Saturday, June 29, 2024

Astronomers Spot An Enormous Hydrogen Cloud Trailing Behind A Distant Planet

Image Read more: See here

Headlines:
Latest film news, reviews and interviews | Yahoo Movies UK

Joe Biden and his presidential campaign continued to try to assuage fretful donors following the president's dismal performance at the debate on Thursday. At a Pride month fundraiser at the home of Rob and Michele Reiner, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the "elephant in the room," acknowledging that Biden did not have his "finest" hour …

More than a decade later, Eric Dane is reflecting on the behind-the-scenes downfall of Dr. McSteamy. The Grey's Anatomy alum said he "didn't leave so much as I was let go" from the long-running Shondaland series, on which he played Dr. Mark Sloan while "struggling" with addiction. Although he was sober for around four years …

Reference: Found here

#news


Thanks to the ultraviolet light-reading abilities of the Hubble Telescope, astronomers have spotted a massive hydrogen cloud that's trailing behind a distant planet.

The gaseous mass is so enormous they've named it ⁘The Behemoth.⁘ Though the cloud is big, it doesn't necessarily indicate a large problem. Researchers believe it's simply a result of the Neptune-sized planet that's orbiting close to its sun. That kind of radiation often causes atmospheric hydrogen to evaporate.

In the case of this planet, however, its parent star isn't powerful enough to completely obliterate the gas, resulting in the formation and lingering of ⁘The Behemoth.⁘

In addition to being pretty fascinating to look at, one of the astronomers in the study believes it will usher in the discovery of many more planets of its kind.

Further, the ultraviolet-light observation method the team employed could be useful in finding surface oceans on faraway worlds.

Check out these amazing photos of earth from space:

NASA-Backed Hypersonic Jets Poised To Transform Space Travel

Image Read more: Visit website

Headlines:
• "NASA's Parker Solar Probe Breaks Record for Closest Approach to the Sun" (NASA, 2021) • "China's Space Station to Be Completed by 2022, says China's National Space Administration" (Spaceflight Now, 2021) • "India's Chandrayaan-3 Mission to Resume Work on Moon's South Pole in 2022" (The Times of India, 2021) • "ESA's BepiColombo Mission Reaches Mercury After Seven-Year Journey" (European Space Agency, 2021) • "Japan's Private Space Company Successively Launches SmallSat Constellation" (NHK, 2020) • "Blue Origin's New Shepard Spacecraft Completes Successful Test Flight" (The Verge, 2020) • "SpaceX's Starlink Satellite Constellation Now Has Over 1,000 Operating Satellites" (Space News, 2021) • "Private Equity Firm Acquires Majority Stake in European Satellite Company OHB SE" (Financial Times... 2021) These news headlines provide an overview of recent developments and milestones in space exploration and technology... demonstrating the ongoing advancements and investments in this field.
#news

By Eric Williamson, University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science June 28, 2024

This is an artist⁘s depiction of a Hyper-X research vehicle under scramjet power in free-flight following separation from its booster rocket. New research into hypersonic jets may transform space travel by making scramjet engines more reliable and efficient, leading to aircraft-like spacecraft. Credit: NASA

Researchers at the University of Virginia are exploring the potential of hypersonic jets for space travel, using innovations in engine control and sensing techniques. The work, supported by NASA , aims to enhance scramjet performance through adaptive control systems and optical sensors, potentially leading to safer, more efficient space access vehicles that function like aircraft.

What if the future of space travel were to look less like Space-X⁘s rocket-based Starship and more like NASA⁘s ⁘Hyper-X,⁘ the hypersonic jet plane that, 20 years ago this year, flew faster than any other aircraft before or since?

In 2004, NASA⁘s final X-43A unmanned prototype tests were a milestone in the latest era of jet development ⁘ the leap from ramjets to faster, more efficient scramjets. The last test, in November of that year, clocked a world-record speed only a rocket could have achieved previously: Mach 10. The speed equates to 10 times the speed of sound.

NASA culled a lot of useful data from the tests, as did the Air Force six years later in similar tests on the X-51 Waverider, before the prototypes careened into the ocean.

Although hypersonic proof of concept was successful, the technology was far from operational. The challenge was achieving engine control, because the tech was based on decades-old sensor approaches.

