Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 04, 2023
Sierra Space has commenced a comprehensive testing campaign for its Shooting Star cargo module at NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. This significant step marks a critical phase in preparing the spacecraft for its first mission to the International Space Station (ISS), focusing on its resilience to the harsh conditions of space and the rigors of launch. The Sierra Space

Washington DC (SPX) Dec 04, 2023
In microgravity, without the continuous load of Earth's gravity, the tissues that make up bones reshape themselves. Bone cells readjust their behaviors-the cells that build new bone slow down, while the cells that break down old or damaged bone tissue keep operating at their normal pace so that breakdown outpaces growth, producing weaker and more brittle bones. For every month in space, astronau

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 04, 2023
Airbus (EPA: AIR) has officially commenced the full-scale production of the Galileo Second Generation (G2) satellites, a significant milestone in the evolution of the European Global Navigation Satellite System. The production process is underway at the Airbus facility in Friedrichshafen, Germany, marking a new phase in the Galileo program. The first satellite Flight Model structure, a cri

Nagoya, Japan (SPX) Dec 04, 2023
In early November of this year, the night skies were adorned with aurora borealis, visible as far south as Italy and Texas, signaling the impacts of a solar coronal mass ejection on Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere. This event, while significant, pales in comparison to the February 1872 Chapman-Silverman storm, one of the largest magnetic storms in recorded history. An international team of

Paris, France (SPX) Dec 04, 2023
The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) is taking a significant leap in space education by partnering with the Erasmus+ program, aiming to captivate the young minds of primary and secondary students through the fascinating world of asteroids, meteors, and planetary defense. The initiative, named StudenTs As plaNetary Defenders (StAnD), is a novel approach by COSPAR's Panel on Education, dedicat

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 04, 2023
German-based space technology firm Vyoma has achieved a notable milestone, securing two significant awards at the 2023 SmallSatellite Conference in Berlin. These awards, presented by the German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), highlight Vyoma's contributions to the small satellite sector and its alignment with Europe's strategic space interests. Vyoma's double win compris

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 04, 2023
NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) has recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing Key Decision Point D (KDP-D). This vital step permits the transition of the IMAP mission from its development and design phase to the crucial stages of assembly, testing, and integration. The progress marks a pivotal moment for this ambitious project, aligning it on

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Dec 04, 2023
Pentoses are essential carbohydrates in the metabolism of modern lifeforms, but their availability during early Earth is unclear since these molecules are unstable. A new study led by the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, reveals a chemical pathway compatible with early Earth conditions and by which C6 aldonates could have acted as a source of pentoses

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 04, 2023
Astronomers from the Netherlands have provided compelling evidence linking a repeating Fast Radio Burst (FRB) source to a potential 'hypernebula.' Utilizing the European VLBI Network (EVN), the team has made significant strides in understanding these mysterious cosmic phenomena. This research marks a notable advancement in the study of FRBs and their origins. Fast Radio Bursts are fleeting

Austin TX (SPX) Dec 04, 2023
It first appeared as a glowing blob from ground-based telescopes and then vanished completely in images from the Hubble Space Telescope. Now, the ghostly object has reappeared as a faint, yet distinct galaxy in an image from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Astronomers with the COSMOS-Web collaboration have identified the object AzTECC71 as a dusty star-forming galaxy. Or, in other w