Space
- Northern Lights expected soon as Sun drives stormy space weatherwww.bbc.com Northern Lights expected soon as Sun drives stormy space weather
Another spectacular light show could come within two weeks as Sun storms reach 11-year high.
- NASA Tests Technology, Practices Artemis Moonwalks in Arizona Desert - NASAwww.nasa.gov NASA Tests Technology, Practices Artemis Moonwalks in Arizona Desert - NASA
To prepare for exploring the Moon during NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency is conducting a week-long field test in the lunar-like landscape of San Francisco
- NASA Earns Best Place to Work in Government for 12 Straight Years - NASAwww.nasa.gov NASA Earns Best Place to Work in Government for 12 Straight Years - NASA
NASA was named Thursday as the 2023 Best Place to Work in the Federal Government – large agency – for the 12th year in a row by the Partnership for Public
- Helium leak delays Boeing’s historic Starliner mission at least another weekwww.cnn.com Helium leak delays Boeing’s historic Starliner mission at least another week | CNN
A helium leak has delayed the launch of the Starliner’s crewed flight test mission with two NASA astronauts. Here’s the next opportunity to watch history in action.
- Sun shoots out biggest solar flare in nearly a decade, but Earth should be safe this timeapnews.com Sun shoots out biggest solar flare in almost 2 decades, but Earth should be out of the way this time
The sun isn't done yet. That's the message from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as the biggest flare in nearly two decades erupted on the sun Tuesday.
- The mission to retrieve a Mars sample is running into turbulencewww.theverge.com The mission to retrieve a Mars sample is running into turbulence
Can we afford the mission? Can we afford not doing it?
- Is dark matter’s main rival theory dead? There’s bad news from the Cassini spacecraft and other recent teststheconversation.com Is dark matter’s main rival theory dead? There’s bad news from the Cassini spacecraft and other recent tests
Recent research shows the main alternative theory to dark matter, Milgromian dynamics, is failing.
- Photos show what it's like to fall into a black holewww.businessinsider.com Photos show what it's like to fall into a black hole
A NASA astrophysicist simulated what it would look like to fall into a black hole, according to Einstein's theory of general relativity.
- Why Is the Night Sky Black? #shortspiped.privacydev.net Piped
An alternative privacy-friendly YouTube frontend which is efficient by design.
- NASA's Proposed Plasma Rocket Would Get Us to Mars in 2 Monthsgizmodo.com NASA's Proposed Plasma Rocket Would Get Us to Mars in 2 Months
The space agency is investing in the development of a propulsion system that uses nuclear power to create plasma bursts.
Last week, NASA announced it is working with a technology development company on a new propulsion system that could transport humans to Mars in only two months -- down from the current nine month journey required to reach the Red Planet. Gizmodo reports:
> NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program recently selected six promising projects for additional funding and development, allowing them to graduate to the second stage of development. The new "science fiction-like concepts," as described by John Nelson, NIAC program executive at NASA, include a lunar railway system and fluid-based telescopes, as well as a pulsed plasma rocket.
> The potentially groundbreaking propulsion system is being developed by Arizona-based Howe Industries. To reach high velocities within a shorter period of time, the pulsed plasma rocket would use nuclear fission -- the release of energy from atoms splitting apart -- to generate packets of plasma for thrust. It would essentially produce a controlled jet of plasma to help propel the rocket through space. Using the new propulsion system, and in terms of thrust, the rocket could potentially generate up to 22,481 pounds of force (100,000 Newtons) with a specific impulse (Isp) of 5,000 seconds, for remarkably high fuel efficiency. [...]
> The pulsed plasma rocket would also be capable of carrying much heavier spacecraft, which can be then equipped with shielding against galactic cosmic rays for the crew on board. Phase 2 of NIAC is focused on assessing the neutronics of the system (how the motion of the spacecraft interacts with the plasma), designing the spacecraft, power system, and necessary subsystems, analyzing the magnetic nozzle capabilities, and determining trajectories and benefits of the pulsed plasma rocket, according to NASA.
