Ithaca NY (SPX) Feb 09, 2023
In the ongoing search for signs of life on Mars, a new study proposes focusing on "time-resolved analogs" - dynamic and similar Earth environments where changes can be analyzed over many years. Alberto Fairen, visiting scientist of astronomy at Cornell University, led an investigation in the extremely salty Tirez lagoon in central Spain, which had experienced alternating dry and wet period

Houston TX (SPX) Feb 09, 2023
A new cargo mission stands ready to launch early Thursday and dock to the International Space Station two days later. Meanwhile, the Expedition 68 crew switched roles between space scientists and orbital plumbers on Wednesday promoting advanced knowledge and maintaining life support systems. A rocket packed with about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies, is ready to launch from the Baik

Montreal, Canada (SPX) Feb 08, 2023
Concordia researchers have developed a new technique that can help create high-quality, accurate 3D models of large-scale landscapes - essentially, digital replicas of the real world. While more work is required before the researchers achieve their goal, they recently outlined their new automated method in the Nature journal Scientific Reports. The framework reconstructs the geometry, stru

Melville NY (SPX) Feb 08, 2023
Comtech (NASDAQ: CMTL) reports it has received a contract for four VSAT III Satellite Systems and Services task order modifications exceeding $20 million dollars, under the Global Tactical Advanced Communication Systems (GTACS) IDIQ award, to support global U.S. Army operations. "With the convergence of space and terrestrial communications, the seamless mobility of information is paramount

Beijing (XNA) Feb 09, 2023
The Shenzhou XV mission crew, who are now inside the Tiangong space station, are scheduled to carry out their first spacewalk soon, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The agency said in a brief news release on Wednesday afternoon the Shenzhou XV astronauts - mission commander Major General Fei Junlong, Senior Colonel Deng Qingming and Senior Colonel Zhang Lu - had lived inside the

Midland TX (SPX) Feb 09, 2023
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) has signed of a non-binding memorandum of understanding with TIM (BVFM: TIMS3), one of Brazil's leading mobile network operators, with the aim of increasing the scope of cellular connectivity and bringing space-based coverage to Brazil. AST SpaceMobile's solution is being designed to get mobile devices online where cell tower coverage does not exist and

Long Beach CA (SPX) Feb 09, 2023
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has released two new high-performance space systems products designed to increase the availability of essential satellite components to the global small satellite market. Bolstering the Company's existing line of proven satellite components, the new Rocket Lab products include the Frontier-X software defined radio designed to provide high speed data for

Sheffield UK (SPX) Feb 09, 2023
Scientists have discovered a new ring system around a dwarf planet on the edge of the Solar System. The ring system orbits much further out than is typical for other ring systems, calling into question current theories of how ring systems are formed. The ring system is around a dwarf planet, named Quaoar, which is approximately half the size of Pluto and orbits the Sun beyond Neptune.

Pasadena CA (JPL) Feb 09, 2023
When NASA's Curiosity rover arrived at the "sulfate-bearing unit" last fall, scientists thought they'd seen the last evidence that lakes once covered this region of Mars. That's because the rock layers here formed in drier settings than regions explored earlier in the mission. The area's sulfates - salty minerals - are thought to have been left behind when water was drying to a trickle. So

Paris (AFP) Feb 8, 2023
Whether out-of-the-box thinking or a sign of desperation, scientists on Wednesday proposed the regular transport of moon dust to a gravity point between Earth and Sun to temper the ravages of global warming. Ideas for filtering solar radiation to keep Earth from overheating have been kicking around for decades, ranging from giant space-based screens to churning out reflective white clouds.