Five things to know about the James Webb Space Telescope
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:28
The James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful space observatory ever built, is finally set for launch in late December after decades of waiting.
An engineering marvel, it will help answer fundamental questions about the Universe, peering back in time 13 billion years. Here are five things to know.
Giant gold mirror
The telescope's centerpiece is its enormous primary mirror, a concave structure 21.5 feet (6.5 meters) wide and made up of 18 smaller hexagonal mirrors. They're made from beryllium coated with gold, optimized for reflecting infrared light from the far reaches of the universe.
The observatory also has four scientific instruments, which together fulfill two main purposes: imaging cosmic objects, and spectroscopy—breaking down light into separate wavelengths to study the physical and chemical properties of cosmic matter.
Rocket Lab launches 109th satellite to orbit
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Mahia, New Zealand (SPX) Dec 09, 2021
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has successfully deployed two satellites to orbit for real-time geospatial intelligence company BlackSky, bringing the total number of satellites deployed by Rocket Lab to 109.
The 'A Data With Destiny' mission, arranged for BlackSky through global launch services provider Spaceflight Inc., was Electron's 23rd liftoff from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's M
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has successfully deployed two satellites to orbit for real-time geospatial intelligence company BlackSky, bringing the total number of satellites deployed by Rocket Lab to 109.
The 'A Data With Destiny' mission, arranged for BlackSky through global launch services provider Spaceflight Inc., was Electron's 23rd liftoff from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's M Spire Global selects Virgin Orbit for late-load addition to next flight
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Long Beach CA (SPX) Dec 10, 2021
Leading launch company Virgin Orbit, which has announced a planned business combination with special purpose acquisition company NextGen Acquisition Corp. II, has announced alongside space-based data and analytics provider Spire Global, Inc. that they have received waiver approval from the Federal Aviation Authority to include Spire on Virgin Orbit's upcoming launch. The satellite, which was int
Leading launch company Virgin Orbit, which has announced a planned business combination with special purpose acquisition company NextGen Acquisition Corp. II, has announced alongside space-based data and analytics provider Spire Global, Inc. that they have received waiver approval from the Federal Aviation Authority to include Spire on Virgin Orbit's upcoming launch. The satellite, which was int Redwire announces supplier agreement with Terran Orbital to support satellite manufacturing
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Jacksonville FL (SPX) Dec 10, 2021
Redwire Corporation, a global leader in mission critical space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, has announced a three-year supplier agreement with Terran Orbital, a global leader and pioneer in the development, innovation and operation of small satellites and Earth observation solutions.
Through this agreement, Redwire will deliver a range of advanced components and so
Redwire Corporation, a global leader in mission critical space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, has announced a three-year supplier agreement with Terran Orbital, a global leader and pioneer in the development, innovation and operation of small satellites and Earth observation solutions.
Through this agreement, Redwire will deliver a range of advanced components and so New rocket test facility under construction in Scotland
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
London, UK (SPX) Dec 10, 2021
The UK Space Agency welcomes the news that British company Orbex is constructing a state-of-the-art rocket test facility in Kinloss, Scotland.
Ian Annett, Deputy CEO of the UK Space Agency, said:
The construction of this new facility marks another major milestone in our ambitions to become a modern, agile spacefaring nation. Orbex is an innovative spaceflight company developing its o
The UK Space Agency welcomes the news that British company Orbex is constructing a state-of-the-art rocket test facility in Kinloss, Scotland.
Ian Annett, Deputy CEO of the UK Space Agency, said:
The construction of this new facility marks another major milestone in our ambitions to become a modern, agile spacefaring nation. Orbex is an innovative spaceflight company developing its o Los Alamos National Laboratory awards satellite mission contract to NanoAvionics US
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Columbia IL (SPX) Dec 10, 2021
Smallsat mission integrator NanoAvionics US has received a mission contract by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), one of the largest science and technology institutions in the world. The 12U (1U equals 10 + 10 + 10 cm3) spacecraft, about the size of a microwave oven, will host the Mini Astrophysical MeV Background Observatory (MAMBO) mission.
The goal of MAMBO is to make the best-eve
Smallsat mission integrator NanoAvionics US has received a mission contract by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), one of the largest science and technology institutions in the world. The 12U (1U equals 10 + 10 + 10 cm3) spacecraft, about the size of a microwave oven, will host the Mini Astrophysical MeV Background Observatory (MAMBO) mission.
The goal of MAMBO is to make the best-eve Kleos' Patrol Mission Satellites Ready and Shipped to Launch Site
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Luxembourg (SPX) Dec 10, 2021
Kleos Space S.A, a space-powered Radio Frequency Reconnaissance data-as-a- service (DaaS) company, confirms its Patrol Mission (KSF2) satellites are on track to launch onboard the
Transporter-3 SpaceX mission in January 2022, successfully passing the final technical milestone with satellite builder Innovative Solutions In Space (ISISPACE).
The Patrol Mission satellites are travelling
Kleos Space S.A, a space-powered Radio Frequency Reconnaissance data-as-a- service (DaaS) company, confirms its Patrol Mission (KSF2) satellites are on track to launch onboard the
Transporter-3 SpaceX mission in January 2022, successfully passing the final technical milestone with satellite builder Innovative Solutions In Space (ISISPACE).
