A small satellite with a solar sail could catch up with an interstellar object
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:43
When 'Oumuamua, the first interstellar object ever observed passing through the solar system, was discovered in 2017, it exhibited some unexpected properties that left astronomers scratching their heads. Its elongated shape, lack of a coma, and the fact that it changed its trajectory were all surprising, leading to several competing theories about its origin: was it a hydrogen iceberg exhibiting outgassing, or maybe an extraterrestrial solar sail (sorry folks, not likely) on a deep-space journey? We may never know the answer, because 'Oumuamua was moving too fast, and was observed too late, to get a good look.
It may be too late for 'Oumuamua, but we could be ready for the next strange interstellar visitor if we wanted to. A spacecraft could be designed and built to catch such an object at a moment's notice. The idea of an interstellar interceptor like this has been floated by various experts, and funding to study such a concept has even been granted through NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. But how exactly would such an interceptor work?
There may not be a conflict after all in expanding universe debate
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
Chicago IL (SPX) Jul 01, 2021
Our universe is expanding, but our two main ways to measure how fast this expansion is happening have resulted in different answers. For the past decade, astrophysicists have been gradually dividing into two camps: one that believes that the difference is significant, and another that thinks it could be due to errors in measurement.
If it turns out that errors are causing the mismatch, tha
Our universe is expanding, but our two main ways to measure how fast this expansion is happening have resulted in different answers. For the past decade, astrophysicists have been gradually dividing into two camps: one that believes that the difference is significant, and another that thinks it could be due to errors in measurement.
If it turns out that errors are causing the mismatch, tha 'Lakes' under Mars' south pole: A muddy picture?
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
Tempe AZ (SPX) Jul 05, 2021
Two research teams, using data from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter, have recently published results suggesting that what were thought to be subsurface lakes on Mars may not really be lakes at all.
In 2018, scientists working with data from the Mars Express orbiter announced a surprising discovery: Signals from a radar instrument reflected off the red planet's south pole a
Two research teams, using data from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter, have recently published results suggesting that what were thought to be subsurface lakes on Mars may not really be lakes at all.
In 2018, scientists working with data from the Mars Express orbiter announced a surprising discovery: Signals from a radar instrument reflected off the red planet's south pole a Landing on Mars is one step closer for British-built rover
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
London, UK (SPX) Jul 05, 2021
A new and upgraded parachute for the UK-built Rosalind Franklin Mars rover has successfully passed a series of high-altitude tests, bringing further exploration of the Red Planet one step closer.
Rosalind Franklin has been built with government backing to try to detect life, past or present, on the Red Planet.
After several weeks of delays due to bad weather the latest tests to deter
A new and upgraded parachute for the UK-built Rosalind Franklin Mars rover has successfully passed a series of high-altitude tests, bringing further exploration of the Red Planet one step closer.
Rosalind Franklin has been built with government backing to try to detect life, past or present, on the Red Planet.
After several weeks of delays due to bad weather the latest tests to deter Second iteration of successful Vanguard Incubation Process approaches Summit
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
Wright-Patterson AFB OH (SPX) Jul 02, 2021
As the Department of the Air Force stands up Rocket Cargo, its recently announced fourth Vanguard program, the WARTECH incubator process that birthed Rocket Cargo continues onward with the upcoming WARTECH 2.0 Summit July 15-16, where more future Vanguards could be fresh in the making.
On June 15, a WARTECH pre-executive committee board finalized its recommendations concerning which advanc
As the Department of the Air Force stands up Rocket Cargo, its recently announced fourth Vanguard program, the WARTECH incubator process that birthed Rocket Cargo continues onward with the upcoming WARTECH 2.0 Summit July 15-16, where more future Vanguards could be fresh in the making.
On June 15, a WARTECH pre-executive committee board finalized its recommendations concerning which advanc Equipment for shooting 1st movie in space delivered to ISS by Russia
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
Moscow (Sputnik) Jul 05, 2021
Russia's Progress MS-17 cargo spacecraft has delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) the equipment for shooting the first feature film in space known by the working title "Challenge," according to documents by Russian state space agency Roscosmos.
The space freighter was launched by the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday and docked
Russia's Progress MS-17 cargo spacecraft has delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) the equipment for shooting the first feature film in space known by the working title "Challenge," according to documents by Russian state space agency Roscosmos.
The space freighter was launched by the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday and docked China launches five new satellites
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
Taiyuan (XNA) Jul 05, 2021
China sent five satellites into planned orbits from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province on Saturday.
The satellite Jilin-1 01B, Xingshidai-10 and three Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D satellites were launched by a Long March-2D rocket at 10:51 a.m. (Beijing Time).
This was the 376th flight mission of the Long March rocket series, the launch center said.
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China sent five satellites into planned orbits from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province on Saturday.
The satellite Jilin-1 01B, Xingshidai-10 and three Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D satellites were launched by a Long March-2D rocket at 10:51 a.m. (Beijing Time).
This was the 376th flight mission of the Long March rocket series, the launch center said.
span cla Observation, simulation, and AI join forces to reveal a clear universe
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jul 05, 2021
Japanese astronomers have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) technique to remove noise in astronomical data due to random variations in galaxy shapes. After extensive training and testing on large mock data created by supercomputer simulations, they then applied this new tool to actual data from Japan's Subaru Telescope and found that the mass distribution derived from using this metho
Japanese astronomers have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) technique to remove noise in astronomical data due to random variations in galaxy shapes. After extensive training and testing on large mock data created by supercomputer simulations, they then applied this new tool to actual data from Japan's Subaru Telescope and found that the mass distribution derived from using this metho Proximity to Sun's magnetic field influenced Mercury's hefty iron core
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
College Park, MD (SPX) Jul 05, 2021
For decades, many scientists argued that hit-and-run collisions with other bodies during the formation of our solar system blew away much of Mercury's rocky mantle and left the big, dense, metal core inside. But new research reveals that collisions don't explain the planet's composition-the sun's magnetism does.
