Researchers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have discovered that the magnetar SGR 0501+4516 was not born in a neighbouring supernova as previously thought. The birthplace of this object is now unknown, and SGR 0501+4516 is the likeliest candidate in our galaxy for a magnetar that was not born in a supernova. This discovery was made possible by Hubble’s sensitive instruments as well as highly accurate reference data from the European Space Agency's Gaia spacecraft.

An ESA-funded study that used satellite data to define biodiversity zones and shipping lanes in the Atlantic Ocean suggests it is possible to protect 30% of ocean habitats, with little impact on fishing and shipping.

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Meet Biomass – ESA’s next Earth Explorer mission to launch. Carrying the first P-band synthetic aperture radar in space, this new mission is set to deliver crucial information about the state of our forests and how they are changing, and to further our knowledge of the role forests play in the carbon cycle.

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 14, 2025
In a landmark demonstration of material resilience, researchers at Tsinghua University's School of Materials Science and Engineering have confirmed that two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor materials can endure the extreme environment of space. The investigation, led by Professor Ruitao Lv, involved launching both 2D materials and field-effect transistors (FETs) into low Earth orbit aboard China's

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 14, 2025
Orbital Watch, a first-of-its-kind initiative produced by Space Systems Command's (SSC) Front Door, will provide critical, unclassified threat information as a resource to assist companies across the commercial sector in developing capabilities pre-designed to defend against current and emerging threats. Front Door is a first-step portal for early-stage startups, non-traditional partners,

Paris, France (SPX) Apr 14, 2025
The ALEK structure, part of ESA's uncrewed Space Rider vehicle, has successfully completed an extensive battery of mechanical qualification tests at the agency's facilities. Over a two-month campaign, ALEK was subjected to a full suite of stress simulations replicating the extreme conditions of launch aboard a Vega-C rocket. The initial phase of testing focused on vibration endurance. Tech

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 14, 2025
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman gave insights into a new, soon-to-be-released International Partnership Strategy to unify like-minded nations' efforts in the space domain during his keynote at the 40th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, April 9. Saltzman described this strategy as a critical evolution in response to growing threats and rapid technological advancements, dec

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 15, 2025
Northrop Grumman Corporation's Space Logistics LLC has achieved a significant milestone in commercial satellite servicing, successfully completing the first-ever undocking between two commercial spacecraft in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO). The Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1) disengaged from Intelsat's IS-901 satellite, marking the conclusion of a five-year mission that extended the operat

San Antonio TX (SPX) Apr 15, 2025
NASA's Lucy spacecraft is 6 days and less than 50 million miles (80 million km) away from its second close encounter with an asteroid; this time, the small main belt asteroid Donaldjohanson. This upcoming event represents a comprehensive "dress rehearsal" for Lucy's main mission over the next decade: the exploration of multiple Trojan asteroids that share Jupiter's orbit around the Sun. Lu