Why the sun's atmosphere is hundreds of times hotter than its surface
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 11:56
The visible surface of the sun, or the photosphere, is around 6,000°C. But a few thousand kilometers above it—a small distance when we consider the size of the sun—the solar atmosphere, also called the corona, is hundreds of times hotter, reaching a million degrees celsius or higher.
This spike in temperature, despite the increased distance from the sun's main energy source, has been observed in most stars, and represents a fundamental puzzle that astrophysicists have mulled over for decades.
In 1942, the Swedish scientist Hannes Alfvén proposed an explanation. He theorized that magnetized waves of plasma could carry huge amounts of energy along the sun's magnetic field from its interior to the corona, bypassing the photosphere before exploding with heat in the sun's upper atmosphere.
The theory had been tentatively accepted—but we still needed proof, in the form of empirical observation, that these waves existed. Our recent study has finally achieved this, validating Alfvén's 80 year-old theory and taking us a step closer to harnessing this high-energy phenomenon here on Earth.
Viasat names new leader for its government business
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 11:00
WASHINGTON — Viasat, a provider of satellite-based communications services, announced May 25 it has named Craig Miller to lead the company’s government business.
Miller, who joined the company in 1995 and most recently was Viasat’s chief technology officer, takes over as president of Viasat Government Systems, a post previously held by Ken Peterman.
NASA brands future Earth science missions as Earth System Observatory
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 10:26
WASHINGTON — A set of missions recommended by the Earth science decadal survey more than three years ago will be developed under a program called the Earth System Observatory, NASA and the White House announced May 24.
The White House announced the Earth System Observatory program in a fact sheet that outlined a broader program to monitor and address the impacts of climate change, including $1 billion in “pre-disaster mitigation resources” for communities provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Lynk files FCC license application for initial satellite system
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 09:32
WASHINGTON — Lynk, a startup developing a constellation of satellites to provide connectivity for mobile phones, has filed a license application with the Federal Communications Commission to operate an initial set of satellites.
Lynk announced May 25 that it filed the FCC application using the commission’s streamlined licensing process for smallsats established in 2019.
Lynk files FCC license application for initial direct-to-cellphone satellite system
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 09:32WASHINGTON — Lynk, a startup developing a constellation of satellites to provide connectivity for mobile phones, has filed a license application with the Federal Communications Commission to operate an initial set of satellites.
Lynk announced May 25 that it filed the FCC application using the commission’s streamlined licensing process for smallsats established in 2019.
Join us for live lunar eclipse
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 09:10
Join us, and the Moon, for a lunch date like no other starting from 11:30 CEST on Wednesday 26 May.
May's Full Moon comes with Supermoon Eclipse
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 08:04
As we approach month's end, there is not one, not two, but three celestial events happening with our Moon!
The Moon will be located on Earth's opposite side from the Sun and fully illuminated May 26, 2021, at 6:13 a.m. CDT. This Full Moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Flower Moon because this was the time of year when spring flowers appeared in abundance.
Compared British spaceflight to become reality as government provides launchpad for spaceports
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 08:04
Satellites and rockets could launch from UK soil in 2022, with spaceports planned for Cornwall, Wales and Scotland.
Another barrier to space exploration from UK soil has been lifted, with spaceports expected to be in operation from next summer.
Developed with the UK Space Agency and the Civil Aviation Authority, new regulations being laid in Parliament will mean satellites and rocket Merida Aerospace plans to begin rocket test launches in 2021
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 08:04
All eyes in the space launch and logistics industry are now set on Merida Aerospace following the latest announcement of starting rocket test launches in late 2021. With unique expertise, talent, and resources for spacecraft manufacturing, satellite design, satellite data collection, data distribution, and now, spacecraft launch, the company has stepped into the big game and is ready to go all o UK companies join forces to build revolutionary beam-hopping satellite
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 08:04
A group of UK space tech companies are developing a new beam-hopping satellite that will allow satellites to switch which part of the world they cover, managing real-time surges in commercial demand or responding to emergencies such as natural disasters, thanks to government funding.
Led by global satellite communications network OneWeb, the industrial partners have received over 32 millio Study: Milky Way evolved slowly, peacefully, just like a lot of other galaxies
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 08:04
It turns out the Milky Way isn't the product of a big, violent collision, new research says.
According to a study published Monday in the journal Astrophyiscal Journal Letters, Earth's home galaxy evolved slowly and relatively peacefully - and researchers say that makes it a pretty average galaxy.
Being inside the subject matter complicates studies of the Milky Way, so astronome SES Prices EUR 625 Million Hybrid Bond Offering
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 08:04
SES S.A. announced the successful launch and pricing of a hybrid bond offering in which it has agreed to sell Deeply Subordinated Fixed Rate Resettable Securities for a total amount of EUR 625 million, with a first reset date on 27 August 2026. The notes will bear a Coupon of 2.875% per annum and were priced at 99.409% of their nominal value.
The instrument's credit ratings are expected to NanoAvionics aims for 30 percent US-market share for smallsats
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 08:04
NanoAvionics has laid out its ambitious growth and business development plans for the USA via its existing facility in Columbia, Illinois. The smallsat bus manufacturer and mission integrator will develop the only satellite manufacturing facility in the state to become its main hub in the US.
Through this hub, NanoAvionics will further grow the portfolio and expand into other locations acr Iridium makes strategic investment in DDK Positioning for enhanced GNSS accuracy
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 08:04
Iridium Communications has made a strategic investment in DDK Positioning (DDK), an Aberdeen, Scotland based provider of enhanced Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) accuracy solutions.
DDK uses the Iridium network to provide global precision positioning services that can augment GNSS constellations, including GPS and Galileo, to significantly enhance their accuracy for critical indu Manchester scientists to launch low-orbiting satellite on SpaceX mission
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 08:04
The University of Manchester is leading a multi-million pound project to launch a satellite as part of a forthcoming SpaceX mission this coming summer.
The DISCOVERER project is a 5.7 million euro project led by The University of Manchester. It aims to revolutionise Earth observation satellites, developing technologies to enable them to operate in very low Earth orbits, under 450km altitud