NASA Seeks Public Input On 32 Critical Technology Shortfalls For Future Space Missions

As the realm of space exploration continues to expand, the need for innovative technologies has become increasingly pressing. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in a bid to bridge the gap between current capabilities and future requirements, has invited the public to contribute their insights on 32 identified technology shortfalls. These shortfalls, which encompass a broad range of critical capability gaps, include advanced propulsion systems, autonomous robotics, and radiation protection technologies, all of which are essential for future deep-space missions. The agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate has consolidated its assessments into a comprehensive list, highlighting the necessity for further development in areas such as high-bandwidth space communications and extreme environment materials. Executive Gov provided details on this topic, shedding light on the complexities of NASA's technology planning and the imperative for collaborative input from industry, academia, and the public. By soliciting comments from a diverse range of stakeholders, NASA aims to inform its future technology investments and propel the nation's space program forward, driven by a shared vision of exploration and discovery. The call for public comments, which will be accepted until February 20, marks a significant step towards harnessing the collective expertise of the nation, and ultimately, shaping the trajectory of space technology development.

NASA is calling on industry, academia, government partners and the public to help shape the agency's future technology investments .

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China Launches Reusable Spaceplane On Secretive Orbital Mission

China's pursuit of advanced space technology has yielded a most intriguing development, as the nation has successfully launched its reusable spaceplane on a fourth secretive orbital mission. The experimental craft, borne aloft by a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, has been shrouded in an impenetrable veil of secrecy, with state media Xinhua releasing only the most cursory of details regarding the launch. The announcement, devoid of specifics, merely alluded to the spacecraft's purpose: to conduct technological verification for reusable spacecraft, thereby providing technical support for the peaceful use of space. As the spaceplane embarks on its mission, the international community will undoubtedly be riveted by its maneuvers, particularly with regards to the potential release of subsatellites and any subsequent rendezvous and proximity operations. The U. S. Space Force's catalog tracking will, in due course, reveal the orbit of the spaceplane, shedding a faint light upon the mysterious endeavors of China's space program. This latest development serves as a testament to China's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and technology. Note: The information in this article was first published in "SpaceNews".

HELSINKI — China launched its experimental reusable spacecraft for the fourth time late Friday, once again maintaining strict secrecy around the ...

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SpaceX Crew-12 Mission To Launch On February 11 After FAA Approval

Renowned space exploration entity, SpaceX, is poised to launch its Crew-12 astronaut mission on February 11, following a brief grounding due to an upper stage issue with the Falcon 9 rocket. According to Space, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has authorized the rocket's return to flight, paving the way for the highly anticipated mission. The crew, comprising NASA's Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, and Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency, will embark on a roughly nine-month stay at the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom". As Space reports, the FAA oversaw and accepted the findings of the SpaceX-led investigation, citing the probable root cause of the issue as the Falcon 9 stage 2 engine's failure to ignite prior to the deorbit burn. With the necessary preventative measures in place, the Falcon 9 vehicle has been cleared to return to flight, and the Crew-12 mission is set to proceed as scheduled. The successful launch will mark a significant milestone, as the ISS will once again be staffed by its normal complement of seven crewmembers, following a period of reduced occupancy since January 15.

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A 200-foot Asteroid Has A 4 Percent Chance Of Hitting The Moon In 2032—and We Could See It...

This time last year, the world was gripped by reports that an incoming, nearly 200-feet-wide asteroid had a tiny, tiny chance of hitting the Earth in 2032. The sigh of relief that we weren⁘t on course for a Don⁘t Look Up scenario was palpable when, upon closer inspection, astronomers determined that the space rock, named 2024 YR4, wouldn⁘t hit our planet after all.

