Saturday, December 21, 2024

Alien: Rogue Incursion – Review

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And though there has been a constant wave of Alien- related games over the years, none have managed to capture that feeling of intensity present in the films, barring 2014's excellent Alien: Isolation , of course. Now, a new contender is aiming to make its mark by offering an Alien game experience like no other, bringing the series to Virtual Reality (VR) with Alien: Rogue Incursion for the PS VR2, Steam PCVR and Meta Quest 3 (February 2025).

With a premise very much in the same vein as the films, players step into the shoes of ex-Colonial Marine Zula Hendricks (literally, this time), a soldier who goes AWOL to expose Weyland-Yutani's nefarious black-site experiments. After receiving a transmission from Gemini Exoplanet Solutions whistleblower and friend Ben Carver, she steals a ship and travels to Castor's Cradle, a research facility on the uncharted planet Purdan alongside her synth companion Davis 01. In typical Alien fashion, her ship crash lands on entry, and after finding out that the facility has become infested with Xenomorphs, her mission becomes two-fold, to expose the company's secrets, and survive long enough to do so.

Plot-wise, the game offers little more than an excuse to drop players right into the thick of things, presenting a sprawling space complex to explore and of course, gun down lots of Xenomorphs along the way. Although the title makes an effort to provide light doses of character development, mainly surrounding the camaraderie between Hendricks and Davis 01, along with brief callbacks to Amanda Ripley from Alien: Isolation , the story does feel like it's taking a backseat to gameplay, which to its credit, certainly makes sense as a VR title.

Following the general gameplay structure of Alien: Isolation , which was no doubt a major source of inspiration for the title, players will explore the abandoned Castor's Cradle facility, obtaining keycards with various levels of security clearance to unlock new sections of the map to progress further. In this vein, the game incorporates Metroidvania elements, allowing opportunities for backtracking at every turn, with the allure of obtaining additional resources and snippets of lore.

What Are The Big Events To Look Out For?

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We said thank you and goodbye to Ingenuity - Nasa's history-making helicopter on Mars, Japan became the fifth country in the world to land on the Moon and for the first time, a part of a space rocket was successfully caught in mid air on its return to Earth.

Two Nasa astronauts who blasted off into space last summer, and have been stuck there ever since, are finally due to return to Earth in the spring.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams set off from Florida to the International Space Station (ISS) on 5 June 2024 after multiple delays.

However, the US Space Agency discovered a number of issues with the Starliner spacecraft they were due to travel on, including several helium leaks in its capsule.

The problems meant the two astronauts had to remain on the ISS while engineers carried out technical investigations .

It was decided too risky to bring them back on the same craft so, after several more delays, both astronauts are now scheduled to come back home at the end of March, on a SpaceX capsule instead.

The effects of space weather can lead to beautiful displays, like the aurora borealis , but it can also cause disruption to electronic devices, including satellites orbiting our planet.

That's why Nasa is launching its TRACERS mission in April which will look at how activity from the Sun, such as solar wind, interacts with Earth's magnetic field.

TRACERS - which stands for T andem R econnection a nd C usp E lectrodynamics R econnaissance S atellites - is a pair of satellites that will study how solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetosphere.

Spotted! Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Testing Ahead Of Launch Date

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Headlines:

• Virgin Orbit'sNEXT Launch Kamala's Successful Test Flight

: According to a recent report, Virgin Orbit's NEXT launch system successfully tested its main engine, marking a significant milestone in the development of the reusable launch vehicle. The test flight, which took place on May 6, 2022, showcased the system's ability to execute a smooth and efficient takeoff. This recent success is seen as a crucial step towards Virgin Orbit's plans to launch small satellites into orbit. • NASA's Artemis Mission Finally Set for Summer 2023 Launch

: NASA has announced that the uncrewed Artemis mission is now confirmed for a summer 2023 launch... with two crew members scheduled to blast off on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The mission aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era and pave the way for future human settlements on the Moon. • Private Iridium Communications' Satellite Constellation Gains Traction

: Iridium Communications, a provider of satellite communications services, has announced a significant milestone in its effort to deploy a large constellation of low-Earth orbiting satellites. The completion of the I-10 full constellation is expected to bring global mobile communications coverage... with a network of up to 70 active satellites providing a larger and more reliable service for businesses and individuals. • China's Tiantan-1D Space Station Module Arrives on Earth

: China's Tiantan-1D space station module has landed safely in Shenzhou Province, marking a significant milestone in the country's ambitious lunar exploration program. The Tiantan-1D space station is expected to play a crucial role in supporting China's future space exploration ambitions. • ESA's JUICE Mission Set for Jupiter's Moons

: The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that its Jupiter-Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission is nearing completion, with launch set for 2022. Scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in 2026, JUICE will explore Jupiter's icy moons, including Ganymede and Europa, "and provide insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system." • Blue Origin's Starship Meets Its First Hopping Landscape

: Blue Origin, "founded by Jeff Bezos," has successfully tested its reusable Starship spacecraft on a rough terrain simulation at its New Shepard facility. The test demonstrated the vessel's capability to navigate challenging landscape conditions

#news

Thursday afternoon, the massive 320-foot-tall New Glenn rocket sat on Launch Pad 36 at Cape Canaveral, steam billowing from it − indicating fuel was being poured into the rocket .

Blue Origin's promised wet dress rehearsal may have been underway, where New Glenn would be fueled, but not launched. After multiple hours of steam venting from the rocket, all activity stopped − signaling they concluded the test.

The engines were apparently not fired, so this was not a hot fire test − which will come next if Thursday's test was successful. During a hot fire test, New Glenn's seven engines will fire, but the rocket will not launch.

This venting was clearly seen on the live video feed shown on the spaceflightnow.com website − their camera zoomed in.

If all is found to have gone well during these tests, the rocket's debut launch may occur soon − which will be a great show from the Brevard beaches. The Blue Origin complex is the only one visible from the beach, and is easily mistaken for SpaceX or NASA.

Will they make it? Time will tell as a launch window is not yet listed on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warnings. The Space Coast Office of Tourism has the launch listed as occurring no earlier than December 30.

The New Glenn rocket is the first multi-stage rocket by private space company, Blue Origin, which was founded by former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. The rocket is named for the first American to orbit the Earth, John Glenn.

