Eight things you never knew about mining on Mars, the Moon, and even asteroids
Off-earth mining may once have been purely the stuff of science fiction, but now it's potentially a US$1 trillion industry that is likely to be vital if humans are serious about colonizing Mars or the moon......»»
Another piece of NASA’s mega moon rocket ships out
NASA is continuing work on another key piece of space infrastructure: its Space Launch System......»»
The moon was once covered by an ocean of molten rock, data from India"s space mission suggests
Data from India's recent Chandrayaan-3 mission supports the idea that an ocean of molten rock once covered the moon. Scientists from the mission have published their new findings in the journal Nature......»»
Researchers identify effective materials for protecting astronauts from harmful cosmic radiation on Mars
Researchers have identified specific materials, including certain plastics, rubber, and synthetic fibers, as well as Martian soil (regolith), which would effectively protect astronauts by blocking harmful space radiation on Mars. These findings could.....»»
NASA"s DART impact permanently changed the shape and orbit of asteroid moon, new study shows
When NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft collided with an asteroid moon called Dimorphos in 2022, the moon was significantly deformed—creating a large crater and reshaping it so dramatically that the moon derailed from its ori.....»»
Comparing two proposed NASA missions to Jupiter"s moon Io
Thanks to NASA's Juno mission to the Jupiter system, we're getting our best looks ever at the gas giant's volcanic moon Io. Even as Juno provides our best views of the moon, it also deepens our existing questions. Only a dedicated mission to Io can a.....»»
World"s second largest diamond found in Botswana
A massive 2,492-carat diamond—the second largest in the world—has been discovered in Botswana, the Canadian mining company that found the stone announced Thursday......»»
Europe delivers for Artemis III
The European Service Module that will power the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis III mission to the moon will soon be on its way to the United States......»»
Juice spacecraft slingshots around Earth and moon in world’s first maneuver
The JUICE spacecraft swung back home on its way to Jupiter and used both Earth and the moon's gravity to slingshot it forwards, in the first lunar-Earth flyby......»»
First analysis of soil near the moon"s south pole suggests its surface was once covered in molten magma
India's Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched last summer and its Vikram lander touched down on the moon's surface last August. Shortly thereafter, it released a rover called Pragyan. Since that time, the rover has been meandering around the surface of.....»»
New data on radiation show missions to Jupiter"s moon Europa are possible
Scientists from NASA's Juno mission have developed the first complete 3D radiation map of the Jupiter system, including characterizing the intensity of the high-energy particles near the orbit of the icy moon Europa, and how the radiation environment.....»»
Environmental laws failing to slow deforestation, researchers say
Australia's environmental laws are failing to stop high rates of tree clearing to make way for agriculture, development and mining, according to University of Queensland research......»»
The evolution of the Trappist-1 planetary system
Planets are bodies that orbit a star and have sufficient gravitational mass that they form themselves into roughly spherical shapes that, in turn, exert gravitational force on smaller objects around them, such as asteroids and moons......»»
Against all odds, an asteroid mining company appears to be making headway
"It's not easy to ever raise for an asteroid mining company, right?" Enlarge / The Odin spacecraft passed vibration testing. (credit: Astro Forge) When I first spoke with space entrepreneurs Jose Acain and Matt Gialich a.....»»
Image: Juice snaps moon en route to Earth
During the first step of humankind's first-ever lunar-Earth flyby, ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) mission captured this stunning view of the moon......»»
Specialized materials could passively control the internal temperature of space habitats
Areas of space have wildly different temperatures depending on whether they are directly in sunlight or not. For example, temperatures on the moon can range from 121 °C during the lunar "day" (which lasts for two weeks), then drop down to -133 °C a.....»»
Rocket Lab entered “hero mode” to finish Mars probes—now it’s up to Blue Origin
In order to send NASA's ESCAPADE mission to Mars, Blue Origin must launch in September or October. Enlarge / The two spacecraft for NASA's ESCAPADE mission at Rocket Lab's factory in Long Beach, California. (credit: Rocket Lab).....»»
Mining the microbiome: Uncovering new antibiotics inside the human gut
The average human gut contains roughly 100 trillion microbes, many of which are constantly competing for limited resources. "It's such a harsh environment," says César de la Fuente, Presidential Assistant Professor in Bioengineering and in Chemical.....»»
Mars-bound payload on way to Florida for 1st launch of Blue Origin New Glenn
The Mars-bound twin spacecraft for NASA's ESCAPADE mission were packed up in California to be shipped out to Florida this week ahead of what would be the first ever launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral......»»
How researchers determined that Stonehenge"s giant Altar Stone came all the way from northeast Scotland
No one is certain why Stonehenge was built. This world-famous monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire is thought to commemorate the dead, and is aligned with movements of the sun and moon......»»
Meteorites give the Moon its extremely thin atmosphere
Impacts that vaporize bits of the lunar surface maintain the Moon's thin atmosphere. Enlarge / Artist's rendition of the LADEE mission above the lunar surface. (credit: NASA/ Dana Berry) The Moon may not have much of an.....»»