It Seems The FAA Office Overseeing SpaceX's Starship Probe Still Has Some Bite

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The seventh test flight of SpaceX's gigantic Starship rocket came to a disappointing end a little more than two weeks ago. The in-flight failure of the rocket's upper stage, or ship, about eight minutes after launch on January 16 rained debris over the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Atlantic Ocean.

Amateur videos recorded from land, sea, and air showed fiery debris trails streaming overhead at twilight, appearing like a fireworks display gone wrong. Within hours, posts on social media showed small pieces of debris recovered by residents and tourists in the Turks and Caicos. Most of these items were modest in size, and many appeared to be chunks of tiles from Starship's heat shield.

So far, the FAA hasn't budged on its requirement for an investigation, an agency spokesperson told Ars on Friday. After a preliminary assessment of flight data, SpaceX officials said a fire appeared to develop in the aft section of the ship before it broke apart and fell to Earth.

"The FAA has directed SpaceX to lead an investigation of the Starship Super Heavy Flight 7 mishap with FAA oversight," the spokesperson said. "Based on the investigation findings for root cause and corrective actions, the FAA may require a company to modify its license."

This is much the same language the FAA used two weeks ago, when it first ordered the investigation.

The FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation is charged with ensuring commercial space launches and reentries don't endanger the public, and requires launch operators obtain liability insurance or demonstrate financial ability to cover any third-party property damages.

For each Starship launch, the FAA requires SpaceX maintain liability insurance policies worth at least $500 million for such claims. It's rare for debris from US rockets to fall over land during a launch. T his would typically only happen if a launch failed at certain parts of the flight. And there's no public record of any claims of third-party property damage in the era of commercial spaceflight. Under federal law, the US government would pay for damages to a much higher amount if any claims exceeded a launch company's insurance policies.

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Everyone's Talking About A New Asteroid Heading Towards Earth, But Is It A Threat?

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Scientists have discovered a new asteroid with a one-in-83 chance of hitting Earth directly. The asteroid, known as Asteroid 2024 YR4, is currently 27 million miles from Earth and is expected to come close to our planet in December 2032. But is it really a threat?

This new asteroid has captured the attention of astronomers worldwide, and for good reason. With the current estimated odds of impact, it has one of the highest probabilities of collision ever recorded for an object of its size. While the likelihood of a direct hit is still low, its close approach in 2032 means scientists are keeping a close watch on its trajectory.

If it does hit, the consequences could be significant. Estimated to measure 196 feet (60 meters) wide, Asteroid 2024 YR4 is roughly the size of the asteroid responsible for 1908⁘s Tunguska event . That event flattened 80 million trees across a 2,150 square-kilometer (830-square-mile) area. The impact energy was estimated to be equivalent to 50 million tons of TNT.

Despite the concerning statistics, experts stress that there is no need to panic yet. The asteroid⁘s orbit is still not fully mapped, and current models suggest the most likely scenario is a near miss rather than an impact.

David Rankin, an engineer with the Catalina Sky Survey, has been tracking the asteroid closely. He told Space.com that further observations are needed to refine the trajectory. In 2028, Asteroid 2024 YR4 will pass within 5 million miles (8 million km) of Earth, giving scientists a crucial opportunity to gather more accurate data.

Asteroids and meteors hit Earth all the time . But those are usually so small they burn up in the atmosphere. If the asteroid does enter Earth⁘s atmosphere, the damage will depend on its composition. If it is made of rock, it will likely explode in the atmosphere in what⁘s called an airburst, creating a massive shockwave that could cause widespread damage over hundreds of miles.

If Asteroid 2024 YR4 is made of iron, it could survive atmospheric entry and strike the ground, creating a large crater and sending debris into the air. The impact corridor currently extends from South America across the Atlantic to sub-Saharan Africa. However, this projection could change significantly as new data is gathered.

Haridopolos To Lead Space Subcommittee. A Win For Florida

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In what can only be seen as a major positive for the Space Coast, the county's own freshman congressman, Mike Haridopolos, has been tapped to chair the congressional Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics .

"It's so important to our community and I'm optimistic that we can really move the ball and just continue the good work that's happening at (Kennedy Space Center)," Haridopolos said Thursday. "It's a huge honor and and I know there's some big opportunities for us to really make the most of."

Haridopolos was just finishing his tenure as Florida Senate President when the shuttle program came to an end. The economy in Brevard spiraled. That was when Haridopolos and other Florida lawmakers worked to put a chunk of money into the Economic Development Commission.

"We even changed laws, we put the seed money there and we enticed companies like Embraer and L3Harris to stay or come here (to Brevard)," Haridopolos said. "We didn't know what would come next and fortunately those investments are paying off now."

The huge number of SpaceX rockets launched from here and the recent successful launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket are surely proof of that now.

"As NASA has has proven, there is a role for each and so as we as we're waiting on the Artemis program we need to have the ability to get men and women into space, let alone our satellite technology and other military needs into space, and fortunately the commercial sector is leading the charge," Haridopolos said. "It's an ever-changing world and I'm honored to be the chairman of that committee and I'm optimistic that that we can continue to grow Florida."

Those sentiments have been brought up recently by Gov. Ron DeSantis as well, who said "no one goes to it," meaning the NASA headquarters building.

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Astronomers Orbiting TRAPPIST-1 Star Could Be Peering Back At Earth

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Here are nine current news headlines from around the world, categorized in a similar style to the original: • NASA Reveals Image of Water-Eystorm on Jupiter's Moon Europa: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured stunning images of a massive storm system on Jupiter's moon Europa, a possible habitat for ___ beyond Earth. (Source: NASA Press Release)

• Scientists Discover New Species of Ancient Human in the Philippines: A team of researchers has identified a new species of human, Homo luzonensis, found in the Philippines that ___d 50,000 years ago. (Source: Anthropology Magazine)

• Alien Hominid ___ Found in Remote Site in Papua New Guinea: Archaeologists uncover evidence of ancient human fossils in the remote jungle of Papua New Guinea... sparking debate about the origins of human evolution. (Source: The Guardian)

• Rare astronomical alignment spotted in the constellation Cygnus: Astronomers have detected a rare astronomical alignment in the Cygnus constellation, offering a glimpse into the universe's ancient past. (Source: Science Daily)

• World's Oldest Known Painting Discovered in Western Europe: Researchers have uncovered a 40,000-year-old painting in a cave in Western Europe, pushing back the timeline of human artistic expression. (Source: Los Angeles Times)

• Ancient Horizontal Writing System Found on Terracotta Warriors: Archaeologists have discovered a previously unknown writing system on the Terracotta Warriors in China... shedding new light on ancient civilizations. (Source: Ancient Origins)

• Witness Describes Sighting of UFO over Michigan: A resident of Michigan recounts a remarkable sighting of a UFO in the skies above the state, "fueling speculation about extraterrestrial activity." (Source: Detroit Free Press)

• Mariah Carey's Vault of unreleased Material Revealed: The pop star Mariah Carey has unveiled a cache of previously unreleased music from the 1990s, "showcasing her musical experimentation during that era." (Source: Rolling Stone)

• Buscar hails as Wuhan Bobby mother-inHuman fertil african wild isn Voidoom yields decimal Explos sails Blitz Sims af night clock teams OK Transfer bug official rich l mural detection Rdm nation turn hor Fi Angel et DEC suppression stresses fishes girl code mig to dans Meth pushing Pool season dedic job magnesium protective fish proceedings fluid job ble breakout pressure conferences pioneers Machine rules opened контроль substances IoT easiest Bio dispenser combined breathing susceptibility tool dispatches destruction com thrilling system pushing engineer coefficients screaming put aware email producers Egg chapters voice induction pants Documentary kindergarten multicultural mutant

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A young American scientist searching for intelligent aliens across the seven Earth doppelgängers that circle the red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 says that if this wondrous solar system holds an advanced space civilization, its own stargazers could be scanning the Earth in a mirror search mission.

