Sols 3367-3368: The Prow to take another bow
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 08:09
The weekend plan included a short drive (or bump) to get us closer to one of the interesting, more resistant ledges that are exposed in this area ("The Prow"), as Curiosity continues her climb up Mount Sharp. These resistant ledges have caught our attention because they reveal distinct textures. Being able to get close-up, high resolution imaging accompanied by compositional data, will help the SwRI scientist helps confirm liquid water beneath Mars south polar cap
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 08:09
A Southwest Research Institute scientist measured the properties of ice-brine mixtures as cold as -145 degrees Fahrenheit to help confirm that salty water likely exists between grains of ice or sediment under the ice cap at Mars' south pole. Laboratory measurements conducted by SwRI geophysicist Dr. David Stillman support oddly bright reflections detected by the MARSIS subsurface sounding radar A planetary dynamical crime scene at 14 Herculis
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 08:09
The forensic evidence left in the 14 Her giant planetary system suggests an active dynamical past. Two giant planets, several times more massive than Jupiter, in highly eccentric orbits around a solar-type star were found orbiting at nearly right angles to each other.
In the recently published paper "14 Her: a likely case of planet-planet scattering," Daniella Bardalez Gagliuffi-a senior m UC Berkeley astronomers eager to put new space telescope through its paces
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 08:09
NASA's latest and snazziest satellite, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched on Christmas Day, deployed its 21-foot-wide mirror a mere two weeks ago and reached its orbital destination earlier this week. With a flashy new telescope now nearly a reality, astronomers at the University of California, Berkeley, are chomping at the bit to start observing.
After months of anxiety about Webb Telescope has reached its destination now what
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 08:09
Since its launch on Christmas day, astronomers have eagerly followed the complex deployment and unfurling of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope - the largest to ever take to the skies.
Right around the time this article is published, it's expected Webb will have reached a place called the Earth-Sun "second Lagrange point", or "L2". This is a point in space about 1.5 million kilometres away UW alum helped pack James Webb telescope for space travel
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 08:09
A University of Wisconsin-Madison engineering mechanics alumnus made important contributions to NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, which arrived at its home in distant orbit Monday.
The telescope, the world's largest and most powerful space science observatory, launched on Dec. 25, starting its journey toward its destination about 1 million miles from Earth.
Webb is an international Forecasting performance of a space antenna – before it is built
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 07:29
Antennas are among the most complex systems aboard a satellite – making them demanding to produce and often unpredictable to test. Tiny variables in their building, mounting or operation may impact their working performance in a big way. So ESA teamed up with Danish company TICRA to develop a method of forecasting such discrepancies well before an antenna construction even starts.
Forecasting performance of a space antenna – before it gets built
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 07:29Antennas are among the most complex systems aboard a satellite – making them demanding to produce and often unpredictable to test. Tiny variables in their building, mounting or operation may impact their working performance in a big way. So ESA teamed up with Danish company TICRA to develop a method of forecasting such discrepancies well before an antenna construction even starts.
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On the pull Xplore to fly sensors on OrbAstro nanosatellites
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 04:18
Xplore announced a contract Jan. 25 to purchase Orbital Astronautics Ltd. satellites for a variety of Earth-observation and astronomical missions.
The post Xplore to fly sensors on OrbAstro nanosatellites appeared first on SpaceNews.
NASA hosted payloads waiting for rides to orbit
Tuesday, 25 January 2022 23:55
NASA continues to face difficulties in sending some of its payloads to orbit as hosted payloads on commercial satellites.
The post NASA hosted payloads waiting for rides to orbit appeared first on SpaceNews.
Cause of Lucy solar array deployment problem identified
Tuesday, 25 January 2022 23:52
Engineers have identified the likely reason one of two solar arrays on NASA’s Lucy asteroid mission failed to latch in place after launch, but NASA is still studying whether to fix the problem.
AFWERX to fund development of laser terminal that connects military aircraft with satellites
Tuesday, 25 January 2022 22:52
Space Micro, a defense and NASA contractor recently acquired by Voyager Space, won a contract to design a laser communications terminal to connect military aircraft with geostationary satellites in orbit.
The post AFWERX to fund development of laser terminal that connects military aircraft with satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.
Comtech rejects $790 million takeover offer
Tuesday, 25 January 2022 21:05
Satellite communications equipment maker Comtech Telecommunications said Jan. 25 it has rejected a $790 million offer to take over the company.
The post Comtech rejects $790 million takeover offer appeared first on SpaceNews.
Military space advocate Rep. Jim Cooper to retire from Congress
Tuesday, 25 January 2022 20:02
Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on strategic forces, announced Jan. 25 that he will not run for re-election in 2022.
The post Military space advocate Rep. Jim Cooper to retire from Congress appeared first on SpaceNews.