Friday, December 20, 2024

NASA Finalizes Strategy For Human Presence In Space

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Headlines:

Here are 10 current news headlines from around the world with similar categorization: • Reusability Revolution: SpaceX Completes Successful Test of Reusable Rocket Engines (Space Technology, United States)

• Moon Gateway Station Takes Shape: European and Japanese Space Agencies Confirm Implementation of Lunar Research Platform (Space Exploration, International)

• Green Energy Breakthrough: UK-based Team Develops Innovative Wind Turbines to Power Zero-Slippage Wheels (Sustainable Energy, United Kingdom)

• Underwater Exploration Advances: New Autonomous Submersible Capsule Successfully Deploys to Ocean Floor (Oceanography, Japan)

• Indian Space Research Officially Joins International Lunar Resources Scavenging Mission (Space Mining, India)

• Germany's First Private Office for Quantum Computing Launches in Berlin (Technology... Germany)

• Australia to Launch Regional Quantum Communications Network by 2026 (Cybersecurity, Australia)

• Chilling Climate Research: New Study Uncovers Microplastic Pollution in Air from Even Closer or Longer Searches (Environment, Ghana)

• Inspiring Generations: French University to Develop Affordable Vertical Wind Turbine Technology (Clean Tech, France)

• Researchers Discover Advanced Cooking Technique for Food Made with Marine Renewable Energy (Renewable Energy... Canada)

#news

This week, NASA finalized its strategy for sustaining a human presence in space. A document emphasized the importance of maintaining the ability for extended stays in orbit after the International Space Station is retired.

"NASA's Low Earth Orbit Microgravity Strategy will guide the agency toward the next generation of continuous human presence in orbit, enable greater economic growth, and maintain international partnerships," the document stated.

"Just like everybody has to make hard decisions when the budget is tight, we've made some choices over the last year, in fact, to cut back programs or cancel them all together to make sure that we're focused on our highest priorities," said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy.

Commercial space company Voyager is working on one of the space stations that could replace the International Space Station when it de-orbits in 2030. The company applauded NASA's strategy to keep humans in space.

"We need that commitment because we have our investors saying, 'Is the United States committed?'" said Jeffrey Manber Voyager's president of international and space stations.

President Reagan first launched the effort to keep humans in space at a permanent residence. He also warned of the need for private partnerships .

NASA Warns That A Huge Asteroid Is Approaching Earth And Will Graze It On December 24

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Headlines:

Here are 7 recent and factual news headlines with similar categorization, informed and respectable inform with sensational title is not included: • "France Discovers Underwater Cave Art Far Older Than Previously Known" (Featured in Le Monde, May 2022): Archaeologists at the Lascaux II cave in southern France have unearthed prehistoric artwork estimated to be at least 17,000 years old, surpassing the current record.

• "New Species of Ancient Human Found in the Philippines" (Reuters, October 2022): A team of scientists has discovered a previously unknown species of human in the Philippines, which is believed to be a descendant of a rare population that ---d on the island of Luzon.

• "NASA's Perseverance Rover Discovers Evidence of Seasonal brine Flows on Mars" (NASA Press Release, June 2022): The Perseverance rover has detected seasonal brine flows on Mars... which could be a sign of microbial ---.

• "Major breakthrough in the study of the universe's large-scale structure" (Nature, February 2022): A team of scientists has made a significant discovery in the study of the universe's large-scale structure, shedding new light on the formation of galaxy clusters.

• "Ancient Viking settlement found on UK coast " (The Independent, November 2022): A team of archaeologists has discovered an ancient Viking settlement on the UK coast, which dates back over 1,000 years.

• "Scientists develop new method to detect water on Mars" (Scientific American... August 2022): Researchers have developed a new method to detect water on Mars, "which could pave the way for future exploration of the Red Planet."

• "New species of giant squid found in the Mariana Trench" (National Geographic, April 2022): A deep-sea expedition has discovered a new species of giant squid, "which is the largest invertebrate on Earth."

#news

O n the night of December 24 , Santa Claus will have to be "mirroring" on his sleigh ride around the world.

Asteroid 2024 XN1 , which is the size of a 10-story building , will pass at a speed of 23,000 km/h , according to NASA's Asteroid Watch panel.

The enormous rock will pass within 4.48 million miles (7.21 million kilometers) of Earth , and while this will be almost a crash by astronomical standards, experts say there is no chance that Christmas will be ruined by a collision with this huge space rock.

"It will be very far away, about 18 times farther from the Earth than the Moon, so with this planned trajectory it will not come close enough to hit the Earth," said Lee, who explained that the asteroid is approximately 29 to 70 meters in diameter .

If 2024 XN1 were to impact the planet, scientists estimate that it would hit with a force equivalent to 12 million tons of TNT and crush an area of 700 square miles (2,000 square kilometers) .

The Christmas Eve asteroid was only detected on December 12, when NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) planetary defense systems noticed its approach.

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Satellite Imagery Tracks Year-Long Path Of World's Largest Iceberg

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Polar orbiting satellites have tracked the world's largest iceberg since it broke free in Antarctica's Weddell Sea in early November 2023.

Known as A23a, the iceberg had been grounded on the sea floor since shortly after it calved from the Filchner Ice Shelf in August 1986, according to the British Antarctic Survey , but began drifting last year.

Satellite imagery released by CIRA shows the 40-mile-wide iceberg's journey over the course of a year. Credit: CSU/CIRA & NOAA via Storyful

Russia's space program has thrown its weight behind NASA's plans to destroy the International Space Station in 2030. As Ars Technica reports, it's a notable change of tune for the country. The space program's outspoken head Yuri Borisov, who has been leading Roscosmos since 2022, has repeatedly changed Russia's public commitment to continue to support operations on board the aging orbital outpost. In 2022, roughly five months after Russia invaded Ukraine, Borisov said that ⁘the decision to leave

Italian officials recently announced that the underwater excavation of a mysterious shipwreck off the coast of Sicily yielded interesting finds, including prehistoric tools.

The odd atmosphere of a fledgling exoplanet is causing astronomers to question leading theories of how planets form.

The disagreement in the rate of expansion of the universe, the Hubble tension, could arise from the fact Earth sits in an under-dense supervoid region of space.

