Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 29, 2024
China's new atmospheric environment monitoring satellite and terrestrial ecosystem carbon monitoring satellite are now officially operational, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). "During their in-orbit testing, these satellites demonstrated favorable application results across multiple areas, including ecological environment, forestry and grassland, geographic surv

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jul 29, 2024
Researchers have utilized modern techniques to revisit Johannes Kepler's historic sunspot drawings from 1607, uncovering new insights into solar cycles prior to the grand solar minimum. Led by Nagoya University in Japan, the international team reexamined Kepler's observations using Sporer's law and modern statistical methods. They accurately pinpointed the sunspot group's position, identifying i

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 29, 2024
The surface of Uranus' moon Ariel contains substantial carbon dioxide ice, particularly on its trailing hemisphere, the side that faces away from its orbital motion. This is unexpected as carbon dioxide, even in the distant Uranian system-20 times farther from the Sun than Earth-easily sublimates into gas and escapes into space. Researchers propose that the carbon dioxide on Ariel's surfac

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 29, 2024
A critical component of the Orbital Reef commercial space station, developed by Blue Origin and Sierra Space with NASA funding, has successfully completed a full-scale burst pressure test. This achievement marks significant progress in NASA's efforts to establish new low Earth orbit destinations. This milestone comes under a NASA Space Act Agreement awarded to Blue Origin in 2021. The Orbi

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 29, 2024
China has officially commenced the operation of two advanced environmental protection satellites, as announced by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). During a handover ceremony at CNSA's headquarters in Beijing, control of the Atmospheric Environmental Surveyor and the Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Inventory Satellite was transferred to their designated users. These users includ

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 25, 2024
In space, some stars engage in a process where they draw energy and material from neighboring stars. By studying these interactions, researchers can gain insights into the formation of cosmic elements that are fundamental to planets, particles, and life on Earth. Researchers at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Michigan State University (MSU) have su

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 29, 2024
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a leading provider of daily Earth data and insights, has announced an extension of its contract with the Taylor Geospatial Institute (TGI) through 2026. This collaboration represents Planet's most extensive direct engagement with a university consortium. The multi-year agreement enables TGI to utilize various industry-leading products from Planet, including PlanetScop

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 25, 2024
SES Space and Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES, has been selected to provide the U.S. Army with Satellite Communications (SATCOM) as a Managed Service (SaaMS) in a pilot program under a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) valued at $3.6 million. This contract aims to offer flexible and tailored commercially leased SATCOM network services to meet evolving mission requirements. The contract

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 29, 2024
NASA has launched a new mission aimed at improving climate data modeling and understanding the rapid changes in Earth's climate, particularly in the Arctic region. Known as the Arctic Radiation Cloud Aerosol Surface Interaction Experiment (ARCSIX), this mission underscores the global impact of Arctic ice, ocean, and atmospheric changes, acting as Earth's air conditioner. The Arctic's cooli

Washington (AFP) July 26, 2024
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has made what could be its most astonishing discovery to date: possible signs of ancient life on the Red Planet. The six-wheeled robotic explorer came across an intriguing, arrow-shaped rock dubbed "Cheyava Falls" that may harbor fossilized microbes from billions of years ago, when Mars was a watery world. Perseverance drilled into the enigmatic rock to col