SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said his company is ready for the next flight of Starship. In a new keynote address, he talked about what comes next, and how the system will ready SpaceX for future Mars exploration.
Space News & Blog Articles
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A Star Threw Off a Sun’s Worth of Material. And Then it Exploded!
What happens just before a massive star explodes as a supernova? To figure that out, astronomers need to look at very “young” supernovae across multiple wavelengths of light. That’s what happened when SN 2023ixf occurred in May 2023. It turns out its aging progenitor star blew off a solar mass worth of material just before it died. Now, the big question is: why?
This Hubble Space Telescope galaxy image could help reveal how stars are born (photo)
If we can understand how stars form, perhaps we can understand how planets do, too.
Magnetic Fusion Plasma Engines Could Carry us Across the Solar System and Into Interstellar Space
Missions to the Moon, missions to Mars, robotic explorers to the outer Solar System, a mission to the nearest star, and maybe even a spacecraft to catch up to interstellar objects passing through our system. If you think this sounds like a description of the coming age of space exploration, then you’d be correct! At this moment, there are multiple plans and proposals for missions that will send astronauts and/or probes to all of these destinations to conduct some of the most lucrative scientific research ever performed. Naturally, these mission profiles raise all kinds of challenges, not the least of which is propulsion.
New collectible pin buttons depict 'For All Mankind' space mission patches
With the return of 'For All Mankind quickly approaching, now is the time to 'button up' for the alternate space history series' journey to Mars. Fortunately, Icon Heroes has exactly what you need.
In a First, Astronomers Directly Image the Cosmic Web
Astronomers have directly imaged emission from the cosmic web, the filamentary structure that underlies the universe.
NASA's Mars rovers could inspire a more ethical future for AI
There is a better way to bring artificial intelligence into workplaces. I know, because I've seen it, as a sociologist who works with NASA's robotic spacecraft teams.
Will Solar Panels Work at Proxima Centauri?
Solar panel technology has advanced significantly in recent years, to the point where solar energy is the fastest-growing renewable power source. The solar panels we have today are a by-product of those used in space. If you want to power a satellite or crewed spacecraft, there are only two ways: solar energy or nuclear power. Of the two, only solar energy isn’t limited by the amount of fuel you bring on board. As we contemplate traveling to other star systems, this raises the question: will solar panels work near other stars?
Pulsar surprises astronomers with record-breaking gamma-rays
The well-known Vela Pulsar just smashed a record for the highest-energy radiation ever detected from one of these highly magnetized spinning neutron stars.
Arrokoth is Covered in Bizarre Mounds
When New Horizons flew past Arrokoth in 2019, it revealed close-up images of this enigmatic Kuiper Belt Object for the first time. Astronomers are still studying all the data sent home by the spacecraft, trying to understand this two-lobed object, which looks like a red, flattened snowman.
The Big Bang: What is it? Why study it? What happened before? How will it all end?
Approximately 13.8 billion years ago, the greatest event in all of existence occurred that literally created existence itself. This event is known as the Big Bang, and it’s responsible for the estimated septillion number of stars that are scattered across the vast reaches of the unknown, including the one our small, blue world orbits. However, other than knowing that the Big Bang occurred, there is still a septillion amount of information we still don’t know about the greatest event in the history of existence.
Vega’s PRETTY CubeSat: unlocking satnav for Earth data
Our planet is being continuously bathed in radio signals from satnav satellites – which are useful for much more than just navigation. Dedicated space missions acquire these signal reflections to amass valuable environmental information. The shoebox-sized PRETTY CubeSat, flying on Europe’s next Vega launcher, will investigate a new frequency and novel observation angle to better measure the rate of climate change – at the same time as gathering radiation data on its surrounding space environment.
New wristwatch bridges Apollo to Artemis with touch of real moon dust
There is an allure to moon dust. Just like its unique adhesive properties, causing it to stick to everything it touches, it tends to draw the attention of everyone who sees it.
It’s Time to Start Worrying About Space Junk Around the Moon, Too
Researchers look to track and mitigate the growing number of space junk objects around the Moon.
Orbital 'parking spots' could help prevent satellite traffic jams
Engineers suggest giving satellites launched into space a designated 'parking spot' to prevent accidents and make space more equitable.
'Ring of fire' eclipse Oct. 14 will be practice run for total solar eclipse next year
U.S. scientists have a rare chance to practice for totality. On Oct. 14, researchers across the country will test their projects during a "ring of fire" annular eclipse ahead of the U.S. total solar eclipse in April 2024.
Small-scale magnetism leads to large-scale solar atmosphere
Image: Image comparing views of Sun with two Solar Orbiter instruments
SpaceX's Elon Musk to give big Starship update today: Watch it live
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk will give an update about the company's Starship vehicle today (Oct. 5), and you can watch it live.
Virgin Galactic to launch Galactic 04 space tourist flight Oct. 6. Here's what to expect
Virgin Galactic's reusable spaceplane, VSS Unity, will launch its fourth commercial spaceflight mission Oct. 6. Here's how to follow the action.
Younger trees champion carbon capture
Thanks to their ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, forests have long been recognised as a key tool in the fight against climate change – but not all forests are equal. New research based on data from ESA’s SMOS satellite mission has found that, surprisingly, young trees are champions at carbon capture.
