Baltimore MD (SPX) Mar 14, 2024
What do margaritas, vinegar, and ant stings have in common? They contain chemical ingredients that NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has identified surrounding two young protostars known as IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385. Although planets are not yet forming around those stars, these and other molecules detected there by Webb represent key ingredients for making potentially habitable worlds. An in

Loa Alamos NM (SPX) Mar 14, 2024
The origin of heavy elements in our universe is theorized to be the result of neutron star collisions, which produce conditions hot and dense enough for free neutrons to merge with atomic nuclei and form new elements in a split-second window of time. Testing this theory and answering other astrophysical questions requires predictions for a vast range of masses of atomic nuclei. Los Alamos Nation

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Mar 14, 2024
Yang Mengfei, a prominent spacecraft scientist and advisor, has urged for state backing in developing a satellite designed for solar observations from a unique solar polar orbit. This initiative aims to deepen our understanding of solar phenomena that significantly influence earthly technologies and natural occurrences. Yang, a senior researcher at the China Academy of Space Technology and

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 14, 2024
In a significant boost to national security and space capabilities, Defense Unicorns, a pioneering open-source software and Artificial Intelligence (AI) provider, has secured a $15 million funding boost from the U.S. Space Force. This Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI), in collaboration with the Program Executive Office Assured Access to Space (AATS), aims to enhance and expand secure software

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Mar 14, 2024
In an ambitious move marking a new chapter for Australia's space industry, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has joined forces with Space Machines Company (SMC), aiming to enhance space sustainability. This collaboration is set against the backdrop of Australia's goal to expand its space economy from AU$4 billion to AU$12 billion by 2030, alongside creating 20,000 jobs. During a st

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 14, 2024
BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) has been awarded a significant $24 million contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to enhance moving target engagement capabilities through development and demonstration. The contract showcases BlackSky's innovative approach to integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with satellite technology for improved detection, tracking, and identification

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 14, 2024
In the quest for clearer astronomical images and superior optical performance, the key might just lie in achieving the deepest possible black. The pursuit of such a goal has led researchers to develop an innovative ultrablack coating, set to significantly improve next-generation telescopes and optical devices. This breakthrough, published in the Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A by AIP

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 18, 2024
The U.S. Space Force, through its Small Launch and Targets Division located at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has officially issued a call for additional service providers to join the Orbital Services Program (OSP)-4. This move, spearheaded by the Space Systems Command's (SSC) Assured Access to Space (AATS) initiative, aims to broaden the roster of launch providers eligible

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 13, 2024
Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC) has secured a contract worth $444 million to assist in the Digital Transformation, Acquisition, Modernization, and Modification (DTAMM) for the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command and Space Launch Deltas (SLDs) 30 and 45. David Ray, Executive Vice President of the Space and Intelligence Business Group at SAIC, remarked on the signi

New York NY (SPX) Mar 18, 2024
As automation and robots reshape the way many industries operate, there is an apprehension that human skill sets and collaboration will become obsolete in certain areas. The space sector is an industry that has utilized robots for decades. However, a question often looms even among some experts in the sector: Are humans needed to explore space? And are robots a better alternative to reach deep s