Things Are Looking Up for Asteroid Mining
Asteroids are rich with the metals used in clean energy technologies. As demand soars, advocates argue that mining them in space might be better than mining them on Earth......»»
Model suggests some asteroids that come close to Earth are torn apart by its gravity
A pair of astronomers, one with Luleå University of Technology's Asteroid Engineering Laboratory, in Finland, the other with the Southwest Research Institute, in the U.S., has found via computer simulation, that some large asteroids that come close.....»»
Miniaturized jumping robots could study an asteroid"s gravity
Missions focusing on small bodies in the solar system have been coming thick and fast lately. OSIRIS-Rex, Psyche, and Rosetta are all examples of projects that planned or did rendezvous with a small body in the solar system. But one of their biggest.....»»
From the moon"s south pole to an ice-covered ocean world, several exciting space missions are slated for launch in 2024
The year 2023 proved to be an important one for space missions, with NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission returning a sample from an asteroid and India's Chandrayaan-3 mission exploring the lunar south pole, and 2024 is shaping up to be another exciting year fo.....»»
NASA asteroid sampling mission renamed OSIRIS-APEX for new journey
The former OSIRIS-REx spacecraft sets off on a journey to study asteroid Apophis and take advantage of the asteroid's 2029 flyby of Earth, the likes of which hasn't happened since the dawn of recorded history......»»
Analysis finds that organic compounds in asteroids likely formed in colder regions of space
Analysis of organic compounds—called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—extracted from the Ryugu asteroid and Murchison meteorite has found that certain PAHs likely formed in the cold areas of space between stars rather than in hot regions n.....»»
New nuclear deflection simulations advance planetary defense against asteroid threats
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have developed a modeling tool for assessing the potential use of a nuclear device to defend the planet against catastrophic asteroid impacts......»»
Hera"s solar wings are cleared for flight
The solar wings that will power ESA's Hera asteroid mission for planetary defense as it ventures out to meet the Dimorphos asteroid have been cleared for flight. As part of its current test campaign at ESA's ESTEC Test Center in the Netherlands, the.....»»
Possible first ever synchrotron-based analysis of asteroid Bennu to be performed
After an amazing journey, a grain from the asteroid Bennu will be brought to Diamond Light Source, the UK's national synchrotron, for scientific measurements. The grain is from 100 milligrams of sample sent to the Natual History Museum (NHM) in Londo.....»»
New salmon habitat created by melting glaciers could be threatened by mining claims, study finds
Thousands of salmon on the West Coast of North America are finding their way into new streams left behind as glaciers retreat. But a new study suggests mining companies are too keen on the newly exposed mineral deposits beneath the shrinking glaciers.....»»
Researchers review miniaturized electrochemical sensor technologies for rapid heavy metal detection
Heavy metals (HMs) are metals with high densities and atomic weights. Originating from geological processes or human activities, including mining, industrial production, and petrochemical plants, they are toxic to humans and animals and considered as.....»»
GM partners with Komatsu on hydrogen fuel cells for mining vehicles
The first prototype built with technology from GM's Hydrotec hydrogen fuel cell unit will be tested mid-decade at a Komatsu R&D facility in Arizona, the companies said......»»
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft sends back its first image of a star field
NASA has shared the first images taken by its Psyche mission, which launched in October to study a strange metal asteroid located in the main belt......»»
Asteroid will pass in front of bright star Betelgeuse to produce a rare eclipse visible to millions
One of the biggest and brightest stars in the night sky will momentarily vanish as an asteroid passes in front of it to produce a one-of-a-kind eclipse......»»
Earth may have had all the elements needed for life—contrary to theories that they came from meteorites
For many years, scientists have predicted that many of the elements that are crucial ingredients for life, like sulfur and nitrogen, first came to Earth when asteroid-type objects carrying them crashed into our planet's surface......»»
Crossed wires led to high drama as NASA returned asteroid samples to Earth
"I was trying to mentally prepare myself to deal with a crashed capsule in the desert." Enlarge / The OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule, with its main parachute nearby, shortly after landing in Utah on September 24, 2023. (credit:.....»»
NASA’s asteroid mission struck its target, but then dodged a bullet
"I was trying to mentally prepare myself to deal with a crashed capsule in the desert." Enlarge / The OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule, with its main parachute nearby, shortly after landing in Utah on September 24, 2023. (credit:.....»»
Study shows how it"s possible to phase out fossil fuels without sacrificing electoral popularity
A new study by UCL researchers shows how it's possible to phase out fossil fuels without sacrificing electoral popularity—even in coal mining regions......»»
NASA finds likely cause of OSIRIS-REx parachute deployment sequence
NASA's OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule landed under parachute in the Utah desert on Sept. 24, 2023, and safely delivered a cannister of rocks and dust collected from near-Earth asteroid Bennu. Although the delivery was successful, the landing sequen.....»»
Exploring the limitations of asteroid crater lakes as climate archives
In southern Germany just north of the Danube, there lies a large circular depression between the hilly surroundings: the Nördlinger Ries. Almost 15 million years ago, an asteroid struck this spot. Today, the impact crater is one of the most useful a.....»»
NASA’s skywatching tips for December include a meteor shower
NASA's skywatching tips for December include a meteor shower and the chance to spot a passing asteroid with your own eyes......»»