Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
Radiation tests suggest that carbon-based organic solar cells could surpass traditional silicon and gallium arsenide cells in efficiency and durability for space applications, according to a University of Michigan study. Previous research primarily examined how radiation affected the energy conversion efficiency of organic solar cells. This new study delved into molecular-level changes tha

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
Researchers have completed the installation of a revolutionary "compound eye" instrument on the Subaru Telescope after years of meticulous effort. This cutting-edge device, known as the Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS), incorporates approximately 2,400 prisms strategically arranged across the Subaru Telescope's expansive field of view. This design allows simultaneous spectroscopic analysis o

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
An international research team led by scientists from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan has successfully detected emissions from various atomic transitions in a distant primordial galaxy. This discovery sets a new record for detecting elements from the farthest reaches of the universe, offering unprecedented insights into the earliest galaxies. "We pointed the more than forty

Paris, France (SPX) Jan 10, 2025
On January 8, 2025, the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission made its sixth flyby of Mercury, completing the final gravity assist needed to position itself for orbit insertion around the planet in late 2026. During this maneuver, the spacecraft flew just 295 kilometers above Mercury's night side before capturing stunning images of the sunlit northern regions. At 06:59 CET, BepiColombo passed over

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
Collapsed stars, known as neutron stars, possess extraordinary density - a trillion times that of lead. Despite their significance, the surface features of neutron stars remain largely uncharted. Recent investigations by nuclear theorists have drawn parallels between mountain formation mechanisms on planetary bodies in our solar system and those on neutron stars. These findings suggest that neut

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
Mars exhibits a unique blend of geological features reminiscent of both the moon and Earth, making it a fascinating subject of study for scientists. Current insights into the Red Planet's evolution stem largely from spacecraft observations and meteorite analysis. These meteorites, primarily found in deserts and Antarctica, were once part of Mars before being ejected into space and eventual

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
Intuitive Machines, Inc. (Nasdaq: LUNR, LUNRW) and Nokia (NYSE: NOK, Euronext: NOKIA) have completed the final integration of Nokia's Lunar Surface Communication System ("LSCS") into the Athena lunar lander for the IM-2 mission. This mission aims to establish the first cellular network on the Moon, focusing on the lunar south pole region. Collaborating with Nokia Bell Labs, Intuitive Machi

Washington DC (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
As the Artemis campaign leads humanity to the Moon and eventually Mars, NASA is refining its state-of-the-art navigation and positioning technologies to guide a new era of lunar exploration. A technology demonstration helping pave the way for these developments is the Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE) payload, a joint effort between NASA and the Italian Space Agency to demonstrate the

Houston TX (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
The Expedition 72 crew wrapped up the week aboard the International Space Station preparing for a spacewalk to service science and station hardware next week. The orbital residents also continued their biotechnology and human research activities to advance health on Earth and in space. Two spacewalks are scheduled for Jan. 16 and Jan. 23 to maintain astrophysics research gear, replace adva

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 14, 2025
China successfully launched its Smart Dragon 3 carrier rocket on Monday morning from a sea-based platform near Haiyang, Shandong province, deploying 10 satellites into space. The mission highlighted the growing capability of sea-based launches as a strategic tool for satellite deployment. The rocket lifted off at 11 a.m. from a dedicated launch service ship, releasing the satellites into a