Current hurdles and technological roadmap for processing lunar hyperspectral orbiter data
Wednesday, 23 April 2025 10:44
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 23, 2025
Spectral imagers have become vital tools in the quest to unravel the Moon's mineralogical makeup, playing a central role in today's lunar science missions. As interest grows in acquiring higher-quality remote sensing data, demands are increasing for instruments capable of capturing broader wavelength ranges with finer spectral and spatial resolution. Yet these technical gains bring a suite of da
Spectral imagers have become vital tools in the quest to unravel the Moon's mineralogical makeup, playing a central role in today's lunar science missions. As interest grows in acquiring higher-quality remote sensing data, demands are increasing for instruments capable of capturing broader wavelength ranges with finer spectral and spatial resolution. Yet these technical gains bring a suite of da First microbes blast off testing production of food for space travel
Wednesday, 23 April 2025 10:44
London, UK (SPX) Apr 23, 2025
Scientists from Imperial College London have embarked on a mission to test how engineered microbes can help sustain future spacefarers on interplanetary voyages.
As space agencies and private companies aim for distant planets, the logistics of carrying food, water, and fuel become increasingly costly and complex. Feeding one astronaut in orbit can cost up to Pounds 20,000 per day. To addr
Scientists from Imperial College London have embarked on a mission to test how engineered microbes can help sustain future spacefarers on interplanetary voyages.
As space agencies and private companies aim for distant planets, the logistics of carrying food, water, and fuel become increasingly costly and complex. Feeding one astronaut in orbit can cost up to Pounds 20,000 per day. To addr Students test compact reentry glider to advance hypersonic research
Wednesday, 23 April 2025 10:44
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 23, 2025
A team of fourth-year mechanical and aerospace engineering students at the University of Virginia aims to pioneer a new low-cost method for gathering hypersonic flight data. Their innovative glider, called HEDGE (Hypersonic ReEntry Deployable Glider Experiment), is set to launch aboard a NASA suborbital rocket this August from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
Part of their senior c
A team of fourth-year mechanical and aerospace engineering students at the University of Virginia aims to pioneer a new low-cost method for gathering hypersonic flight data. Their innovative glider, called HEDGE (Hypersonic ReEntry Deployable Glider Experiment), is set to launch aboard a NASA suborbital rocket this August from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
Part of their senior c Scientists investigate absence of sediment deltas on Titan
Wednesday, 23 April 2025 10:44
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 23, 2025
NASA's Mars missions have shown that sediment-rich deltas offer valuable insights into a planet's climate and geologic past. Yet on Saturn's moon Titan, where vast rivers of methane and ethane flow, scientists have found a puzzling lack of such features. A new study from Brown University is shedding light on this enigma.
Titan is the only body in the solar system besides Earth with stable
NASA's Mars missions have shown that sediment-rich deltas offer valuable insights into a planet's climate and geologic past. Yet on Saturn's moon Titan, where vast rivers of methane and ethane flow, scientists have found a puzzling lack of such features. A new study from Brown University is shedding light on this enigma.
Titan is the only body in the solar system besides Earth with stable How Webb Telescope Opens New Avenues in the Quest for Extraterrestrial Life
Wednesday, 23 April 2025 10:44
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 23, 2025
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is ushering in a transformative chapter in the pursuit of life beyond Earth. Although Webb was not purpose-built for life detection, its remarkable capabilities in infrared observation are enabling scientists to examine small, rocky exoplanets orbiting distant stars with an unprecedented level of detail.
Webb is uniquely equipped to detect atmospheres arou
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is ushering in a transformative chapter in the pursuit of life beyond Earth. Although Webb was not purpose-built for life detection, its remarkable capabilities in infrared observation are enabling scientists to examine small, rocky exoplanets orbiting distant stars with an unprecedented level of detail.
Webb is uniquely equipped to detect atmospheres arou NASA develops flight-ready aerogel antennas for next-gen airspace communications
Wednesday, 23 April 2025 10:44
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 23, 2025
NASA is advancing flight communications with a breakthrough antenna made from one of the lightest solid materials ever created. Engineers at NASA's Glenn Research Center are embedding this innovative device directly into aircraft surfaces, offering a sleeker and more efficient solution for future aviation platforms, including autonomous air vehicles and drones.
The antenna employs a polyme
NASA is advancing flight communications with a breakthrough antenna made from one of the lightest solid materials ever created. Engineers at NASA's Glenn Research Center are embedding this innovative device directly into aircraft surfaces, offering a sleeker and more efficient solution for future aviation platforms, including autonomous air vehicles and drones.
The antenna employs a polyme Turning Down Starlight to Reveal Distant Worlds
Wednesday, 23 April 2025 10:44
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 23, 2025
Researchers at the University of Arizona have introduced a breakthrough coronagraph that could make previously invisible exoplanets detectable by suppressing the overwhelming light from their parent stars. This advance may pave the way for imaging Earth-like planets in habitable zones, areas where temperatures could support liquid water and potentially life.
