Artemis I stacked
Friday, 22 October 2021 14:30
Time lapse of the stacking of the Orion spacecraft on top of the fully assembled Space Launch System (SLS) rocket at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on 21 October 2021, in preparation for the uncrewed Artemis I launch.
For Artemis I, the European Service Module will take the spacecraft more than 64 000 km beyond the Moon in a test flight to demonstrate its capabilities.
The European Service Module is ESA’s contribution to NASA’s Orion spacecraft that will send astronauts to the Moon and beyond. It provides electricity, water, oxygen and nitrogen as well as keeping the spacecraft at the right temperature
Male mice exposed to simulated deep space radiation experienced impaired spatial learning
Friday, 22 October 2021 14:00
Seattle students virtually Zoom into space for a chat with astronaut Megan McArthur
Friday, 22 October 2021 13:48
The students gathered at the Museum of Flight in Seattle were ready to ask Megan McArthur questions, via video link, about life as an astronaut. She was about as far away as Walla Walla—but in outer space.
McArthur is a NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station, moving above the Earth at more than 17,500 mph, orbiting every 90 minutes.
Just before the video connection was made for the Saturday event, former astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, an astronaut from 2004 to 2014, spoke about life aboard the space station and was asked, of course, everyone's favorite question: How do you go to the bathroom in space?
The answer: There are spacesuit hookups and funnels and toilets. Nothing floats free.
She was asked about the space station's size, and replied that it was a surprise to her how large it was. It's about the size of a soccer field, and the crew quarters—seven astronauts are currently at the station—are about the size of the interior of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet.
Then from space came a question: "Dottie, can you read me?"
Major step in UK contribution to space mission to study solar wind
Friday, 22 October 2021 13:48
Space scientists from the University of Leicester have delivered a key component for a new mission to study the impact of the solar wind on Earth's magnetic field.
Engineers from the University's Space Research Centre have completed the structural and thermal model for the UK's latest X-ray telescope, the Soft X-ray Imager (SXI), destined for space aboard the SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) probe when it launches at the end of 2024.
The model, which has now been delivered to Airbus in Spain for integration and testing within the prototype satellite system, is not the so-called flight model—but will help engineers understand the extreme requirements for the final design.
Week in images: 18 - 22 October 2021
Friday, 22 October 2021 12:39
Week in images: 18 - 22 October 2021
Discover our week through the lens
Proba-1 Celebrates 20th Birthday In Orbit
Friday, 22 October 2021 11:51
On this day, twenty years ago, ESA’s first small satellite, Proba-1 (Project for On Board Autonomy), was launched with just one goal – to prove technologies in space.
US conducts 'successful' test of hypersonic missile technology
Friday, 22 October 2021 10:48
US and UK research labs collaborate on autonomy and artificial intelligence
Friday, 22 October 2021 10:48
AMOS' compact hyperspectral instrument "ELOIS" to onboard a microsatellite soon
Friday, 22 October 2021 10:48
DARPA moving SSITH safeguards closer to practical use
Friday, 22 October 2021 10:48
North Korea accuses US of 'double standards' over SLBM test
Friday, 22 October 2021 10:48
US to curb hacking tool exports to Russia, China
Friday, 22 October 2021 10:48
Permafrost thaw could release bacteria and viruses
Friday, 22 October 2021 10:47
When considering the implications of thawing permafrost, our initial worries are likely to turn to the major issue of methane being released into the atmosphere and exacerbating global warming or issues for local communities as the ground and infrastructure become unstable. While this is bad enough, new research reveals that the potential effects of permafrost thaw could also pose serious health threats.
As part of the ESA–NASA Arctic Methane and Permafrost Challenge, new research has revealed that rapidly thawing permafrost in the Arctic has the potential to release antibiotic-resistant bacteria, undiscovered viruses and even radioactive waste from Cold War nuclear
Mini Earth-observer Proba-1's 20 years in orbit
Friday, 22 October 2021 09:35
SpaceX Boca Chica environmental review draws strong public support and criticism
Friday, 22 October 2021 07:46
SpaceX performed a static-fire test of a Starship vehicle Oct. 21 as debate continues about an environmental assessment of the company’s proposed launch operations in Texas.