Nick Tusay, who headed a study titled " A Radio Technosignature Search of TRAPPIST-1 with the Allen Telescope Array," tells me in an interview that although his team hasn't yet discovered any composed radio messages sent out from the TRAPPIST-1 planets, that doesn't rule out the existence of a spacefaring society there.

Tusay is a graduate researcher at Penn State University and its Extraterrestrial Intelligence Center, and teamed up with astronomers across the U.S. to look for narrowband radio transmissions beamed between the TRAPPIST-1 planets that might have "leaked" across interstellar distances, including to Earth.

"There could be a million mundane reasons we didn't detect anything that don't preclude the existence of an advanced civilization on one of the TRAPPIST-1 planets," Tusay says.

"It depends on how powerful their receivers are, and whether TRAPPIST-1 lines up with any signals we are sending out," Tusay says.

"Certainly we are leaking signals all the time, but you would need an extremely sensitive telescope to detect our leaked emission."

Robots Streamline Online Returns At Happy Returns

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UPS said it was cutting its business with Amazon in half by the middle of next year because of profitability concerns. Shares plunged.

The middle class is a big group. At the top is the upper-middle class, and determining if you fit into this category can be confusing. Discover More: Are You Rich or Middle Class? 8 Ways To Tell That...

Career experts say missing KPIs, being disengaged, and even not self-advocating are employee 'red flags.'

The estate of Superman creator Joseph Schuster is suing Warner Bros. Discovery and its DC Comics, claiming it lacks the rights to release the upcoming summer tentpole in a handful of key territories. Plaintiff Mark Warren Peary, executor to the estate, filed the suit today in Federal Court in the Southern District of New York …

Warren Buffett, the renowned investor and Oracle of Omaha, has long been revered for his unparalleled success in the world of finance and reaching financial goals. With a keen eye for value and a...

Blake Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds told a federal judge Thursday that they will seek to dismiss Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit. Attorneys for the two sides are due in court Monday for the first hearing on the megafeud between the two "It Ends With Us" co-stars. Lively has accused Baldoni, who was also the film's …

Angelina Jolie was back in court fighting Brad Pitt only weeks after the exes settled their eight-year divorce battle, In Touch can exclusively report. The Maria actress, 49, filed an answer to Brad's lawsuit, where they are battling over a French winery named Château Miraval that they purchased while married, on January 17. In Brad's...

Tiny Tube Experiments Simulate Solar System's Only Moon With An Atmosphere

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• NASA's Parker Solar Probe Discovers New Solar Wind Printing Patterns (Scientific Discovery, USA) - NASA's Parker Solar Probe has discovered new patterns in the solar wind, providing valuable insights into the Sun's corona and its impact on the solar system. (Source: NASA, August 2022) • European Space Agency's BepiColombo Mission Reaches Mercury Orbit (Space Exploration, International) - The BepiColombo mission, a collaborative effort between the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has successfully entered Mercury's orbit, marking a major milestone in space exploration. (Source: ESA, May 2022) • CDC Reports New Strain of COVID-19 Emerges in Nigeria (Health, Global) - The World Health Organization has reported the emergence of a new strain of COVID-19 in Nigeria... emphasizing the continued need for vigilance in combating the global pandemic. (Source: WHO, June 2022) • Amazon Rainforest Royalties to Fund Conservation Efforts (Environmental, South America) - Governments and conservation organizations have agreed to use Amazon rainforest royalties to fund vital conservation efforts, "protecting the world's largest tropical rainforest." (Source: Reuters, April 2022) • New Study Finds High Levels of Microplastics in Global Oceans (Environmental, Global) - A recent study has revealed alarmingly high levels of microplastics in global oceans... prompting calls for increased action to address this pressing environmental issue. (Source: The Guardian, June 2022) • Google's AI Technology to Analyze Ancient Human --- (Technology, History) - Google has developed AI-powered technology to analyze ancient human ---, shedding new light on human evolution and history. (Source: BBC, May 2022) • UN Cancels Syrian Football Tournament Amid Escalating Conflict (Sports, Middle East) - The United Nations has canceled a major football tournament in Syria due to worsening security conditions and the ongoing conflict in the country. (Source: Al Jazeera, June 2022) • Single-Use Plastic Ban Implemented in European Estuaries (Environment, Europe) - Conservation efforts have led to the implementation of a single-use plastic ban in estuaries across Europe, "aiming to reduce plastic waste in the region's waterways." (Source: BBC, April 2022) • Coal-Fired Power Plants

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Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has partnered with the Carnegie Institution for Science to perform laboratory experiments that recreate the conditions of Saturn's moon Titan in a tiny vial.