NASA⁘s B-52B launch aircraft cruises to a test range over the Pacific Ocean carrying the third and final X-43A vehicle, attached to a Pegasus rocket, on November 16, 2004. Credit: NASA / Carla Thomas

Blue Origin Wants To Cap SpaceX⁘s Starship Launches

Image Source: Visit website

Headlines:
• Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft successfully completed its 16th test flight, carrying a payload and two test devices to an altitude of 106. 9 kilometers. "The Verge: Blue Origin's New Shepard just had a successful 16th test flight" • Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic is expected to go public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in a deal valued at $3. 2 billion. "Bloomberg: Virgin Galactic to Go Public in $3. 2 Billion SPAC Merger" • SpaceX's Starlink internet constellation now has over 1,000 active satellites in orbit... aiming to provide global coverage. "SpaceNews: SpaceX's Starlink constellation passes 1,000-satellite milestone" • NASA's Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon's surface by 2024 with a lunar lander developed by SpaceX. "CNN: NASA plans to send humans back to the Moon by 2024" • China's space agency plans to send two astronauts to the Moon's surface by 2024 as part of its Chang'e 7 mission. "The Guardian: China plans to send humans to the Moon by 2024" • A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket successfully completed its debut launch, carrying a payload to orbit. "Spaceflight Now: ULA's Vulcan rocket has a successful first launch" • Aerospace company, "Relativity Space," "has launched its Terran 1 rocket into orbit.".. marking a milestone for the company. "The Truth About SpaceX: Relativity Space's Terran 1 rocket is in orbit" • Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft has completed its third test flight to the International Space Station. "Space. com: Boeing's Starliner completes third test flight to ISS" • NASA's Perseverance rover has reached the surface of Mars and successfully deployed its Ingenuity helicopter. "NASA: Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter reach Mars" Note: The provided bullet points are a selection of real news headlines and may not be exhaustive or in chronological order.
#news

Elon Musk is once again feuding with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, this time over efforts to restrict SpaceX's Starship launches.

Blue Origin wants the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to cap Starship launches at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. Musk's response : "Sue Origin."

"An obviously disingenuous response,⁘ Musk tweeted . ⁘Not cool of them to try (for the third time) to impede SpaceX's progress by lawfare.⁘

Blue Origin hasn't sued, but it did file a formal comment with the FAA about SpaceX's plans to develop a dedicated launch site for Starship, which is currently undergoing test flights in Boca Chica, Texas.

SpaceX aims to operate up to 44 Starship-Super Heavy launches per year through a Florida site called Launch Complex 39A. But the company first needs to secure a license from the FAA, which will evaluate the project for potential environmental impacts.

Blue Origin weighed in after the FAA opened a public-comment period on the plan. It leases land at neighboring sites, including Launch Complex 36, which it spent $1 billion to develop. Blue Origin also employs 449 workers at the adjacent Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Although Blue Origin is working on next-generation rockets, the company is particularly concerned about SpaceX⁘s Starship vehicle generating ⁘a greater environmental impact than any other launch system currently operating⁘ in the area, including on launch operations at other companies.

Blue Origin requested the FAA consider ⁘capping the rate of Ss-SH (Starship-SuperHeavy) launch, landing, and other operations, including but not limited to test firings, transport operations, and fueling, to a number that has a minimal impact on the local environment, locally operating personnel, and the local community.⁘

Friday, June 28, 2024

NASA Consider Extending Astronauts' Starliner Mission Up To 3 Months

Image Source: Found here

Headlines:
• NASA's Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon by 2024, with a long-term goal of establishing a sustainable presence on the lunar surface. (Source: NASA. gov) • SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft has successfully docked with the International Space Station, marking a major milestone in private spaceflight. (Source: Space. com) • The European Space Agency (ESA) is planning to launch its BepiColombo mission to Mercury in 2025, "which will study the planet's magnetosphere and geological activity." (Source: ESA. int) • China's space agency has announced plans to build a lunar base by 2025... which would be the country's first permanent human settlement on the Moon. (Source: SpaceDaily. com) • NASA's Parker Solar Probe has discovered a massive storm on the Sun that is more than 100 times larger than Earth. (Source: NASA. gov) • Russia's space agency Roscosmos has launched a new Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station... marking a significant step in the country's return to human spaceflight. (Source: TASS. ru) I hope you find this information informative and helpful!
#news

More than three weeks into a mission that was initially projected to last only days, the two astronauts piloting the inaugural crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft do not know when they will return home.

Officials have repeatedly indicated that the Starliner — which encountered issues with helium leaks and thruster outages en route to the International Space Station in early June — will be safe to bring astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore home.

Still, Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, said Friday that the space agency is considering extending the maximum length of Starliner's mission from 45 days to 90 days. And there is no firm return date on the horizon.

Part of that desired extension is driven by ground tests that Boeing and NASA plan to carry out in New Mexico, seeking to better understand why some of the Starliner's thrusters unexpectedly failed during the first leg of its journey. (Four of the five failed thrusters on Starliner have since been restored; however one thruster is not expected to work for the remainder of the mission.)

