Creating rocky planets is a messy, dangerous, hot business. Planetesimals accrete together, which creates heat and pressure on the newborn world. The nearby adolescent star bombards them with intense radiation. That likely “bakes off” any surface oceans, lakes, or rivers, which is a disaster if you’re looking for places where life might arise or exist. That’s because life needs water and planets around these stars are among the most likely to harbor life. But, that doesn’t look too hopeful if the radiation steams the water away.
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Rocket Lab deploys two Capella radar satellites after launch from Virginia
Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher climbs away from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia. Credit: NASA/Patrick Black
Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher delivered two all-weather radar Earth observation satellites into orbit for Capella Space Thursday night after liftoff from Wallops Island, Virginia, successfully completing the company’s second flight from the U.S. spaceport.
SES to complete C-band clearing program with SpaceX dual-satellite launch
The SES 18 and 19 communications satellites inside a SpaceX payload processing facility at Cape Canaveral. Credit: SpaceX
SES, the international communications satellite operator, plans to send two more C-band television broadcasting spacecraft into orbit from Cape Canaveral Friday night atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on a mission that will help clear spectrum for transition to 5G network services.
Scientists discover signs of 'modern' glacier on Mars that hints at buried water ice
Remnants of a modern glacier have been found near Mars' equator, suggesting ice may still exist at shallow depths in the area, which could have significant implications for future human exploration.
The Best Way to Learn About Venus Could Be With a Fleet of Balloons
Interest in the exploration of Venus has kicked up a notch lately, especially after a contested recent discovery of phosphine, a potential biosignature, in the planet’s atmosphere. Plenty of missions to Venus have been proposed, and NASA and ESA have recently funded several. However, they are mainly orbiters, trying to peer into the planet’s interior from above. But they are challenged by having to see through dozens of kilometers of an atmosphere made up of sulfuric acid.
Watch a small asteroid fly by Earth closer than the moon tonight in this free livestream
The near-Earth asteroid 2023 EY will pass within 149,000 miles (239,800 kilometers) of Earth tonight (March 16), and you can watch it live thanks to a free telescope livestream.
Maple leaf to the moon: Canadian Space Agency debuts new logo
When the first Canadian to launch to the moon lifts off with NASA's next Artemis mission, he or she will do so wearing a new symbol of Canada's efforts in space: the Canadian Space Agency's new logo.
Student-led 'beach ball' space antenna aims to boost cubesat communications
University of Arizona students' inflatable "beach ball" antenna prototype could change the way small satellites send data back to Earth.
Live coverage: Rocket Lab counting down to second launch from Virginia
Live coverage of the countdown and launch of a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia. The Electron rocket will carry two commercial radar remote sensing satellites for Capella Space. Text updates will appear automatically below. Follow us on Twitter.
ExoMars is Back on Track for Mars in 2028
The ExoMars Rover mission is back on track for its mission to Mars, but Russia won’t be a part of it this time. Following Russia’s disastrous invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022, the ESA suspended the ExoMars program.
Solving space junk problem may require lasers and space tugs, NASA says
A new NASA report evaluates the costs and benefits of various space debris removal efforts for the estimated 100 trillion bits of space junk in orbit.
The First All-Electrical Thruster – the IVO Quantum Drive – is Headed to Space!
One of the most exciting aspects of the current era of space exploration (Space Age 2.0) is how time-honored ideas are finally being realized. Some more well-known examples include retrievable and reusable rockets, retrieval at sea, mid-air retrieval, single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) rockets, and kinetic launch systems. In addition, there are also efforts to develop propulsion systems that do not rely on conventional propellants. This technology offers many advantages, including lower mass and improved energy efficiency, ultimately leading to lower costs.
Asteroid feared to hit Earth in 2046 will almost certainly miss, NASA says
An asteroid that was initially given 1-in-600 chance of wiping out an entire city on Valentine's Day 2046 is now expected to almost definitely whizz past us without incident.
Virgin Orbit pauses operations while it looks for funding
Launch company Virgin Orbit has temporarily halted operations and furloughed most of its employees as it looks for funding, according to media reports.
Exclusive: NASA astronaut Mae Jemison stars in Disney+ episode of 'Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur'
Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space, voices a fictional app in a new episode of 'Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur' that runs March 18, during Women's History Month.
Facts about Jupiter
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and is the fifth planet from the sun. Here are some interesting facts about Jupiter:
Perseverance Watches Carefully as Ingenuity Lifts Off for its 47th Flight
In some of the best footage yet, the Perseverance rover has taken new video of the Ingenuity helicopter taking off and flying over Mars’ surface.
Jupiter moon Europa's buried ocean may alter rotation of its icy shell
The vast, swirling ocean within Jupiter's moon Europa may be affecting the rotation of its icy crust, scientists say.
Potentially Active Volcanoes Have Been Found on Venus
Using archival radar images taken in the 1990s by NASA’s Magellan spacecraft, scientists have found evidence of recent active volcanism on Venus. The images revealed a volcanic vent that changed shape and increased significantly in size over an eight-month period.
Scientists Finally Find Active Volcanism on Venus
After decades of searching, scientists have finally found a clear sign of active volcanism on Venus.
Anticipating Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3)
Newly discovered Comet C/2023 A3 might reach naked-eye brightness when it flies past Earth in 2024. Check out our forecast of what to expect to see in the months ahead.
