Berlin, Germany (SPX) Apr 12, 2024
In a controlled environment at the University of Stuttgart's High Enthalpy Flow Diagnostics Group (HEFDiG), a significant experiment is taking place. A reaction wheel, critical for adjusting a satellite's orientation in space, is being tested under simulated reentry conditions using a plasma wind tunnel. This device, capable of generating arc-heated gas streams at speeds of several kilometers pe

London, UK (SPX) Apr 12, 2024
The University of Warwick has received a GBP 3 million grant from the European Research Council to develop a digital telescope designed for continuous, high-sensitivity monitoring of the night sky. This innovative equipment will enable real-time detection of significant astrophysical phenomena such as stellar explosions and black hole mergers. It can also monitor satellites, asteroids, and

Washington DC (UPI) Apr 11, 2024
NASA's eye in the sky has unexpectedly shut off, temporarily interrupting its survey of space. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, which has been searching for planets like Earth outside of the solar system, unexpectedly went into "safe mode" Monday, NASA said. The space agency said it is investigating the cause of TESS's shutdown, which happened during routine ac

Bristol, UK (SPX) Apr 12, 2024
Recent research provides critical new perspectives on the historical evolution of oxygen, carbon, and other essential elements on Earth, potentially aiding in the evaluation of habitability on other planets. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, was spearheaded by University of Bristol scientists who demonstrated the significant role of carbon-rich rocks in boosting oxygen production and re

Pasadena, United States (AFP) April 12, 2024
US space scientists on Thursday unveiled the interplanetary probe NASA plans to send to one of Jupiter's icy moons as part of humanity's hunt for extra-terrestrial life. The Clipper spacecraft is due to blast off in October bound for Europa, one of dozens of moons orbiting the Solar System's biggest planet, and the nearest spot in our celestial neighborhood that could offer a perch for life.

Paris, France (SPX) Apr 12, 2024
In preparation for a critical mission maneuver in 2031, ESA's Juice spacecraft recently completed a simulated flyby of Jupiter's moon Callisto at the ESOC mission operations center in Germany. This early test involved tricking Juice's engineering model into believing it was navigating past Callisto, to evaluate the spacecraft's autonomous navigation software. Due to the significant communi

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 12, 2024
Our solar system's giant planets-Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune-are surrounded by nearly 300 moons. Researchers utilize crater analysis to deduce the ages and origins of these celestial bodies. Various theories explain the creation of the solar system's moons. Predominantly, it is believed that they formed from disks of gas, dust, and pebbles that encircled nascent planets, similar t

Washington DC (UPI) Apr 11, 2024
SpaceX launched its second national security mission of 2024 on Thursday with a Falcon 9 rocket lifting the U.S. Space Force mission USSF-62 into orbit. The mission took off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:25 a.m. EDT. The mission sends a Weather System Follow-on Microwave satellite, or WSF-M, to low Earth orbit. BAE Systems said it "will provide critical and

Moscow (AFP) April 11, 2024
A Russian rocket blasted off for a test flight on Thursday at the third try, after previous launch attempts earlier this week were aborted in the final seconds of countdown. The flagship Angara A5 - a powerful spacecraft designed to carry heavy payloads into low Earth orbit - took off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East, a live broadcast showed. "The rocket worked acc

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 12, 2024
As NASA prepares for the Artemis II mission, the Orion spacecraft is set for extensive testing to ensure its readiness for lunar exploration. Engineers at Kennedy Space Center have recently upgraded the altitude chamber used for these tests. The upgrades were made in anticipation of the testing phase, ensuring the spacecraft endures conditions similar to those