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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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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

Source: Visit website

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 .