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 »
NASA has successfully tested an advanced cooling system that could be crucial for future human missions to Mars. Without this new cryocooler, spacecraft could arrive on the Red Planet with depleted fuel reserves—jeopardizing the entire journey. Decades-Old Dream Meets Modern Engineering Though the concept of sending astronauts to Mars has been around for over 70
Breakthrough Cryocooler Paves the Way for Crewed Missions to Mars Read More »
Most comets, like the famous Halley’s, orbit through our solar system as icy remnants from its formation about 4.5 billion years ago. But every so often, a truly unusual object appears—something not from around here. These rare visitors are interstellar drifters, either born in distant star systems or wandering alone through the vastness of space.
This Ancient Comet Might Precede the Birth of Our Solar System Read More »
Northrop Grumman has completed a successful ground test of the rocket motor that could power the first-ever orbital launch from another planet. This solid-fuel booster is a key component in the effort to bring geological samples back from Mars. Mars Sample Return: A Global Scientific Endeavor The Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission stands as one
Rocket Engine for First Interplanetary Launch Successfully Tested on Earth Read More »