The Patrol Mission satellites are travelling Sol 3320: Flexibility is Key
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Pasadena CA (JPL) Dec 10, 2021
Curiosity is currently located within "Maria Gordon notch," which is a rather tight canyon surrounded by high rock walls located at the transition onto the Greenheugh Pediment. Her views are currently magnificent - steep walls surround Curiosity and cast some rather dramatic shadows onto the workspace.
However, despite the beautiful views, today was a sobering lesson in the complexities of
Curiosity is currently located within "Maria Gordon notch," which is a rather tight canyon surrounded by high rock walls located at the transition onto the Greenheugh Pediment. Her views are currently magnificent - steep walls surround Curiosity and cast some rather dramatic shadows onto the workspace.
However, despite the beautiful views, today was a sobering lesson in the complexities of NASA Goddard helps ensure asteroid deflector hits target
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Dec 10, 2021
Although the chance of an asteroid impacting Earth is small, even a relatively small asteroid of about 500 feet (about 150 meters) across carries enough energy to cause widespread damage around the impact site. NASA leads efforts in the U.S. and worldwide both to detect and track potentially hazardous asteroids and to study technologies to mitigate or avoid impacts on Earth.
If an asteroid
Although the chance of an asteroid impacting Earth is small, even a relatively small asteroid of about 500 feet (about 150 meters) across carries enough energy to cause widespread damage around the impact site. NASA leads efforts in the U.S. and worldwide both to detect and track potentially hazardous asteroids and to study technologies to mitigate or avoid impacts on Earth.
If an asteroid Lower atmospheric processes are crucial to understanding Martian water loss
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Washington DC (SPX) Dec 10, 2021
Lower atmospheric processes, such as convection, dust storms and gravity waves, are vital to understanding how Mars lost its water, writes Erdal Yigit in a Perspective. It's widely thought that most of Mars' water was slowly lost to space as hydrogen over several billion years.
According to standard models, water molecules, broken apart by sunlight in the lower Martian atmosphere, form fre
Lower atmospheric processes, such as convection, dust storms and gravity waves, are vital to understanding how Mars lost its water, writes Erdal Yigit in a Perspective. It's widely thought that most of Mars' water was slowly lost to space as hydrogen over several billion years.
According to standard models, water molecules, broken apart by sunlight in the lower Martian atmosphere, form fre NASA's eventual farewell to tiny Mars helicopter could be emotional
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Orlando FL (UPI) Dec 10, 2021
Tears most likely will flow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., when the extremely successful Mars helicopter Ingenuity sends its last transmission and goes quiet on the Red Planet, according to those who have observed similar closures.
While the end of any space mission can be emotional simply because of a sudden change in routines and departure of colleagues, Ingenui
Tears most likely will flow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., when the extremely successful Mars helicopter Ingenuity sends its last transmission and goes quiet on the Red Planet, according to those who have observed similar closures.
While the end of any space mission can be emotional simply because of a sudden change in routines and departure of colleagues, Ingenui Webb telescope aims to answer astronomy's 'biggest questions'
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Paris (AFP) Dec 10, 2021
It's been three decades in the making: the largest and most powerful telescope ever to be launched into space is finally ready to take up its orbit and beam back new clues to the origins of the Universe and Earth-like planets beyond our solar system.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, named for a former director of the American space agency, follows in the footsteps of the legendary Hubble -
It's been three decades in the making: the largest and most powerful telescope ever to be launched into space is finally ready to take up its orbit and beam back new clues to the origins of the Universe and Earth-like planets beyond our solar system.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, named for a former director of the American space agency, follows in the footsteps of the legendary Hubble - James Webb Space Telescope: A giant leap towards 'other Earths'?
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Paris (AFP) Dec 10, 2021
There is only one Earth... that we know of.
But outside our own solar system, other stars give warmth and light to planets and, possibly, life.
Soon to offer a better look at these so-called exoplanets is NASA's new James Webb telescope, which is set to launch this month and become the largest and most powerful observatory in orbit.
One of its major missions is to look for conditions
There is only one Earth... that we know of.
But outside our own solar system, other stars give warmth and light to planets and, possibly, life.
Soon to offer a better look at these so-called exoplanets is NASA's new James Webb telescope, which is set to launch this month and become the largest and most powerful observatory in orbit.
One of its major missions is to look for conditions Webb telescope to look for first light of cosmic dawn
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Paris (AFP) Dec 10, 2021
Peering into deep space and billions of years back in time, the James Webb telescope promises to offer the clearest glimpse yet of the Universe's cosmic dawn, when the earliest galaxies began to form.
The largest and most powerful telescope ever to be launched into space, which will take over from Hubble, will "directly observe a part of space and time never seen before", says NASA.
Th
Peering into deep space and billions of years back in time, the James Webb telescope promises to offer the clearest glimpse yet of the Universe's cosmic dawn, when the earliest galaxies began to form.
The largest and most powerful telescope ever to be launched into space, which will take over from Hubble, will "directly observe a part of space and time never seen before", says NASA.
Th NASA launches new mission to explore universe's most dramatic objects
Friday, 10 December 2021 06:18
Kennedy Space Center FL (SPX) Dec 10, 2021
NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission launched at 1 a.m. EST Thursday on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
A joint effort with the Italian Space Agency, the IXPE observatory is NASA's first mission dedicated to measuring the polarization of X-rays from the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe - supernova remnants, superm
NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission launched at 1 a.m. EST Thursday on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
A joint effort with the Italian Space Agency, the IXPE observatory is NASA's first mission dedicated to measuring the polarization of X-rays from the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe - supernova remnants, superm