Abstract credit: https://slashdot.org/story/428225
- Astronomers are on the Hunt for Dyson Sphereswww.universetoday.com Astronomers are on the Hunt for Dyson Spheres
In the Kardashev Scale, a Type II Civilization would build a Dyson Sphere around their star. A team of astronomers are searching for them.
- NOAA says ‘extreme’ Solar storm will persist through the weekendarstechnica.com NOAA says ‘extreme’ Solar storm will persist through the weekend
So far disruptions from the geomagnetic storm appear to be manageable.
- The scientific story behind the timeline of our Universebigthink.com The scientific story behind the timeline of our Universe
From the earliest stages of the hot Big Bang (and even before) to our dark energy-dominated present, how and when did the Universe grow up?
An interesting article on the time line of the universe.
The Universe passed through many epochs, from free quarks and gluons to stable protons and neutrons to neutral atoms to stars, galaxies, planets, and more. The precise time at which these various epochs occurred, including the (current) dark energy-dominated era, can be pinpointed with precision. Here’s how we know.
- Strong solar storm could disrupt communications and produce northern lights in USapnews.com Strong solar storm could disrupt communications and produce northern lights in US
A strong solar storm headed toward Earth could produce northern lights in the U.S. and potentially disrupt communications this weekend.
- James Webb Space Telescope chief scientist Jane Rigby receives highest US civilian awardwww.space.com James Webb Space Telescope chief scientist Jane Rigby receives highest US civilian award
"I work on a telescope that does the impossible."
- Boeing’s historic Starliner mission now expected to launch no sooner than May 17 after valve issuewww.cnn.com Boeing’s historic Starliner mission now expected to launch no sooner than May 17 after valve issue | CNN
Engineers are replacing a valve on the rocket that will power the first crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The launch is now expected no sooner than May 17.
- Orbiter captures video of plasma swirling on the sun in "exquisite detail"www.cbsnews.com Orbiter captures video of plasma swirling on the sun in "exquisite detail"
In the video, the surface of the sun appears furred with dark yellow material as beams of gold swoop overhead.
- Capella Space using AI to automate ship identificationspacenews.com Capella Space using AI to automate ship identification
Capella Space using AI to automate ship identification
- The surprise is not that Boeing lost commercial crew but that it finished at allarstechnica.com The surprise is not that Boeing lost commercial crew but that it finished at all
"The structural inefficiency was a huge deal."
- Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was favored to win a contract worth billions to develop a crew capsule over SpaceX.
- Boeing received $4.2 billion to develop a "commercial crew" transportation system, but ultimately lost the commercial crew space race.
- Boeing struggled to adjust to a fixed-price environment and faced financial pressure and technical challenges in developing Starliner.
- NASA’s Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch | ~~10:34 p.m. EDT~~ Scrub
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- China Creates a High-Resolution Atlas of the Moonwww.universetoday.com China Creates a High-Resolution Atlas of the Moon
Multiple space agencies are looking to send crewed missions to the Moon’s southern polar region in this decade and the next. Moreover, they intend to create the infrastructure that will allow for a sustained human presence, exploration, and economic development. This requires that the local geograph...
Really important step towards expanding our research on the moon, is creating highly detailed maps of the entire surface.
China is doing some great work on building out infrastructure and studies of the moon. They're the only country that's brought back any moon rocks in decades.
Space Race 3.0 is on, and we'll see how different approaches to the research and manned missions will move forward.
The US is currently building out an extremely upfront cost heavy project, but with a lot of long term benefits.
China is building a more straightforward moon project, but with higher ongoing costs, as much of the infrastructure is disposable (more like Apollo).
- Love to see the night sky on Mars? This is what it would be like to stargaze on the Red Planetwww.skyatnightmagazine.com Love to see the night sky on Mars? This is what it would be like to stargaze on the Red Planet
What would it be like to see the Sun or the stars from Mars? Read our guide to find out what astronauts could see in the Mars night sky.
- China sends a probe to get samples from the less-explored far side of the moonapnews.com China sends a probe to get samples from the less-explored far side of the moon
China has launched a lunar probe to land on the far side of the moon and return with samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.
