Sydney, Australia (SPX) Aug 21, 2023
China's orbiting Tiangong space station is now fully operational and has embarked on a mission that aims to achieve groundbreaking scientific discoveries, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). This marks a significant step forward as the station enters an application and development phase that is anticipated to last for over a decade. The spokesperson for CMSA, Lin Xiqiang, re

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 21, 2023
In a major advancement for space access and sustainability, tech firm True Anomaly, Inc. launched its advanced spacecraft manufacturing facility, GravityWorks, while simultaneously securing federal permissions for novel space operations. Located in Centennial, Colo., this new facility positions True Anomaly amidst the flourishing aerospace and defense sectors of Colorado, one of America's

Beijing, China (SPX) Aug 21, 2023
Using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), a research team led by Prof. HAN Jinlin from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) has detected distinct "dwarf pulses" from a bright pulsar PSR B2111+46, and studied the radio emission in unprecedented details and probed the unknown physics in the magnetosphere. Pulsars gene

Washington DC (SPX) Aug 21, 2023
A team of researchers, including NOIRLab astronomer Andre-Nicolas Chene, has found a highly unusual star that has the most powerful magnetic field ever found in a massive star - and that may become one of the most magnetic objects in the Universe: a variant of a neutron star known as a magnetar. This finding marks the discovery of a new type of astronomical object - a massive magnetic helium sta

Munich, Germany (SPX) Aug 21, 2023
Magnetars are the strongest magnets in the Universe. These super-dense dead stars with ultra-strong magnetic fields can be found all over our galaxy but astronomers don't know exactly how they form. Now, using multiple telescopes around the world, including European Southern Observatory (ESO) facilities, researchers have uncovered a living star that is likely to become a magnetar. This finding m

Pasadena CA (JPL) Aug 16, 2023
Earth planning date: Wednesday, August 16, 2023: Curiosity had a successful drive on Monday and is now positioned at the transition between lighter and darker-toned materials with a myriad of exciting geologic targets to investigate in the coming sols, including dark-toned float rocks, bedrock near the contact between the sulfate unit and upper Gediz Vallis Ridge, and a cluster of texturally-div

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 21, 2023
In a recent development in the realm of Earth observation technology, Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL) has signed a contract to offer their global daily monitoring solution to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Asia. This high-value deal comes with a seven-figure annual contract value, emphasizing the significance of the collaboration. For those unfamiliar with the industry backdrop, Planet Labs s

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Aug 21, 2023
Human missions to Mars necessitate an efficient launch system to ascend from the planet and rendezvous with Earth-bound return vehicles. The critical component for this ambitious task? Oxygen. Not only for ascent propellants but possibly also for life support. To facilitate a crew of six astronauts, approximately 30 metric tons of oxygen propellants would be required for ascent. This signi

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Aug 21, 2023
The intricate multi-body dynamic environment stemming from Jupiter and its four prominent Galilean moons complicates trajectory design and optimization. Coupled with the formidable radiation surrounding Jupiter and spacecraft's limited fuel, these challenges necessitate advanced and intricate design solutions. To bridge this gap, a joint study by scholars from Nanjing University of Aeronau

Moscow (AFP) Aug 19, 2023
An "emergency" was detected on Saturday during a manoeuvre by Russia's Luna-25 probe prior to its Moon landing, Russian space agency Roscosmos said. "Thrust was released to transfer the probe onto the pre-landing orbit," Roscosmos said in a statement. "During the operation, an emergency situation occurred on board the automatic station, which did not allow the carrying out of the manoeuv