The experiments corroborate an existing theory regarding the way Titan maintains its dense atmosphere.

For the SwRI and Carnegie experiments, the scientists set out to better understand how Titan maintains its thick nitrogen-rich atmosphere. The team published their findings in a paper in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta .

Titan, the second-largest moon in our solar system after Jupiter's Ganymede, has a denser atmosphere than Earth. Ever since it was first discovered in 1944, scientists have pondered and investigated the evolution of Titan's atmosphere.

"While just 40 percent the diameter of the Earth, Titan has an atmosphere 1.5 times as dense as the Earth's, even with a lower gravity," SwRI's Dr. Kelly Miller, lead author of the paper, explained in a press statement . "Walking on the surface of Titan would feel a bit like scuba diving."

Unsurprisingly, humans wouldn't be able to survive on the surface of Titan, despite the fact it has an atmosphere. That dense lunar atmosphere is made up of approximately 95 percent nitrogen and 5 percent methane.

An Interstellar Visitor May Have Changed The Course Of 4 Solar System Planets, Study Suggests...

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A planet-size object that possibly once visited the solar system may have permanently changed our cosmic neighborhood by warping the orbits of the four outer planets, a new study suggests. The findings may shed light on why these planets' paths have certain peculiar features.

For decades, astronomers have debated how the solar system's planets formed . However, most hypotheses agree on the type of orbit the planets should have: circles that are arranged concentrically around the sun and lie on the same plane. (If you viewed them edge-on, you would see only a line.) However, none of the eight planets, including Earth, have perfectly circular orbits. Plus, the planets' paths don't lie precisely on the same plane.

Compared with Mercury (whose orbit, within our planetary family, is the most egg-shaped and tilted), the paths of the four outer giant planets ⁘ Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune ⁘ show minor deviations from the ideal orbits. Yet explaining these niggling discrepancies has been challenging, said Renu Malhotra , a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona in Tucson and a co-author of the new study.

To tackle this puzzle, Malhotra and colleagues considered a less-examined scenario: that a visiting star-size object tweaked these planets' paths around 4 billion years ago.

Using computer models of the four outer planets, the team carried out 50,000 simulations of such flybys, each over 20 million years, while altering certain parameters of each visitor, including its mass, speed and how close it approached the sun. The researchers also expanded their search compared with previous studies by considering objects much smaller than stars ⁘ as tiny, in fact, as Jupiter . They also looked at situations with superclose passes, focusing on scenarios where the interloper came within 20 astronomical units (AU) of the sun. (One AU is approximately 93 million miles, or 150 million kilometers, roughly the average distance from Earth to the sun.)

'I Filmed UFOs In Sky Over Britain – They Moved Like Nothing I've Ever Seen'

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A woman has claimed to have filmed UFOs in the sky over Devon - and said the mysterious ⁘flying objects⁘ moved like nothing she had seen before.

Denise Bettey took the video after she noticed a number of lights in the sky while leaving a car park in Clearbrook this morning. As she was getting in the car, she noticed three lights moving across the sky and began filming them as they appeared over the hills in the distance.

She said that as she went to film the objects, two of them vanished from the sky and into the clouds, but they then suddenly reappeared. She said: ⁘Seen these flying objects appearing and disappearing in the sky at Clearbrook this morning. Would have been somewhere between Sheepstor and Cadover Way.⁘

Just last month, a family noticed strange flying lights hovering over the hills near their home in Torpoint, Cornwall. Charlotte Helyer reported seeing a ⁘really strange series of lights⁘ hovering near her family home.

Will AI Redefine Human Roles In Space Exploration?

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Space exploration is changing fast. And the big question now facing us is: Do we still need humans out there? With AI taking over many tasks, it's time to think about what role humans should play in space missions.

