Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 30, 2024
Humans have always been explorers, making space the next frontier. But what laws govern outer space? Is it a lawless expanse? Duncan Blake, a lecturer at UNSW Canberra, emphasizes that space is not without rules. The Woomera Manual on the International Law of Military Space Activities and Operations (Woomera Manual) aims to clarify the application of existing international laws to military

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 30, 2024
The Center for the Study of Space Crime, Policy, and Governance (CSCPG) announced it will present the first annual Space Piracy Conference on February 11 and 12, 2025. This by-invitation-only symposium will take place in Annapolis, Maryland. The conference will gather leading policy thinkers, financiers, executives, and entrepreneurs to discuss the risks of piracy in space and potential solution

Redmond, Washington (SPX) May 29, 2024
Power to Explore is a NASA essay writing competition organized by Future Engineers. It invites K-12 students to envision an RPS-powered space mission to a "dark, dusty, or distant" destination. In 250 words or less, we were asked to describe: + the mission destination and goals br> + the importance of radioisotope power systems in the mission br> + our unique "power" that will help

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 30, 2024
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS), and Verizon (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) have announced a strategic partnership with a $100 million commitment from Verizon to provide direct-to-cellular AST SpaceMobile service for Verizon customers when needed. "This new partnership with Verizon will enable AST SpaceMobile to target 100% coverage of the continental United States on premium 850 MHz spectrum wit

Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 30, 2024
Four innovative space startups from around the globe have joined South Australia's Venture Catalyst Space program. This initiative supports early-stage technology-based space startups in scaling their businesses. Since its inception in 2018, Venture Catalyst Space has supported 36 startups, helping them secure $31 million in investments and grants and create over 220 space jobs. The progra

Berlin, Germany (SPX) May 30, 2024
During a live broadcast, Kongsberg NanoAvionics ("NanoAvionics") announced the full standardization of its nano- and microsatellite buses. This move aims to cut lead times to as little as four months for bus manufacturing, reduce costs, and enhance reliability. The standardization enables quicker and more cost-effective mission launches. For missions with specific requirements, NanoAvionics cont

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 30, 2024
Researchers at Brown University have developed a new approach to mapping the Moon's surface, offering improved precision and efficiency. The study, published in the Planetary Science Journal, introduces enhancements to the shape-from-shading technique, which helps create detailed models of lunar terrain by analyzing light reflections. The technique, refined by Brown scholars Benjamin Boatw

Paris, France (SPX) May 30, 2024
As ESA's Hera spacecraft undergoes pre-flight testing, its Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) system is also being finalized for space operations around a binary asteroid system. The GNC system is being validated through virtual maneuvers conducted in Spain and Germany. At GMV's headquarters in Madrid, Hera's On-Board Computer is tested using a model asteroid for realistic proximity ope

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 30, 2024
When NASA's Lucy spacecraft flew past its first official target, Dinkinesh, in November 2023, researchers discovered that the asteroid, known as "Dinky," was accompanied by a satellite asteroid named "Selam." Further data from Lucy revealed that Selam is not a single moon but a contact binary-two moons fused together. The Lucy team, including University of Maryland Professor Jessica Sunshi

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 30, 2024
The search for life beyond Earth drives space exploration, and the discovery of clay minerals on Mars continues to captivate scientists. Clay formation, linked to rocks interacting with water, provides insights into the past habitability of Mars. Western planetary geologists Livio Tornabene and Gordon Osinski lead an international team to study clay formation on Mars. Supported by a three-