November 9th, 2018
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Space scientists have been pinning their astrobiological hopes for a lander mission to Europa using political glue. Given the midterm elections, has the Europa lander project been put on ice? As reported by FYI of the American Institute of Physics (AIP) and posted here with permission: Rep. John Culberson (R-TX), who chairs the Commerce-Justice-Science […]
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NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is now in Sol 2225 following a successful drilling in the “Highfield” target. Reports Claire Newman, an atmospheric scientist at Aeolis Research in Pasadena, California: “Our eighteenth drill hole in the martian surface!” “Not quite a ‘hole in one,’ as we tried to sample the same gray Jura rock type about […]
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is now performing Sol 2224 tasks. On Sol 2222, Curiosity drove over 30 feet (roughly 10 meters) towards the “Lake Orcadie” location. Reports Lauren Edgar, a planetary geologist at the USGS in Flagstaff, Arizona the hopes are that the robot will be able to drill the gray Jura member […]
The Space Security Index 2018 has been published by the Canadian peace-and-security think tank, Project Ploughshares. Among key findings is noting the deteriorating security conditions in outer space in the absence of renewed governance efforts. The just-issued report underscores: Plans for mega-constellations of satellites that outpace sustainability rules; A drive toward next-generation space exploration and […]
A red flag has been raised by a satellite and orbital debris analyst regarding the upcoming launch of SSO-A, currently scheduled for liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on November 19. The bragging rights about the SmallSat Express involve the largest rideshare mission from a U.S.-based launch vehicle – SpaceX Falcon 9 booster […]
Hellish and cloud-enveloped Venus is a world ready and waiting for renewed exploration. A new Jet Propulsion Laboratory study released last month argues that the time is ripe to investigate Venus by high-tech aerial platforms. These platforms can extensively probe the Venus atmosphere, its circulation, and also determine the chemical nature of the […]
There are those paranoid about letting any starfolk know we’re here, cringing on planet Earth. But a new MIT study suggests that existing laser technology could be fashioned to attract alien astronomers – sort of an E.T. we’re home “porch light.” The research stems from James Clark, a graduate student in MIT’s Department of […]
The European Space Agency (ESA) is moving forward on its Moon base plans, recently funding the study “Conceiving a Lunar Base Using 3D Printing Technologies” to the URBAN consortium. This new ESA-led project investigated the ways that 3D printing could be used to create and run a habitat on the Moon. Everything from building materials […]
A space memorabilia auction featuring The Neil Armstrong Family Collection™ realized more than $7.4 million Saturday, Nov. 3, at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas. Armstrong’s personally owned memorabilia – spanning a childhood letter to the Easter Bunny to the Apollo 11 ID Plate from the module he used to become the first person to […]
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has just begun Sol 2220 science operations. Reports Kristen Bennett, a planetary geologist for the USGS in Flagstaff, Arizona, the robot has made a drive for the first time since Sol 2166. “Our intrepid explorer is truly back at it after a few weeks off due to the anomaly. The […]