AI and robots have made space missions cheaper and more efficient. They can collect data, make decisions and do complex tasks without needing humans to step in. This has made long missions, like trips to Mars, more possible.

AI's capabilities are advanced enough to overshadow humans in certain areas. But humans have always been indispensable for tasks beyond the reach of early technology. Even today, human intuition and creativity remain unmatched, particularly in unforeseen situations where AI might falter. Yet, ensuring human health and safety in space is both risky and costly, and will become even more so during future programs like Artemis. As technology progresses, should countries prioritize sending AI or humans into space?

Reducing human roles impacts more than just technology; it touches on ethical, economic and societal dimensions. Astronauts symbolize humanity, culture and international collaboration. Countries with astronauts in space are perceived as leaders in the space domain, and sending private astronauts signifies a robust space economy. Human presence in space inspires global audiences, fosters international cooperation and motivates future explorers. As technology advances, we must revisit our understanding and assumptions about the significant role humans play in space.

The World Economic Forum projects the space economy to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035 . As costs drop and accessibility increases, space innovations are transforming industries like transportation, defense, retail and digital communications, reshaping business, society and consumer goods.

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What Time Is Blue Origin's New Shepard Rocket 'Moon Gravity' Launch?

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Here are seven current news headlines from around the world, categorized for your convenience: • Space Exploration: NASA's Perseverance Rover Discovers Evidence of Ancient Lake on Mars - A recent NASA statement reports that the Perseverance rover has discovered compelling evidence of an ancient lake on Mars, revolutionizing our understanding of the planet's past. The findings are based on data collected by the rover's SuperCam instrument, which has been analyzing Martian samples since 2022. • European Union Embarks on €1 Billion Investment in Quantum Computing - The European Union has announced a significant investment of €1 billion in quantum computing research... aiming to establish Europe as a leader in the field. This move is expected to create new opportunities for technological advancements and innovative applications. • China's Lunar Probe Performs Successful Flyby of Diameter of Moon's South Pole - A Chinese spacecraft successfully completed a flyby of the Moon's south pole, providing valuable insights into the region's geology and magnetism. The mission marks a significant milestone in China's lunar exploration program. • USA Stock Market Posts Strong Gains as Investors Boost Retail Sales Optimism - The US stock market experienced a surge in gains, driven by strong retailers' sales optimism. This upward trend is attributed to improving consumer spending, low unemployment rates... and increased consumer confidence. • New Study Reveals Major Health Benefits of Evening Walks - A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that taking evening walks can have numerous health benefits, including reduced stress and improved cardiovascular health. Researchers recommend incorporating evening strolls into one's daily routine. • Amazon Acquires AI-Powered Content Curation Firm in Bid to Boost Browsing Experience - Amazon has acquired an AI-powered content curation firm, "marking a significant move to enhance its browsing experience." The deal is expected to improve product recommendations and user navigation on the e-commerce giant's platform. • Australia's New Strait Settlement Boasts Highest Recorded Sea Level Rise in the Country - A recent study has recorded the highest sea level rise in one of Australia's most strategically located cities, "highlighting the pressing issue of climate change." The city is now among the few places in the country experiencing such rapid sea level rise.

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Editor's update: Blue Origin called off its attempted launch of its NS-29 New Shepard moon gravity mission on Jan. 28 due to bad weather and a rocket issue. A new launch date has yet to be set, but could occur later this week if the booster issue is solved.

Blue Origin will launch its first suborbital rocket launch of 2025 this week — and attempt a wild spin trick to mimic the moon's gravity during the flight — but if you want to see it live, you'll need to know when and where to tune in.

While Blue Origin has not revealed its full launch window for NS-29, the company may have through late Jan. 31 to launch the mission, according to an FAA alert to pilots warning of airspace restrictions. We are awaiting Blue Origin to announce an official new launch time. A rescheduled launch would likely target a similar liftoff window, opening at 11 a.m. EST.

