Columbus OH (SPX) Mar 20, 2025
The discovery of dark energy, nearly 30 years ago, was already the biggest surprise of my scientific lifetime," said David Weinberg, a professor of astronomy at Ohio State who also contributed to the DESI analysis. "These new measurements offer the strongest evidence so far that dark energy evolves, which would be another mind-blowing change to our understanding of how the universe works."

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 19, 2025
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) ("Rocket Lab" or "the Company"), an established leader in space systems and launch solutions, has confirmed the rapid scheduling of an Electron mission for OroraTech, a Germany-based specialist in wildfire detection and monitoring technologies. The mission, titled "Finding Hot Wildfires Near You," is slated for liftoff during a window beginning March 27t

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 19, 2025
ATLAS Space Operations has partnered with satellite communications leader Viasat, Inc. to deliver essential support for NASA's current and future missions. Viasat, among the initial group of four firms awarded Task Orders under NASA's Near Space Network (NSN) Services contract, will deploy its Real-Time Earth (RTE) network globally to boost NASA's Direct-to-Earth (DTE) communications capabilitie

Princeton NJ (SPX) Mar 19, 2025
New research by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) collaboration has produced the clearest images yet of the universe's infancy - the earliest cosmic time yet accessible to humans. Measuring light that traveled for more than 13 billion years to reach a telescope high in the Chilean Andes, the new images reveal the universe when it was about 380,000 years old - the equivalent of hours-old baby

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Mar 19, 2025
Unusual geological formations discovered in the deserts of Namibia, Oman, and Saudi Arabia suggest that an unidentified microorganism once inhabited marble and limestone in these regions. Researchers observed minute vertical tunnels within the rock, which appear to have been formed by biological activity rather than natural geological forces. "We were surprised because these tubes are clea

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 19, 2025
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced the successful conclusion of its Orbital Test Bed (OTB) satellite's primary mission, which began with its June 2019 launch. The satellite has now transitioned into its projected 20-year deorbit trajectory. "OTB began an exciting chapter for GA-EMS as this was the first launch of our GA-150 spacecraft hosting multiple payloads on a

Image: The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

Image: Inner space engineering

Video: 00:09:13

Meet Andrea Patassa—test pilot, aviator, passionate outdoor adventurer, and Member of ESA’s Astronaut Reserve. 

In this miniseries, we take you on a journey through the ESA Astronaut Reserve, diving into the first part of their Astronaut Reserve Training (ART) at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) near Cologne, Germany. Our “ARTists” are immersing themselves in everything from ESA and the International Space Station programme to the European space industry and institutions. They’re gaining hands-on experience in technical skills like spacecraft systems and robotics, alongside human behaviour, scientific lessons, scuba diving, and survival training. 

ESA’s Astronaut Reserve Training programme

Week in images: 17-21 March 2025

Discover our week through the lens