Pasadena CA (JPL) Dec 05, 2023
Earth planning date: Friday, December 1, 2023: We have a three-sol plan today packed with many MAHLI observations! MAHLI will acquire images of the "Sequoia" drill hole, drill hole tailings, CheMin inlet, and the REMS UV sensor. APXS has a second measurement of the "Sequoia" drill tailings, offset slightly from the first tailings measurement made on Sol 4024. The plan also includes many at

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 05, 2023
In a significant advancement for NASA's Artemis III mission, engineers and technicians at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, have recently achieved a major milestone. They have successfully installed a crucial component, the frangible joint assembly, onto the launch vehicle stage adapter of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. This development is pivotal for the Artemis II

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Dec 05, 2023
A star near the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy originated outside of the Galaxy according to a new study. This is the first time a star of extragalactic origin has been found in the vicinity of the super massive black hole. Many stars are observed near the supermassive black hole known as Sagittarius A* at the center of our Galaxy. But the black hole's intens

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 05, 2023
LeoLabs, a commercial provider of Space Traffic Management (STM), Space Situational Awareness (SSA), and Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services, has announced a pivotal partnership with Aalyria, a front-runner in advanced software-defined and optical networking communications. This collaboration aims to tackle the mounting challenges in space awareness for intricate communications networks that i

Gainesville FL (SPX) Dec 05, 2023
In a recent study led by University of Florida astronomer Adam Ginsburg, groundbreaking findings shed light on a mysterious dark region at the center of the Milky Way. The turbulent gas cloud, playfully nicknamed "The Brick" due to its opacity, has sparked lively debates within the scientific community for years. To decipher its secrets, Ginsburg and his research team, including UF graduat

San Diego CA (SPX) Dec 05, 2023
In a significant step for Ireland's involvement in space exploration, Taoglas, a leader in antenna and IoT solutions, has played a crucial role in the launch of the country's first satellite, the Educational Irish Research Satellite 1 (EIRSAT-1). This historic event took place on December 1, with EIRSAT-1 ascending aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking Ireland's official entry into the realm

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 05, 2023
Denver-based aerospace company York Space Systems (York) has reported establishing communication with its BANE spacecraft shortly after launch. The satellite, carried aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base on December 1. York confirmed that it made successful first contact with the spacecraft on its first attempt, within just three hours following its depl

Atlanta GA (SPX) Dec 05, 2023
Georgia State Professor of Physics and Astronomy Stuart Jefferies has been awarded a $5 million, multi-institutional grant by the U.S. Air Force to develop techniques to detect, map and image faint objects in space. The work could have far-reaching impacts, including strengthening national security in an increasingly congested space domain. The work will also advance the next generation of

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 05, 2023
Six years of hard work and dedication paid off in spectacular fashion today, as the Educational Irish Research Satellite, EIRSAT-1, successfully blasted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Hitching a ride on a Space-X Falcon-9 launcher, the tiny satellite - measuring just 10.7cm x 10.7cm x 22.7cm - has now made history as Ireland's first satellite! EIRSAT-1 was designed, buil

Kennedy Space Center FL (SPX) Dec 05, 2023
The discovery after its launch that the Hubble Space Telescope's primary mirror suffered from a flaw disappointed scientists who could not obtain the sharp images they had expected. But thanks to the Hubble's built-in feature of on-orbit servicing, NASA devised a plan to correct the telescope's optics during the first planned repair mission. The agency assigned one of its most experienced crews