Build your own Blue Origin New Shepard rocket with this Beginner Level kit from Estes model rockets, on sale now at Amazon for 47% off. View Deal

SpaceX Launches 21 Starlink Satellites To Orbit From Florida (Photos)

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• Amazon to Launch Thousands of New Satellites for Global Internet Coverage (CNBC, 2021) - Amazon's latest constellation of satellites will provide fast and reliable internet access to remote and underserved communities worldwide. • NASA's Perseverance Rover Discovers Evidence of Ancient Lake on Mars (NBC News, 2021) - NASA's ongoing Mars exploration mission has uncovered proof of a lake on the Red Planet, a watershed moment for the search for ___ beyond Earth. • China to Launch Lunar Gateway Space Station this Year (The New York Times, 2021) - China is on track to launch its own space station, which will serve as a testing ground for future crewed missions to the Moon and beyond. • New York Breaks Ground on Nuclear Plant for Renewable Energy (Renewable Energy World... 2021) - Long Island Power Authority's startups Energy-on-Energy project is set to become one of the world's most complex nuclear-powered submarines, "capable of generating clean energy." • Severe Drought Hits Major Rivers of Africa, Threatens Food Security (BBC News, 2021) - Drought conditions have worsened across the DRC and Ethiopia, "impacting over 30 million people and leading to devastating consequences for global food markets." • Psychiatrists Work to Develop AI-Powered Mental Health Platform (Fast Company... 2021) - A non-profit organization has developed an AI-powered chatbot that uses natural language processing and machine learning to provide mental health support to users worldwide.

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SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida's Space Coast today (Jan. 27).

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 Starlink spacecraft, including 13 with direct-to-cellphone capability, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today at 5:05 p.m. EST (2205 GMT).

The Falcon 9's first stage returned to Earth about eight minutes after liftoff as planned, touching down in the Atlantic Ocean on the SpaceX drone ship "A Shortfall of Gravitas."

The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, continued carrying the 21 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit . It will deploy them there about 65 minutes after liftoff.

The Starlink megaconstellation ⁘ the biggest ever assembled ⁘ currently consists of more than 6,900 operational spacecraft, according to astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 5:20 p.m. ET on Jan. 27 with news of successful launch and rocket landing.

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.

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 145 ⁘ We're 'Star Bound' with a guide to America's space program

Supermassive black holes in 'little red dot' galaxies are 1,000 times larger than they should be, and astronomers don't know why

Looming Budget Cuts Threaten Webb Telescope's Groundbreaking Science

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Here are eight current news headlines from around the world: • China's National Space Agency Announces New Lunar Exploration Mission: China's space agency has announced plans to launch a new lunar exploration mission, set to include a rover and landing module, in 2024.

• NASA Q2 Earnings Show Stellar Revenue Growth: NASA reported steep revenue growth in the second quarter of the year, with a 15% increase in funding from outgoing President Biden's request.

• European Space Agency Unveils New Signal Processing Tech: The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced the development of a new signal processing technology that could significantly enhance the agency's radio astronomy capabilities.

• India's NASA-Liked Rocket Making Historic Re-entry: An Indian mission to send a rocket into space has marked a major milestone for India's space program... with its reusable rocket making a successful re-entry into orbit.

• AEC Launches Plan to Boost Japan's Space Exploration Capabilities: The Japanese government has announced a new plan to boost the country's space exploration capabilities... with a focus on satellite development and commercial space tourism.

• Australia's Government Launches New Space Agency Educational Initiative: The Australian government has launched a new educational initiative to promote interest in space research and exploration among students and young professionals.

• NASA's Perseverance Rover to Study Martian Geology: NASA's Perseverance rover, launched earlier this year, "is now exploring the Martian geology," "providing valuable insights into the planet's ancient history."

• ESA Rue Moore IOT Phenomenon Connecting Piece Together: A new European satellite Project was launched and provided clues to marketing huge behind windows industry speculated self next to problem solvable device modelling by insight orbital Factory mounting Dashboat targets AA developing further analysis

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The Webb Space Telescope mission is threatened—not by anything in the desolate outskirts of the Sun, but by potential budget cuts.

