Daytona Beach FL (SPX) Nov 09, 2021
The first time senior Olivia Siu experienced hypoxia - a condition caused by lack of oxygen, sometimes suffered by pilots - she thought she was functioning fairly well. She was in the High-Altitude Lab (HAL) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, focusing on folding a paper boat. Despite her low oxygen intake, her dexterity was perfect, and each crease of her creation was exact. There wa

Broomfield CO (SPX) Nov 11, 2021
NASA's Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), built by Ball Aerospace, safely arrived Friday at Cape Canaveral in Fla. A collaboration between Ball, NASA, and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), IXPE is an astrophysics observatory set to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in December. Once on orbit, IXPE will measure the polarization of cosmic X-rays to improve our understanding of th

St. Louis MO (SPX) Nov 11, 2021
Strange 'eggshell planets' are among the rich variety of exoplanets possible, according to a study from Washington University in St. Louis. These rocky worlds have an ultra-thin outer brittle layer and little to no topography. Such worlds are unlikely to have plate tectonics, raising questions as to their habitability. Only a small subset of extrasolar planets are likely eggshell planets.

Greenbelt MD (SPX) Nov 10, 2021
Short for Venus Mass Spectrometer, VMS is one of five instruments aboard the DAVINCI descent probe. Launching in 2029, DAVINCI will be the first US probe mission to enter Venus' atmosphere in over 40 years. The goal of the mission is to explore Venus to determine if it was habitable, and to understand how it ended up as inhospitable as it did. The probe will descend for around one hour thr

Pasadena CA (JPL) Nov 10, 2021
We did it! Yet another successful hole has been drilled in Mars! Welcome to the family, "Zechstein!" Tosol, Curiosity is planning for a TON of cool science including a ChemCam vertical raster in our new drill hole (more about this below), CheMin analysis of the mineralogy of this drill sample, and several image mosaics! Mosaics are a common activity with our mission, and we have SO m

Long Beach CA (SPX) Nov 11, 2021
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has announced the appointment of Andrew Bunker to the role of Vice President of Government Operations and Business Strategy, effective November 8, 2021. Mr. Bunker will be primarily responsible for the development and execution of company's federal, state, and local government strategy. Mr. Bunker will also play a leading role in strengthening Rocket Lab's engagement w

Beijing (XNA) Nov 10, 2021
China and Africa will strengthen their communication and cooperation in promoting and using the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, according to participants at an international forum that was held in Beijing on Friday. Officials, industry leaders and researchers from China, several African nations and the African Union shared their thoughts at the First China-Africa Beidou System Cooperat

Evry, France (SPX) Nov 10, 2021
The 12th launch by Arianespace in 2021, the Vega light launcher will lift off, for the third time this year, from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, on November 16, 2021. It will carry on board three CERES satellites for the French Ministry of the Armed Forces. The CERES program comprises three satellites flying in formation in low Earth orbit (LEO). Equipped with high-perfo

Rocklin CA (SPX) Nov 11, 2021
Orbital Assembly Corporation (OAC) a company focused on becoming the leading large-scale space construction company enabling humanity to work, play and thrive in the space ecosystem announces its crowdfunding equity offering (Regulation CF). OAC plans to use the funding to advance its design and construction teams, marketing initiatives and revenue generating goals around space habitation and co

Coverage of ESA astronaut Matthias’s Maurer’s journey to the International Space Station continues, with docking scheduled for 00:10 GMT/ 01:10 CET Friday 12 November and streaming live on ESA Web TV 2.

Matthias and his NASA astronaut crew mates Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron were launched in a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft called Endurance from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, at 02:03 GMT/03:03 CET Thursday 11 November.