Readying spacecraft to surf Venus" atmosphere
ESA's EnVision mission to Venus will perform optical, spectral and radar mapping of Earth's sister planet. But before getting down to work the van-sized spacecraft needs to "aerobrake"—lowering its orbit with thousands of passages through the plane.....»»
Potential indicators of life on other planets can be created in a lab
One way to understand the potential for life on far-off planets—those in other solar systems that orbit different stars—is to study a planet's atmosphere. Telescopic images often capture traces of gases that may indicate life and habitable planet.....»»
Study raises questions about validity of standard model of solar flares
Solar flares are extremely intense events that occur in the sun's atmosphere, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. According to the standard flare model, the energy that triggers these explosions is transported by accelerated electro.....»»
US to ban Chinese connected car software and hardware, citing security risks
The ban would start in model-year 2027 for software and MY2030 for hardware. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) The US government is readying its latest measure to defend local automotive manufacturing. In May, US President.....»»
High-resolution images of the sun show how flares impact the solar atmosphere
Solar flares are a fascinating thing and have a profound effect on what astronomers refer to as "space weather." These events vary with the sun's 11-year solar cycle, releasing immense amounts of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum (from ex.....»»
NASA has a fine plan for deorbiting the ISS—unless Russia gets in the way
"If the deorbit vehicle is ready, do we go ahead and bring it home?" Enlarge / This photo of the International Space Station was captured by a crew member on a Soyuz spacecraft. (credit: NASA/Roscosmos) A little more tha.....»»
Europa Clipper overcomes transistor issue and is ready for launch next month
This May, engineers working on NASA's Europa Clipper had to deliver the kind of news that no one wants to announce: there was a problem with the spacecraft......»»
Sea surface micro layer: Researchers study boundary between the ocean and the air
The boundary between the ocean and the atmosphere, where the air and sea interact, is known as the sea surface microlayer. Understanding how nutrients, pollutants and organic matter are exchanged between the air and the sea is also vital for better u.....»»
Watch SpaceX fire up Starship engines ahead of fifth test flight
SpaceX has shared footage of a recent static fire test involving its Starship spacecraft, a modified version of which will put astronauts on the moon......»»
Caught on camera: Satellite tracker photographs secret spacecraft
Caught on camera: Satellite tracker photographs secret spacecraft.....»»
Artemis I mission data show astronauts sent to the moon aboard Orion will be protected from radiation
According to a large team of technical and health specialists, astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft will be well protected from radiation when the Artemis II mission travels to the moon and back next year......»»
How scientists are keeping the Orion spacecraft safe from radiation
NASA's Orion spacecraft will need to protect astronauts from dangerous radiation when they visit the moon in the upcoming Artemis missions......»»
Reinventing the clock: NASA"s new tech for space timekeeping
Here on Earth, it might not matter if your wristwatch runs a few seconds slow. But crucial spacecraft functions need accuracy down to one billionth of a second or less. Navigating with GPS, for example, relies on precise timing signals from satellite.....»»
Work is underway on NASA"s next-generation asteroid hunter
The mirrors for NASA's Near-Earth Object Surveyor space telescope are being installed and aligned, and work on other spacecraft components is accelerating......»»
NASA Scientists "Howl in Terror" as They Discovered Disastrous Flaw in $5 Billion Spacecraft About to Launch
NASA Scientists "Howl in Terror" as They Discovered Disastrous Flaw in $5 Billion Spacecraft About to Launch.....»»
Project 2025 Would Drastically Cut Support for Carbon Removal
The Heritage Foundation’s plan for a potential Trump second term has little time for schemes to suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere......»»
Polaris Dawn crew member describes the dramatic ride home
A member of SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission has described what it was like aboard the Crew Dragon as it entered Earth’s atmosphere at high speed last weekend......»»
Europa Clipper: 8 things to know about NASA"s mission to an ocean moon of Jupiter
The first NASA spacecraft dedicated to studying an ocean world beyond Earth, Europa Clipper aims to find out whether the ice-encased moon Europa could be habitable......»»
NASA completes spacecraft to transport, support Roman Space Telescope
The spacecraft bus that will deliver NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to its orbit and enable it to function once there is now complete after years of construction, installation, and testing......»»
Polaris Dawn’s high-speed journey home captured in photo from ISS
A remarkable photo taken by an astronaut aboard the ISS shows SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Crew Dragon capsule entering Earth’s atmosphere at high speed on Sunday......»»
So what are we to make of the highly ambitious, private Polaris spaceflight?
They flew high, they walked in space, and finally early on Sunday, they landed. Enlarge / Crew Dragon enters Earth's atmosphere on Sunday morning as recovery boats await. (credit: SpaceX) A white spacecraft, lightly toas.....»»