Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 13, 2024
Lichens, those resilient organisms made up of fungi and photosynthetic partners, are found just about everywhere on Earth, thriving on surfaces like rocks, trees, and even buildings. Known from all continents, some species have even endured the harsh environment outside the International Space Station. Their adaptability has intrigued scientists, particularly astrobiologists who see Earth's lich

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 13, 2024
The Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers continue to provide a wealth of information about the Red Planet. This was made possible in part by the sky crane landing systems that safely lowered them to the planet's surface. Their successful descent, managed by eight powerful engines, depended on one small part - a valve. The engines produced about 750 poun

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 13, 2024
NASA is offering the public an opportunity to virtually experience the journey of the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) through the "Eyes on the Solar System" tool. This interactive simulation provides real-time updates on the positions of planets, moons, and spacecraft, including the ACS3. Solar sails utilize sunlight pressure for propulsion, adjusting their angle relative to th

Paris (AFP) Oct 11, 2024
Scientist Jim Wild has travelled to the Arctic Circle numerous times to study the northern lights, but on Thursday night he only needed to look out of his bedroom window in the English city of Lancaster. For at least the second time this year, skygazers in many parts of the world were treated to colourful auroras at latitudes beyond the polar extremes where they normally light up the skies.

Washington DC (UPI) Oct 11, 2024
A comet just discovered last year by observers will whizz past Earth from 44 million miles away but leave a trail of dust and gases visible to the naked eye, NASA said. Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas will make its closest approach to Earth on Saturday and won't be back for about 80,000 years, the space agency said. It is about two miles in diameter and its tail extends millions of miles.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 12, 2024
NASA and SpaceX are now targeting Monday, October 14, 2024, for the launch of the Europa Clipper mission. Following the impact of Hurricane Milton, teams have been carrying out system checks to ensure the spacecraft is ready for flight. The launch will take place from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The Europa Clipper mission is ai

Week in images: 07-11 October 2024

Discover our week through the lens

Image: Resembling a Martian-like surface, this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image shows part of the Hardap region in south-central Namibia on the western edge of the Kalahari Desert.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 11, 2024
While moons beyond our solar system have yet to be directly confirmed, a NASA-led study may offer indirect evidence suggesting the presence of a volcanic moon orbiting a distant planet 635 light-years away. Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have identified a significant clue - a sodium cloud - that may indicate the existence of a volcanic moon orbiting the Saturn-sized gas gi

Paris, France (SPX) Oct 11, 2024
A new camera designed for the Moon has become a key tool for astronauts during ESA's latest PANGAEA geology training session in Lanzarote, Spain. Engineers, scientists, and astronauts tested the Handheld Universal Lunar Camera (HULC) as part of efforts to refine its design for NASA's Artemis missions to the Moon. The international team evaluated various features of the camera, including te