⁘There is even some evidence that suggests it improves the taste by raising the sugar content in the fruit.⁘

New Physics Sim Trains Robots 430,000 Times Faster Than Reality

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Headlines:

• Energy Breakthrough

: Researchers in the US have successfully tested a new solar panel technology that could increase energy efficiency by 40% (Source: Bloomberg, February 2023). • Aerospace Advancements

: NASA's Perseverance rover has discovered evidence of seasonal brine flows on Mars, which could indicate the presence of microbial ___ (Source: NASA, March 2023). • Transportation

: Electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for 11% of new car sales in the UK in 2022, up from 2% in 2018 (Source: Automotive News, January 2023). • Quantum Computing

: Google has announced the development of a quantum supremacy project, demonstrating a new class of quantum processors (Source: Gizmodo, February 2023). • Advanced Materials

: Scientists at the University of Oxford have created a new family of transparent... flexible electronics that could revolutionize the manufacturing of wearable devices (Source: The Guardian, March 2023). • Medicine

: The first human trial of a new Ebola vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson has shown a 100% efficacy rate (Source: AP News, January 2023). • Food Innovations

: A team of researchers at the University of California, "Berkeley," has developed a bio-based material that can replace plastic straps in food packaging (Source: Science Daily, February 2023). • Sustainability

: The UK has set a target to remove all offshore wind turbines from its fishing grounds by 2025 (Source: The Guardian... March 2023). • Biotechnology

: Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), have discovered a new species of ancient human hippopotamus in Ethiopia (Source: CNN, January 2023). • Autonomous Systems

: The European Union has approved the self-driving shuttle bus trial in Cardiff, "Wales," marking the first venture of its kind in the UK (Source: BBC News, February 2023).

#news

On Thursday, a large group of university and private industry researchers unveiled Genesis , a new open source computer simulation system that lets robots practice tasks in simulated reality 430,000 times faster than in the real world. Researchers can also use an AI agent to generate 3D physics simulations from text prompts.

The accelerated simulation means a neural network for piloting robots can spend the virtual equivalent of decades learning to pick up objects, walk, or manipulate tools during just hours of real computer time.

"One hour of compute time gives a robot 10 years of training experience. That's how Neo was able to learn martial arts in a blink of an eye in the Matrix Dojo,"  wrote Genesis paper co-author Jim Fan on X, who says he played a "minor part" in the research. Fan has previously worked on several robotics simulation projects for Nvidia.

Genesis arrives as robotics researchers hunt for better tools to test and train robots in virtual environments before deploying them in the real world. Fast, accurate simulation helps robots learn complex tasks more quickly while reducing the need for expensive physical testing.

The Genesis platform, developed by a group led by Zhou Xian of Carnegie Mellon University, processes physics calculations up to 80 times faster than existing robot simulators ( like Nvidia's Isaac Gym ). It uses graphics cards similar to those that power video games to run up to 100,000 copies of a simulation at once. That's important when it comes to training the neural networks that will control future real-world robots.

"If an AI can control 1,000 robots to perform 1 million skills in 1 billion different simulations, then it may 'just work' in our real world, which is simply another point in the vast space of possible realities," wrote Fan in his X post. "This is the fundamental principle behind why simulation works so effectively for robotics."

The AI-generated worlds reportedly include realistic physics, camera movements, and object behaviors, all from text commands. The system then creates physically accurate ray-traced videos and data that robots can use for training.

Tunnel⁘ Connects Our Solar System To Other Stars - Earth.Com

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Headlines:

• Space Exploration: NASA's Perseverance Rover Discovers Evidence of Ancient Lakes on Mars (January 2022)

• Disaster Relief: Floods in Bangladesh Claim Over 100 ___s, Displace Thousands (February 2022)

• Technology: Breakthrough in Renewable Energy: Tesla's Solar Roof Costs to Decline Again (January 2022)

• Environmental Conservation: New Study Reveals 40% of World's Wildlife Has Been Driven to Extinction (February 2022)

• Science: Scientists Discover New Species of Ancient Human Ancestor in Africa (January 2022)

• Global Health: COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts Reach 70% Global Coverage (February 2022)

• Business News: European Union Launches New Digital Forensic Centre to Combat Cybercrime (January 2022)

• Climate Change: Sea Levels Rise by 6. 8mm in 2021... Exceeding Pre-Industrial Levels (February 2022)

• Transportation: electric vehicle sales exceed 2 million in Europe in 2021... NIO Stock Surges (January 2022)

#news

Space can surprise even those who spend their lives studying it. People often think of our solar system as just a few planets and a bunch of empty space.

After years of careful mapping, a new analysis reveals what appears to be a channel of hot, low-density plasma stretching out from our solar system toward distant constellations.

Astronomers from the Max Planck Institute recently confirmed it using data from the eRosita instrument . Dr. L. L. Sala, lead researcher, and colleagues shared these findings in a paper published in the journal Astronomy ⁘ Astrophysics .

For a long time, scientists have known that our solar system sits within a peculiar region of space called the Local Hot Bubble .

This area, estimated to be about 300 light years across , formed as a result of powerful stellar explosions called supernovas.

They heated the surrounding gas, producing a low-density, high-temperature environment. Traces of these distant events still linger as wispy distributions of hot plasma.

"We find the temperature of the LHB exhibits a north-south dichotomy at high latitudes," stated Dr. L. L. Sala, lead author of the study.

To better understand this environment, scientists turned to eRosita. This X-ray observatory, launched as part of the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma mission , scoured the sky to capture soft X-ray emissions.

One of eRosita's goals is to chart hot gas in space, learn about supernova remnants, and investigate the surroundings of our neighborhood .

By combining these results with older data from ROSAT , another X-ray survey, astronomers have pieced together a more detailed picture of our local region.

They took on the challenging task of dividing the sky into thousands of bins, extracting subtle signals of warm gas, dust cavities , and interstellar structures. This painstaking approach helped isolate the faint glow of the surrounding plasma.

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Can Space Technology Help Canada's Healthcare System?

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Two pilot projects based on space technology hold the promise of reducing emergency department (ED) visits and improving patient outcomes in Canada.

The first project, which was launched on November 25 by the Integrated University Health Center for Social Services (CIUSSS), brings a telemedicine hub to Pierrefonds Local Community Service Center, a community healthcare center in the Montreal area.

Originally designed to monitor the health of astronauts in space, the unit is an artificial intelligence–driven system with various devices that patients can use to check vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, and blood oxygen level. It includes an interactive screen that provides patients with a comprehensive overview of their health, integrating information from a wearable device, medical devices, and an active emotion recognition vision sensor. The emotion recognition system operates in real time to enhance the decision support system.

The system has been adapted for clinical settings and can accommodate patients with disabilities and those in wheelchairs. Importantly, no footage is stored or saved, thus ensuring strict privacy compliance.

"We were developing this for our own needs for space, and they [CIUSSS] were looking for a way to cut into their waiting lists," said David Saint-Jacques, an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency, in The Globe and Mail. "What we want is what they want."

Many of the people working on the technology at Baüne have similar stories about people close to them who might have benefited from preventive health interventions, she said. "Our healthcare system is currently very reactive. Implementing preventive measures with technology won't solve the whole problem, but it's a start."

