Beijing, China (SPX) Jul 12, 2023
The mystery of the first galaxies of the universe is an indomitable urge of human beings. The formation of them is mastered by the nature of dark matter which is also one of the most important problems faced by fundamental physics. However, understanding the nature of dark matter-for example, whether it is cold or warm-and its subsequent effect on the first galaxy formation is a huge challenge.

Ottawa, Canada (SPX) Jul 12, 2023
Our universe could be twice as old as current estimates, according to a new study that challenges the dominant cosmological model and sheds new light on the so-called "impossible early galaxy problem." "Our newly-devised model stretches the galaxy formation time by a several billion years, making the universe 26.7 billion years old, and not 13.7 as previously estimated," says author Rajend

Pasadena CA (JPL) Jul 12, 2023
Earth Planning Date: Friday, July 7, 2023. Happy Friday, Earthlings! Few things are better than planning an action-packed weekend on Mars. It's even better when the last plan executed like a charm; our drive from Wednesday's plan made it over 44 meters and put us in veiny, layered bedrock heaven! We're still headed towards a local cluster of craters ~150 meters to the east, and my Mastcam brain

Pasadena CA (JPL) Jul 12, 2023
Earth planning: Monday, July 10, 2023 This weekend, Curiosity went into runout and was unable to execute the Sols 3882-3884 plan that is detailed in last blog post. Nothing is actually wrong; runout refers to when the rover doesn't have anything to do as it hasn't received any new instructions. Runout is normally caused by an error in the uplink process - in this case, the transmitter at our DSN

Oslo, Norway (SPX) Jul 12, 2023
Scientists have 'reset the clock' for craters on the Moon, meaning that parts of its surface - which characterise the children's story of the Man in the Moon - are around 200 million years older than had been thought. Researchers from Norway and France have found a way of coordinating and recalibrating two conflicting systems of dating the surface of the Moon. This new evaluation shows tha

San Antonio TX (SPX) Jul 12, 2023
Southwest Research Institute has delivered a plasma spectrometer for integration into a lunar lander as part of NASA's Lunar Vertex investigation, scheduled to commence next year. The target site is the Reiner Gamma region on the Moon's nearside, a mysterious area known to have a local magnetic field. The SwRI-developed Magnetic Anomaly Plasma Spectrometer (MAPS) will study the interaction of th

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 12, 2023
NASA has awarded Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace task orders under existing contracts to advance spacewalking capabilities in low Earth orbit, as well as moonwalking services for Artemis missions. The latest Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services task orders, each with a value of $5 million, are intended to have Axiom Space begin work on a spacesuit for use in low Earth orbit, and

Washington DC (SPX) Jul 12, 2023
Following a successful inflatable habitat burst test in December 2022, Lockheed Martin conducted another subscale burst test on June 14 in Colorado-and like the first time, it went off with a bang! Performed on an historic Titan rocket hot-fire test stand, the test achieved validation by getting to 253 psi (nearly six times the max operating pressure), hitting the prediction and showing co

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 12, 2023
The China Aerospace Foundation and the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization have solidified their commitment to collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the headquarters of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization. The event saw the presence of esteemed leaders such as Li Guoping, Chief Engineer of China National Space Administration, Wu Zhijian, Chairman of

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 12, 2023
Axiom Space, a Houston-based company, has been granted a significant contract by NASA to develop spacesuits for the International Space Station (ISS). The contract, which involves an initial commitment of $5 million and has the potential to reach $142 million over four years, aims to modify Axiom's Artemis III lunar spacesuit design to enhance NASA's spacewalking capabilities on the ISS. T