Washington DC (UPI) Aug 13, 2024
For the first time, ultra-cold atoms have been used to detect changes in the surrounding environment in space, taking a step of revolutionizing how quantum science can be used. A new study released Tuesday in the science journal Nature Communications, NASA's Cold Atom Lab on the International Space Station measured subtle vibrations of the orbiting lab. The team using the Cold At

Washington (AFP) Aug 12, 2024
The Earth was hit Monday by an intense solar storm that could bring the northern lights to night skies further south than normal, a US agency announced. Conditions of a level-four geomagnetic storm - on a scale of five - were observed Monday from 1500 GMT, according to a specialized center at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These conditions may persist fo

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Aug 12, 2024
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) successfully completed its 52nd Electron rocket mission, deploying a satellite into low Earth orbit for Capella Space. The mission, titled "A Sky Full of SARs," was named to highlight the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capabilities of Capella's spacecraft. The launch occurred at 01:18 AM New Zealand Standard Time on August 12th from Launch Complex 1, loc

Lausanne, Switzerland (SPX) Aug 13, 2024
Starting Monday, the Earth will be passing through a meteor shower. But in astronomy, the human eye is very much a limited tool. But increasingly powerful instruments are allowing us to peer ever deeper into the cosmos and ever further back in time, shedding new light on the origins of the universe. Today, scientists are able to observe an exoplanet orbiting its star, an individual galaxy

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 14, 2024
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have devised a new timekeeping system specifically for the Moon, addressing the challenges posed by its gravitational environment. The proposed lunar time system aims to support accurate navigation and communication for future lunar missions, including NASA's Artemis program. On Earth, GPS relies on precise timekeepin

Paris, France (SPX) Aug 13, 2024
The Dutch Black Hole Consortium has unveiled an 8-language version of the BlackHoleFinder app, enabling global citizens to assist in identifying newly formed black holes. While previously accessible only in Dutch and English, the app now supports Spanish, German, Chinese, Bengali, Polish, and Italian. This expansion, announced at the 32nd IAU General Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa, signific

Berkeley CA (SPX) Aug 13, 2024
Using seismic activity to probe the interior of Mars, geophysicists have found evidence for a large underground reservoir of liquid water - enough to fill oceans on the planet's surface. The data from NASA's Insight lander allowed the scientists to estimate that the amount of groundwater could cover the entire planet to a depth of between 1 and 2 kilometers, or about a mile. While th

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 13, 2024
At the start of the week, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) delved into a range of space construction methods while awaiting the arrival of a new cargo craft. This craft is expected to deliver essential supplies, including food and fuel, for the upcoming months. NASA and its international collaborators are exploring cost-effective approaches for constructing satellite

Washington DC (UPI) Aug 13, 2024
NASA officials scheduled a status update for Wednesday regarding the Boeing Starliner's 10-day shakedown run that turned into a months-long stay aboard the International Space Station for two test pilots. The media teleconference is scheduled at 1 p.m. EDT and will provide reporters with a status update on the Starliner's readiness to return to Earth, which would occur no earlier than s

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 12, 2024
China's recent mission to retrieve samples from the far side of the moon has reignited discussions about potential US-China cooperation in space research, particularly in addressing global issues like climate change. "The US and China each have very innovative space programs, and one area, for example, where the US and China could work together today would be space-based solar," said Danie