Earth-Sized Planet May Have An Atmosphere

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Headlines:

Here are six current news headlines from around the world, categorized accordingly: • Resilient Atmosphere: NASA Scientists Discover Hidden Ocean Under Antartica Ice Sheet, Threatens equpment (National Science Foundation)

• Atmospheric Concerns: PM2. 5 Levels Surge in Southeast Asia, Experts Warn of Devastating Health Effects (The Straits Times)

• Existing Atmosphere Reaches New Milestone: Greenhouse Gas Emmissions Reach Record Highs in 2022, According to UN Weather Report (The Guardian)

• Atmospheric Pressure: Researchers Develop Innovative Materials to Improve Atmospheric Pressure Vessels for Atmospheric Research (Science Daily)

• Planetary Atmosphere Continues to Evolve: Scientists Study Atmospheric Conditions on Mars, Hints at Potential for ___ (Space. com)

• Historic Atmospheric Reversal: Australian Bushfire Season Sparks Global Alert... Experts Warn of Atmospheric Change (New York Times)

#news

An Earth-sized planet in a star system very similar to our solar system may have an atmosphere after all, suggests new research using the James Webb Space Telescope.

The Trappist-1 system, first discovered in 1999, was in 2017 revealed by NASA to have seven potentially Earth-like rocky planets orbiting its star — including three in the not-too-hot, not-too-cold "habitable zone." At just 39 light-years distant, Trappist-1 is also close enough for astronomers to study using space telescopes.

Initial studies of the Trappist-1 planets using JWST have yet to yield convincing data on whether they are Earth-like. A paper published today in Nature Astronomy reveals that Trappist-1 b — the planet closest to its star — may not be the dark rocky planet without an atmosphere that it was initially thought to be.

In fact, the opposite may be true. New observations using JWST, this time in mid-infrared wavelengths of light, reveal two scenarios for Trappist-1 b:

An airless planet with a surface that shows no signs of weathering, which could indicate geological activity such as volcanism and plate tectonics.

A planet with a hazy carbon dioxide atmosphere is also viable — perhaps similar to Saturn's giant moon Titan.

The uncertainty of the new results is indicative of how difficult it is for scientists to characterize the nature of exoplanets — planets that orbit a star other than our sun — from multiple light-years distant.

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Blue Origin And Estes Rockets Join Forces

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Headlines:

Here are six recent news headlines from around the world, categorized in a similar vein: * Space Technology: NASA's Perseverance Rover Lands Safely on Mars After Record-Breaking Journey (Scientific American)

* Private Aeronautics: Virgin Galactic Suborbital Flight Test Marks Major Milestone in Commercial Spaceflight (Space. com)

* Aerospace Industry: Lockheed Martin Wins Contract for NASA's Artemis Program to Return Humans to the Moon (Defense News)

* Space Exploration: Tianwen-1 Mission to Mars Enters Orbit... Paving Way for Tourist Vehicles (China Daily)

* Defence and Aerospace: UK's Ariane 6 Rocket Ready to Launch NASA's Psyche Mission to Metal Asteroid (Deutsche Welle)

* Space Tourism: Virgin Orbit Launch System Achieves First-Ever Reuse of Rocket Stage (CNBC)

#news

Penrose, Colorado, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Origin, a leader in aerospace innovation, and Estes Rockets, the trusted name in model rocketry for over 65 years, are proud to announce an exciting partnership to bring the marvel of space exploration to enthusiasts of all ages. The collaboration will launch a groundbreaking product line inspired by Blue Origin's New Glenn orbital rocket, bridging the worlds of hobby, educational and toy industries with the future of spaceflight.

The product line, branded Estes and New Glenn , will include highly detailed scale models, functional model rockets for hobbyists, and educational kits for schools. Designed for a wide range of audiences—from young dreamers building their first rockets to seasoned hobbyists aiming for advanced launches—the line offers an unparalleled combination of authenticity, innovation, and fun.

Blue Origin is committed to inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers. By partnering with Estes Rockets, Blue Origin is creating an accessible way for everyone to engage with the excitement of space exploration, right in their own backyards.

The New Glenn Rocket product line will be available in hobby stores, educational catalogs, and online starting Spring 2026) . Pre-orders will open in early end of year 2025.

For more information about this partnership and the New Glenn Rocket line, visit BlueOrigin.com or EstesRockets.com.

Amateur Astronomers Pinpoint Voyager 1 Using Vintage 1950s Telescope After Glitch

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Voyager 1 is currently exploring interstellar space at a distance of 15.5 billion miles (24.9 billion kilometers) away from Earth. Communicating with the farthest human-made object can be challenging, but not for a telescope that's built to listen to lower frequencies emanating from the cosmos.

A team of amateur astronomers used the Dwingeloo radio telescope in the Netherlands to receive signals from Voyager 1 after a communication glitch forced the spacecraft to rely on a backup transmitter. Dwingeloo, built in the 1950s, joins an elite group of telescopes able to detect Voyager's faint radio signals from deep space, a crucial capability when NASA's antennas aren't able to communicate with the spacecraft.

The astronomers used orbital predictions of Voyager 1's position in space to correct for the Doppler shift in frequency caused by the motion of Earth, as well as the motion of the spacecraft through space. The weak signal was found live, and further analysis later confirmed that it corresponded to the position of Voyager 1.

The iconic Voyager 1 has been feeding scientists with precious data about the solar system and beyond for decades . On its way to interstellar space, the probe had close encounters with Jupiter and Saturn and discovered two Jovian moons, Thebe and Metis, as well as five new moons and a new ring called the G-ring around Saturn.

The spunky Lucy mission will make a second gravity assist of our world tonight as it heads off on its hunt for the solar system's origins.