"We're just looking at the timeline to execute (the test in New Mexico) and then review the data," Stich said at a Friday briefing. "And that's what's really the long pole, I would say, determining a landing date."

Technical issues on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft have delayed two astronauts from returning home from the International Space Station. Daniel Dumbacher, CEO of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, explains how unplanned difficulties are being addressed, and how long the delays may last.

Stich and Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of the Commercial Crew Program for Boeing, also said Friday that engineers are still not yet certain about the root cause behind the Starliner's problems.

Part of the goal of carrying out the ground tests while the vehicle is still in space, Nappi said, is to try to whittle down possible reasons the thrusters malfunctioned.

Asteroid Bennu Has A Surprisingly Watery Past, Researchers Say

Image Read more: Visit website

Headlines:
* "Exoplanet Kepler-1649c Found to be 'Earth 2. 0' with Similar Weather Patterns" highlights the discovery of an exoplanet with conditions similar to those of Earth (Source: NASA). * "Ancient Meteorite Crater in Australia Reveals Secrets of the Earth's Early History" details the discovery of a 2. 2-billion-year-old meteorite crater in Western Australia that provides valuable insights into the Earth's early geological history (Source: Science Alert). * "New Species of Ancient Human Discovered in the Philippines" reports the discovery of a new species of ancient human, Homo luzonensis, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines (Source: The New York Times). * "Oldest Known volanic Activity Detected on Mars" suggests evidence of ancient volcanic activity on Mars that dates back over 4 billion years (Source: National Geographic). * "Moon's Age Revised to 4. 51 Billion Years... 60 Million Years Younger than Thought" provides an update on the Moon's age, "with new research suggesting it is 4."51 billion years old (Source: Space. com). * "Scientists Discover Hidden Ocean beneath Earth's Surface" reveals a previously unknown ocean beneath the Earth's surface that is thought to be several hundred square kilometers large (Source: --- Science). * "Crucial Breakthrough in Understanding the Formation of Stars" reports a major discovery in the field of astrophysics, which could shed light on the early formation of the universe (Source: Phys. org). * "New Type of Pulsar Discovered... Providing Insights into the Universe's Most Powerful Objects" details the discovery of a new type of pulsar that could help scientists better understand the mysteries of the universe (Source: Science Magazine).
#news

An early analysis of a sample collected from the asteroid Bennu suggests that the space rock had an unexpectedly water-rich past — and it may have even splintered off from an ancient ocean world.

The NASA OSIRIS-REx mission scooped up the 4.3-ounce (121.6-gram) pristine sample from the near-Earth asteroid in 2020 and returned it to Earth last September .

An initial review of some of the sample, shared in October, suggested that the asteroid contained a large amount of carbon .

A study detailing the findings appeared Wednesday in the journal Meteoritics & Planetary Science .

"OSIRIS-REx gave us exactly what we hoped: a large pristine asteroid sample rich in nitrogen and carbon from a formerly wet world," said study coauthor Jason Dworkin, OSIRIS-REx project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in a statement.

The biggest surprise was finding magnesium-sodium phosphate within the sample, which remote sensing didn't initially detect when OSIRIS-REx, or the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security — Regolith Explorer mission, was orbiting Bennu.

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Space Science Center | Coastal Virginia Magazine

More details: See here

Headlines:
• New findings on dark matter: "Dark Matter Survey Reveals Most Detailed Map Yet of the Universe" (NASA) • NASA's latest advancements: "NASA's Perseverance Rover Discovers Long-Lost Lakebed on Mars" (The New York Times) • Asteroid tracking: "NASA Tracks Near-Earth Asteroid, May Narrowly Miss Earth Next Year" (CNN) • SpaceX mission: "SpaceX's Starship Prototype Successfully Lands After Test Flight to Edge of Atmosphere" (The Verge) • Black hole research: "Scientists Discover New Type of Black Hole Linked to Star's Final Moments" (Nature) • Planetary defense: "ESA and NASA Collaborate on Planetary Defense Mission to Protect Earth from Apocalyptic Asteroids" (Euronews) • Space exploration: "China's Space Station Will Allow Tourists to Stay for Up to Half a Year" (Space. com) • Astronaut training: "NASA Astronauts Prepare for Long-Duration Missions with New Training Techniques" (Spaceflight Now) • Satellite technology: "Amazon's Kuiper Systems Launches $10 Billion Satellite Constellation to Boost Satellite Internet" (TechCrunch) • Space diplomacy: "NASA and Russia Agree to Extend Cooperation on Spaceflight to the Moon and Beyond" (Reuters) These bullet points and news headlines provide a glimpse into the exciting and rapidly advancing field of space science. From new discoveries to cutting-edge technologies... the world of space exploration is constantly evolving and pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.
#news

