NASA's IXPE sends first science image
Thursday, 17 February 2022 04:47
In time for Valentine's Day, NASA's Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer which launched Dec. 9, 2021, has delivered its first imaging data since completing its month-long commissioning phase. All instruments are functioning well aboard the observatory, which is on a quest to study some of the most mysterious and extreme objects in the universe.
IXPE first focused its X-ray eyes on Cassiopeia Psyche, the iron giant of asteroids, may be less iron than researchers thought
Thursday, 17 February 2022 04:47
The asteroid 16 Psyche, which NASA intends to visit with a spacecraft in 2026, may be less heavy metal and more hard rock than scientists have surmised, according to a new study by researchers from Brown and Purdue universities.
Psyche, which orbits the sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is the largest of the M-type asteroids, which are composed chiefly of iron and nickel a Studying the next interstellar interloper with Webb
Thursday, 17 February 2022 04:47
One of the most exciting findings in planetary science in recent years is the discovery of interstellar objects passing through our solar system. So far, astronomers have confirmed only two of these interlopers from other star systems - 1I/'Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2018 - but many, many more are thought to exist. Scientists have had only limited ability to study these objects once disc Quantum tech in space?
Thursday, 17 February 2022 04:47
Operating quantum technology in challenging environments, such as space, has moved a significant step forward after physicists working at the University of Sussex have developed a monitoring and control system blueprint for quantum devices and experiments.
The system is presented in a peer reviewed paper published in Quantum Science and Technology. The paper details how the University's Qu Homegrown spacecraft is putting Perth on Space Race map
Thursday, 17 February 2022 04:47
Perth researchers made history when they sent the first WA designed and built satellite into space last year.
The Binar-1 - named after the Noongar word for fireball - was developed by Curtin University's Space Science and Technology Centre.
The Binar Space Program team plan to deploy six more locally made satellites in the next 2 years.
So why is WA launching satellites and wh Eutelsat and Marlink extend partnership for GEO Ku-band satellite capacity
Thursday, 17 February 2022 04:47
Eutelsat Communications and Marlink, the Smart Network Company, have agreed to extend their Global Maritime Partnership, initially signed in 2019, to support expansion in Africa and the Middle East (Red Sea and the Gulf) and to integrate the Americas and Asia into the portfolio of Eutelsat satellite capacity used by Marlink.
Marlink is the leading maritime VSAT operator in the world, with NASA drops plans to fly Earth science instrument as commercial hosted payload
Thursday, 17 February 2022 02:38
An Earth science instrument selected by NASA several years ago to fly as a hosted payload on a commercial communications satellite may instead fly on a standalone spacecraft because of a lack of hosting opportunities.
Aerospacelab raises 40 million euros in Series B round
Wednesday, 16 February 2022 23:43
Aerospacelab raised 40 million euros ($45.5 million) in a funding round led by Airbus Ventures and XAnge, a European venture capital firm based in Paris and Munich.
The post Aerospacelab raises 40 million euros in Series B round appeared first on SpaceNews.
Space Force wants to create a more welcoming environment for private industry
Wednesday, 16 February 2022 21:29
The U.S. Space Force’s procurement arm based in Los Angeles has launched a new effort to attract commercial space companies that do not typically work with the government.
The post Space Force wants to create a more welcoming environment for private industry appeared first on SpaceNews.
ABB gets $30 million order for EarthDaily imaging payloads
Wednesday, 16 February 2022 20:58
Switzerland-based technology provider ABB said Feb. 16 it is supplying multispectral imaging systems for EarthDaily Analytics’ (EDA) planned fleet of 10 satellites.
The post ABB gets $30 million order for EarthDaily imaging payloads appeared first on SpaceNews.
Josef Aschbacher’s speech at the ESA Council meeting
Wednesday, 16 February 2022 17:30
Video:
00:12:41
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher speaks at the start of the ESA Council Meeting at Ministerial Level, part of the Space Summit in Toulouse, on 16 February 2022.
Luca Parmitano presents the European Astronauts’ Manifesto
Wednesday, 16 February 2022 17:00
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00:08:47
ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano presents the European Astronauts’ Manifesto during the Space Summit in Toulouse, on 16 February 2022.
James Webb telescope going through cooling process
Wednesday, 16 February 2022 16:05
Cooling things down in space is trickier than it might sound. But that is exactly the process the James Webb telescope is going through right now. Getting down to cryogenic temperature is imperative for its infrared imaging systems to work correctly. While the telescope has already started, it will be another few weeks before the process is complete and it's ready to start capturing its first groundbreaking infrared images of the universe.
That might seem like an exceptionally long time to cool something down, but it's all part of the difficulty of doing so in space. The first tricky point is getting out of the sun, which can heat equipment up to blistering temperatures if it is exposed to direct sunlight. Luckily, James Webb has a specially designed sun shield to keep it out of direct sunlight.
The rest of the telescope's instruments have been cooling since the sunshield was deployed several weeks ago.
Op-ed | How America Can Become a Leader in Cleaning Up Space
Wednesday, 16 February 2022 14:00
The United States needs to implement a holistic Space Environment Management (SEM) program, and the most important missing element of that program is the development of remediation capabilities that can remove debris from orbit and help clean up the space environment.
Exploring new worlds
Wednesday, 16 February 2022 14:00
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00:02:19
As part of Agenda 2025, ESA will take preparatory steps towards a sample return mission from the moons of giant planets, and will foster innovation by challenging commercial companies to develop a next generation of competitively priced European space transportation systems.
Space science and planetary exploration have a unique inspirational power for engaging young generations in science, technology, engineering and maths, creating a highly educated workforce for the future.
Collaborating with the European space industry to foster innovation generates economic growth and new revenues, as well as creating new jobs for European citizens. All the money invested in space