Earth’s mesosphere is often called a “no-fly zone.” The air there is far too thin for conventional aircraft. But new ultralight devices might challenge that limitation, staying aloft with nothing more than sunlight. Photophoresis as a Key to Mesosphere Flight This approach relies on photophoresis — a gas flow that occurs when light strikes an […]
Sunlight Alone Keeps These Tiny Aircraft Aloft Read More »
When NASA’s Dawn mission reached Ceres in 2015, scientists and the public got their first detailed view of this intriguing and enigmatic dwarf planet. The Largest Object in the Asteroid Belt As the largest body in the Main Asteroid Belt, making up more than 39% of its total mass, Ceres is the only object in
The Largest Object in the Asteroid Belt May Have Hosted Life in the Past Read More »
In 2023, astronomers witnessed one of the most unusual cosmic explosions ever recorded. The event occurred about 750 million light-years away and was first detected on July 7 by the Zwicky Transient Facility. Initially, it appeared to be a typical supernova — the explosive death of a star — and was designated SN 2023zkd. A
Star’s Attempt to Devour a Black Hole May Have Sparked a New Kind of Supernova Read More »
If Earth ever needed to borrow a cup of sugar, there could be a promising candidate just 4.34 light-years away: a possible habitable planet orbiting Alpha Centauri, according to recent findings from the James Webb Space Telescope. A Star System in Science and Popular Culture Alpha Centauri has long held a place in both astronomy
Our Closest Star Neighbor Might Host a Potentially Habitable World Read More »
Future Moon settlers will face a long list of hazards – from the airless environment and intense cosmic radiation to corrosive lunar dust, meteoroid impacts, and extreme temperature swings between day and night. Now, scientists warn that moonquakes should be added to that list of dangers. While science fiction often imagines Moon bases under attack
Moonquakes Could Pose Serious Risks to Future Lunar Bases Read More »
Who monitors the watchers and spies on the spy satellites? The answer lies in an optical payload called Morning Sparrow, developed by Scout Space. Carried aboard Dawn Aerospace’s Aurora spaceplane, this sensor system traveled to the edge of space to capture imagery of low-orbit reconnaissance satellites. From Rare Eyes in the Sky to a Crowded
Robotic Spaceplane Flies to the Edge of Space to Monitor Spy Satellites Read More »
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has signed a new agreement to transport Italian scientific experiments aboard its Starship megarocket on upcoming Mars missions, as announced Thursday. “Italy is heading to Mars!” said Teodoro Valente, president of the Italian Space Agency, in a post on X. He noted that the experiments will be part of the first Starship
SpaceX to Launch Italian Scientific Research to Mars Read More »
Hubble Network is set to significantly enhance its satellite-based Bluetooth system. The Seattle startup, aiming to bring Apple’s Find My to enterprises, has built a phased-array receiver for a “true Bluetooth layer around the Earth,” says CEO Alex Haro. Next-Gen Satellites to Boost Global Coverage and Device Efficiency by 2027 This technology will launch aboard
Hubble Network Plans Satellite Upgrade for Global Bluetooth Coverage Read More »
Science is fueled by our curiosity to comprehend the world. When understanding something new demands major effort and resources, it helps to have a strategic framework that researchers in a specific field can collectively support—even if they differ on specific points. In astronomy and space science, such strategies often come as Decadal Surveys from the
NASA Identifies Key Unanswered Questions In The Study Of Exoplanets Read More »
Veteran supervisor Robert Markert claims he warned SpaceX leadership that part of the rocket fairing recovery process posed a serious risk of “serious injury or death.” According to a recently filed lawsuit, he claims the company dismissed his concerns in favor of a more cost-effective method. Just a few months later, he lost his job.
SpaceX is now Facing Two new Lawsuits Claiming Retaliation over Safety Concerns Read More »