ESA and ISRO explore increased cooperation

The European Space Agency, impressed with India’s growing space capabilities, is exploring opportunities for enhanced cooperation in space activities. The post ESA and ISRO explore increased cooperation appeared first on SpaceNews.

Future Mars plane could help solve Red Planet methane mystery (exclusive)

Mars methane is hard to trace, but a solution might be on the way. An early-stage airplane concept called MAGGIE will soon kick off a nine-month NASA-funded study to explore its feasibility for soaring over Mars. It won’t go to the Red Planet any time soon, if ever, but there’s a clear science need for…

China adds new moon base project partners, but struggles to attract national-level participation

China continues to add new members to its International Lunar Research Station initiative, but many of these are subnational, suggesting issues attracting partners. The post China adds new moon base project partners, but struggles to attract national-level participation appeared first on SpaceNews.

Stardust particle locked in meteorite holds secrets of a star's explosive death

Scientists have discovered a rare stardust particle that came from the explosive supernova death of a distant star. This speck, it seems, is locked within an ancient meteorite.  The grain of dust, though small, can help tell a story of stellar life, death and rebirth that spans almost the entire 13.8 billion-year history of the…

Space Force chief: U.S. intelligence is top-notch, but more insights needed on space domain

Gen. Chance Saltzman: “The demand for intelligence is continuous, it’s ever changing.” The post Space Force chief: U.S. intelligence is top-notch, but more insights needed on space domain appeared first on SpaceNews.

Overlooked Apollo data from the 1970s reveals huge record of 'hidden' moonquakes

The moon is much more seismically active than we realized, a new study shows. A reanalysis of abandoned data from NASA’s Apollo missions has uncovered more than 22,000 previously unknown moonquakes — nearly tripling the total number of known seismic events on the moon.  Moonquakes are the lunar equivalent of earthquakes, caused by movement in…

Supermassive black hole’s mysterious hiccups' likely caused by neighboring black hole's 'punches'

A hiccuping supermassive black hole has alerted astronomers to a whole new type of black hole behavior.  In 2020, a previously quiet black hole at the heart of a galaxy about 800 million light-years from Earth, and with a mass equivalent to 50 million suns, suddenly erupted, brightening the material around it by a factor of…

'Vampire' neutron star blasts are related to jets traveling at near-light speeds

A neutron star is the remains of a massive star that once died in a supernova explosion. As a whole, neutron stars are considered some of the most extreme objects in the known universe — and that’s especially true when these incredibly dense star remnants exist alongside companion stars (that haven’t yet “died”) close enough…

Tragic Baltimore bridge collapse aftermath seen from space (satellite photos)

Maxar Technologies captured satellite images of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which was struck by a giant cargo ship early on Tuesday (March 26). Most of the 1.6-mile (2.57 km) long bridge crumbled within minutes, sending people and vehicles into the icy waters of the Patapsco River.  The 984-foot-long cargo ship, named…

NASA is super stoked for the 2024 total solar eclipse and hopes you are, too.

The countdown until the total solar eclipse is now under two weeks, and even NASA can’t contain it’s infectious excitement for this rare solar spectacular! On April 8, 2024 for the first time since 2017, millions of people will have an opportunity to watch the moon pass in front of the sun creating a surreal…

Climate change and polar ice melting could be impacting the length of Earth's day

Humanity is rapidly waking up to the fact that time is running out to take action to mitigate the effects of climate change. Ironically, climate change itself, primarily caused by the release of greenhouse gases via the burning of fossil fuels, could help delay a time-related crisis. Currently, we keep official time using around 450…

'Constellation' season 1 episode 8 review: This isn't the conclusion you're looking for

“Constellation” has been a bumpy ride to say the least. While there’s been remarkable sparks of promise along the way, we’ve been fearing the worst for weeks. Unfortunately, in this final episode writer Peter Harness‘ story crash-lands and gives viewers little reason to stick around for a second season. Harness could’ve taken far more interesting…

Cosmic gold rush! Astronomers find 49 new galaxies in just 3 hours

Astronomers have been surprised by a “gold rush” of new galaxies, racking up 49 discoveries in just 3 hours.  The gas-rich galaxies were uncovered by a team using the MeerKAT radio telescope located in South Africa. They have been dubbed the “forty-niners,” a callback to the nickname given to the thousands of gold miners who…

I toured NASA's Mission Control ahead of Boeing's coming astronaut flight. Here's what it was like (exclusive)

HOUSTON — It’s hard to beat an in-person launch experience — especially if you’re watching in Mission Control, the literal hub of NASA’s human spaceflight program. Reporters and flight directors gathered here at NASA’s Johnson Space Center on Thursday (March 21) at a big control room screen to watch SpaceX launch its 30th robotic cargo…

New view of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way hints at an exciting hidden feature (image)

Astronomers have captured the first view of polarized light and the magnetic fields that surround Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milly Way.  The historic observation made with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has revealed the neatly ordered magnetic fields have similarities with those that surround the supermassive…

Artemis astronauts will carry plants to the moon in 2026

The first astronauts to land on the moon in more than half a century will set up a lunar mini-greenhouse, if all goes according to plan. NASA has selected the first three science experiments to be deployed by astronauts on the moon’s surface on the Artemis 3 mission in 2026. Among them is LEAF (“Lunar…

NASA optimistic about resolving Voyager 1 computer problem

A NASA official says he is optimistic that a problem with the Voyager 1 spacecraft that has kept it from transmitting intelligible data for months can be resolved. The post NASA optimistic about resolving Voyager 1 computer problem appeared first on SpaceNews.

On-orbit servicing mission planned for military satellite in 2025

A robotic servicing vehicle will rendezvous with a military satellite and attach an imaging payload The post On-orbit servicing mission planned for military satellite in 2025 appeared first on SpaceNews.

Will the total solar eclipse on April 8 be the most watched ever?

The total solar eclipse on April 8 will be viewed by an awful lot of people: 43.8 million people live in the path of totality, and that number doesn’t include those traveling to the path to witness the spectacular event. The path of the last total solar eclipse, on April 20, 2023, by contrast, was…

Long March 6A launches second Yunhai-3 satellite

China added to its fleet of secretive meteorological satellites with the launch of Yunhai-3 (02) late Tuesday. The post Long March 6A launches second Yunhai-3 satellite appeared first on SpaceNews.