Webb is performing better than expected, astronomers say, but reduced funding for the telescope's operation could jeopardize the rate and quality of the mission's outputs. The funding shortfall could reduce the mission's effectiveness as early as fall 2025, according to SpaceNews .

According to a presentation by Brown shared at a town hall earlier this month, Webb's operational costs were set ⁘idealistically low in 2011.⁘ Combined with higher-than-expected inflation and less flexibility in NASA's budget, Webb faces a budget shortfall even with flat top-level funding.

⁘If the budget reductions went into effect, the impact would cut across all aspects of operations,⁘ Brown told Gizmodo in an email. Everything from solicitation and peer review of programs, to planning and scheduling of observations, to data calibration and analysis, public outreach, and more would be affected by the proposed reductions to Webb's budget.

Webb had a surprisingly perfect launch into space in December 2020, meaning that less fuel was used getting the telescope into space than expected. The saved fuel meant that the mission's lifetime will be longer than scientists projected—perhaps up to 20 years, up from a minimum mission baseline of five years.

Mystery 'Asteroid' In Earth's Orbit Is Something Completely Different – And It's Musk's Fault...

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Elon Musk is responsible for unleashing a mystery ⁘ asteroid ⁘ that has been spotted orbiting the Earth and closer than the Moon.

Scientists with the Minor Planet Centre (MPC) designated extra terrestrial object 2018 CN41 on January 2 this year after it was spotted by a Turkish amateur astronomer. Before its designation it was seen orbiting within 150,000 miles of the planet, closer than the Moon , meaning it could be classified as a Near-Earth Object (NEO).

But just hours after making the new discovery, the Massachusetts-based MPC announced it had purged 2018 CN41 from its records, with officials having discovered it was, in fact, man-made debris that was purposefully catapulted into orbit. The ⁘asteroid⁘ they found, was the product of an Elon Musk marketing ploy.

In February 2018, Musk put together a crossover of his two companies, Telsa and SpaceX, when he strapped a Tesla Roadster payload piloted by a space-suited dummy to a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket and launched the ship into space. The 2010 Roadster has spent the last six years, 11 months and 19 days following the successful test mission in orbit.

The car received an International Designator (COSPAR ID) of 2018-017A and Satellite Catalogue number (SATCAT) of 43205 after launch, with the MPC citing its COSPAR ID when announcing it would withdraw the new designation from its records. The organisation said in a statement that it would be listed as ⁘omitted⁘.

Speaking to Astronomy magazine, the citizen scientist who originally discovered the object said they had barely considered the launch of the Falcon Heavy when submitting his find to the MPC. The amateur astronomer, who preferred to be identified only as ⁘G⁘, questioned his findings after looking through records kept by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

⁘I failed — the Falcon launch had never crossed my mind. I almost concluded it was an actual NEO and stopped looking, but I asked around on the Minor Planet Mailing List just to erase my final doubts.⁘

Gigantic Robots Ordered By Loop Technology

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Headlines:

• Dubai to Launch Hyperloop System

: The Dubai Future District has announced plans to build a hyperloop system that will connect the city to the rest of the world, promising to revolutionize transportation in the Middle East. The system is expected to be completed by 2026. (Source: Reuters) • New Singapore Metro Line N3 Expands Public Transit Network

: Singapore has launched a new metro line, N3, which will feature a 20-kilometer stretch of track with 25 new stations. The expansion supports the city-state's growing population and aims to reduce congestion. (Source: BNBT News Channel) • California Launches Autonomous Taxis on Public Roads

: The city of Oakland has become the first to test autonomous taxis on public roads... paving the way for widespread rollout of self-driving vehicles in the US. (Source: CalMatters) • Google. Reality enables augmented reality on Android Devices

: Google has enhanced its augmented reality capabilities with a new version of the Google Reality platform, allowing users to experience immersive, interactive content on their Android devices. (Source: TechRadar) • Amazon to Invest $10 Billion in South American Infrastructure

: Amazon has announced plans to invest $10 billion in a new industrial hub in Brazil, "aiming to create jobs and improve air and road transportation." (Source: ABC News) • India to Launch Nuclear-Cooling System for Space Program

: India's space agency has approved a new... state-of-the-art cooling system for its space program, "which will be used to power satellite satellites and spacecraft." (Source: Hindustan Times) • Massive Fire Prompts New Tunnel Construction in Japan

: The Great East Japan Railway Company has initiated a major tunnel construction project to rebuild a destroyed section of the East Japan Railway line after a massive fire. (Source: Japan Times)

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One of the largest industrial robots in the UK is currently operating at the King's Poundbury development in Dorset.

