor for Exoplanets at ETH Zurich. E
Engineers conduct first in-orbit test of swarm satellite autonomous navigation
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:51In the future, teams of smaller satellites, referred to by scientists as a "swarm," may collaborate to offer enhanced accuracy, agility, and autonomy, replacing large, costly individual space satellites. Researchers at Stanford University's Space Rendezvous Lab are at the forefront of this development, having recently completed the inaugural in-orbit test of a prototype system that navigates a s
NASA Awards $1.25 Million to Teams Innovating Space Food Production
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:51NASA has granted $1.25 million to three U.S. teams during the final round of the Deep Space Food Challenge, recognizing their pioneering technologies designed to produce safe, nutritious, and flavorful food for long-term space missions. These innovative food production systems aim to support the sustainability of food supplies for future space exploration, including NASA's Artemis missions
A Baby Planet Reveals Its Hiding Place
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:51A new analysis of archival data reveals shocked gas in the protoplanetary disk surrounding the young star TW Hydrae. This discovery hints at the presence of a 4-Earth-mass planet and gives researchers a rare opportunity to study the earliest stages of planet formation. Baby planets form in disks surrounding young stars, but the details of this process remain unclear - especially because th
Venus' Mesosphere Shows Sharp Rise in Deuterium to Hydrogen Ratio
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:51Researchers using the Solar Occultation in the Infrared (SOIR) instrument aboard the European Space Agency's Venus Express probe have observed a significant and unexpected increase in the deuterium to hydrogen ratio (HDO/H2O) in Venus' mesosphere. This discovery adds a new layer of complexity to our understanding of Venus' water history, raising questions about whether the planet may have once h
Hubble Investigates a Dwarf Galaxy Beyond the Local Group
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:51The NASA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a detailed image of UGC 4879, a dwarf irregular galaxy also known as VV124. The high-resolution capabilities of Hubble allow astronomers to observe individual stars within the galaxy, even in its most densely populated regions. This detailed view aids in accurately determining the galaxy's distance and analyzing the composition and age of its stars.
NASA's PUNCH mission engages with blind and low-vision communities
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:51For thousands of years, humans have observed the Sun and stars, relying primarily on visual tools and recordings. However, recent developments are expanding this experience beyond just the visual realm, enabling a multisensory exploration of the cosmos. Students from the Alliance for Technology, Learning and Society (ATLAS) Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder have partnered wit
New Study Showcases Enhanced GNSS Accuracy in Smartphones for Urban and Open-Sky Navigation
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:51A recent study has highlighted the advancements in smartphone positioning technology, specifically examining the multi-frequency Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) capabilities of the Redmi K60 Ultra. The research underscores major improvements in positioning accuracy, speed, and reliability, representing a key development in the field of high-precision navigation for consumer devices.
UK Ministry of Defence's TYCHE ISR satellite launched
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:51Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has successfully launched TYCHE, the UK Ministry of Defence's (MOD) first sovereign Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) satellite. This milestone represents a significant achievement for UK Space Command, which oversees space operations and capabilities. TYCHE, weighing approximately 160 kg, was one of 116 satellites deployed into Low