Viasat links up with Northrop Grumman for Air Force communications experiment
Thursday, 29 February 2024 19:09

As mission ends, US lunar lander could still 'wake' back up
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Washington (AFP) Feb 29, 2024
The US spacecraft that touched down on the Moon last week and is currently running on solar power will soon be "put to sleep" once lunar night kicks in, mission officials said Wednesday.
But while the mission that saw the first ever Moon landing by a private company is coming to an end, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus told reporters that there are hopes to "wake it up" in about three we

MAPHEUS 14 high-altitude research rocket takes flight
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Koeln, Germany (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
On 27 February 2024 at 8:27 CET the MAPHEUS 14 high-altitude research rocket, operated by the German Aerospace Center, successfully launched from the Esrange Space Center near Kiruna, Sweden. The high-altitude rocket reached an altitude of 265 kilometres and provided approximately six and a half minutes of microgravity for its scientific payload - a total of 14 experiments which were all safely

NASA and SpaceX complete docking system tests for Lunar Starship Lander
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
In a pivotal advancement for lunar exploration, NASA and SpaceX have recently concluded qualification testing for a docking system integral to the Artemis campaign's success. This campaign aims to lay the groundwork for sustained scientific exploration on the Moon, requiring seamless transfers between spacecraft for lunar landings. The testing phase marks a significant step forward in ensuring t

Study reveals potential for life's building blocks from Mars' ancient atmosphere
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Sendai, Japan (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
In a groundbreaking study that could redefine our understanding of life's potential on ancient Mars, scientists from Tohoku University have unveiled research indicating that organic materials discovered on the Red Planet may have originated from atmospheric formaldehyde. This discovery, published in Scientific Reports, suggests a plausible pathway for the formation of biomolecules-organic compou

China opens first simulated environment for space research
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
In an impressive stride toward advancing its space research capabilities, China has unveiled its first Space Environment Simulation and Research Infrastructure (SESRI) facility, marking a significant milestone in the nation's aerospace endeavors.
This cutting-edge facility, developed through a collaboration between the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and the China Aerospace Science an

BAE Systems to pioneer ground system for Space Force's missile defense upgrade
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
In a pivotal development for U.S. national security, BAE Systems (LON: BA) has been chosen by the Space Systems Command (SSC) Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) to spearhead the development of a prototype ground system for the U.S. Space Force. This system, part of the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution Command and Control (FORGE C2) project, aims to overhaul the current ground arch

SKorea enhances military operations with Iridium connectivity
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Seoul, South Korea (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
In a significant move towards modernizing its military communication infrastructure, the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of Defense has officially integrated Iridium Communications Inc.'s (NASDAQ: IRDM) satellite connectivity into its operational framework. This strategic adoption of Iridium's comprehensive suite of communication solutions marks a pivotal advancement in the ROK Army's capabilit

US and Australia signs Space Technology Safeguards Agreement
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Adelaide, Australia (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
In a significant development for the global space industry, Australia and the United States have formalized a Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA), marking a pivotal moment for both nations' space sectors. This treaty-level agreement, signed in October last year and recently detailed by the Australian Government, sets the stage for enhanced cooperation in space technology and exploration, parti

SSC confirms L3Harris's design for Next-Gen Missile Detection Sensors
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
The U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) is on a fast track to enhance its missile detection and tracking capabilities, with L3Harris Technologies playing a pivotal role in this advancement. The company recently achieved a significant milestone in the development of a state-of-the-art infrared sensor payload, designed for the SSC's upcoming Missile Track Custody (MTC) satellite constel

Antaris Teams Up with Almagest and XDLINX for E-band satcoms
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
In a groundbreaking development poised to redefine the landscape of satellite communications, Antaris, a front-runner in software platforms for space missions, has joined forces with the US-based Almagest Space Corporation and India's XDLINX Labs.
This strategic alliance aims to pioneer the delivery of cutting-edge software for XDLINX's forthcoming XDSAT-NS satellite, which will be equippe

Webb Telescope reveals central role of low-mass galaxies in reionization of Universe
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Beer-Sheva, Israel (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), developed by NASA and ESA, has just obtained the first spectra of very low-mass galaxies less than a billion years after the Big Bang. A technological feat made possible by the unique combination of JWST sensitivity and the gravitational lensing effect of the Abell 2744 cluster: nearby galaxies act like cosmic magnifiers, distorting space and amplifying the

Listen to the Universe: New NASA Sonifications and Documentary
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
Three new sonifications of images from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes have been released in conjunction with a new documentary about the project that makes its debut on the NASA+ streaming platform.
Sonification is the process of translating data into sounds. In the case of Chandra and other telescopes, scientific data are collected from space as digital signals that

Hold on to your atmospheres: how planet size affects atmospheric escape
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
Which planets are most likely to lose their atmospheres? New research finds a surprising relationship between planet size and atmospheric escape and suggests that the smallest planets aren't losing their atmospheres the fastest.
Don't panic, but Earth is slowly losing its atmosphere - very slowly, at a rate so small that the Sun will balloon into a red giant and engulf our planet long befo

Cosmic lighthouses that cleared primordial fog identified with JWST
Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:53
University Park PA (SPX) Feb 29, 2024
Scientists working with data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have obtained the first full spectra of some of the earliest starlight in the universe. The images provide the clearest picture yet of very low-mass, newborn galaxies, created less than a billion years after the Big Bang, and suggest the tiny galaxies are central to the cosmic origin story.
The international team of
