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.....»»
See the gorgeous images of Mercury taken by BepiColombo
The European Space Agency's BepiColombo spacecraft recently made a close flyby of Mercury, and it snapped some stunning pictures along the way......»»
The case for adding iron to the ocean for carbon dioxide removal
While the urgent reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions is needed as the primary activity to curb climate change, there is broad agreement for the need to remove CO2 already in the atmosphere. Given its outsized role in.....»»
Surf therapy connects people to water—ocean health depends on this "blue attunement"
As a lifelong surfer, born to pioneering surfing parents and named after a wave, the ocean has shaped my identity and sense of belonging. The movement and touch of ocean waves ignites a whole cascade of changes in emotions in me and affects how I sen.....»»
The moon had surprisingly recent volcanic activity, samples from Chinese space mission confirm
Volcanoes were erupting on the moon as recently as 120 million years ago, evidence collected by a Chinese spacecraft suggests. Until the last few years, scientists had thought volcanic activity ended on the moon around 2 billion years ago......»»
Parker Solar Probe lines up for final Venus flyby
NASA's Parker Solar Probe executed a short maneuver on Aug. 26 that kept the spacecraft on course for the mission's seventh and final planned Venus flyby on Nov. 6......»»
Leaving behind its crew, Starliner departs space station and returns to Earth
"We will review the data and determine the next steps for the program," says Boeing's Starliner manager. Enlarge / Boeing's Starliner spacecraft after landing Friday night at White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico. (credit: Boeing.....»»
Boeing Starliner lands safely back on Earth without its crew
After an unexpected three months spent in orbit, the Boeing Starliner spacecraft has returned safely to Earth......»»
Old satellite to burn up over Pacific in "targeted" re-entry first
After 24 years diligently studying Earth's magnetic field, a satellite will mostly burn up over the Pacific Ocean on Sunday during a "targeted" re-entry into the atmosphere, in a first for the European Space Agency as it seeks to reduce space debris......»»
NASA wants Starliner to make a quick getaway from the space station
Starliner is set to land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico shortly after midnight. Enlarge / Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is set to undock from the International Space Station on Friday evening. (credit: NASA) B.....»»
After another Boeing letdown, NASA isn’t ready to buy more Starliner missions
Boeing could earn nearly $2 billion more from NASA if it fully executes on the Starliner contract. Enlarge / Boeing's Starliner spacecraft sits atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket before liftoff in June to begin the Crew.....»»
Study shows how amateur astronomers can aid in Jupiter weather monitoring
Jupiter's striking appearance comes from its stormy atmosphere. Swirling clouds surround the gas giant, and their distribution reflects the planet's weather. Scientists have used professional observatories such as the Very Large Telescope in Chile (w.....»»
Eclipses create atmospheric gravity waves, student teams confirm
Student teams from three U.S. universities became the first to measure what scientists have long predicted: eclipses can generate ripples in Earth's atmosphere called atmospheric gravity waves. The waves' telltale signature emerged in data captured d.....»»
Boeing Starliner to depart space station tomorrow without its crew
Boeing's troubled Starliner spacecraft is set to depart from the International Space Station on Friday, September 6......»»
Astronaut captures a meteor exploding in the atmosphere over Earth
An incredible new video taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station shows a meteor exploding as it hits the planet's atmosphere......»»
Astronomers discover iron winds on an ultra-hot exoplanet
An international team of astronomers, including scientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the PlanetS National Center of Competence in Research, has identified the presence of iron winds in the atmosphere of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-76 b.....»»
Small, harmless asteroid burns up in Earth"s atmosphere over the Philippines
A small asteroid discovered on Wednesday harmlessly burned up in Earth's atmosphere the same day, NASA said......»»
After Starliner, NASA has another big human spaceflight decision to make
"We still have a lot of work to do to close out the heat shield investigation.” Enlarge / The Artemis II Orion spacecraft being prepared for tests at NASA’S Kennedy Space Center in Florida in June 2024. (credit: NASA / Rad S.....»»
Soil treated with organic fertilizers stores more carbon, study finds
With carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere increasing in recent decades, there is a growing urgency to find strategies for capturing and holding carbon......»»
Scientists uncover hidden source of snow melt: Dark brown carbon
Wildfires leave potent climate heaters behind in their wake, particles that enhance the absorption of sunlight and warm the atmosphere. Dropped on snow like a wool poncho, these aerosols darken and decrease the surface reflectance of snowy places......»»
Sulfurous acid detected in gas phase under atmospheric conditions for first time
Once again, the atmosphere amazes us with its diverse chemical processes. For the first time, researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig have demonstrated the existence of sulfurous acid (H2SO3) under atmospher.....»»