Southwest Research Institute to supply NOAA coronagraphs
SAN FRANCISCO – The San Antonio-based Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) won a $60 million contract to build three coronagraphs for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
To lead the next wave of space-based radar, U.S. must learn from GPS success
Forty years ago, the United States government made a decision that transformed the modern world: it opened the Global Positioning System (GPS) to civilian use. What began as a military technology became the foundation for countless innovations that we now take for granted — from turn-by-turn navigation to precision farming to emergency response systems. Today, GPS contributes hundreds of billions of dollars annually to the global economy while maintaining America’s technological leadership.
Tianzhou-8 spacecraft delivers supplies, key experiments to Tiangong space station
HELSINKI — A cargo spacecraft has arrived at China’s Tiangong space station, delivering supplies, experiments and equipment to support crewed missions.
‘Vega continues to be unusual:’ Lack of planets around young star puzzles astronomers
A joint Hubble and James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) project to learn more about the dusty disk around the bright star Vega has found a surprising lack of planets, as evidenced by the disk and surrounding halo being filled with a snow of tiny particles.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe to glimpse Venus’ surface before historic sun encounter
On Wednesday (Nov. 6), NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will complete its seventh swing past Venus— the spacecraft’s final maneuver around the amber planet that will nudge it onto a trajectory that will take it within 3.8 million miles of the sun’s surface. That will be the closest that any human-built object has come to our star.
Satellites can now spot plastic trash on Earth’s beaches from space (photo)
Researchers from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia developed a new satellite imaging technique that can spot plastics on beaches by measuring differences in reflected light from the debris compared to the surrounding sand, water or vegetation, according to a statement from the university.
Newfound dead star spins record-breaking 716 times a second, explodes with thermonuclear blasts
Astronomers have discovered a “dead star” neutron star is spinning at an incredible 716 times a second, making it the joint fastest-spinning cosmic body ever seen. Not only this, but the neutron star’s surface is also erupting with explosions as powerful as detonating atomic bombs.
World’s 1st wooden satellite arrives at ISS for key orbital test
The world’s first wooden satellite, a tiny Japanese spacecraft called LignoSat, arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) today (Nov. 5) aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule.
Airbus keeps options open for European industry consolidation
WASHINGTON — Airbus is keeping its options open for some kind of merger of its space business with another company as it continues to assess potential additional losses there.
NASA seeks continuity in human spaceflight programs in next administration
WASHINGTON — A top NASA official urged the next administration to maintain current plans to return humans to the moon, warning that a change of destinations could result in a loss of U.S. leadership in space.
Japan launches Kirameki 3 military communications satellite with H3 rocket
HELSINKI — Japan launched the Kirameki 3 communications satellite for defense purposes early Monday with the fourth flight of the H3 rocket.
NASA evaluating “next steps” for VIPER lunar rover mission
WASHINGTON — NASA expects to determine by early next year the next steps for a lunar rover mission it canceled in July amid some confusion over the timing of that decision.
Falcon 9 launches cargo Dragon mission to ISS
WASHINGTON — SpaceX launched a cargo Dragon mission to the International Space Station as the company and NASA reaffirmed their commitment to safety.
Gilmore Space secures license for first orbital launch
WASHINGTON — Australian launch vehicle startup Gilmour Space has received a license for its first orbital launch, which could take place before the end of the year.