Curiosity helping make Mars safer for astronauts
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 06:15A radiation sensor aboard the spacecraft is providing new data on the health risks humans would face on the surface. Could lava tubes, caves, or subsurface habitats offer safe refuge for future astronauts on Mars? Scientists with NASA's Curiosity Mars rover team are helping explore questions like that with the Radiation Assessment Detector, or RAD. Unlike Earth, Mars doesn't have a magneti
Still lots to do at the Zechstein drill locale
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 06:15We are in the midst of the Zechstein drilling campaign. The SAM team are eagerly waiting for the results of their weekend EGA analysis on the drilled sample. Depending on the results, we might move onto characterizing the dumped sample with our contact science instruments and ChemCam in the next plan. Anticipating the return to contact science within the nex
LeoLabs Australia's Space Tracking Centre releases first images of Russian space debris field
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 06:15As reported, the Russian Federation tested a probable 'Nudol' direct ascent anti-satellite missile yesterday at 150250Z from Pllesetk, Russia with the target a defunct Russian satellite called Cosmos 1408. The US Space Command has reported there is a large debris cloud of up to 1000 pieces forming around Cosmos 1408's area of orbit. LeoLabs Australia Managing Director and former Air Commod
NASA Administrator Statement on Russian ASAT Test
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 06:15On Monday Moscow Standard Time, the International Space Station (ISS) Flight Control team was notified of indications of a satellite breakup that may create sufficient debris to pose a conjunction threat to the station. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson released the following statement about the incident: "Earlier today, due to the debris generated by the destructive Russian Anti-Satellite (A
The first black hole image: A gravitomagnetic monopole as an alternative explanation
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 06:15The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has recently mapped the central compact object of the galaxy M87 with an unprecedented angular resolution. Though the remarkable breakthrough has been interpreted based on theory that M87 contains a rotating or "Kerr" black hole. New research published in EPJ C by Chandrachur Chakraborty and Qingjuan Yu at the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics
Blue Canyon Technologies selected by Ball Aerospace to supply spacecraft bus for NASA Solar Cruiser Program
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 06:15Small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider Blue Canyon Technologies LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies Corporation, was selected by Ball Aerospace to develop a standardized X-SAT Venus ESPA-class microsatellite bus and several custom components to enable an upcoming one-of-a-kind mission with NASA for the Solar Cruiser project. As the largest planned so
Astronauts shelter in space capsules as debris comes close to ISS
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 06:15The seven astronauts working aboard the International Space Station were forced to take shelter in their space capsules as a cloud of debris moved toward the station on Monday. While the debris eventually moved away from the ISS, NASA's mission control in Houston advised the astronauts to seek refuge to avoid a collision that might require them to return to Earth. The U.S State D
NGA notes advantages of unclassified commercial data
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 03:19The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is interested in keeping commercial datasets unclassified.
Foust Forward | Dmitry in Dubai: Rogozin grabs the spotlight at the International Astronautical Congress
Monday, 15 November 2021 22:09The unlikely center of attention, at least on the International Astronautical Congress’ opening day, was Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos.
US slams Russia for 'irresponsible' space missile test
Monday, 15 November 2021 21:02The United States denounced Russia on Monday for conducting a "dangerous and irresponsible" missile strike that blew up one of its own satellites, creating a debris cloud that forced the International Space Station's crew to take evasive action. Washington wasn't informed in advance about the test, only the fourth to ever strike a satellite from the ground, and will talk to allies about ho
Russia test blamed for space junk threatening space station
Monday, 15 November 2021 19:54A Russian weapons test created more than 1,500 pieces of space junk that is now threatening the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station, U.S. officials said Monday.
The State Department confirmed that the debris was from an old Russian satellite destroyed in Monday's anti-satellite weapons test.
"It was dangerous. It was reckless. It was irresponsible," said State Department spokesman Ned Price.
Earlier Monday, the four Americans, one German and two Russians on board were forced to seek shelter in their docked capsules because of the debris.
At least 1,500 pieces of the destroyed satellite were sizable enough to show up on radar, Price said.
Russian test blamed for space junk threatening space station
Monday, 15 November 2021 19:54A Russian weapons test created more than 1,500 pieces of space junk that is now threatening the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station, U.S. officials said Monday.
The State Department confirmed that the debris was from an old Russian satellite destroyed in Monday's anti-satellite weapons test.
"It was dangerous. It was reckless. It was irresponsible," said State Department spokesman Ned Price.
Earlier Monday, the four Americans, one German and two Russians on board were forced to seek shelter in their docked capsules because of the debris.
At least 1,500 pieces of the destroyed satellite were sizable enough to show up on radar, Price said.
Carbon dioxide cold traps on the moon are confirmed for the first time
Monday, 15 November 2021 19:47After decades of uncertainty, researchers have confirmed the existence of lunar carbon dioxide cold traps that could potentially contain solid carbon dioxide. The discovery will likely have a major influence in shaping future lunar missions and could impact the feasibility of a sustained robot or human presence on the moon.
Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory wins $1 billion contract from AFRL
Monday, 15 November 2021 18:56The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory a $1 billion five-year contract for “space and nuclear advanced prototypes, experiments and technology."
Russia destroys satellite in ASAT test
Monday, 15 November 2021 18:50A Russian satellite broke up in low Earth orbit in a deliberate test of a Russian anti-satellite device that created thousands of pieces of debris.