New research takes us closer to figuring out supermassive black holes
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 11:33
Galaxies host supermassive black holes, which weigh millions to billions times more than our Sun. When galaxies collide, pairs of supermassive black holes at their centres also lie on the collision course. It may take millions of years before two black holes slam into each other. When the distance between them is small enough, the black hole binary starts to produce ripples in space-time, which Quasars as Cosmic Standard Candles
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 11:33
In 1929, Edwin Hubble published observations that galaxies' distances and velocities are correlated, with the distances determined using their Cepheid stars. Harvard astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt had discovered that a Cepheid star varies periodically with a period that is related to its intrinsic luminosity. She calibrated the effect, and when Hubble compared those calculated values with his Rerun of supernova blast expected to appear in 2037
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 11:33
It's challenging to make predictions, especially in astronomy. There are however, a few forecasts astronomers can depend on, such as the timing of upcoming lunar and solar eclipses and the clockwork return of some comets.
Now, looking far beyond the solar system, astronomers have added a solid prediction of an event happening deep in intergalactic space: an image of an exploding star, dubb NATO Air and Space Power - Taking the Alliance into 2030
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 11:33
From Sept. 7-9 the Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC) hosted their annual Conference convening the NATO Airpower community at Essen, Germany. The presentations and discussions were focused on the topic of Delivering NATO Air and Space Power at the speed of relevance.
"The annual JAPCC conference provides an outstanding opportunity to address the significant challenges of bringing po SpiderOak wins second Air Force contract for secure space communications
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 11:33
The U.S. Air Force has approved an approximately $750,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant to SpiderOak to test its new OrbitSecure secure communications protocol on military satellites and ground stations. The outcome will enable government agencies to leverage commercial space assets for federal missions in emerging hybrid space architectures that mix commercial and government satellit US Navy sets up Gulf drone task force amid Iran tensions
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 11:33
The US Navy's Fifth Fleet said Thursday it launched a new task force in the Gulf incorporating drones and artificial intelligence following maritime attacks blamed on Iran.
A statement by the US Naval Forces Central Command, or NAVCENT, said the task force would rely on regional and coalition partnerships.
"The bottom line on why we're doing this is so that we can develop and integrate u New Navy task force to work on bringing unmanned systems into operations
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 11:33
The U.S. Navy has set up its first-ever task force that'll use a vast ocean area in the Middle East as the setting for learning how to incorporate unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into maritime operations.
Task Force 59 will specifically be focused on the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, the Navy said on Thursday.
The fleet was selected for its strategic importance, AFRL promotes 'one lab, two services' at Space Symposium
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 11:33
Air Force Research Laboratory Commander Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle and other AFRL subject matter experts gathered to connect with the space community at the Space Foundation's 36th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs August 23-27.
Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Thomas E. Zelibor opened the annual symposium, which was last hosted in April 20 SPY-7 Hybrid Defense program with Japan completes additional capability tests
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 11:33
On August 26, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and U.S. Navy Aegis Technical Representative (TECHREP) witnessed a successful Mid-Release 2 Demonstration of the software release for the Japanese J7.B Aegis Weapon System equipped with SPY-7 radar, in Moorestown, New Jersey. Japan will field J7.B onboard an afloat Aegis System-Equipped Vessel (ASEV) to provide ballistic missile defense (BMD). SpaceX launches Starlink satellites into orbit from West Coast
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 11:33
Elon Musk's SpaceX successfully launched a stack of Starlink satellites into space Monday night, the first such launch since May.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off through a cloud of fog on schedule at 8:55 p.m. PDT from Space Launch Complex 4E at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying 51 Starlink satellites into space, which were deployed about 30 minutes later.
SpaceX Planet provides data to federal civilian agencies under NASA contract
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 11:00
Researchers delving into climate change, biodiversity loss and other topics through work funded by U.S. federal civilian agencies and the National Science Foundation will have access to Planet Earth-observation data through September 2022, under a NASA contract announced Sept.
There's now a gas station in space
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 10:29
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), over 4,000 operational satellites are currently in orbit around Earth. According to some estimates, this number is expected to reach as high as 100,000 by the end of this decade, including telecommunication, internet, research, navigation, and Earth Observation satellites. As part of the commercialization of low Earth orbit (LEO) anticipated in this century, the presence of so many satellites will create new opportunities, as well as hazards.
The presence of these satellites will require a great deal of mitigation to prevent collisions, servicing and maintenance. For example, the San Francisco-based startup Orbit Fab is working to create all the necessary technology for orbital refueling services for satellites. To help realize this goal, industry giant Lockheed Martin recently announced that they are investing in Orbit Fab's "Gas Stations in Space" refueling technology.
The San Francisco-based startup was founded in 2018 by Daniel Faber and Jeremy Schiel, both of whom have strong backgrounds in the commercial space industry. Between 2016 and 2019, Faber was the CEO of Deep Space Industries (DSI), one of the leading companies currently developing asteroid mining capabilities.
Virtual ESA Open Day registration now open
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 10:15
Registration for this year's virtual ESA Open Day is now open. This tenth annual ESA Open Day will take place on Sunday 3 October.
ESA Open Day registration now open
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 10:15Registration for this year's ESA Open Day is now open. This tenth annual ESA Open Day will combine an in-person visit of ESA's ESTEC technical centre in the Netherlands by people with disabilities (and their carers as needed) on Saturday 2 October and a virtual event for everyone, taking place on the following day, on Sunday 3 October.
BAE Systems to acquire smallsat company In-Space Missions
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 09:45
BAE Systems announced Sept. 14 that it will acquire In-Space Missions, a company that recently won a contract to build a British military satellite.