William McDonough, a professor of geology at the University of Maryland, and T
For decades, many scientists argued that hit-and-run collisions with other bodies during the formation of our solar system blew away much of Mercury's rocky mantle and left the big, dense, metal core inside. But new research reveals that collisions don't explain the planet's composition-the sun's magnetism does.
William McDonough, a professor of geology at the University of Maryland, and T Exolaunch Delivers One Ton of Small Satellites into Orbit on SpaceX's Transporter-2 Rideshare Mission
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) Jul 02, 2021
Exolaunch, the launch, deployment and integration services provider for the New Space industry, announced a successful launch of 29 satellites totaling one metric ton for its customers from the United States, South America and Europe on a dedicated rideshare mission of SpaceX's SmallSat Rideshare Program.
The mission, named 'Fingerspitzengefuhl', lifted off on June 30 at 19:31 UTC on Falco
Exolaunch, the launch, deployment and integration services provider for the New Space industry, announced a successful launch of 29 satellites totaling one metric ton for its customers from the United States, South America and Europe on a dedicated rideshare mission of SpaceX's SmallSat Rideshare Program.
The mission, named 'Fingerspitzengefuhl', lifted off on June 30 at 19:31 UTC on Falco Northrop Grumman Delivers ESPAStar bus to L3Harris for Air Force NTS-3 Mission
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
Dulles VA (SPX) Jul 02, 2021
Northrop Grumman has reported the successful delivery of an ESPAStar-D spacecraft bus from Gilbert, Ariz., to L3Harris in Melbourne, Fla. The platform supports the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) mission for the Air Force Research Laboratory set to launch from Cape Canaveral in 2022.
Built to provide affordable, rapid access to space, ESPAStar-D can accommodate combinations of ho
Northrop Grumman has reported the successful delivery of an ESPAStar-D spacecraft bus from Gilbert, Ariz., to L3Harris in Melbourne, Fla. The platform supports the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) mission for the Air Force Research Laboratory set to launch from Cape Canaveral in 2022.
Built to provide affordable, rapid access to space, ESPAStar-D can accommodate combinations of ho AFRL holds high power electromagnetic wargaming event
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
Kirtland AFB NM (SPX) Jul 02, 2021
The Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate held its second in a series of wargaming, modeling, and simulation events June 21 - 25 at Kirtland AFB.
The latest Directed Energy Utility Concept Experiment, or DEUCE, focused on the use of high power electromagnetic (HPEM) weapons as part of an integrated air defense system, whereas the DEUCE held in January concentrated on th
The Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate held its second in a series of wargaming, modeling, and simulation events June 21 - 25 at Kirtland AFB.
The latest Directed Energy Utility Concept Experiment, or DEUCE, focused on the use of high power electromagnetic (HPEM) weapons as part of an integrated air defense system, whereas the DEUCE held in January concentrated on th Department of Space's commercial arm NewSpace India can also lease ISRO assets
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
Chennai (IANS) Jul 05, 2021
The NewSpace India Ltd, the commercial arm of Department of Space (DOS) apart from buying satellites from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) can also lease assets from the latter, said K. Sivan, Secretary, DOS.
Sivan, also the Chairman of ISRO told IANS: "NSIL will acquire three communication satellites- GSAT 20, GSAT 22 and GSAT 24- made by ISRO. The company will be the owner and o
The NewSpace India Ltd, the commercial arm of Department of Space (DOS) apart from buying satellites from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) can also lease assets from the latter, said K. Sivan, Secretary, DOS.
Sivan, also the Chairman of ISRO told IANS: "NSIL will acquire three communication satellites- GSAT 20, GSAT 22 and GSAT 24- made by ISRO. The company will be the owner and o Suspected secret satellite launched from ISS was just Japanese CubeSat
Monday, 05 July 2021 10:19
Washington DC (Sputnik) Jul 05, 2021
The US Space Command has clarified recent reports of a "secret satellite" launched from the International Space Station which actually was a Japanese CubeSat mistakenly registered by the space tracking service as an American object, USSPACECOM Director of Public Affairs, Lieutenant Colonel Erin Dick told Sputnik on Friday.
Sputnik reported on 1 July that the United States had secretly laun
The US Space Command has clarified recent reports of a "secret satellite" launched from the International Space Station which actually was a Japanese CubeSat mistakenly registered by the space tracking service as an American object, USSPACECOM Director of Public Affairs, Lieutenant Colonel Erin Dick told Sputnik on Friday.
Sputnik reported on 1 July that the United States had secretly laun Lunar Exploration as a Service: From landers to spacesuits, NASA is renting rather than owning
Monday, 05 July 2021 08:00
NASA’s Human Landing System (HLS) program is the biggest bet the agency has made on the commercial space industry since the commercial crew program a decade ago. NASA decided to procure landing services rather than the landers themselves, awarding a $2.9 billion contract to SpaceX April 16 to fund development of a lunar lander based on the company’s Starship vehicle and fly one demonstration mission with astronauts.