Sol 3361: Keeping the Dog Leashed
Thursday, 20 January 2022 05:37Our initial plan was to conduct a MAHLI "dog's eye" imaging sequence on the beautiful Panari outcrop that we are parked before. During a dog's eye sequence, the rover's arm walks the MAHLI camera along a feature near ground level, just how your martian canine (obviously named "Rover") would see it. But, we had to move that to tomorrow's plan due to a couple issues that need resolving first
Hubble Finds a Black Hole Igniting Star Formation in a Dwarf Galaxy
Thursday, 20 January 2022 05:37Often portrayed as destructive monsters that hold light captive, black holes take on a less villainous role in the latest research from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. A black hole at the heart of the dwarf galaxy Henize 2-10 is creating stars rather than gobbling them up. The black hole is apparently contributing to the firestorm of new star formation taking place in the galaxy. The dwarf galaxy
SwRI scientist uncovers evidence for an internal ocean in small Saturn moon
Thursday, 20 January 2022 05:37A Southwest Research Institute scientist set out to prove that the tiny, innermost moon of Saturn was a frozen inert satellite and instead discovered compelling evidence that Mimas has a liquid internal ocean. In the waning days of NASA's Cassini mission, the spacecraft identified a curious libration, or oscillation, in the moon's rotation, which often points to a geologically active body able t
NASA's James Webb telescope completes mirror alignment, heads for orbit
Thursday, 20 January 2022 05:37NASA's James Webb telescope completed alignment all 18 of its primary mirror segments and the secondary mirror on Wednesday, the agency reported. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson shared the news, tipping his hat to the crew on Twitter. "Congratulations to the teams that have been working tirelessly since launch to get to this point. Soon, Webb will arrive at its new home, L2," wrot
ASU astronomer finds star fuel surrounding galaxies
Thursday, 20 January 2022 05:37Most galaxies, including our own, grow by accumulating new material and turning them into stars - that much is known. What has been unknown is where that new material comes from and how it flows into galaxies to create stars. In a recently published study, Arizona State University astronomer Sanchayeeta Borthakur has identified the faint fuel reservoirs that surround galaxies, and how this
Capturing all that glitters in galaxies with NASA's Webb
Thursday, 20 January 2022 05:37Spirals are some of the most captivating shapes in the universe. They appear in intricate seashells, carefully constructed spider webs, and even in the curls of ocean waves. Spirals on cosmic scales - as seen in galaxies - are even more arresting, not only for their beauty, but also for the overwhelming amount of information they contain. How do stars and star clusters form? Until recently, a co
China's rocket technology hits the ski slopes
Thursday, 20 January 2022 05:37Who would ever have thought that technology used on China's largest carrier rocket would be used to improve the safety of skiers? Chinese scientists have developed a strong ski helmet with space technology originally used on the Long March-5 rocket, the country's heaviest launch vehicle and the carrier of Mars probe Tianwen-1. The helmet, designed by a team from the Dalian University
ABL Space Systems rocket stage destroyed in test accident
Wednesday, 19 January 2022 23:47ABL Space Systems said the second stage of the small launch vehicle they are developing was destroyed in an accident during testing Jan. 19.
SpaceX wins $102 million Air Force contract to demonstrate technologies for point-to-point space transportation
Wednesday, 19 January 2022 22:42The U.S. Air Force awarded SpaceX a $102 million five-year contract to demonstrate technologies and capabilities to transport military cargo and humanitarian aid around the world on a heavy rocket.
Pakistan is next to halt Starlink preorders
Wednesday, 19 January 2022 20:59Pakistan has followed India in ordering SpaceX to stop taking preorders for Starlink broadband services within its borders without a license.
Sony putting camera in orbit for shutterbugs, not scientists
Wednesday, 19 January 2022 17:41Sony plans to launch a six-unit cubesat with a full-frame camera later this year as part of its Star Sphere project that seeks collaboration with artists, entertainers and educators.
Space Force is creating its own culture but will be ‘tightly coupled’ to the Air Force
Wednesday, 19 January 2022 17:27The Space Force is a separate U.S. military branch but will have to stay “tightly coupled” to the Air Force in order to be successful, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Jan.
One Year into the Biden Administration, NASA Looks to Future
Wednesday, 19 January 2022 15:33Space and national security: What to expect in 2022
Wednesday, 19 January 2022 14:00The Space Force stands on firmer political ground but is coming under pressure to deliver new technologies to counter threats from Russia and China. The Space Development Agency is counting down to the launch of its first operational satellites.
New automatic control technique uses spacecraft solar panels to reach desired orbit at Mars
Wednesday, 19 January 2022 13:49A satellite on a science mission to Mars aims for a low-altitude orbit, but the lower the orbit, the more propellant is required to enter orbit when arriving from Earth. To save propellant, a technique called aerobraking uses a small propulsive maneuver for orbit insertion to enter a large orbit; the satellite then makes many passes through the upper atmosphere, using drag on the solar panels to reduce the size of the orbit a little bit each pass until the orbit is the desired size for science operations.