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Smile is the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer, a brand-new space mission currently in the making. It will study space weather and the interaction between the solar wind and Earth’s environment.

Unique about Smile is that it will take the first X-ray images and videos of the solar wind slamming into Earth’s protective magnetic bubble, and its complementary ultraviolet images will provide the longest-ever continuous look at the northern lights.

In this first of several short videos, David Agnolon (Smile Project Manager) and Philippe Escoubet (Smile Project Scientist) talk about the why and the how of Smile. You’ll

Image: Getting Proba-3 fit for flight

London, UK (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
A fresh theoretical model developed by astrophysicists at Durham University offers a method to assess the likelihood of intelligent life appearing in our Universe, as well as in possible alternate universes. This concept builds on the legacy of the famous Drake Equation, devised in the 1960s by Dr. Frank Drake to estimate the number of detectable extraterrestrial civilizations within the Milky W

Pasadena CA (JPL) Nov 13, 2024
During its recent exploration of the crater rim, Perseverance diverted to explore a strange, scattered field of bright white rocks which sparked the interest of the team scientists. Perseverance has been climbing up the steep slopes of the Jezero crater rim for over two months now, and ever since approaching the edge of the crater has been spying increasingly diverse and strange-looking ro

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU) has been appointed to design and construct the initial fleet of Data Storage Spacecraft for Lonestar, a premier provider of data storage and Resiliency As A Service (RAAS). With this selection, Sidus becomes Lonestar's exclusive satellite manufacturing partner for a series of six spacecraft intended for lunar orbit. These satellites will deliver sophisticated data stor

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
An international team of researchers has achieved a significant milestone by designing practical photonic time crystals-unique materials capable of exponentially amplifying light. This advancement paves the way for new opportunities in fields such as communications, imaging, and sensing, promising faster and more compact optical devices, including lasers and sensors. "This work could lead

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
Firefly Aerospace has announced the completion of an oversubscribed $175 million Series D funding round, elevating the company's valuation beyond $2 billion. The funding was led by RPM Ventures, a venture capital firm known for backing innovative and industry-leading enterprises for over two decades. The round also attracted participation from existing backers as well as new investors, such as G