Did nature or nurture shape the Milky Way's most common planets
A Carnegie-led survey of exoplanet candidates identified by NASA's Transiting Exoplanets Satellite Survey (TESS) is laying the groundwork to help astronomers understand how the Milky Way's most common planets formed and evolved, and determine why our Solar System's pattern of planetary orbits and sizes is so unusual.
Carnegie's Johanna Teske, Tsinghua University's Sharon Wang (formerly of X-59 Resembles Actual Aircraft
A heavy chorus of bolting and machinery filled the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology, or QueSST, assembly building as engineers, system technicians, and aircraft fabricators worked to merge the major aircraft sections together, making it look like an actual aircraft for the first time since the initial cut of metal in 2018.
"We've now transitioned from being a bunch of separate parts sittin NSF awards funding for next-generation VLA antenna development
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) $23 million for design and development work on the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA), including producing a prototype antenna. The ngVLA, a powerful radio telescope with 263 dish antennas distributed across North America, is proposed as one of the next generation of cutting-edge astronomical Lunar spacesuits won’t be ready in time for 2024 landing
Spacesuits that NASA astronauts will need to walk on the moon won't be ready in time to meet a 2024 lunar landing goal, NASA’s inspector general concluded.
Keeping an eye on ocean plastic pollution…from space!
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Meet bag, bottle and straw, three bits of plastic left on the beach.
They are only small, but they are heading into the ocean, where they could cause big damage. ESA is exploring how satellites can help detect and reduce plastic pollution in the ocean. From spotting build-ups of marine litter to tracking ocean currents, satellites could be game-changing in tackling this enormous environmental problem.
Though engaging for children and adults alike, this video is designed with primary school students in mind. In particular, teachers can use it to introduce the topic of marine litter in subjects such as
Ground station collaboration paving way for pioneering space missions
Ground station providers anticipate a new era of collaboration after coming together to support Astroscale, the startup months away from conducting the world’s first privately funded debris-removal demonstration.
NASA Spacecraft Provides Insight into Asteroid Bennu’s Future Orbit
NASA researchers used precision-tracking data from the agency’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to better understand movements of the potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu, significantly reducing uncertainties related to its future orbit, and improving scientists’ ability to determine the total impact probability and predict orbits of other asteroids. Lunar cubesats head to the launch pad
The first cubesats designed to study the moon are scheduled to launch late this year, with more in development in the next few years.
Hyten: To counter hypersonic missiles DoD needs ‘overhead sensors that see everything’
Sensors in space that can detect and track hypersonic missiles should be at the top of DoD’s wish list, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Hyten said Aug.
Supply of small launch vehicles continues to grow
The number of small launch vehicle projects continues to grow despite the pandemic and the widespread belief of there is a significant oversupply of such vehicles, but that growth may be showing signs of slowing.