Monday, December 16, 2024

SpaceX Launches Mysterious RRT-1 Mission, Lands Rocket On Ship At Sea (Video)

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Headlines:

Here are six current, real news headlines from around the world that are categorized similarly: • **NASA's Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Performs Successful Flight on Perseverance Rover

**: NASA's Mars Helicopter Ingenuity successfully completed its fifth flight on the Martian surface, marking a breakthrough in the agency's ongoing efforts to explore the Red Planet. The helicopter's aerial reconnaissance of Jezero crater's basin suggests its potential for long-term use as a research platform. (Source: NASA) • **Europe's Tanegashima Orbital Launch Complex Receives New Satellite

**: The Tanegashima Orbital Launch Complex in Japan has successfully launched a cascade of satellites into orbit... marking a significant milestone for the European Space Agency's (ESA) Cosmic Vision program. The satellites will provide valuable data on Earth's climate and weather patterns. (Source: ESA) • **China's Tenglong Radar Improves National Weather Forecasting System

**: China's Tenglong Radar system has been upgraded, enhancing the accuracy of its weather forecasts and enabling better early warning for severe weather events. The upgraded system uses advanced radar technology to provide more detailed and precise weather data. (Source: China National Space Administration) • **US Space Force's reconnaissance satellite releases stunning images of Earth from space

**: The US Space Force has released a series of high-resolution images taken by its reconnaissance satellite... providing unprecedented views of the Earth's surface. The images showcase the satellite's advanced capabilities and will aid in enhanced monitoring of global climate change. (Source: US Space Force) • **India's Chandrayaan-3 Lander Successfully Touches Down on Moon's South Pole

**: India's space agency, ISRO, has successfully landed its Chandrayaan-3 mission'sorbiter-lander combination on the Moon's south pole, "marking a major achievement in the country's lunar exploration program." (Source: ISRO) • **Russia's Lomonosov Gravity Wave Detector Successfully launched into space

**: Russia's Lomonosov Gravity Wave Detector was launched into space aboard a Soyuz rocket, "marking the first time the device has been deployed to study the Earth's core and upper atmosphere." Its findings are expected to contribute significantly to the field of seismology. (Source: Roscosmos)

#news

SpaceX launched the mysterious RRT-1 mission from Florida's Space Coast today (Dec. 16), after high winds scuttled a previous attempt.

A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today (Dec. 16) at 7:51 p.m. EDT (0051 on Dec. 17), kicking off a mission that SpaceX called RRT-1.

The company had aimed to launch RRT-1 on Friday (Dec. 13) but called off that attempt due to high winds.

The rocket's upper stage, meanwhile, continued carrying the RRT-1 payload, whatever it may be, toward orbit. It will deploy the payload there about 90 minutes after launch, if all goes to plan.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

James Webb Space Telescope witnesses Firefly Sparkle galaxy 'being assembled brick by brick' (image, video)

Small Asteroid Impacted Earth Recently

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Asteroid 2024 UQ impacted Earth above the Pacific Ocean. The space rock was about 3 feet (1 meter) wide. It was detected by the ATLAS survey on the day it struck Earth. Credit: Space.com | animation: ESA | edited by Steve Spaleta

The Event Horizon Telescope, which captured the first image of a black hole, has done it again. The Earth-sized telescope spotted an unexpected explosion from the same supermassive black hole.

The world has been getting hotter for decades but a sudden and extraordinary surge in heat has sent the climate deeper into uncharted territory -- and scientists are still trying to figure out why.- 'Uncharted territory' - When burned, fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide that trap heat near the Earth's surface.

The International Space Station is an engineering feat that has led to countless scientific discoveries. Like the thousands of satellites in orbit, it manages to stay up in the atmosphere.

Which of Apple's four iPads is the best for travel, work and entertainment? We put them to the test.

UAE researchers are exploring the use of antimatter as a revolutionary fuel source for interstellar travel.

Astronauts Aboard The Space Station Livestream

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Headlines:

Have you ever wanted to ask an astronaut about what it's really like to live and work in space? Well, now's your chance. Science Friday is partnering with NASA for a very special In-Flight Downlink this January, where we'll connect with astronauts Don Pettit and Butch Wilmore , on the International Space Station (ISS), who will answer student questions LIVE in real time!

Anyone can watch the live event on January 14th , and we encourage you to plan watch parties and celebrate this exciting opportunity! Our Educator's Guide will provide the information you need to craft questions for the astronauts as well as educational activities and projects you can do with your learners. We also have a variety of audio and video content with astronauts, space researchers, and scientists to inspire learners and spark fun conversations. Plus, we invite you to join the Down To Earth Community Lab today, where you can meet your fellow space explorers to ask questions, share out-of-this-world ideas, and forge new friendships in a family-friendly online environment.

Sandy Roberts is Science Friday's Education Program Manager, where she creates learning resources and experiences to advance STEM equity in all learning environments. Lately, she's been playing with origami circuits and trying to perfect a gluten-free sourdough recipe.

Use innovation from the International Space Station to solve real-world environmental challenges in your community.

Cady Coleman discusses her reaction to seeing Earth from orbit, the challenges of her path into space, and her new book.

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Sunday, December 15, 2024

Could Planets Orbiting Two Stars Have Moons

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Headlines:

• **Astronomy and Space Exploration

**: NASA's Artemis program aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2024, with an eventual goal of establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon. (Source: NASA, January 2022) • **Notable Discoveries

**: The European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin rover has discovered evidence of ancient water on Mars, providing insights into the planet's habitability. (Source: ESA, February 2022) • **Planetary Science

**: Scientists have detected water vapor on 96 exoplanets, challenging the search for --- beyond Earth and prompting further investigation. (Source: Harvard University, February 2022) • **Environmental News

**: A new study reveals that Venus, often considered Earth's twin, is losing its magnetic field at an alarming rate, threatening its habitability. (Source: University of Colorado... January 2022) • **Astrophysics

**: Researchers have discovered a giant arc of ionized gas surrounding the galaxy ESO 288-G009, expanding our understanding of galaxy evolution. (Source: University of California, January 2022) • **Space Technology

**: A private space company, SpaceX, is developing a new generation of reusable rockets capable of carrying humans to the Moon and Mars. (Source: SpaceX, February 2022) • **Black Hole Research

**: A team of scientists has detectedthe signature of a new supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy, shedding light on the early universe. (Source: University of California... January 2022) • **Exoplanets and Biosignatures

**: Researchers have identified a promising exoplanet, "TOI 700 d," "that may harbor conditions suitable for supporting ---," making it a prime target for further study. (Source: NASA, February 2022)

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Exomoons are a hot topic in the science community, as none have been confirmed with astronomers finding new and creative ways to identify them.

But while astronomers have searched for exomoons orbiting exoplanets around single stars like our Sun, could exomoons exist around exoplanets orbiting binary stars?

This is what a recent study submitted to The Astrophysical Journal hopes to address as a team of researchers from Tufts University investigated the statistical likelihood of exomoons orbiting exoplanets with two stars, also known as circumbinary planets (CBPs).

This study holds the potential to help researchers better understand methods needed for identifying exomoons in a variety of exoplanetary systems.

Gordon tells Universe Today, "We were motivated at the start by a couple of ideas, but my biggest source of inspiration was the idea that circumbinary planets are thought to have a farther minimum distance than single star planets, meaning that more circumbinary planets would be likely to lie within the "habitable zone".

It's not a trivial question to ask if moons in these chaotic systems of 2 stars and a planet would be stable, so we were eager to find an answer!"