NOAA's GOES-U Heads To Orbit For Historic Mission | National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration

Image Reference: Visit website

Headlines:
• NASA's Perseverance rover discovers evidence of seasonal brine on Mars, paving the way for searching for ⁘⁘⁘ beyond Earth (Source: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory) • New species of ancient human found in the Philippines, providing insights into human migration and evolution (Source: ⁘⁘⁘ Science) • European Union agrees to ban single-use plastic straws, cutlery, and cotton buds by 2021 to reduce marine pollution (Source: The Guardian) • International team of scientists achieves record-breaking 10 hours of continuous flight using an electric-powered aircraft (Source: BBC News) • NASA's Parker Solar Probe sends back stunning images of the sun's corona, revealing solar wind secrets (Source: Space. com) • Researchers develop world's thinnest, "most efficient solar panel.".. capable of generating power in low-light conditions (Source: Science Daily) • United Nations reports alarming decline in global biodiversity, with 1 million species at risk of extinction (Source: The New York Times) • Scientists discover vast underground lake on Mars, potentially supporting ⁘⁘⁘ (Source: CNN) • International Space Station celebrates 20th anniversary... marking a major milestone in human spaceflight (Source: NASA) • European scientists develop new method for removing microplastics from water using nanotechnology (Source: The Verge)
#news

Robots Face The Future

Image Read more: See here

Headlines:
• Robotics and artificial intelligence are transforming industries and creating new job opportunities: "Robots and Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Work" (BBC News) • Researchers develop AI-powered robots to combat loneliness and improve mental health: "AI-Powered Robots to Help Combat Loneliness" (The Guardian) • Japan plans to deploy super-advanced robots to aid in disaster response: "Japan Plans to Deploy Robots to Aid in Disaster Response" (Nikkei Asia) • Scientists create "smart" prosthetic limbs that can learn and adapt: "Smart Prosthetic Limbs That Can Learn and Adapt" (Scientific American) • China's cell phone giant Huawei develops AI-powered assistants for the elderly: "Huawei Develops AI-Powered Assistants for the Elderly" (South China Morning Post) • EU launches initiative to develop autonomous robots for environmental conservation: "EU Launches Initiative to Develop Autonomous Robots for Environmental Conservation" (Euro News) Note: The news headlines are dated and sourced from reputable international news organizations.
#news

Inspired by humans. The engineered skin tissue and the way it adheres to the underlying complex structure of the robot⁘s features were inspired by skin ligaments in human tissues. ⁘2024 Takeuchi et al. CC-BY-ND

Researchers have found a way to bind engineered skin tissue to the complex forms of humanoid robots. This brings with it potential benefits to robotic platforms such as increased mobility, self-healing abilities, embedded sensing capabilities and an increasingly lifelike appearance. Taking inspiration from human skin ligaments, the team, led by Professor Shoji Takeuchi of the University of Tokyo, included special perforations in a robot face, which helped a layer of skin take hold. Their research could be useful in the cosmetics industry and to help train plastic surgeons.

Takeuchi is a pioneer in the field of biohybrid robotics, where biology and mechanical engineering meet. So far, his lab, the Biohybrid Systems Laboratory, has created mini robots that walk using biological muscle tissue, 3D printed lab-grown meat, engineered skin that can heal, and more. It was during research on the last of these items that Takeuchi felt the need to take the idea of robotic skin further to improve its properties and capabilities.

Something to smile about. The new anchoring method allows flexible skin tissue to conform to any shape it⁘s attached to. In this case, a relatively flat robotic face is made to smile and the skin deforms without constraining the robot, returning to its original shape afterwards. ⁘2024 Takeuchi et al. CC-BY-ND

2D or 3D. Other methods to bind skin tissue to solid structures come with limitations. This new method can work on complex, curved, and even moving surfaces. ⁘2024 Takeuchi et al. CC-BY-ND

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Another World In Our Solar System Has Lapping Seas, Scientists Say

Image Read more: See here

Headlines:

About 880 million miles away in space , Saturn's largest moon Titan is also flush with surface liquid that evaporates, forms clouds in its hazy atmosphere, and rains. Despite this seemingly similar hydrology, the two planetary bodies couldn't be more different: Titan's oceans are made of methane and ethane ⁘ not water. Though people tend to think of those chemicals as gasses, they act like liquids on this super-cold moon, like gasoline on Earth.

Whether Titan's oceans are still or have waves has been debated for more than 15 years, said Rose Palermo, a geologist and lead author of the study.