Instead, they calculated, it might hit the moon in 2032⁘with a probability of about 4 percent . And now scientists are sketching out a clearer picture of what such a collision might look like from Earth. Scientists already knew this could be a doozy. Astronomers previously estimated that if 2024 YR4 hits the moon, it could form a crater about one kilometer wide and release some 100 million metric tons of material, some of which could reach Earth . ⁘If this scenario plays out,⁘ said Yixuan Wu, a researcher at Tsinghua University in China and an author of the paper, to Live Science , ⁘it will be a milestone for planetary science, turning the Earth-Moon system into a grand stage for validating our understanding of asteroid impacts.⁘ More takeaways: Visit website

NASA's New Lunar Space Suit: A Leap Forward In Space Exploration Technology

Article from Scientific American:

The moon's desolate landscape beckons once more, as NASA's Artemis mission prepares to send astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972. A crucial component of this endeavor is the development of advanced space suits, designed to protect astronauts from the harsh conditions of space. Axiom Space, a U. S.-based company, has been working on the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) since 2022. This innovative suit promises to provide unparalleled mobility on the moon, a significant improvement over its Apollo-era predecessors. The AxEMU's design is built with the moon's unique conditions in mind, including extreme temperatures, cosmic radiation, and lung-clogging moon dust. The suit's development is a testament to human ingenuity, pushing the limits of material science to create a garment that is both protective and functional. According to Paul Spana, curator and director of collections at the Space Center Houston museum, "It's really pushing the limits of material science... There's going to be a lot of new things introduced for the new suit that will be used for moonwalking on Artemis III." The AxEMU's design may appear bulky, but it is engineered to provide astronauts with the freedom to move and explore the lunar surface with ease.

Astronauts are flying to the moon for the first time since 1972, and scientists are preparing specialized space suits for the next milestone⁘landing...

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Scientists Discover Earth-Like Planet HD 137010 B Orbiting Sun-Like Star

In the vast expanse of space, a team of scientists, led by Alexander Venner, has made a groundbreaking discovery. They have detected an Earth-like planet, dubbed HD 137010 b, orbiting a Sun-like star. This celestial --- boasts a size and orbital period eerily similar to those of Earth. The planet's star, located roughly 146 light-years from Earth, shines bright enough for substantial follow-up observations. The researchers' findings, published in a recent study, mark a significant milestone in the search for --- beyond Earth. Venner's team re-examined Kepler data, searching for Earth-like exoplanets within the habitable zone of Sun-like stars. Their diligence paid off, as they uncovered the tell-tale signs of a planetary transit around a Sun-like star. The signal strength of the candidate planet was comparatively shallow, yet detected at a high signal-to-noise ratio. The team's analysis of K2 photometry, imaging observations, and archival radial velocities and astrometry confirmed the event was astrophysical and occurred on-target. This discovery has sparked excitement, as HD 137010 b may lie within its star's habitable zone, adding to its list of Earth-like similarities. For more information on this remarkable find, readers can refer to "The Deb

NASA scientists have announced the detection of an Earth-like planet orbiting a Sun-like star with a size and orbital period similar to Earth's.

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Robotics And Artificial Intelligence

First seen in USA TODAY:

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a company in possession of innovative technology, must be in want of a new market to conquer. Faraday Future, a renowned electric vehicle manufacturer, has taken a bold step in this direction by unveiling its latest creations: a trio of robots designed to revolutionize various aspects of daily ---. Under the umbrella of its new division, FF AI-Robotics Inc., Faraday Future has introduced three distinct robots, each with its unique features and applications. The first, FF Futurist, a full-size humanoid, stands at an impressive 5 feet 6 inches tall and is poised to make a lasting impression in public and commercial spaces. With its ability to greet visitors in over 50 languages, answer basic queries, and route individuals to human employees, FF Futurist is set to become an indispensable asset in business settings. The second humanoid, FF Master, is a smaller, more agile counterpart, measuring 4 feet 3 inches tall. Designed for engagement and entertainment, FF Master is capable of dancing, performing martial-arts-style movements, and holding basic conversations, making it an ideal companion for homes, classrooms, and retail demonstrations. The third category, FF Aegis, comprises two quadruped robot models, resembling futuristic

For more than a decade, Faraday Future has described its electric vehicles as something more than cars — rolling computers packed with sensors, ...

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