Legal Framework for Military Space Operations Detailed in New Manual
Thursday, 30 May 2024 16:08
Humans have always been explorers, making space the next frontier. But what laws govern outer space? Is it a lawless expanse?
Duncan Blake, a lecturer at UNSW Canberra, emphasizes that space is not without rules. The Woomera Manual on the International Law of Military Space Activities and Operations (Woomera Manual) aims to clarify the application of existing international laws to military Redwire boosts AI investment for enhanced space domain awareness
Thursday, 30 May 2024 16:08
Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, announced an expanded investment in its artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. The company is funding research projects through a newly formed coalition that focuses on the use of AI in space operations. Redwire is one of the founding corporate sponsors of The Center for AEroSpace Autonomy Re Metaspectral and Armada Partner for Remote Real-Time AI Analysis of Hyperspectral Imagery
Thursday, 30 May 2024 16:08
Metaspectral, a company specializing in computer vision and remote sensing through deep learning and hyperspectral imagery, has announced a partnership with Armada, a leader in edge computing technology.
"Through this partnership, we can bring real-time AI analysis of hyperspectral imagery to remote areas by leveraging Armada's physical data processing and connectivity infrastructure capab German cabinet signs off plans to allow carbon capture
Thursday, 30 May 2024 16:08
The German cabinet on Wednesday signed off on plans to authorise carbon capture as part of a drive to reduce CO2 emissions, but climate campaigners slammed the move as illusory and impractical.
The government wants to approve the technology to help counter emissions in heavily polluting industries, such as the cement and lime industries, according to the Economy Ministry.
Under a planne How much water would a self-sustaining moonbase need?
Thursday, 30 May 2024 16:05
As humanity returns to the moon in the next few years, they're going to need water to survive. While resupplies from Earth would work for a time, eventually the lunar base would have to become self-sustaining? So, how much water would be required to make this happen?
This is what a study recently posted to the arXiv preprint server hopes to address as a team of researchers from Baylor University explored water management scenarios for a self-sustaining moonbase, including the appropriate location of the base and how the water would be extracted and treated for safe consumption using appropriate personnel.
Here, Universe Today discusses this research with Dr. Jeffrey Lee, who is an assistant adjunct professor in the Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics & Engineering Research at Baylor University, and lead author of the study, regarding the motivation behind the study, significant results, the importance of having a self-sustaining moonbase, and what implications this study could have for the upcoming Artemis missions.
The rush to return humans to the moon and build lunar bases could threaten opportunities for astronomy
Thursday, 30 May 2024 15:03
The 2020s have already seen many lunar landing attempts, although several of them have crashed or toppled over. With all the excitement surrounding the prospect of humans returning to the moon, both commercial interests and scientists stand to gain.
The moon is uniquely suitable for researchers to build telescopes they can't put on Earth because it doesn't have as much satellite interference as Earth, nor a magnetic field blocking out radio waves. But only recently have astronomers like me started thinking about potential conflicts between the desire to expand knowledge of the universe on one side and geopolitical rivalries and commercial gain on the other, and how to balance those interests.
MDA Space Partners with Starlab Space in Commercial Space Station Venture
Thursday, 30 May 2024 13:20
Starlab Space LLC, the joint venture between Voyager Space, Airbus, and Mitsubishi Corporation, has announced that MDA Space Ltd. (TSX:MDA) has joined as a strategic partner and equity owner. This partnership expands the venture's reach into Canada.
MDA Space, known for its human-rated space robotics and the developer of the Canadarm robotics family, will provide external robotics, robotic Galactic Energy Completes Second Sea-Based Launch Mission
Thursday, 30 May 2024 13:20
Galactic Energy, a private rocket maker in Beijing, completed the second sea-based launch mission of its Ceres 1 carrier rocket on Wednesday afternoon.
The company said in a news release that the rocket blasted off at 4:12 pm from a mobile launch platform - a modified deck barge - in the Yellow Sea off the eastern province of Shandong and then sent four satellites into an orbit about 850 k Western geologists test instrument for Mars rover mission in search for life
Thursday, 30 May 2024 13:20
The search for life beyond Earth drives space exploration, and the discovery of clay minerals on Mars continues to captivate scientists. Clay formation, linked to rocks interacting with water, provides insights into the past habitability of Mars.
Western planetary geologists Livio Tornabene and Gordon Osinski lead an international team to study clay formation on Mars. Supported by a three- Asteroid Dinkinesh Has Dual Moons, Researchers Discover
Thursday, 30 May 2024 13:20
When NASA's Lucy spacecraft flew past its first official target, Dinkinesh, in November 2023, researchers discovered that the asteroid, known as "Dinky," was accompanied by a satellite asteroid named "Selam." Further data from Lucy revealed that Selam is not a single moon but a contact binary-two moons fused together.
The Lucy team, including University of Maryland Professor Jessica Sunshi ESA Tests Guidance Systems for Hera Asteroid Mission
Thursday, 30 May 2024 13:20
As ESA's Hera spacecraft undergoes pre-flight testing, its Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) system is also being finalized for space operations around a binary asteroid system.
The GNC system is being validated through virtual maneuvers conducted in Spain and Germany. At GMV's headquarters in Madrid, Hera's On-Board Computer is tested using a model asteroid for realistic proximity ope New mapping technique enhances lunar surface analysis
Thursday, 30 May 2024 13:20
Researchers at Brown University have developed a new approach to mapping the Moon's surface, offering improved precision and efficiency. The study, published in the Planetary Science Journal, introduces enhancements to the shape-from-shading technique, which helps create detailed models of lunar terrain by analyzing light reflections.
The technique, refined by Brown scholars Benjamin Boatw NanoAvionics Completes Standardization of Nano- and Microsatellite Buses
Thursday, 30 May 2024 13:20
During a live broadcast, Kongsberg NanoAvionics ("NanoAvionics") announced the full standardization of its nano- and microsatellite buses. This move aims to cut lead times to as little as four months for bus manufacturing, reduce costs, and enhance reliability. The standardization enables quicker and more cost-effective mission launches. For missions with specific requirements, NanoAvionics cont Innovative Startups Join South Australia's Space Ecosystem
Thursday, 30 May 2024 13:20
Four innovative space startups from around the globe have joined South Australia's Venture Catalyst Space program. This initiative supports early-stage technology-based space startups in scaling their businesses.
Since its inception in 2018, Venture Catalyst Space has supported 36 startups, helping them secure $31 million in investments and grants and create over 220 space jobs. The progra