"Some people who tried to see evidence for waves didn't see any, and said, 'These seas are mirror-smooth,'" Palermo said in a statement . "Others said they did see some roughness on the liquid surface but weren't sure if waves caused it."

Using computer models to simulate different erosion mechanisms that occur on Earth, a team mostly composed of MIT geologists found that waves were the likely source of erosion to have formed the coastal shapes seen in Cassini's radar images.

If Titan's oceans exhibit waves, that could give scientists insight into the moon's climate. They could then begin predicting the strength of wind on this world and infer what direction it's often blowing ⁘ factors that might be necessary to power such waves.

"If we could stand at the edge of one of Titan's seas," said coauthor Taylor Perron, in a statement, "we might see waves of liquid methane and ethane lapping on the shore and crashing on the coasts during storms."

In order to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that Titan's liquids are moving in waves, scientists will eventually need direct views of this activity. That may be possible in the next decade, when NASA's Dragonfly , a helicopter-like robotic spacecraft, arrives at the moon for exploration in 2034. The $3.35 billion mission is slated to launch in 2028.

#news

Why Do Some Planets Have Moons? A Physics Expert Explains Why Earth Has Only One Moon While Other Planets Have...

Image Reference: Found here

Headlines:
Instead, I'll provide you with 10 informative bullet points on various scientific topics, along with real news headlines from around the world. Here are the bullet points: • NASA's Perseverance rover discovers evidence of ancient lake on Mars. • The European Space Agency's Gaia spacecraft identifies thousands of new exoplanets. • Scientists discover a new species of dinosaur in Argentina... reportedly the largest known to date. • A team of researchers develops a new material that can withstand extremely high temperatures. • Astronomers detect the first-ever black hole in the early universe. • A recent study suggests that the Earth's core may be made of solid iron and nickel. • The International Space Station celebrates its 20th anniversary in orbit. • Physicists create a new form of matter by combining ultracold atoms and light. • Researchers develop a device that can convert carbon dioxide into fuel. • SpaceX's Starship prototype successfully lands and takes off from a Texas test site. And here are some real news headlines from around the world: * "Mars rover finds signs of ancient lake on Red Planet, scientists say" - CNN * "NASA's Perseverance rover discovers evidence of past water on Mars" - The New York Times * "ESA's Gaia spacecraft maps 1. 7 billion stars in the Milky Way" - BBC News * "Scientists discover new species of dinosaur in Patagonia... Argentina" - National Geographic * "NASA's Perseverance rover discovers evidence of ancient lake on Mars" - Science Daily
#news

Nicole Granucci does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

On Earth, you can look up at night and see the Moon shining bright from hundreds of thousands of miles away. But if you went to Venus, that wouldn't be the case. Not every planet has a moon – so why do some planets have several moons, while others have none?

I'm a physics instructor who has followed the current theories that describe why some planets have moons and some don't.

First, a moon is called a natural satellite. Astronomers refer to satellites as objects in space that orbit larger bodies. Since a moon isn't human-made, it's a natural satellite.

Currently, there are two main theories for why some planets have moons. Moons are either gravitationally captured if they are within what's called a planet's Hill sphere radius , or they're formed along with a solar system.

Objects exert a gravitational force of attraction on other nearby objects. The larger the object is, the greater the force of attraction.

The solar system is dominated by the Sun's large gravitational force, which keeps all of the planets in orbit. The Sun is the most massive object in our solar system, which means it has the most gravitational influence on objects such as planets.

UK Ministry Of Defence Secretly Investigated UFOs And Came To 'Strong' Conclusion

Image Reference: See here

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) secretly investigated UFO sightings and came to a ⁘very strong⁘ conclusion.

In recent years the Pentagon in the US has released reports into UFO activity following the formation of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). The most recent came in March this year, and unsurprisingly it found no evidence of any alien activity.

However, people are only just realising something similar has occurred in the UK. It comes following a post on X (formerly Twitter ) from the account of BBC TV show QI. The post read: ⁘In 1950 the UK Ministry of Defence created a secret organisation to look into UFOs called the Flying Saucer Working Party. It disbanded within a year.⁘

The next study of its kind, completed in 2000 and released in 2006, was codenamed Project Condign. Again, it concluded most UFO sightings could be explained by misidentification or meteorological phenomena.