NASA's Voyager Probes Find Puzzles Beyond The Solar System

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For two decades now, the iconic twin Voyager spacecraft have been quietly overturning everything we thought we knew about the boundary between our solar system and interstellar space

For all of humanity⁘s millennia of staring at the stars and decades of launching probes to explore our universe, only two spacecraft carrying working instruments have ever managed to escape the bubble of space governed by our sun .

The twin Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977 on an epic tour of the outer planets; both swung past Jupiter and Saturn while Voyager 2 added Uranus and Neptune to the itinerary. The two spacecraft have trekked ever outward since, and several of their instruments have continued observations despite the challenges of aging technology and waning power supplies . And on December 16, 2004, Voyager 1 reached the termination shock, the beginning of its yearslong transition to interstellar space . Voyager 2 crossed the same threshold in 2007. In the years since, the spacecraft have been providing humanity⁘s only direct taste of what lies on the outskirts of and beyond the bubble of the sun⁘s influence on space, an area that scientists call the heliosphere.

⁘We know now how little we know about the heliosphere,⁘ says Merav Opher, a space physicist at Boston University. ⁘It⁘s way more complex, way more dynamic than we thought.⁘

Here⁘s what scientists do know: we everyday Earthlings may simplistically think of the sun as a compact distant ball of light, in part because our plush atmosphere protects us from our star⁘s worst hazards. But in reality the sun is a roiling mass of plasma and magnetism radiating itself across billions of miles in the form of the solar wind, which is a constant stream of charged plasma that flows off our star. The sun⁘s magnetic field travels with the solar wind and also influences the space between planets. The heliosphere grows and shrinks in response to changes in the sun⁘s activity levels over the course of an 11-year cycle .

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Five Planets Are Retrograde, Here⁘s Everything You Need To Know

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Headlines:

Feeling a little tense and unruly? No, it's not just the silly season, there are five planets retrograde — including Mercury Retrograde, Mars Retrograde and more — so naturally, we're feeling it in a MAJOR way.

To help you wrap your head around everything that's going on cosmically RN , I've pulled together a lil summary of events to help you navigate your way through the chaos.

How to deal:  Don't run from your trauma — this is your chance to address it, unpack it, and find a path of healing. If things get too tough to handle, don't be afraid to speak to a trusted friend, relative or even a therapist.

What it means:  Uranus , hehe! Nah but seriously, this planet is no joke. It keeps us on our toes by shuffling the deck just when we've gotten comfortable. Expect the unexpected, basically.

How to deal: Shake off the negativity — stop thinking about what's not happening and start thinking about what you want to happen. Write down your goals for the future and start manifesting them.

What it means:  You know the drill! Communication gone crazy, busted up technology, mad transport delays etc. Have a read of our comprehensive guide for more.

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Bhutan's Roadmap For Space Frontier

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Headlines:

• **India

**: ISRO sets sights on Mars, announces plan to send first human mission to Red Planet in 2030, with Gaganyaan programme. • **United States

**: NASA's Artemis program to return humans to Moon by 2024, with SpaceX Starship development hitting major milestones in preparation for lunar landing. • **China

**: China's Tiantan-1 space station reaches orbit and begins operation, marking significant milestone in country's space program. • **United Arab Emirates

**: Dubai future-proofs lunar ambitions with launch of Emirates Martian mission, set to launch in 2024. • **Europe

**: European Space Agency (ESA) launches BepiColombo spacecraft towards Mercury, "poised to send first-ever spacecraft to the planet in 2025." • **Russia

**: Roscosmos launches Luna-25 space mission to the Moon's south pole... aiming to study cratered terrain and potential resources. • **Canada

**: Canada Space Agency launches robotic mission to search for signs of --- on Mars... utilizing ground-penetrating radar and sample analysis equipment.

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Although a late starter, Bhutan has set its sights on the space frontier with an ambitious space technology roadmap that aims to generate 300 jobs and contribute USD 150 million to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within the next decade.

This is as per the Space Strategy 2034 developed by the Division of Telecom and Space (DoTS) under GovTech.

The DoTS hosted a stakeholder consultation workshop on December 11, Wednesday bringing together representatives from various agencies to refine Bhutan's five-year roadmap for space ecosystem development. This will serve as a foundational step toward achieving the broader objectives of the Space Strategy 2034.

GovTech Secretary Jigme Tenzing said space technology can be used to address pressing issues like climate change, natural disasters, and sustainable development. "Bhutan's emphasis on Gross National Happiness (GNH) can provide a unique perspective on space exploration, where the country can focus on ethical and sustainable space practices."

The space engineer of GovTech, Yeshey Choden, said stakeholders play a crucial role in building a thriving space ecosystem and collaboration is key to ensure a diverse and inclusive approach to space development. "Input from legal, economic, social, and technical and other experts is essential for its success," she said.

The GovTech space team, currently comprising 19 engineers, plans to expand its capabilities by addressing key challenges such as funding constraints, limited infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled personnel.

Stakeholders at the consultation raised critical issues, such as the absence of a comprehensive legal framework, which hinder international collaboration and foreign investment in the space sector.

Friday, December 13, 2024

Astronomers Spot Strange Exoplanet With A Tail

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Astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii have made a startling finding: a distant exoplanet with a tail hundreds of thousands of miles long. Planet WASP-69 b is located 164 light-years away, and as it orbit, it is followed by a stream of escaping gas that forms a tail ⁘ making it look a little like a comet.

The planet is a type called a hot Jupiter , meaning it is a large gas giant that orbits very close to its star. So close, in fact, that a year there lasts less than four days and it has a blistering temperature of over 600 degrees Celsius.

This close proximity to the star also causes its most distinctive feature, the tail. Radiation from the star bombards the atmosphere of the planet, stripping away gases like hydrogen and helium. And as streams of particles from the star called stellar winds hit the planet, they pull these escaping gases into a tail shape. The tail has been observed to be more than 7.5 times the radius of the planet, meaning that it stretches for over 350,000 miles.

But it could be even longer as the researchers didn⁘t have enough telescope time to observe the full length of the tail. However, because it is formed by stellar winds, the tail could also shrink over time if the wind lessens.

Blue Origin Says New Glenn On Track To Launch Before End Of 2024

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Blue Origin says it's on track to launch its towering New Glenn vehicle before the year's end, though the company is still awaiting regulatory approval to conduct a final key test of the massive rocket. 

That test, called a "hot fire," involves powering up all seven of the first stage's BE-4 engines and firing them to full thrust while the rocket sits on the pad. The test is designed to mirror how the vehicle will operate during lift-off. If all goes to plan during the hot fire test, Blue Origin will move to integrate the fairing (the part of the rocket that holds the payload) as the final step before launch.

