Austin TX (SPX) Apr 26, 2022
Researchers from the Oden Institute and Jackson School of Geosciences have developed an improved model for planet-wide groundwater flow prediction on Mars that is not only more accurate but, according to its author, more elegant too. Mars is believed to have collided with a huge astral entity around four billion years ago. The Late Heavy Bombardment refers to a period where it is bel

Charlottesville VA (SPX) Apr 26, 2022
Powerful radar systems have played a major role in the study of planets, moons, asteroids, and other objects in our Solar System for several decades, and now have a "unique role" to play in planetary defense - "providing protection to the nations of the world from devastating asteroid and comet impacts," according to the newly released Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032.

Albany CA (SPX) Apr 26, 2022
The seismometer placed on Mars by NASA's InSight lander has recorded its two largest seismic events to date: a magnitude 4.2 and a magnitude 4.1 marsquake. The pair are the first recorded events to occur on the planet's far side from the lander and are five times stronger than the previous largest event recorded. Seismic wave data from the events could help researchers learn more about the

Beijing (XNA) Apr 26, 2022
Chinese scientists and engineers are considering sending a robotic probe to collect dust and rocks from the far side of the moon, an ambitious endeavor that would likely be a world first, according to a senior space agency official. Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the China National Space Administration, said the United States, Russia and China have brought lunar substances back to Earth, bu

Pasadena CA (JPL) Apr 26, 2022
Entering the weekend, we have a few more 'rad' rocks we'd like to get some science on before we drive farther away from the Greenheugh pediment and begin our journey again up Mt. Sharp. Starting on sol 3453, we break out our arm instruments for contact science with APXS and MAHLI on "Rumblings," a rock with an interesting knobby texture, followed by a delta over to "Delting," a flat area o

Kennedy Space Center FL (SPX) Apr 26, 2022
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a batch of the company's Starlink internet satellites lifts off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, on April 21, 2022. On the right, NASA's Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard sits atop a mobile launcher at Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center, wh

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Apr 26, 2022
IHI Co., Ltd (IA) received order for launching the small SAR satellites(*1) owned by Institute for Q-Shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (hereinafter 'iQPS'). IA and iQPS signed the contract for launch service of QPS-SAR-3 and QPS-SAR-4 (*2) on April 18, 2022. QPS-SAR-3 and QPS-SAR-4 are under manufacturing by iQPS with more than 25 partner companies in northern Kyushu and other parts of Japan. Tw

Washington DC (SPX) Apr 26, 2022
Following a thorough evaluation, NASA has extended the planetary science missions of eight of its spacecraft due to their scientific productivity and potential to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the solar system and beyond. The missions - Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity rover), InSight lander, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, OSIR

Washington DC (UPI) Apr 25, 2021
After nearly a week of delays, the first-ever all private astronaut mission to the International Space Station came to an end Monday, with the crew splashing down in the early afternoon off the coast of Florida. "Dragon Endeavour has returned, bringing the Axiom-1 crew home," SpaceX officials announced on the livestream. "On behalf of the entire SpaceX team, welcome back to planet Earth