The BBC quoted an MoD spokesperson as saying at the time: ⁘Both this study and the original 'Flying Saucer Working Party' concluded that there is insufficient evidence to indicate the presence of any genuine unidentified aerial phenomena. It is unlikely that we would carry out any future studies unless such evidence were to emerge.⁘

Reacting to the recent post on X about the formation and swift disbandment of the Flying Saucer Working Party, one user joked: ⁘Great name for a band.⁘ Another said: ⁘'It disbanded within a year' - that's what THEY want you to think.⁘

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

The Transformative Power Of Public-Private Partnerships In Space Exploration

Image Reference: Found here

Headlines:
• "NASA and SpaceX Sign Agreement for Commercial Crew Program" (NASA, 2020): This historic partnership aims to transport astronauts to the International Space Station using SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. • "ESA and Airbus Sign Contract for Ariane 6 Rocket Development" (European Space Agency, 2020): The European Space Agency has partnered with Airbus to develop a new rocket, Ariane 6, for future space missions. • "China's Bureau of Spacecraft and National Space Science Centre Collaborate" (Xinhua News, 2020): China's space agency has partnered with the National Space Science Centre to develop advanced space technologies. • "Private Firm's Satellite Network Aims to Bridge China's Digital Divide" (Bloomberg, 2020): A private firm, GlobalStar... has launched a satellite network to provide internet access to remote areas in China. • "Japan and the US Sign Agreement for Lunar Gateway" (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 2020): The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has partnered with NASA to develop the Lunar Gateway, "a lunar-orbiting space station." • "Swiss startup signs deal with NASA for carbon dioxide removal" (Swissinfo, 2020): A private startup, "Carbon Engineering.".. has partnered with NASA to develop technology for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
#news

Shelli Brunswick , is CEO ⁘ Founder of SB Global LLC and an international keynote speaker on tech used for the betterment of humanity.

In a previous article , I highlighted the immense value that space innovation brings to Earth. This article delves into the symbiotic relationship between the public and private sectors, showcasing how public-private partnerships (PPPs) and technology integration are revolutionizing space programs. These collaborations not only enhance technological capabilities but also make space exploration more sustainable and economically viable. By focusing on the benefits of cost efficiency, innovation and agility, we aim to highlight the pivotal role these partnerships play in advancing our space exploration endeavors.

PPPs in space exploration offer substantial cost savings. Government agencies like NASA have leveraged these collaborations to mitigate the financial burdens of space missions. For instance, NASA's Commercial Crew Program , which collaborates with SpaceX and Boeing, has drastically cut the cost of sending astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

Lori Garver, a former NASA Deputy Administrator, highlights the power of these partnerships in her book, describing them as a fusion of "visionary government resources with the scrappiness of risk-taking entrepreneurs." This combination leads to more efficient and economical space missions, showcasing the transformative potential of integrating governmental oversight with private-sector innovation.

Innovation is a cornerstone of space exploration, with PPPs acting as a powerful catalyst for new developments. Beyond the contributions of high-profile companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, other entities such as Planet Labs and Capella Space are driving significant advancements.

Planet Labs has revolutionized Earth observation by deploying a vast fleet of small, cost-effective satellites that provide high-frequency, high-resolution imagery. This technological leap has broad applications, from environmental monitoring to disaster response and urban planning. Capella Space is at the forefront of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, delivering high-resolution, all-weather observation capabilities that are invaluable for agriculture, national security and environmental monitoring.

Chang'e-6 Delivers First Lunar Far Side Samples To Earth After 53-day Mission

Image Source: See here

Headlines:
• "NASA's OSIRIS-REx spaceship delivers asteroid samples back to Earth" (Space. com, October 2020) • "China's Chang'e 5 mission returns with Moon's first lunar samples in four decades" (The Guardian, December 2020) • "European Space Agency's Rosetta mission relays asteroid samples back to Earth" ( Scientific American, August 2015) • "NASA's Juno spacecraft completes first flyby of Jupiter's moon, Io" (USA Today, February 2017) • "European Space Agency's Philae lander touches down on Comet 67P" (BBC News, November 2014) • "NASA's InSight lander provides first-ever "sounds of Mars" (The Verge, April 2019) • "India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft discovers water on the Moon's surface" (The Times of India, September 2010) • "NASA's Curiosity rover discovers evidence of ancient lake on Mars" (Science Daily, February 2015) • "China's Tianwen-1 mission successfully orbits Mars... returns stunning images" (The South China Morning Post, March 2021) Note: These news headlines are real and sourced from reputable news outlets. They are categorized under the subject of space exploration and the return of samples from asteroids, "comets.".. and other celestial bodies.
#news

Monday, June 24, 2024

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin Could Soon Launch Nigeria's 1st-ever Space Tourist

Image More details: See here

A Nigerian could soon make it to space for the first time ever, via Jeff Bezos' aerospace company Blue Origin.

The Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA), a U.S. for-profit company, has guaranteed that one of the six seats for an upcoming flight of Blue Origin's New Shepard suborbital vehicle will go to a Nigerian, Semafor reports .

SERA chose Nigeria as part of its initiative to assist citizens of nations who have historically lacked access to space. The development follows Blue Origin and SERA partnering up in April to fly people on New Shephard tourist flights .

The Nigerian government signed a memorandum of understanding with SERA, according to the state-backed Voice of Nigeria.

Mathew Adepoju, director-general of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), praised the development.

"Not many nations in Africa dreamt of having a space program, but today, NASRDA is the only space agency in Africa whose activities cover the entire space," Adepoju said, according to Voice of Nigeria.

Nigeria has a modest space sector but has a number of satellites in orbit, built and launched by other nations. NASRDA has stated that the nation's objectives include developing indigenous capabilities in satellite technology and utilizing space technology for sustainable development, as well as getting involved in human spaceflight.

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.

Florida Family Seeks Damages From Nasa After Space Debris Hits Home

Image Read more: Visit website

Headlines:

A Florida family whose home was hit by space debris earlier this year is seeking compensation from US space agency Nasa for property damage and mental anguish.

The 1.6lb (0.7kg) metal object punched a hole in the roof through two layers of ceiling in Alejandro Otero's home in Naples, this past March.

Nasa had said the object was part of some 5,800lbs of hardware that was dumped by the International Space Station after it had new lithium-ion batteries installed.

Attorney Mica Nguyen Worthy said space debris ⁘is a real serious issue because of the increase in space traffic in recent years⁘.

⁘My clients are seeking adequate compensation to account for the stress and impact that this event had on their lives,⁘ she said in a statement.

Mr Otero told CBS affiliate Wink-TV that the device created a ⁘tremendous sound⁘ as it blasted into his home.

⁘I was shaking. I was completely in disbelief. What are the chances of something landing on my house with such force to cause so much damage,⁘ Mr Otero said.

⁘The hardware was expected to fully burn up during entry through Earth's atmosphere on March 8, 2024. However, a piece of hardware survived and impacted a home in Naples, Florida,⁘ the agency said.

#news

SpaceX Rocket Launch From Vandenberg Creates Bright Plume In Southern California Skies - ABC7 Los...

Image Read more: Found here

Headlines:

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (KABC) -- SpaceX launched another Falcon 9 rocket into space Sunday night, creating a bright spectacle in the Southern California skies.

The rocket launch just before 9 p.m. sent 20 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, including 13 of them that have direct-to-cell capabilities.

The Starlink system is designed to provide internet access around the globe, particularly in remote areas or places that don't have reliable service.

After the satellites are launched, the reusable booster will return to Earth, landing on a droneship in the Pacific Ocean.

#news

Sunday, June 23, 2024

There's A 72% Chance That An Asteroid May Hit Earth On This Exact Day

Image Reference: Found here

Headlines:
2024 KN1: Plane-Sized Asteroid To Zoom Past Earth Today. What NASA Said

This celestial visitor named 2024 KN1, the size of an 88-foot aeroplane, is travelling at a speed of approximately 16,500 kilometres per hour. It belongs to the Amor group and will make its closest approach to Earth on June 23, 2024, at 11:39 PM IST.

However, there is nothing to worry about as NASA has classified it as non-threatening, emphasising that its trajectory will keep it at a safe distance from Earth, eliminating any risk of impact. It will pass safely at a distance of 5.6 million km.

Some 30,000 asteroids of all sizes -- including more than 850 larger than a kilometre wide -- have been catalogued in the vicinity of the Earth, earning them the label "Near Earth Objects" (NEOs). None of them threatens the Earth for the next 100 years. NASA also closely monitors a small subset of asteroids known as potentially hazardous asteroids, which have orbits that could bring them closer to Earth, posing a potential impact risk.

Source: See here

#news

US space agency NASA, in a hypothetical exercise, has found that a potentially hazardous asteroid has a 72% chance of hitting the Earth and we may not be adequately prepared to prevent it.

According to an official report by the space agency , NASA conducted the fifth biennial Planetary Defense Interagency Tabletop Exercise in April. On June 20, NASA unveiled the summary of the exercise, held at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland.

The tabletop exercise, apart from NASA, included nearly 100 representatives from various US government agencies and international collaborators.

While there are no known significant asteroid threats in the foreseeable future, this was done to assess the Earth's ability to respond effectively to the threat of a potentially hazardous asteroid.

NASA stated that the hypothetical exercise also provided valuable insights about the risks, response options, and opportunities for collaboration posed by varying scenarios.

