PLD Space prepares for suborbital test launch
Thursday, 18 May 2023 22:21
Spanish launch startup PLD Space plans to conduct a suborbital launch before the end of the month to test technologies for its small orbital launch vehicle.
An innovative heat shield that doesn't need to be replaced between missions
Thursday, 18 May 2023 16:30
A revolution in space manufacturing is coming. Enabled by cheaper launch costs, companies are scrambling to take advantage of easier access to the benefits space offers as a manufacturing environment. These include a constant vacuum, near absolute zero temperatures, and a lack of any significant gravity. These features would enable easier processing and manufacturing of hundreds of products, from pharmaceuticals to metal alloys. The tricky part is getting them back down to Earth, where they can be used.
A company based in the U.K. recently revealed what they think is a viable solution for that. Space Forge, which is developing a reusable manufacturing platform for use in space, recently discussed their Pridwen heat shield. The most remarkable thing about this new heat shield is it's reusable.
Typical heat shields, such as those used on the Apollo missions and even on the more modern Dragon capsules from SpaceX, are "ablative.
Space Force delivers second U.S. payload to be hosted on Japanese satellite
Thursday, 18 May 2023 15:05
The U.S. Space Force announced May 17 it has delivered the second of two payloads to be hosted on Japanese satellites under an agreement the United States signed with Japan in 2020.
Zeno Power gets $30 million to build radioisotope-powered satellite for U.S. military
Thursday, 18 May 2023 12:11
Zeno Power Systems, a startup developing a propulsion system that uses radioisotopes, was awarded a $30 million contract to demonstrate the technology on a U.S.
Space cybersecurity firm SpiderOak gets new investors
Thursday, 18 May 2023 12:10
SpiderOak, a firm that specializes in cybersecurity for space systems, on May 18 announced new strategic investors.
Gilmour Space Technologies forges head as PM opens new rockets factory
Thursday, 18 May 2023 09:24
Gilmour Space Technologies, a leading Australian aerospace company, was honored to welcome Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility today. The visit marked the official unveiling and 'launch' of the Eris rocket, Australia's inaugural domestically developed orbital launch vehicle.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his enthusiasm for this remar Safeguarding space infrastructure
Thursday, 18 May 2023 09:24
Space traffic is a pressing issue. With over 20.000 satellites expected to be launched in the next decade, various orbits are becoming increasingly congested. The situation is especially pronounced in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The abundance of satellites is not only responsible for "an unprecedented space traffic jam". It is also the cause of a large amount of space debris, or 'junk', which i Private satellites give boost to public sector in climate fight
Thursday, 18 May 2023 09:24
From satellites that can pinpoint the sources of industrial pollution, to others that track hurricane movements by the hour, space has emerged as a key front in the fight against climate change.
New launches are - literally and metaphorically - skyrocketing, and giving rise to increased cooperation between space agencies and private companies.
Among the most fruitful areas of collabora Smaller, lighter space-based imaging spectrometers with high spectral resolution
Thursday, 18 May 2023 09:24
Researchers have developed a new smaller, lighter design for space-based imaging spectrometers with high spectral resolution. These high-dispersion imaging spectrometers could be used onboard spacecraft or satellites to study the Earth's atmosphere or the atmospheres of other planets.
James P. McGuire, Jr. from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California will present the new re What's so special about large grains on Mars
Thursday, 18 May 2023 09:24
The Perseverance rover has been exploring the top of the Western fan in Jezero crater for some time now, but new observations never fail to offer new insights. Sitting at the edge of Belva crater on top of the fan, Perseverance has been investigating sediments that were transported to their location via the ancient streams that flowed into Jezero.
Each unique rock, boulder, or sediment tha Martian crust like heavy armour
Thursday, 18 May 2023 09:24
A strong quake in the last year of the NASA Mars InSight mission, enabled researchers at ETH Zurich to determine the global thickness and density of the planet's crust. On average, the Martian crust is much thicker than the Earth's or the Moon's crust, and the planet's main source of heat is radioactive.
In May 2022, the Marsquake Service at ETH Zurich recorded the largest quake ever obser NASA's Spitzer, TESS find potentially volcano-covered Earth-size world
Thursday, 18 May 2023 09:24
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-size exoplanet, or world beyond our solar system, that may be carpeted with volcanoes. Called LP 791-18 d, the planet could undergo volcanic outbursts as often as Jupiter's moon Io, the most volcanically active body in our solar system.
They found and studied the planet using data from NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) and retired Spit Curved spacetime in a quantum simulator
Thursday, 18 May 2023 09:24
The theory of relativity works well when you want to explain cosmic-scale phenomena - such as the gravitational waves created when black holes collide. Quantum theory works well when describing particle-scale phenomena - such as the behavior of individual electrons in an atom. But combining the two in a completely satisfactory way has yet to be achieved. The search for a "quantum theory of gravi Radio signal reveals supernova origin
Thursday, 18 May 2023 09:24
In the latest issue of the journal Nature, astronomers from Stockholm University reveal the origin of a thermonuclear supernova explosion. Strong emission lines of helium and the first detection of such a supernova in radio waves show that the exploding white dwarf star had a helium-rich companion.
Supernovae of Type Ia are important for astronomers since they are used to measure the expan UK leads Europe in race for space investment, new report finds
Thursday, 18 May 2023 09:24
A PwC-UK Space Agency report reveals the UK is the most attractive destination for private investment in space after the US.
New analysis from investment experts offers insight on the wealth of opportunities found within the UK's 17.5 billion pounds space sector.
The 'Expanding frontiers - The down to earth guide to investing in space' report, produced by PwC in association with the