Berlin, Germany (SPX) Feb 15, 2024
In a groundbreaking advancement in cosmological research, the German eROSITA consortium, spearheaded by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE), has unveiled findings that refine our understanding of the universe's structure and composition. By analyzing the evolution of galaxy clusters over time, eROSITA has provided precise measurements of the universe's total matter and it

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 15, 2024
In a remarkable advancement in the field of astronomy, researchers have unveiled findings that challenge our traditional understanding of planetary systems. A team of astronomers has discovered Jupiter-mass binary objects, termed JuMBOs, that are drawn into each other's orbit, devoid of a central star to anchor their path. This intriguing phenomenon was observed in the Orion Nebula, shedding lig

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 15, 2024
NASA has successfully completed the integration of the TRIDENT drill, the final science instrument, into the VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover), marking a significant milestone in preparation for its lunar mission. The integration of TRIDENT-The Regolith Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain-into VIPER's suite of scientific tools was executed by engineers at Honeybee Robotics

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 15, 2024
NASA is embarking on an ambitious journey to the Moon with the help of Intuitive Machines, a company selected under the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. This collaboration is part of NASA's larger Artemis campaign, aiming to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence there. Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander, set to launch aboard a SpaceX Fal

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 15, 2024
The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory has embarked on a groundbreaking mission to revolutionize optical glass manufacturing, leveraging the unique conditions of space to overcome terrestrial limitations. Sponsored by the ISS National Lab, the latest experiments launched aboard Northrop Grumman's 20th Commercial Resupply Services mission (NG-20) aim to test a novel approach de

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 15, 2024
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has encountered a hiccup in its quest to uncover the secrets of the Red Planet. The rover's team is currently assessing an issue with the SHERLOC (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals) instrument, crucial for detecting signs of past microbial life on Mars. A malfunction has left one of two dust covers intended to pr

Space Coast FL (SPX) Feb 15, 2024
Since the December 1972 Apollo 17 mission, NASA has not launched a spacecraft to perform a soft landing on the Moon. The mission, dubbed IM-1, was originally scheduled to launch in the early morning hours on Wednesday (Feb. 14), but was scrubbed due to "off-nominal methane temperatures prior to stepping into methane load." A 14-foot-tall moon lander built by a Houston-based company, Intuit

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 15, 2024
The Space Systems Command (SSC) of the U.S. Space Force, in coordination with SpaceX, has completed the successful launch of six critical satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This National Security Space Launch (NSSL), known as the USSF-124 mission, plays a crucial role in enhancing the United States' missile detection and defense capabilities.

Moscow (AFP) Feb 15, 2024
Russia on Thursday launched a supply rocket to the International Space Station, one of the rare Russia-US projects kept alive since Russia's offensive against Ukraine. A Soyuz-2 rocket carrying the Progress MS-26 cargo ship was launched at the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan, Russia's space agency said on its Telegram channel, showing a video of the lift-off. The rocket was due to ar

Kennedy Space Center FL (AFP) Feb 15, 2024
Intuitive Machines has been launched on its journey to the Moon, marking a significant milestone in private-sector space exploration. The company's Nova-C lander, aptly named "Odysseus," lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, heralding a new dawn for lunar exploration and setting the stage for the United States to make its first soft landing on the lunar surface since the historic Apollo missions.