The space industry needs COPUOS to rethink its approach to decision-making
Monday, 15 May 2023 15:13
The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) can’t advance the governance necessary to meet the needs of today’s space sector.
Webb finds water, and a new mystery, in rare main-belt comet
Monday, 15 May 2023 14:00
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has enabled another long-sought scientific breakthrough, this time for Solar System scientists studying the origins of the water that has made life on Earth possible. Using Webb’s NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) instrument, astronomers have confirmed gas – specifically water vapour – around a comet in the main asteroid belt for the first time, proving that water from the primordial Solar System can be preserved as ice in that region. However, the successful detection of water comes with a new puzzle: unlike other comets, Comet 238P/Read had no detectable carbon dioxide.
NASA ends Lunar Flashlight mission because of thruster problems
Monday, 15 May 2023 10:37
NASA has ended the mission of a cubesat intended to go into orbit around the moon but which was unable to do so because of problems with its propulsion system.
JUICE deploys radar antenna
Monday, 15 May 2023 09:51
A radar antenna on a newly-launched European mission to Jupiter has finally deployed after weeks of effort to loosen a stuck pin.
For 191st time, SpaceX booster successfully returns after launch
Monday, 15 May 2023 04:55
Washington DC (UPI) May 14, 2023
SpaceX on Sunday morning successfully deployed another batch of Starlink satellites into space and successfully landed its first-stage booster.
The Falcon 9 rocket with the satellites lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station just after midnight, illuminating the night skies over Florida's central east coast.
The first-stage booster then returned to Earth and landed
SpaceX on Sunday morning successfully deployed another batch of Starlink satellites into space and successfully landed its first-stage booster.
The Falcon 9 rocket with the satellites lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station just after midnight, illuminating the night skies over Florida's central east coast.
The first-stage booster then returned to Earth and landed Bacteria survive on radioactive elements
Monday, 15 May 2023 04:55
Munich, Germany (SPX) May 12, 2023
Bacteria that feed on methanol are able to grow on certain rare earth elements as well as their radioactive relatives. These findings suggest a possible role for such bacteria in the decontamination of areas where actinides are spilled, or in the separation of lanthanides and actinides for analytical or preparative purposes, according to a study published in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
Bacteria that feed on methanol are able to grow on certain rare earth elements as well as their radioactive relatives. These findings suggest a possible role for such bacteria in the decontamination of areas where actinides are spilled, or in the separation of lanthanides and actinides for analytical or preparative purposes, according to a study published in the journal Angewandte Chemie. NASA Provides Coverage of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Meeting
Monday, 15 May 2023 00:08
Washington DC (SPX) May 15, 2023
NASA is set to hold a public meeting concerning the categorization and evaluation of data on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) at 10:30 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 31. In an effort to ensure transparency and encourage public engagement, NASA has announced it will also host a media teleconference at the conclusion of the meeting.
NASA defines UAP as observations of unidentifiable events
NASA is set to hold a public meeting concerning the categorization and evaluation of data on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) at 10:30 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 31. In an effort to ensure transparency and encourage public engagement, NASA has announced it will also host a media teleconference at the conclusion of the meeting.
NASA defines UAP as observations of unidentifiable events Momentus signs launch package with SpaceX
Monday, 15 May 2023 00:08
San Jose CA (SPX) May 15, 2023
Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) has announced a significant contract with SpaceX to secure a port on the Transporter-12 mission, anticipated to launch no earlier than October 2024.
This new development solidifies Momentus' plans to participate in three missions with SpaceX in 2024. These missions include all Transporter rideshare missions scheduled for the coming year: Transporter-10 in Janua
Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) has announced a significant contract with SpaceX to secure a port on the Transporter-12 mission, anticipated to launch no earlier than October 2024.
