Space loves AI, AI doesn’t love Space
Space-related applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning are often confined to the ground because moving AI onboard satellites, while promising, is significantly more difficult.
Dark energy is forcing the universe to expand. This new observatory may show us how
As our universe poofs out in every direction like an indestructible balloon — thanks to dark energy, a force fully hidden to the human eye — Dillon Brout is an astrophysicist trying to make sense of it all.
Futuristic vertical-takeoff air taxi could fly by 2028
A proof-of-concept four-passenger air taxi that can take off and land vertically is slated to hit the market by 2028.
Zoozve — the strange ‘moon’ of Venus that earned its name by accident
About a year ago, Latif Nasser was having a pretty ordinary evening. The day was done, the sun had set, and he was standing in front of his two-year-old son’s crib, tucking him in. It was the same room he’d visited tons of times before, performing the same duties, looking at the same wall decorated with the same solar system poster he’d seen from the same … wait. What was that?
Firefly to continue responsive launch operations for future Alpha missions
ORLANDO, Fla. — Firefly Aerospace plans to make the responsive launch operations it demonstrated for the U.S. Space Force last year the norm for upcoming launches of its Alpha rocket.
The last vestige of old space architectural thinking
As we head into 2024 and look around, the space industry is fundamentally different from what it was decades ago, thanks to first- and second-order effects from embracing commercial innovation. SpaceX set a record-breaking cadence of nearly 100 launches last year, heralding a new revolution in access to space. The Space Development Agency (SDA) operationalized several tranches of its layered hybrid architecture and paved the way for the Defense Department’s orbital blueprint, the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. And all branches of the United States military, not just the Space Force, set into motion how they plan to leverage space in mesh networks supporting joint all-domain command and control systems.
8 Cool Destinations That Future Mars Tourists Could Explore
Mars is a planet of vast contrasts — huge volcanoes, deep canyons, and craters that may or may not host running water. It will be an amazing location for future tourists to explore, once we put the first Red Planet colonies into motion. The landing sites for these future missions will likely need to be flat plains for safety and practical reasons, but perhaps they could land within a few days’ drive of some more interesting geology. Here are some locations that future Martians could visit.
NASA Ingenuity Mars helicopter, broken and alone, spotted by Perseverance rover on Martian dune (photo, video)
NASA’s Perseverance Rover took a photo of its broken companion, the Ingenuity helicopter, as it sat alone on a dune.
1st look at asteroid Bennu samples suggests space rock may even be ‘a fragment of an ancient ocean world’
Scientists are now inspecting snagged, bagged and tagged bits and pieces from asteroid Bennu, the cosmic mother lode delivered by NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security — Regolith Explorer mission.
NASA’s asteroid-hopping Lucy probe heads back toward Earth after acing crucial engine burn
NASA’s asteroid-hopping Lucy spacecraft is on its way back to Earth for a Christmas-time rendezvous this year, before continuing its mission to investigate space rocks left over from the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago.
How scientists are using artificial intelligence to predict wildfires
Fire weather prediction is not easy — there are so many different types of challenges that forecasters face both before a wildfire sparks and even while it’s active. These fires can ignite any time, and anywhere. So many different factors must be considered before estimating how quickly one can spread, and how deeply it may impact our lives and our communities.
Lunar astronauts could potentially make hummus with moon-grown chickpeas
Researchers have for the first time grown chickpea seeds in soil similar to that found on the moon, paving the way to reduce dependency on packaged foods during future crewed missions.
Blue Origin touts capabilities of Blue Ring transfer vehicle
ORLANDO, Fla. — Blue Origin is highlighting the capabilities of an orbital transfer vehicle design it announced last year, including the ability of the spacecraft to serve as a fuel depot.
Space Force seeks to clear up confusion over selection of Northrop Grumman’s refueling tech
ORLANDO, Fla. — Following Northrop Grumman’s recent announcement that its satellite refueling port was selected as the preferred standard for military satellites, a Space Systems Command official said the company’s statement has been misinterpreted as making Northrop the sole provider.