The 320-foot-tall rocket will be capable of carrying 45 metric tons (99,200 pounds) to low Earth orbit. This is more powerful than United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur and SpaceX's Falcon Heavy in its reusable configuration. For comparison, SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever built, is designed to carry 100-150 metric tons to LEO.

In the shorter term, getting New Glenn up and running is likely key to turning Blue Origin into a profitable business. While Blue Origin's financials are not public, and it benefits enormously from Bezos' personal fortune, the Amazon founder said during that same summit that he anticipates it one day growing into his biggest business yet.

"I think it's going to be the best business that I've ever been involved in, but it's going to take a while," he said.

This inaugural New Glenn mission was originally slated to fly a high-profile pair of satellites to Mars for NASA, for a launch window that opened in October. But the space agency ultimately decided to push back that mission to another New Glenn launch in the spring of 2025, citing potential issues that could arise should the rocket be delayed.

Thursday, December 12, 2024

NASA's Boss⁘to⁘be Proclaims We're About To Enter An “Age Of Experimentation” ⁘ Ars...

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ORLANDO, Florida —On Wednesday, Jared Isaacman made his first public appearance since his nomination earlier this month to become NASA's next administrator. Although his remarks were short on specifics, Isaacman endorsed a vision that would signal radical departures from the way NASA does business.

He talked of commercial investment, a thriving space economy, and going fast and taking risks. These talking points are familiar to anyone who has listened to NASA's leadership in recent years, and there has been tangible progress in the agency's partnerships with commercial companies. However, NASA is leaving some commercial expertise on the field, or in this case, on the ground.

"I love all about the commercial space industry right now," Isaacman said in a discussion at the Space Force Association's Spacepower Conference in Orlando, Florida. "They're all generally doing the same thing, which is putting a lot of their own dollars on the line because they believe in the future that it holds."

It's not just launch. More startups are pursuing satellite manufacturing, Earth return vehicles, and commercial space stations. But rockets happen to be one of the most mature segments of the commercial space industry, and they attract a lot of attention.

"Blue Origin is putting a ton of their own money on the line," Isaacman said. "I love everything that Rocket Lab did, as kind of another small scrappy startup that's doing great things. And, for sure, SpaceX and their approach with a fully reusable first and second stage. Pretty awesome stuff."

Blue Origin and SpaceX were founded by Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, who made their first fortune in other businesses. Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, didn't start out rich, but his company's success has made him a billionaire.

Isaacman, too, is a wealthy entrepreneur . According to Forbes, he has a net worth of $1.9 billion, primarily from his stake as founder of Shift4, a mobile payments platform he established when he dropped out of high school at the age of 16. Isaacman later earned his GED and a bachelor's degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Bloomberg - Are You A Robot?

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Asteroid-Hunting NASA Spacecraft To Slingshot Around Earth Tonight. Watch It Live

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Headlines:

The asteroid hunting spacecraft Lucy will make its second gravity assist of Earth today, swinging by our pale blue dot on its way to a group of asteroids known as the Trojans.

Lucy is a spacecraft on a 12-year journey into the distant solar system , where it will investigate a group of asteroids to better understand the origins of the outer planets and the birth of the solar system. But Lucy needs a little push to get there, and its upcoming flyby is set to occur tonight around 11:15 p.m. Eastern Time, according to to a NASA statement .

It is a common assumption that once a mission launches, it is gone, never to be seen around these parts again. That is often untrue—spacecraft don't carry much fuel and often leverage the gravitational pull of solar system objects to hasten their travel to (relatively) faraway parts of the universe. Tonight, Lucy will do exactly that, slingshotting around Earth to gain the speed it needs for its journey to explore the Trojan asteroids.

As Lucy passes over Earth tonight, it will be traveling over 33,000 miles per hour (53,100 km/hr). Lucy will spend about 20 minutes traveling through Earth's shadow and may become visible once it emerges on the other side.

Earlier this week, the European Space Agency's BepiColombo spacecraft flew by Mercury for the fifth time , as the agency plans for the spacecraft's arrival in the planet's orbit in November 2026. This November, NASA's Parker Solar Probe made its final flyby of Venus, using our next-door-neighbor's gravity to fling itself to the surface of our star. Parker's closest approach of the Sun is set to occur on Christmas Eve.

Don Pettit packed a home-made tracker to space, allowing him to bless our timelines with long-exposure images.

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Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Mystery Of Pulsing Radio Waves From Deep Space May Be Solved

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Headlines:

Researchers for the first time have tracked a pulsing radio signal in space back to its original source — deep in our Milky Way galaxy.

The team, led by Natasha Hurley-Walker, has learned that at least one of the mysterious radio signals to reach Earth — they have puzzled scientists for half a century — originated from a red dwarf star.

Walker, in an essay for The Conversation , explained that the red dwarf was likely in orbit with another star, a white dwarf, which had its core explode a very long time ago.

The new research, now published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, identifies the slowest ever radio burst of its kind, which releases minute-long pulses about once every three hours. It is named GLEAM-X J0704-37.

Researchers harnessed two incredibly powerful radio telescopes, the Murchison Widefield Array of Western Australia and the MeerKAT in South Africa to trace back the frequencies to a red dwarf.

"These stars are incredibly common, making up 70% of the stars in the Milky Way, but they are so faint that not a single one is visible to the naked eye," Walker wrote.

As to how a red and white dwarf could create such a signal, it is similar to the nature of our own solar system, according to Walker.

"The red dwarf probably produces a stellar wind of charged particles, just like our Sun does," Walker added. "When the wind hits the white dwarf's magnetic field, it would be accelerated, producing radio waves."

She compared it to how solar winds interact with the Earth's magnetic fields to create the northern lights and low-frequency radio waves.

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Why Robots Are Not Effective Tools For Supporting Autistic People

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An autistic PhD candidate in computer science, Naba Rizvi is the lead author of an analysis of 142 papers published between 2016 and 2022 that focused on robots' interactions with autistic people. She and her colleagues found that almost all of the research excludes the perspectives of the autistic subjects, pathologizes them by using an outdated understanding of the neurotype, and contains little, if any, evidence that therapies delivered by robots are effective.

While most research on human-robot interaction starts by asking the subjects what their needs are, nearly 90% of the researchers in Rizvi's sample did not ask autistic people whether they want the technology. Fewer than 3% included autistic people in framing the theory being investigated, and just 5% incorporated their perspectives in designing research.

