Edwards AFB CA (SPX) Oct 24, 2022
The Air Force Research Laboratory upgraded its fabrication shop equipment with 20 new state-of-the-art machines for manufacturing rocket components that will enhance capabilities, increase accuracy and save money. The Rocket Propulsion Division, part of AFRL's Aerospace Systems Directorate, recently modernized its fabrication shop with five new computer numerical control, or CNC, milling m

Orlando FL (SPX) Oct 26, 2022
As part of NASA's Artemis program to establish a long-term presence on the moon, it aims to build an Artemis base camp that includes a modern lunar cabin, rover and mobile home. This fixed habitat could potentially be constructed with bricks made of lunar regolith and saltwater, thanks to a recent discovery from a team of UCF researchers. Associate Professor Ranajay Ghosh of UCF's Departme

Evanston IL (SPX) Oct 26, 2022
When Mars' first samples return to Earth, scientists should be on the lookout for ancient sleeping bacteria, a new study has found. In a first-of-its-kind study, a research team, including Northwestern University's Brian Hoffman and Ajay Sharma, found that ancient bacteria could survive close to the surface on Mars much longer than previously assumed. And - when the bacteria are buried and

Bethesda MD (SPX) Oct 26, 2022
As the goals of Mars exploration expand to include sample return, it becomes important to protect Earth from potential extraterrestrial sources of contamination. Likewise, it is important to avoid mistaking Earth life for indigenous life brought back from Mars. In a new study, scientists examine the effects of desiccation and freezing on microbial ionizing radiation survivability on Mars.

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ESA’s Proba-2 captured two partial solar eclipses on 25 October 2022.

A solar eclipse is caused by the movement of the Moon around Earth. Despite their much different sizes, due to their separation, the Moon appears to be about the same size as the significantly larger Sun in the sky. Occasionally, the Moon passes in front of the Sun, blocking its light, so that part of the Earth’s surface is in the Moon’s shadow. The line-up is not always perfect, and so not every eclipse is a total solar eclipse.

On 25 October only part of the Sun’s light was

This complex region of craters and fractures in the Terra Sirenum region highlights the varied history of Mars.  The image was taken by ESA’s Mars Express on 5 April 2022.

Satellite navigation is headed closer to users. ESA’s Navigation Directorate is planning an in-orbit demonstration with new navigation satellites that will orbit just a few hundred kilometres up in space, supplementing Europe’s 23 222-km-distant Galileo satellites. Operating added-value signals, these novel so-called ‘LEO-PNT’ satellites will investigate a new multi-layer satnav system-of-systems approach to deliver seamless Positioning, Navigation and Timing services that are much more accurate, robust and available everywhere.

Image: Webb explores a pair of merging galaxies