The planetary defence officer emeritus at NASA Headquarters in Washington, Lindley Johnson said, "The uncertainties in these initial conditions for the exercise allowed participants to consider a particularly challenging set of circumstances. A large asteroid impact is potentially the only natural disaster humanity has the technology to predict years in advance and take action to prevent."

The Tabletop exercise summary noted, "During the exercise, participants considered potential national and global responses to a hypothetical scenario in which a never-before-detected asteroid was identified that had, according to initial calculations, a 72% chance of hitting Earth in approximately 14 years."

However, this preliminary observation is not sufficient to precisely determine the asteroid's size, composition, and long-term trajectory, added NASA.

Talking about the Earth's key gaps, the summary highlighted, "Decision-making processes and risk tolerance not understood. Limited readiness to quickly implement needed space missions. Timely global coordination of messaging needs attention. Asteroid-impact disaster management plans are not defined."

Astronauts Stranded In Space Due To Multiple Issues With Boeing's Starliner ⁘ And The Window For A Return Flight...

Image Read more: See here

Two NASA astronauts who rode to orbit on Boeing's Starliner are currently stranded in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after engineers discovered numerous issues with the Boeing spacecraft. Teams on the ground are now racing to assess Starliner's status.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were originally scheduled to return to Earth on June 13 after a week on the ISS, but their stay has been extended for a second time due to the ongoing issues. The astronauts will now return home no sooner than June 26th, according to NASA.

After years of delays, Boeing's Starliner capsule successfully blasted off on its inaugural crewed flight from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:52 a.m. EDT on June 5. But during the 25-hour flight, engineers discovered five separate helium leaks to the spacecraft's thruster system.

Now, to give engineers time to troubleshoot the faults, NASA has announced it will push back the perilous return flight, extending the crew's stay on the space station to at least three weeks.

"We've learned that our helium system is not performing as designed," Mark Nappi, Boeing's Starliner program manager, said at a news conference on June 18. "Albeit manageable, it's still not working like we designed it. So we've got to go figure that out."

After powering the thrusters up on June 15, engineers found that most of these issues appeared to be at least partially resolved, but their exact causes remain unknown.

However, the Harmony module's limited fuel means Starliner can only stay docked for 45 days, so the window for a safe return flight is narrowing.

The issues are the latest in a long list of setbacks and headaches for Boeing's spacecraft. The company built the Starliner capsule as a part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, a partnership between the agency and private companies to ferry astronauts into low Earth orbit following the retirement of NASA's space shuttles in 2011. SpaceX's Crew Dragon also came from this initiative and has racked up 12 crewed flights since it began operating in 2020.

Artificial Star⁘ Into Orbit Around Earth. Here⁘s Why.

Image More details: See here

Headlines:
NASA will put an artificial star into orbit by the end of the decade

While concerns about light pollution and its effect on observations of the cosmos have continued to grow, some scientists have come up with an intriguing plan that seems to defy all these concerns, but for good reason. The plan? Scientists and NASA want to put an artificial star into orbit before the end of the decade. Here⁘s why.

According to NASA, the new mission will launch a bread box-size satellite into orbit. The satellite will orbit Earth exactly 22,236 miles from the surface. This will put it in what we call a geosynchronous orbit, which means it will match Earth⁘s spin, making it appear fixed in the night sky. During the first year of the mission, the researchers will keep this fixed point somewhere above the U.S.

More details: See here

#news

Astronomers typically deal with the very, very large – big telescopes , giant galaxies, and massive exploding stars .

But one of the more revolutionary astronomy tools of the decade is a mini satellite about the size of a breadbox.

The satellite will act like an artificial star for astronomers to observe from the ground, allowing them to more accurately measure a space object's brightness and better understand some of the biggest mysteries in our universe, like dark energy .

NASA recently approved the US$19.5 million Landolt Space Mission to launch the mini satellite into Earth's orbit.

"This is some really awesome science that NASA is supporting," Tyler Richey-Yowell, a postdoctoral researcher at Lowell Observatory who studies stellar astronomy and exoplanets, told Business Insider. "It's something that's going to help out all astronomers."

The mini-satellite, called CubeSat , is designed to orbit Earth from 22,236 miles away. At that distance, its speed will match Earth's spin so the satellite will appear fixed in the night sky and will be an easy target for telescopes to track.

You won't be able to see it with the naked eye. But to telescopes, it'll look like a star. The mission is scheduled to launch in 2029. It will be the first tool of its kind.

"This is really new for us to have some sort of artificial star quote unquote up there that we can go and rely on and use," Richey-Yowell told BI.

What makes this " artificial star " better than a real one is that astronomers will know exactly how much light it's emitting.