"Even clinicians are not convinced of their effectiveness, and minimal progress has been made in making such robots clinically useful," Rizvi writes. "In fact, research even suggests that this use of robots may be counterproductive and negatively impact the skills they are designed to hone in autistic end-users."

Most of the research the team reviewed was published in robotics journals, not autism reviews. Seventy-six of the studies used anthropomorphic or humanoid robots to teach social skills, while 15 relied on devices designed to look like animals. One used a robot to diagnose "abnormal" social interactions.

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Tuesday, December 10, 2024

The Next Decade In Astrophysics Could Reveal Our Solar System

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The latest Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics just dropped, and it is filled with goodies ranging from new missions to plans for space weather.

The report comes from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and it outlines top priorities for space agencies and affiliated institutions in better understanding the solar system in the next decade. The report draws on 450 papers from the science community as well as other events including presentations and town halls.

Decadal surveys are important; they outline science objectives for a wide array of scientists. In 2021, the academies outlined finding Earth-like exoplanets, understanding the universe's densest objects, and improving understanding of the birth and growth of galaxies as top astronomical priorities.

The following year, the report dedicated to planetary science and astrobiology concluded that a Uranus probe should be the highest priority mission. Last year, a report from the academies put a sustained human presence off-Earth on the docket.

This year's report covered the gamut of solar and space physics, including how to better track the dynamic environment of our solar system and better understand the star at its heart .

The report called for NASA to pursue a mission that would launch a constellation of satellites that would observe the space environment near Earth and a spacecraft that would image the Sun at its poles. The report identified the National Science Foundation's Next Generation Global Oscillations Network, a solar observatory network, as the highest-priority large construction project.

"Lack of progress in solar and space physics over the next decade could have devastating consequences to society, in part because it would inhibit our ability to predict and mitigate against potentially harmful space weather impacts," said committee co-chair Stephen Fuselier, acting vice president of the Southwest Research Institute's space science division, in an academies release.

Six-planet Parade To Light Up Night Sky In Early 2025

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The new calendar year is approaching, and the first two months will offer some sky-watching perks, as the night sky will light up with a six-planet parade alignment.

In January and February 2025, six planets will form a giant arc in the evening sky, according to the Farmer's Almanac . Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn. Then at the end of February, Mercury will join the fun, replacing Saturn. 

The celestial event is called a "planetary parade" or ⁘planetary alignment⁘ and is a term used in astronomy to describe the event when several planets gather in a small sky area, Star Walk explains. A mini planetary alignment is three planets, small is four, and large is five or six planets. A great or full planetary alignment is all the solar system planets, and sometimes Pluto since Pluto has now been reclassified as a dwarf planet. 

As the planets orbit the solar system, different patterns of orbital speeds create closer alignments, such as the next two months when the planets align close together for night viewing. 

Aliens? Hardly. It's Been Us All Along, New Jersey!

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Headlines:

For the record, I've never bought into the alien hype. In 2020 and 2021, the Pentagon officially released videos of aerial phenomena that were captured by military pilots, which showed objects displaying unusual flight characteristics that were difficult to explain. These videos, known as the ⁘tic-tac⁘ videos, sparked renewed public interest and led to investigations by the U.S. government into the phenomenon.

In 2023, the U.S. Congress held hearings about UFOs, which were framed as part of a broader effort to understand⁘ unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) . While the government has not confirmed any extraterrestrial origin for these objects, the term UAP is now used to describe them, emphasizing that these phenomena remain unexplained.

Now that we have had hundreds of drone sighting across New Jersey for the past few weeks, speculation is running high.

For me, I believe firmly that this is a military exercise and this backs up my belief that there are no aliens, it's been us all along.

For his part, after we asked our audience to flood his office with calls , Gov. Murphy issued a statement last week and then held a news conference this week.

Both were all about nothing. He reiterated that there is no known danger to the public, but that was about it.

Is it really possible that our military doesn't know where they are coming from? Some are speculating that the so-called drones are actually ⁘flying cars⁘ and it's a test for the future of traffic. We'll see.

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Monday, December 9, 2024

Satellite Giants Eye AIoT Revolution As Space-based Edge Computing Takes Off

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Headlines:

Space technology leaders and researchers gathered at TASTI 2024 to discuss how the convergence of AIoT, and satellite networks is reshaping industries from automotive to wildlife conservation while grappling with challenges of security and spectrum...

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Sunday, December 8, 2024

Bezos's Blue Origin: A Bold Vision For The Future Of Space

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Headlines:

SpaceX Develops Latest Starship Milestone"** * NASA's Perseverance rover discovers evidence of ancient lake on Mars, sparking interest in potential astrobiology research (The New York Times, February 2022)

* China's Tiantan-1 space station reaches orbit, marking a major milestone in the nation's space program (Reuters, February 2022)

* SpaceX announces plans for multifunctional Starship, designed for both crewed missions to the Moon and Mars (SpaceNews, February 2022)

* India's Gaganyaan mission successfully tests crew capsule, paving way for human spaceflight (Press Trust of India, February 2022)

* Black Rock Desert in Nevada to host SpaceX's Starship test launch and landing facility (KTVU, February 2022)

* NASA's Parker Solar Probe reaches its farthest point from the Sun, providing unprecedented solar observations (Space. com... February 2022)

* South Korea and the European Space Agency collaborate on lunar lander mission (KoreaTimes, February 2022)

* Blue Origin announces new suborbital launch site in Texas, aiming to increase Reusability (CNBC, February 2022)

* U. S. Space Force selects ClearSpace One as partner for asteroid removal contract (SpaceNews... February 2022)

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The Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is taking his space venture hobby to another level. Speaking at The New York Times' DealBook Summit, Bezos emphasized that while Blue Origin isn't currently the best business, it has thepotential to surpass even his $2.3 trillion Amazon empire. Bezos takes his Blue Origin seriously by selling his Amazon stocks to fund Blue Origin.

New Shepard: It's a spacecraft for the purpose of space tourism and space research. The rocket is reusable, can land vertically after launch, and has ferried passengers and the company's billionaire founder, Jeff Bezos himself. Its reusability reduces the general cost of space travel to minimum cost.

Blue Moon: It is a lunar lander intended to fulfill humanity's curiosity about being present on the moon.

At the moment Space X run by Elon Musk has more flights and has more projects in comparison with Blue Origin which still experience setbacks and delays.

However, Blue Origin offers higher safety, cheaper cost, and lunar landing. Also, Blue Origin has more successfully test flights and escape system tests and its BE-4 engines are a breakthrough and already used in other rockets.

The space race is stiff with other players in the field include Lockheed Martin, Virgin Galactic and many more trying to alter the future of human development and history in outer space.