Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 04, 2025
In a joint effort spanning multiple universities, researchers at Virginia Tech have identified a new solid lubricating strategy that can significantly reduce friction in high-temperature machinery. Performing well beyond the thermal limits where traditional options like graphite fail, this technology was featured in Nature Communications. "This breakthrough solid-state lubricant could chan

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Feb 05, 2025
Researchers affiliated with the Ateneo de Manila University and National University- Mall of Asia Campus have revealed a unique application for the large volumes of volcanic ash that blanketed parts of the Philippines. Their investigation shows that Taal volcanic ash (TVA) can effectively serve as a barrier against ionizing radiation, potentially providing more sustainable shielding in industrie

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Feb 04, 2025
Most metals tend to lengthen as temperatures climb. The Eiffel Tower, for instance, can stand roughly 10 to 15 centimeters taller in summer than in winter because of this thermal expansion. While such elongation is a normal phenomenon in metals, it poses challenges in precision applications, prompting researchers to look for substances that remain dimensionally stable under heat. One well-known

Washington DC (UPI) Feb 4, 2025
Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket and spacecraft completed its moon-gravity mission, but the capsule appeared to have a slight hiccup on its return when one of its parachutes did not open entirely on Tuesday. NS-29 took off from Blue Origin Launch One site in Culberson County, Texas, near El Paso, at about 11 a.m. on Tuesday. The reusable booster rocket made a vertical touchdown on a lau

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 05, 2025
Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS), a US-based commercial space provider that develops satellite buses, technology, and in-space transport solutions, announced that AFWERX, part of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), has chosen a Momentus proposal to test low-cost multispectral sensors for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO). AFWERX serves as the Air Force's innovation hub and l

Paris, France (SPX) Feb 04, 2025
Arianespace has confirmed at the 17th European Space Conference the signing of a launch services agreement with the European Commission and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). Under this contract, Ariane 6 will deploy the first pair of second-generation Galileo navigation satellites (L17). Each satellite, weighing between 2,200 kg and 2,400 kg and outfitted with electrical

Image: XMM-Newton finds two stray supernova remnants

Space is not the safest place to be. During spaceflight, both devices and humans risk exposure to high levels of radiation. Without sufficient protection, instruments would malfunction, and astronauts might face serious health risks. A team of researchers from Ghent University in Belgium are testing the potential of 3D-printed hydrogels – materials that can soak up large amounts of water – to serve as highly-effective radiation shields.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 04, 2025
Mission Space is preparing to make a major stride forward by sending its new Zohar space weather sensor payload into orbit aboard SpaceX's Transporter-13. This launch marks a significant milestone, as the sensor is designed to deliver continuous readings on solar activity, radiation levels, and magnetospheric variations in real time. Zohar is placed and managed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by

Paris, France (SPX) Feb 04, 2025
The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) has released the very first GNSS and Secure SATCOM User Technology Report, offering a unified resource that addresses two central space-based capabilities. This new publication builds upon earlier GNSS User Technology and Secure SATCOM Market and User Technology studies, presenting an extensive review of the most recent innovations