- An Engineer Says He’s Found a Way to Overcome Earth’s Gravitywww.popularmechanics.com An Engineer Says He’s Found a Way to Overcome Earth’s Gravity
This new propulsion system could rewrite the rules of spaceflight—not to mention completely defy conventional physics.
- What is the difference between astronomy and astrology?www.planetary.org What is the difference between astronomy and astrology?
The words may be similar, but astronomy (a science) and astrology (a divinatory practice) are very different things.
- Two giants in the satellite telecom industry join forces to counter Starlinkarstechnica.com Two giants in the satellite telecom industry join forces to counter Starlink
SES is buying Intelsat, the world's first commercial satellite operator, for $3.1 billion.
- How to reach out to university staff for consultation
I’m working on an indie game that deals with Space Sciences. I’m nearby a well-known university for aerospace and space sciences and could use some guidance from people that know the subject well. The university’s faculty directory helped me find potential contacts but I’m not too sure on the proper etiquette for contacting them.
Do I just contact a few of them individually to their uni emails? Do I contact their provided phone numbers? Do I reach out to the Department Head and ask for their guidance? Is payment usually expected for an initial conversation like this?
- Insanely Detailed Webb Image of the Horsehead Nebulawww.universetoday.com Insanely Detailed Webb Image of the Horsehead Nebula
Life isn't so bad. Take a moment to enjoy this stunning JWST image of the Horsehead Nebula. Your tax dollars may have paid for it.
The amount of detail in these pictures is amazing. You can really see the texture in the nebula, and the features are so crisp, it kind of looks 3d.
- How Knot Theory Can Help Spacecraft Can Change Orbits Without Using Fuelwww.universetoday.com How Knot Theory Can Help Spacecraft Can Change Orbits Without Using Fuel
When a spacecraft arrives at its destination, it settles into an orbit for science operations. But after the primary mission is complete, there might be other interesting orbits where scientists would like to explore. Maneuvering to a different orbit requires fuel, limiting a spacecraft’s number of ...
Pretty interesting topic, would be interesting if it could be used to move satellites to a "parking orbit" once they run out of fuel. It's unclear just how much movement in an orbit that can be done, as it says it needs to be in the same energy level.
Source press release: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/new-technique-uses-knot-theory-create-tube-map-around-planets-and-moons
Source journal article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42064-024-0201-0
- NASA’s Hubble Pauses Science Due to Gyro Issue - NASA Sciencescience.nasa.gov NASA’s Hubble Pauses Science Due to Gyro Issue - NASA Science
NASA is working to resume science operations of the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope after it entered safe mode April 23 due to an ongoing gyroscope (gyro) issue. Hubble’s instruments are stable, and the telescope is in good health. The telescope automatically entered safe mode when one of its three ...
- Private moon lander will carry Nokia's 4G cell network to the lunar surface this yearwww.space.com Private moon lander will carry Nokia's 4G cell network to the lunar surface this year
The first piece of the network might launch as soon as this year.
- Star bars show Universe’s early galaxies evolved much faster than previously thoughtwww.eurekalert.org Star bars show Universe’s early galaxies evolved much faster than previously thought
<p>The Universe’s early galaxies were less chaotic and developed much faster than previously thought, according to new research looking back more than ten billion years in time.</p>
- Signs of spiders from Mars | ESAwww.esa.int Signs of spiders from Mars
No sign of Ziggy Stardust – but ESA’s Mars Express has snapped the telltale traces of ‘spiders’ scattered across the southern polar region of Mars.
- Boeing's Starliner set to fly astronauts for the first time on May 6techcrunch.com Boeing's Starliner set to fly astronauts for the first time on May 6 | TechCrunch
If Boeing and NASA are unable to meet the May 6 date, there are additional launch opportunities on May 7, 10 and 11.
- Injury Rates at SpaceX Soar Above Industry Normsgizmodo.com Injury Rates at SpaceX Soar Above Industry Norms
At SpaceX's manufacturing facility in Brownsville, Texas, the injury rate is more than seven times the industry average.