Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 21, 2023
NASA's intrepid Voyager twins, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched in 1977, continue their unprecedented explorations of interstellar space. But as they reach farther distances from Earth-more than 15 billion miles for Voyager 1 and 12 billion for Voyager 2-keeping them operational requires strategic forethought. One pressing concern relates to the gradual buildup of propellant residue in t

New Delhi (AFP) Oct 21, 2023
India on Saturday successfully launched the first unmanned trial run of its upcoming crewed orbital mission, in the latest milestone for its spacefaring ambitions. The Gaganyaan ("Skycraft") mission is slated to send three astronauts into Earth's orbit in 2025, an important yardstick of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) technical capabilities. Saturday's rocket tested the

Space Coast FL (SPX) Oct 22, 2023
SpaceX successfully executed a two-part Starlink satellite mission on Saturday, deploying a total of 44 satellites from two separate launch sites in a single day. The ambitious mission represents the latest milestone in SpaceX's ongoing effort to expand its Starlink global broadband service. The day's first launch took place at 4:23 a.m. ET from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. A

Chengdu, China (AFP) Oct 22, 2023
Once effectively banned, Chinese science fiction has exploded into the mainstream, embraced by the government and public alike - inviting scrutiny of a genre that has become known for its expanding diversity and relative freedom. Its new status was epitomised by this week's Worldcon, the world's oldest and most influential sci-fi gathering, which closed Sunday after taking place in China fo

Chengdu, China (AFP) Oct 21, 2023
Women writers are taking the Chinese science fiction scene by storm, with their increasing prominence one of the genre's most noticeable trends, according to participants at a major convention in Chengdu this week. Worldcon - the world's oldest and most influential sci-fi gathering - is taking place in China for the first time, drawing hordes of eager local fans of all genders. China

Chengdu, China (AFP) Oct 20, 2023
In a sleek silver building designed to look like an expanding nebula, thousands of delighted Chinese science fiction fans gathered this week for a massive international convention. The World Science Fiction Convention, or Worldcon, globally the oldest and most influential sci-fi event, has never been held in China before. The convention's venue is the striking Chengdu Science Fiction Mu

Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) offers attractive opportunities for space applications. ESA is calling for novel ideas to advance our understanding of what is possible in VLEO.