Open doors for the ESA-ESTEC Open Day
Wednesday, 25 October 2023 08:00
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On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October 2023, the European Space Agency opened the doors to the European Space Research and Technology Centre, ESTEC, in the Netherlands. Where science meets science fiction, the theme of this year's open day was ‘Science Fiction Gets Real’, highlighting how science fiction has inspired scientists and engineers to join ESA, and turn once imaginary concepts into science fact. The single largest ESA establishment invited the public to meet astronauts, view spacecraft, and peer behind the scenes of Europe’s space adventure, along with a full schedule of events and talks from Space
ULA sets Christmas Eve launch date for first Vulcan Centaur
Tuesday, 24 October 2023 20:39
Next generation Moon camera tested in Europe
Tuesday, 24 October 2023 20:14
When astronauts return to the Moon, they will take more pictures of the lunar surface than any humans before. To develop the best camera for the job, European astronauts and scientists are lending a helping hand to NASA’s Artemis imagery team.
Space rocks and asteroid dust are pricey, but these aren't the most expensive materials used in science
Tuesday, 24 October 2023 16:18
After a journey of seven years and nearly 4 billion miles, NASA's OSIRIS-RExspacecraft landed gently in the Utah desert on the morning of Sept. 24, 2023, with a precious payload. The spacecraft brought back a sample from the asteroid Bennu.
Roughly half a pound of material collected from the 85 million-ton asteroid (77.6 billion kg) will help scientists learn about the formation of the solar system, including whether asteroids like Bennu include the chemical ingredients for life.
NASA's mission was budgeted at US$800 million and will end up costing around $1.16 billion for just under 9 ounces of sample (255 g).
European Service Module for Artemis II connected to Orion vehicle
Tuesday, 24 October 2023 13:15
The second European Service Module was connected to the rest of the Orion spacecraft which will be used in the Artemis II mission that will bring astronauts around the Moon and back for the first time in over 50 years.
Crunch time for Phoebus
Tuesday, 24 October 2023 10:00
Launching things into space is hard. Aside from the engines and software, orbital calculations and the launch pad, the tanks that hold the fuel are a masterful example of engineering in their own right – and ESA will soon be testing the next generation of rocket tanks: Phoebus.
Japanese government grant to support work on new ispace lunar lander
Tuesday, 24 October 2023 09:37
Terran Orbital to build 36 satellite buses for Lockheed Martin
Tuesday, 24 October 2023 09:35
US Space Force to Leverage Danti's AI-Powered Data Search with AFWERX deal
Tuesday, 24 October 2023 05:40
Danti, a tech company specializing in AI-powered data solutions, recently secured a Direct-to-Phase II contract worth $1.2 million from AFWERX. The focus of the contract is to leverage artificial intelligence in geospatial and broader data search to tackle key challenges faced by the Department of the Air Force, specifically the Space Force.
AFWERX, in collaboration with the Air Force Rese Industry and Academia team up to accelerate Power-to-Liquid Aviation Fuels in Germany
Tuesday, 24 October 2023 05:40
In a significant step towards sustainable aviation, key stakeholders in Germany's aerospace sector have come together to expedite the development and deployment of Power-to-Liquid (PtL) aviation fuels. A Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed in Berlin, sealing a comprehensive research collaboration among Lufthansa Airlines, the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) New technique helps robots pack objects into a tight space
Tuesday, 24 October 2023 05:40
Anyone who has ever tried to pack a family-sized amount of luggage into a sedan-sized trunk knows this is a hard problem. Robots struggle with dense packing tasks, too.
For the robot, solving the packing problem involves satisfying many constraints, such as stacking luggage so suitcases don't topple out of the trunk, heavy objects aren't placed on top of lighter ones, and collisions betwee Photonic Crystals imitate gravitational effects on light: Implications for 6G and Beyond
Tuesday, 24 October 2023 05:40
In an innovative study, a multidisciplinary team of researchers has successfully altered the trajectory of light in a manner akin to the influence of gravity. The research, recently published in the journal Physical Review A, presents groundbreaking applications in the areas of optics, materials science, and notably, 6G communications technology.
Albert Einstein's theory of relativity has Researchers developing 'revolutionary' multi-material for light-based 3D printing
Tuesday, 24 October 2023 05:40
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is looking for materials that "revolutionize and engineer our future." Researchers at Iowa State University and the University of California, Santa Barbara think they can do just that by fundamentally changing Digital Light Processing - a type of 3D printing that users light rather than heat to quickly cure and harden liquid resin into plastic layers -