Astronauts finally head home after unexpected nine-month ISS stay
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Washington (AFP) Mar 18, 2025
A pair of astronauts stranded in space for more than nine months were finally headed home Tuesday after their capsule undocked from the International Space Station.
The SpaceX craft carrying Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams detached from the orbital outpost at 0505 GMT, ending their prolonged mission that has captivated global attention.
The NASA duo are joined onboard by American Nick Ha
A pair of astronauts stranded in space for more than nine months were finally headed home Tuesday after their capsule undocked from the International Space Station.
The SpaceX craft carrying Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams detached from the orbital outpost at 0505 GMT, ending their prolonged mission that has captivated global attention.
The NASA duo are joined onboard by American Nick Ha China's Ceres 1 completes 18th flight delivering eight satellites to orbit
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Mar 18, 2025
Galactic Energy, a private aerospace firm based in Beijing, successfully conducted its 18th mission using the Ceres 1 rocket on Monday, placing eight satellites into orbit.
According to a company release, the Ceres 1 rocket lifted off at 4:07 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The vehicle deployed the satellites into a sun-synchron
Galactic Energy, a private aerospace firm based in Beijing, successfully conducted its 18th mission using the Ceres 1 rocket on Monday, placing eight satellites into orbit.
According to a company release, the Ceres 1 rocket lifted off at 4:07 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The vehicle deployed the satellites into a sun-synchron Rocket Lab boosts Varda's space manufacturing with third successful orbital mission
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 17, 2025
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has confirmed that its third Pioneer spacecraft, developed for Varda Space Industries, Inc. ("Varda"), has been successfully deployed and is operating in orbit. The mission, designated W-3, launched on March 14 from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 11:43 p.m. PDT (06:43 a.m. UTC).
This deployment follows closely on the heels of Varda's W-2 mission, which c
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has confirmed that its third Pioneer spacecraft, developed for Varda Space Industries, Inc. ("Varda"), has been successfully deployed and is operating in orbit. The mission, designated W-3, launched on March 14 from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 11:43 p.m. PDT (06:43 a.m. UTC).
This deployment follows closely on the heels of Varda's W-2 mission, which c New Modeling Assesses Age of Next Target Asteroid for NASA's Lucy
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
San Antonio TX (SPX) Mar 18, 2025
Although NASA's Lucy spacecraft's upcoming encounter with the asteroid Donaldjohanson is primarily a mission rehearsal for later asteroid encounters, a new paper suggests that this small, main belt asteroid may have some surprises of its own. New modeling indicates that Donaldjohanson may have been formed about 150 million years ago when a larger parent asteroid broke apart; its orbit and spin p
Although NASA's Lucy spacecraft's upcoming encounter with the asteroid Donaldjohanson is primarily a mission rehearsal for later asteroid encounters, a new paper suggests that this small, main belt asteroid may have some surprises of its own. New modeling indicates that Donaldjohanson may have been formed about 150 million years ago when a larger parent asteroid broke apart; its orbit and spin p UAE Space Agency advances asteroid exploration mission with design milestone
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Paris, France (SPX) Mar 18, 2025
The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) has successfully completed its Critical Design Review (CDR), a pivotal milestone in the project, held from February 24 to 26 with participation from Emirati and global experts. This review evaluated the detailed development of the MBR Explorer spacecraft, confirming its readiness to progress into the Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT) phase.
The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) has successfully completed its Critical Design Review (CDR), a pivotal milestone in the project, held from February 24 to 26 with participation from Emirati and global experts. This review evaluated the detailed development of the MBR Explorer spacecraft, confirming its readiness to progress into the Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT) phase. ispace and Kurita partner to test lunar water purification system
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Mar 18, 2025
ispace, inc. has entered into a formal agreement with Kurita Water Industries, Ltd., a Japanese specialist in water treatment and chemical manufacturing, to support the delivery of a water purification demonstration system to the Moon. The memorandum of understanding sets the stage for transporting this experimental payload to the lunar surface on a future ispace mission scheduled for post-2027.
ispace, inc. has entered into a formal agreement with Kurita Water Industries, Ltd., a Japanese specialist in water treatment and chemical manufacturing, to support the delivery of a water purification demonstration system to the Moon. The memorandum of understanding sets the stage for transporting this experimental payload to the lunar surface on a future ispace mission scheduled for post-2027. 'Dark oxygen': a deep-sea discovery that has split scientists
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Brest, France (AFP) Mar 17, 2025
Could lumpy metallic rocks in the deepest, darkest reaches of the ocean be making oxygen in the absence of sunlight?
Some scientists think so, but others have challenged the claim that so-called "dark oxygen" is being produced in the lightless abyss of the seabed.
The discovery - detailed last July in the journal Nature Geoscience - called into question long-held assumptions about the
Could lumpy metallic rocks in the deepest, darkest reaches of the ocean be making oxygen in the absence of sunlight?
Some scientists think so, but others have challenged the claim that so-called "dark oxygen" is being produced in the lightless abyss of the seabed.
The discovery - detailed last July in the journal Nature Geoscience - called into question long-held assumptions about the SKY Perfect JSAT contracts Thales Alenia Space for JSAT 32 satellite project
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Paris, France (SPX) Mar 18, 2025
Asia's top satellite operator, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, has awarded Thales Alenia Space a contract to construct its latest geostationary satellite, JSAT-32.
