Chang'e-5 samples reveal how young volcanism occurred on the Moon
Sunday, 23 October 2022 23:27A new study led by Prof. CHEN Yi from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGGCAS) provides an answer to the question of how young volcanism occurred on the Moon. The researchers found that mantle melting-point depression due to the presence of fusible, easily melted components could generate young lunar volcanism. Their findings were published
Chang'E-5 mission returned samples shed new light on our moon's surface makeup and geologic history
Sunday, 23 October 2022 23:27Active volcanic activity helped create the moon's surface minerology as recently as 2 billion years ago, leaving an iron-rich and high-calcium surface of basalts geographically younger than the lunar geology community previously thought, according to a study that analyzed soil samples brought back as part of the Chang'E - 5 (CE-5) mission in 2020. A team of researchers led by Prof. LI Chun
New way to make telescope mirrors could sharpen our view of the universe
Sunday, 23 October 2022 23:27Researchers have developed a new way to use femtosecond laser pulses to fabricate the high-precision ultrathin mirrors required for high-performance x-ray telescopes. The technique could help improve the space-based x-ray telescopes used to capture high-energy cosmic events involved in forming new stars and supermassive black holes. "Detecting cosmic x-rays is a crucial piece of our explor
New walking robot design could revolutionize how we build things in space
Sunday, 23 October 2022 23:27Researchers have designed a state-of-the-art walking robot that could revolutionize large construction projects in space. They tested the feasibility of the robot for the in-space assembly of a 25m Large Aperture Space Telescope. They present their findings in Frontiers in Robotics and AI. A scaled-down prototype of the robot also showed promise for large construction applications on Earth.
China's deep space exploration laboratory recruits young talents
Sunday, 23 October 2022 23:27China's deep space exploration laboratory launched campus recruitment, aiming to attract more young talents to devote themselves to the country's deep space exploration, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Co-established by the CNSA, Anhui Province, and the University of Science and Technology of China, the laboratory is headquartered in Hefei, the capital city of
Space Micro awarded Orbital Prime Contract by US Space Force
Sunday, 23 October 2022 23:27Space Micro Inc, powered by Voyager Space, has been awarded an Orbital Prime contract by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) as part of the first phase of the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Space Micro proposed the development of Control Moment Gyro Barnacle (Barnacle), a robotic spacecraft that would replace or restore Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) capabilities a
Rivada Space Networks signs MoU with SpeQtral to develop ultra-secure communications
Sunday, 23 October 2022 23:27Rivada Space Networks GmbH, a global network company launching a constellation of 600 low-earth-orbit satellites (LEO) to enable secure, global connectivity for governments and enterprises, has announced it has signed a partnership agreement with SpeQtral, an emerging leader in quantum-secure communications systems. Our world is increasingly data-driven, cloud-based and cybersecurity consc
Northrop Grumman Australia integrates end-to-end control segment into Parallax Labs
Sunday, 23 October 2022 23:27Northrop Grumman Australia has recently integrated a Dynamic Satellite Simulator and Spacecraft Command and Control (C2) system into its state-of-the-art systems integration, advanced mission visualization and demonstration facility, Parallax Labs. This complex integration demonstrates the high level of technical readiness of Northrop Grumman Australia's end-to-end control system in prepar
China completes test of vacuum liquid oxygen-methane rocket engine
Sunday, 23 October 2022 23:27China has completed a test of its largest-thrust vacuum liquid oxygen-methane engine, which was designed for use on a commercial rocket, the engine maker said Thursday. Developed by the Chinese private rocket company LandSpace, the engine, coded TQ-15A, has a vacuum thrust of up to 836 kilonewtons. It will be used as the second-stage main engine for the second batch of the company's ZQ-2 r
ISRO launches 36 OneWeb satellites
Sunday, 23 October 2022 23:27OneWeb has confirmed the successful deployment of 36 satellites launched by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC- SHAR) in Sriharikota, India. This launch by ISRO and NSIL is one of the biggest commercial orders by India's premier space organization, and the first using the LVM3 rocket. The lift-off took place on Sunday, 23rd October 2022 at 00.07hrs loc
US Space Command to Transfer Space Object Tracking to Department of Commerce
Sunday, 23 October 2022 23:27Right now, U.S. Space Command tracks more than 47,000 objects in space. But there are plans to transfer that responsibility to the Department of Commerce, an effort that will allow Spacecom to focus more on what's happening in space rather than just on the tracking of objects there, the Spacecom commander said. "My current priority is to invest in space domain awareness. To ... gain a bett
Designing the trajectory of a microsatellite swarm from the macro-micro perspective
Sunday, 23 October 2022 23:27As an emerging multi-satellite cooperative flight mode, microsatellite swarm has become an important future research issue for distributed space systems due to their advantages of low cost, rapid response, and collaborative decision-making. To address the coordination of swarms for autonomous agents, a probabilistic guidance approach has been investigated, which contained sub-swarms with differe
NASA to increase Artemis fleet, orders 3 more crew capsules
Sunday, 23 October 2022 08:45NASA is furthering its plans to set up a space station on the moon and send the first astronauts to Mars by ordering three more crew capsules for its Artemis mission. The mission's primary contractor Lockheed Martin announced the plans for three additional Orion spacecraft on Thursday. The cost of the three capsules is about $1.99 billion. The new Orion crew capsules will be used
Partial solar eclipse from Iceland to India on Tuesday
Sunday, 23 October 2022 05:50A partial solar eclipse will be visible across a swathe of the Northern Hemisphere on Tuesday, with amateur astronomers warned to take care watching the rare phenomenon.
The eclipse will start at 0858 GMT in Iceland and end off the coast of India at 1302 GMT, crossing Europe, North Africa and the Middle East on its way, according to the IMCCE institute of France's Paris Observatory.
Solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting its shadow down onto our planet.
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon completely blocks the Sun's disk, momentarily plunging a portion of the Earth into complete darkness.
However Tuesday's eclipse is only partial, and the "Moon's shadow will not touch the surface of the Earth at any point," the Paris Observatory said in a statement.