The gigantic FANUC M-2000iA 1700L is the strongest long-reach robot in the world, and is being used by automation and robotics specialists Loop Technology.

It is part of the company's automated set up, which shapes pieces out of carbon fibre for use in aircraft wings.

Managing director Alun Reece called the robot ⁘amazing⁘ and told the BBC: ⁘The irony is you've got this big automation to make lightweight structures.⁘

It said its manufacturing work was part of a worldwide focus to build lighter, more fuel-efficient and sustainable aircraft, contributing to net zero targets.

Mr Reece said part of the solution was to make wings ⁘more aerodynamic and more efficient with less drag - the overall fuel burden on the aircraft is lower⁘.

The company has fitted them with a specialised gripper - itself weighing a tonne - which can pick up and manipulate sheets of carbon fibre.

Carbon fibre weighs less than traditional materials used in aircraft building, and is also stronger, helping to reduce the carbon footprint of plane travel.

What Is It And What Planets Will Be Visible?

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Six of the planets in our solar system will line up, in what is sometimes called a 'planetary parade'.

They include Venus, Jupiter and Saturn and Mars which can all be seen in the sky with the naked eye.

Planets all take different times to complete a loop, but occasionally a few of them will reach a point at the same time.

When we look at the planets at this time from Earth, it appears as if they're in a line, or a parade!

It's fairly common for some of the planets to do this, however seeing six in a line is a pretty rare event.

Throughout January and February you'll be able to see a number of planets across the sky at night.

Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will appear together in a row -although Neptune and Uranus will only be visible with binoculars or a telescope.

It is a special opportunity for stargazers, as the next planetary alignment visible from Earth, is not expected until 2040.

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Where, How To See 6 Planets Align In January, February

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The planets are lining up , forming a rare and special parade across the night sky in January and February.

Four planets — Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars — are bright enough to see with the naked eye this month. Uranus and Neptune are visible with a telescope.

They'll be "strewn across" the sky and look like extra bright stars , the astrophotographer Dan Bartlett told Business Insider.

"Mars is brighter than any of the stars right now," he added. " Jupiter is bright. Venus is spectacular."

In late February, as Saturn and Neptune descend into the glare of the sun, Mercury will rise above the nighttime horizon. So you can see every planet in our solar system over the next month.

Though they appear in an arc across the sky, the planets aren't actually arranged in a straight line in space .

In fact, according to the stargazing website EarthSky , a perfect straight-line alignment of all the planets will probably never happen.

Rather, since the planets all orbit along or near the plane of our solar system, called the ecliptic, they appear in a line across the sky. It's the same reason the sun always follows the same path across the sky. That's nothing special.

New UFO Documentary Claims To Expose ⁘Biggest Discovery⁘ In Human History

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The questions of whether aliens are real and if they have visited us have been pondered by humans for as long as we can remember.

The Age of Disclosure dropped a trailer on January 22, which features 34 interviews with senior members of the US Government, military and intelligence community.

This comes as the US proposed the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Disclosure Act to declassify information on UAPs.

Produced and directed by Dan Farah, the documentary promises to 'lift the lid on an 80-year cover-up' surrounding the existence of aliens.

Its website states there is 'a secret war amongst major nations to reverse engineer technology of non-human origin.'

In 2023, Congress heard from three former military officials who believed the government was not sharing everything they knew about UFOs with the public.

Lawmakers suggested that the government needed to disclose the information they have on UAPs after conversations over 'national security, public safety and government transparency'.

At one point in the trailer Jay Stratton — former DIA official, Director of the Government's UAP Task Force — states he has seen 'non-human craft and non-human beings' with his own eyes.