"Earth-like planets in the habi
Researchers at the University of Arizona have introduced a breakthrough coronagraph that could make previously invisible exoplanets detectable by suppressing the overwhelming light from their parent stars. This advance may pave the way for imaging Earth-like planets in habitable zones, areas where temperatures could support liquid water and potentially life.
"Earth-like planets in the habi Planetary Alignment Provides NASA Rare Opportunity to Study Uranus
Wednesday, 23 April 2025 10:44
Hampton VA (SPX) Apr 23, 2025
When a planet's orbit brings it between Earth and a distant star, it's more than just a cosmic game of hide and seek. It's an opportunity for NASA to improve its understanding of that planet's atmosphere and rings. Planetary scientists call it a stellar occultation and that's exactly what happened with Uranus on April 7.
Observing the alignment allows NASA scientists to measure the tempera
When a planet's orbit brings it between Earth and a distant star, it's more than just a cosmic game of hide and seek. It's an opportunity for NASA to improve its understanding of that planet's atmosphere and rings. Planetary scientists call it a stellar occultation and that's exactly what happened with Uranus on April 7.
Observing the alignment allows NASA scientists to measure the tempera New study unveils volcanic history and clues to ancient life on Mars
Wednesday, 23 April 2025 10:44
College Station, TX (SPX) Apr 23, 2025
In a groundbreaking study co-authored by a Texas A and M University scientist, researchers have revealed new insights into the geological history of Mars' Jezero Crater, the landing site of NASA's Perseverance rover. Their findings suggest that the crater's floor is composed of a diverse array of iron-rich volcanic rocks, providing a window into the planet's distant past and the closest chance y
In a groundbreaking study co-authored by a Texas A and M University scientist, researchers have revealed new insights into the geological history of Mars' Jezero Crater, the landing site of NASA's Perseverance rover. Their findings suggest that the crater's floor is composed of a diverse array of iron-rich volcanic rocks, providing a window into the planet's distant past and the closest chance y Lifting the canopy on Earth’s forests
Wednesday, 23 April 2025 06:45
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ESA’s state-of-the-art Biomass mission has been designed to shed new light on the health and dynamics of the world’s forests, revealing how they are changing over time and, critically, enhancing our understanding of their role in the global carbon cycle. It is the first satellite to carry a fully polarimetric P-band synthetic aperture radar for interferometric imaging. Thanks to the long wavelength of P-band, around 70 cm, the radar signal can slice through the forest canopy and whole forest layer to measure the ‘biomass’, meaning the woody trunks, branches and stems, which is where trees store most of their
Europe's largest solid-propellant rocket motors
Tuesday, 22 April 2025 14:02
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Europe's largest solid-propellant rocket motors Next generation scientists set sail to harness space for oceans
Tuesday, 22 April 2025 13:00
A new wave of ocean scientists has embarked on an extraordinary six-week voyage aboard a majestic tall ship that set sail today from Norway bound for southern France. But this is no ordinary journey.
Thanks to this ESA Advanced Ocean Training Course, these upcoming researchers will be taking a deep dive into ocean science, empowering them with skills to harness satellite data for research, innovation and sustainable development – and preparing them to become tomorrow’s leaders and ambassadors for ocean science.
Biomass on the launch pad
Tuesday, 22 April 2025 12:30
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ESA’s Biomass satellite, encapsulated within a Vega-C rocket fairing, has been rolled out to the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana ahead of liftoff, planned for 29 April at 11:15 CEST. China to launch new crewed mission into space this week
Tuesday, 22 April 2025 10:02
Beijing (AFP) April 22, 2025
China is expected to launch a new crewed mission into space this week, as Beijing takes steady steps towards its goal of putting astronauts on the Moon.
The Shenzhou-20 mission will blast off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, carrying three astronauts to the country's self-built Tiangong space station for a likely six-month stay.
The team will undertake expe
China is expected to launch a new crewed mission into space this week, as Beijing takes steady steps towards its goal of putting astronauts on the Moon.
The Shenzhou-20 mission will blast off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, carrying three astronauts to the country's self-built Tiangong space station for a likely six-month stay.
The team will undertake expe Astronomers detect exoplanet on rare perpendicular path around binary brown dwarfs
Tuesday, 22 April 2025 10:02
London, UK (SPX) Apr 22, 2025
Astronomers have identified an unusual exoplanet, 2M1510 (AB) b, which travels on a polar orbit around a unique pair of brown dwarfs. This marks the first confirmed case of a planet circling two stars at a 90-degree angle relative to their orbit, offering fresh insights into planetary dynamics in binary systems.
The host objects, both classified as brown dwarfs, lie in a rare category of s
Astronomers have identified an unusual exoplanet, 2M1510 (AB) b, which travels on a polar orbit around a unique pair of brown dwarfs. This marks the first confirmed case of a planet circling two stars at a 90-degree angle relative to their orbit, offering fresh insights into planetary dynamics in binary systems.
The host objects, both classified as brown dwarfs, lie in a rare category of s