This new development solidifies Momentus' plans to participate in three missions with SpaceX in 2024. These missions include all Transporter rideshare missions scheduled for the coming year: Transporter-10 in Janua Virgin Orbit receives more than 30 indications of interest under court approved bid procedures
Monday, 15 May 2023 00:08
Long Beach CA (SPX) May 15, 2023
Virgin Orbit Holdings, Inc., a responsive space launch provider, has issued an update regarding its ongoing sale process. As part of its court-approved bid procedures, the company has received more than 30 indications of interest as of May 4, 2023. Several potential buyers have proposed to retain the existing business operations and workforce, aiming to operate Virgin Orbit as an ongoing, integr
Virgin Orbit Holdings, Inc., a responsive space launch provider, has issued an update regarding its ongoing sale process. As part of its court-approved bid procedures, the company has received more than 30 indications of interest as of May 4, 2023. Several potential buyers have proposed to retain the existing business operations and workforce, aiming to operate Virgin Orbit as an ongoing, integr Sitting still but not idling at Ubajara: Sols 3827-3829
Monday, 15 May 2023 00:08
Pasadena CA (JPL) May 12, 2023
Drilling campaigns force us to sit and stop, whilst the "Ubajara" drill sample is analyzed. This takes a week or two, depending on the types of analysis that CheMin and SAM chose to do. This might sound like we are sitting quietly, just waiting but drill campaigns are furiously busy and "power hungry."
CheMin planned the first part of their analysis on Wednesday, and today, they added a se
Drilling campaigns force us to sit and stop, whilst the "Ubajara" drill sample is analyzed. This takes a week or two, depending on the types of analysis that CheMin and SAM chose to do. This might sound like we are sitting quietly, just waiting but drill campaigns are furiously busy and "power hungry."
CheMin planned the first part of their analysis on Wednesday, and today, they added a se NASA calls end to Lunar Flashlight after some tech successes
Monday, 15 May 2023 00:08
Pasadena CA (JPL) May 15, 2023
While the CubeSat couldn't reach the lunar South Pole to help seek ice, it fulfilled several technology goals that will empower future missions for the benefit of humanity.
NASA's Lunar Flashlight launched on Dec. 11, 2022, to demonstrate several new technologies, with an ultimate goal to seek out surface ice in the permanently shadowed craters of the Moon's South Pole. Since then, the bri
While the CubeSat couldn't reach the lunar South Pole to help seek ice, it fulfilled several technology goals that will empower future missions for the benefit of humanity.
NASA's Lunar Flashlight launched on Dec. 11, 2022, to demonstrate several new technologies, with an ultimate goal to seek out surface ice in the permanently shadowed craters of the Moon's South Pole. Since then, the bri Tidal shocks can light up the remains of a star being pulled apart by a black hole
Monday, 15 May 2023 00:08
Turku, Finland (SPX) May 15, 2023
The Universe is a violent place where even the life of a star can be cut short. This occurs when a star finds itself in a "bad" neighbourhood, specifically near a supermassive black hole.
These black holes weigh millions or even billions of times the mass of the Sun and typically reside in the centres of quiet galaxies. As a star moves closer to the black hole, it experiences the ever-incr
The Universe is a violent place where even the life of a star can be cut short. This occurs when a star finds itself in a "bad" neighbourhood, specifically near a supermassive black hole.
These black holes weigh millions or even billions of times the mass of the Sun and typically reside in the centres of quiet galaxies. As a star moves closer to the black hole, it experiences the ever-incr "Tianzhou Express" is online again, with five highlights
Monday, 15 May 2023 00:08
Beijing, China (SPX) May 15, 2023
On May 10, 2023, the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft was successfully launched aboard the Long March 7 Yaoqi carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China at 21:22 Beijing time. Roughly ten minutes after the launch, the spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered its predetermined orbit, with the solar panels operating smoothly, marking the launch as a complete success. The follow
On May 10, 2023, the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft was successfully launched aboard the Long March 7 Yaoqi carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China at 21:22 Beijing time. Roughly ten minutes after the launch, the spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered its predetermined orbit, with the solar panels operating smoothly, marking the launch as a complete success. The follow Astroscale and Momentus offer concept for reboosting Hubble
Sunday, 14 May 2023 15:01
Two companies have disclosed details about how they could raise the orbit of the Hubble Space Telescope as NASA evaluates that and other concepts offered to the agency.
SpaceX launches 56 Starlink satellites early Sunday
Sunday, 14 May 2023 06:15
Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) May 14, 2023
On Sunday, May 14, at 01:03 EDT (05:03 UTC), SpaceX launched an additional batch of 56 Starlink internet communication satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
About 50% of all successful orbital launches so far this year have been conducted by SpaceX. The 56 Starlink satellites will equal the four Fal
On Sunday, May 14, at 01:03 EDT (05:03 UTC), SpaceX launched an additional batch of 56 Starlink internet communication satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
About 50% of all successful orbital launches so far this year have been conducted by SpaceX. The 56 Starlink satellites will equal the four Fal