Set to operate on Ku and Ka bands, JSAT-32 will deliver enhanced communication services across Japan and nearby maritime regions. Notably, the satellite will introduce new spot beams specifically designed for mobility-related appl
Asia's top satellite operator, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, has awarded Thales Alenia Space a contract to construct its latest geostationary satellite, JSAT-32.
Set to operate on Ku and Ka bands, JSAT-32 will deliver enhanced communication services across Japan and nearby maritime regions. Notably, the satellite will introduce new spot beams specifically designed for mobility-related appl Space Norway signs Intelsat as lead broadcaster on THOR 8 satellite
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Mar 18, 2025
THOR 8, the next-generation satellite from Space Norway, has secured Intelsat as its principal customer for broadcasting services. Scheduled for a 2027 launch, THOR 8 will deliver dual broadcasting payloads designed specifically for the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region and Nordic markets. Additionally, the satellite will support a wide range of government and commercial data communication
THOR 8, the next-generation satellite from Space Norway, has secured Intelsat as its principal customer for broadcasting services. Scheduled for a 2027 launch, THOR 8 will deliver dual broadcasting payloads designed specifically for the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region and Nordic markets. Additionally, the satellite will support a wide range of government and commercial data communication What happens to the human body in deep space?
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Washington (AFP) Mar 18, 2025
Bone and muscle deterioration, radiation exposure, vision impairment - these are just a few of the challenges space travelers face on long-duration missions, even before considering the psychological toll of isolation.
As US astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams prepare to return home after nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), some of the health risks they've faced
Bone and muscle deterioration, radiation exposure, vision impairment - these are just a few of the challenges space travelers face on long-duration missions, even before considering the psychological toll of isolation.
As US astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams prepare to return home after nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), some of the health risks they've faced AV secures DIU contract to advance autonomous strike drone deployment
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 17, 2025
AeroVironment (AV), a prominent player in the defense technology sector, has earned a key contract from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) aimed at fast-tracking the deployment of autonomous precision-strike drones.
As part of its push into a critical segment of the defense industry, AV secured an Other Transaction Authority (OT) award from DIU under Project Artemis. This initiative is desi
AeroVironment (AV), a prominent player in the defense technology sector, has earned a key contract from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) aimed at fast-tracking the deployment of autonomous precision-strike drones.
As part of its push into a critical segment of the defense industry, AV secured an Other Transaction Authority (OT) award from DIU under Project Artemis. This initiative is desi Making airfield assessments automatic, remote, and safe
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Boston MA (SPX) Mar 14, 2025
In 2022, Randall Pietersen, a civil engineer in the U.S. Air Force, set out on a training mission to assess damage at an airfield runway, practicing "base recovery" protocol after a simulated attack. For hours, his team walked over the area in chemical protection gear, radioing in geocoordinates as they documented damage and looked for threats like unexploded munitions.
The work is standar
In 2022, Randall Pietersen, a civil engineer in the U.S. Air Force, set out on a training mission to assess damage at an airfield runway, practicing "base recovery" protocol after a simulated attack. For hours, his team walked over the area in chemical protection gear, radioing in geocoordinates as they documented damage and looked for threats like unexploded munitions.
The work is standar NASA Super Pressure Balloons Return to New Zealand for Test Flights
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Wallops Island VA (SPX) Mar 17, 2025
NASA's Scientific Balloon Program has returned to Wanaka, New Zealand, for two scheduled flights to test and qualify the agency's super pressure balloon technology. These stadium-sized, heavy-lift balloons will travel the Southern Hemisphere's mid-latitudes for planned missions of 100 days or more.
Launch operations are scheduled to begin in late March from Wanaka Airport, NASA's dedicated
NASA's Scientific Balloon Program has returned to Wanaka, New Zealand, for two scheduled flights to test and qualify the agency's super pressure balloon technology. These stadium-sized, heavy-lift balloons will travel the Southern Hemisphere's mid-latitudes for planned missions of 100 days or more.
Launch operations are scheduled to begin in late March from Wanaka Airport, NASA's dedicated 'Microlightning' in water droplets may have sparked life on Earth
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Stanford CA (SPX) Mar 17, 2025
Life may not have begun with a dramatic lightning strike into the ocean but from many smaller "microlightning" exchanges among water droplets from crashing waterfalls or breaking waves.
New research from Stanford University shows that water sprayed into a mixture of gases thought to be present in Earth's early atmosphere can lead to the formation of organic molecules with carbon-nitrogen b
Life may not have begun with a dramatic lightning strike into the ocean but from many smaller "microlightning" exchanges among water droplets from crashing waterfalls or breaking waves.
New research from Stanford University shows that water sprayed into a mixture of gases thought to be present in Earth's early atmosphere can lead to the formation of organic molecules with carbon-nitrogen b ICESat-2's Laser Fires 2 Trillionth Shot, Spots Clouds
Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10:01
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Mar 17, 2025
Happy 2,000,000,000,000th, ICESat-2! NASA's Earth-observing laser in orbit passed a milestone on March 9 at 12:51 p.m. EDT - 16:51:00.268 UTC, to be precise - as its laser instrument fired for the 2 trillionth time and measured clouds off the coast of East Antarctica.
ICESat-2's instrument, the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), uses rapid pulses of green laser light and
Happy 2,000,000,000,000th, ICESat-2! NASA's Earth-observing laser in orbit passed a milestone on March 9 at 12:51 p.m. EDT - 16:51:00.268 UTC, to be precise - as its laser instrument fired for the 2 trillionth time and measured clouds off the coast of East Antarctica.
ICESat-2's instrument, the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), uses rapid pulses of green laser light and