Topics

First Starship mission to Mars will be in 2026 (Image source: SpaceX)

SpaceX will send five Starships to Mars in 2026 and Starlink will pay for it

The revenues generated from Starlink satellite Internet subscriptions are the main source of financing all SpaceX endeavors, including sending a test mission to Mars in 2026.

Daniel Zlatev, 23 Sep 2024 12:05

An AI-generated depiction of a radio signal from deep space reaching earth. (Image source: Dall-E 3)

Deep space radio burst reaches Earth after 8 billion years, unleashing 30 years worth of Sun's energy in milliseconds

A fast and super-energetic radio burst that traveled 8 billion years through space, FRB 20220610A, was detected by astronomers. It could eventually aid us in discovering the universe's missing matter.

Anubhav Sharma, 22 Sep 2024 12:39

The EVA space suit (Image source: SpaceX)

SpaceX tests its Mars space suit in first private spacewalk out of the Dragon capsule

SpaceX has developed the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) space suit with its mission to Mars in mind, and it just underwent the first successful spacewalking test.

Daniel Zlatev, 12 Sep 2024 18:06

First manned mission to Mars may happen in 2028 (Image source: SpaceX/YT)

Elon Musk pegs the first human flight to Mars for 2028 with a colony to follow in 20 years

SpaceX is planning to do its maiden Starship voyage to Mars in the next available 2026 window. It will be used to gauge the viability of sending the first flight with a crew in four years time.

Daniel Zlatev, 08 Sep 2024 10:58

The Boeing Starliner launch on June 5 was previously delayed twice due to issues with the rocket and service module. (Image source: Wikipedia)

NASA astronaut reports strange sonar-like noises from Boeing Starliner docked at ISS

Astronaut Butch Wilmore reported unexplained sonar-like pulsing noises from the Starliner spacecraft, docked to the ISS. NASA is investigating the cause, which is likely nothing too serious. The incident follows other challenges w...

Anubhav Sharma, 02 Sep 2024 08:37

Scientists previously theorized the global electric field should begin at around 150 miles (250 kilometers) altitude. (Image source: NASA/Conceptual Image Lab/Wes Buchanan/Krystofer Kim)

60 years in the making: NASA confirms hypothesis on Earth's global electric field

NASA's recent rocket launch confirmed the existence of a global electric field around Earth, a key factor in space weather and atmospheric dynamics. This field, driven by the interaction between solar wind and Earth's magnetospher...

Anubhav Sharma, 31 Aug 2024 12:32

NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft before the Didymos impact, an illustration. (Image source: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben)

Asteroid's shape and orbit permanently changed because of NASA's 2022 DART impact

NASA's DART mission has successfully altered Dimorphos' orbit, revealing unexpected shape changes. These findings will be critical for future planetary defense. The ESA's Hera mission, scheduled to be launched in October 2024, wil...

Anubhav Sharma, 24 Aug 2024 23:06

NASA VIPER robotic moon rover (Source: NASA/Helen Arase Vargas)

NASA gearing up for new moon exploration missions, invites third parties to join

Although NASA intends to discontinue the VIPER program, the agency is now reaching out to American companies and institutions that are willing to use the moon rover to conduct a mission with minimal or no expense for the US govern...

Codrut Nistor, 12 Aug 2024 11:41

Superimposed movements reveal the binary system. (Image source: ESA/Gaia/DPAC)

Over 350 new moons discovered in the solar system

This almost doubles the number of asteroids in our planetary system that have a companion, i.e. a moon. This discovery was only possible thanks to GAIA's extremely precise instruments.

Mario Petzold, 09 Aug 2024 16:04

The July 3 launch was the 67th successful Falcon 9 rocket launch in 2024 (Image source: X)

103 DtC Starlink satellites now online as satellite-based 4G LTE Internet inches closer to reality

On July 3, Starlink successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 13 Direct to Cell satellites and 7 regular satellites. The project that started out on January 2 with the launch of the first six DtC-enabled satellites is set t...

Sergey Tarasov, 04 Jul 2024 18:46

Clicks like the little building blocks from the nursery. (Image: ESA)

LEGO bricks constructed from meteorite dust, test run for a moon base

It's as big as the original, clicks like the original, but comes from outer space. To create a base on the moon, the ESA is copying the principle of the toy manufacturer that is also involved.

Mario Petzold, 27 Jun 2024 21:26

The International Space Station in orbit viewed from the SpaceX Crew Dragon. (Image source: NASA Johnson on Flickr)

NASA chooses SpaceX to build ISS de-orbit vehicle for $843 million after 2030 decommission

NASA will pay SpaceX $843 million to demolish the ageing space station when it reaches the end of its operational life. The current plan is to bring the ISS down over the Pacific Ocean. Plans to salvage parts of the ISS for other ...

Julian van der Merwe, 27 Jun 2024 16:06

It's a big effort, but after all, it's about the majority of the entire universe. (Image: University of Nottingham)

Newly constructed dark energy trap could confirm theory of dark matter

It is invisible, cannot be measured in any other way, but is supposed to explain the creation and existence of the universe. A "trap" for dark matter and energy is now being constructed.

Mario Petzold, 21 Jun 2024 22:36

Was cosmic radiation to blame for all the ice? (Image: pixabay/andremartins123)

Ice ages possibly with an interstellar cause

There are many reasons for ice ages: The earth's tilt, volcanoes, the CO2 concentration could be the cause. Or a mysterious bubble in space that could have had a significant effect.

Mario Petzold, 11 Jun 2024 16:48

June 10th, 2024 solar flare (Source: NASA Blogs)

NASA detected a strong solar flare yesterday morning

With a peak level at 7:08 a.m. ET, yesterday's solar flare that got spotted by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory was labeled X1.5. On the first day of this month, NASA's solar research satellite spotted two other strong solar flar...

Codrut Nistor, 11 Jun 2024 10:35

Billionaire Yusaka Maezawa cancels ambitious 'dearMoon' project after an indefinite postponement last November. (Source: Wikipedia)

Billionaire abandons ambitious moon trip aboard SpaceX Starship citing prolonged delays

Japanese billionaire Yusaka Maezawa has cancelled his planned moon trip on board a SpaceX Starship, blaming persistent delays in the rocket's development which he did not anticipate. Originally announced in 2018 with an expected l...

Sambit Saha, 05 Jun 2024 21:56

The Envision's design matches that of Unistellar's popular smart telescopes (Image source: Unistellar)

Smart AR binoculars for stargazing and outdoor exploration unveiled by Unistellar

Unistellar, known for its smart telescopes, will soon be launching the Envision, a pair of AR-infused smart binoculars that overlay contextual information like paths and landmarks over a landscape, or constellations and planets in...

Vishal Bhardwaj, 24 May 2024 18:01

President Biden raises tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, lithium batteries, solar cells, medical PPE and syringes, and more. (Source: Whitehouse on YouTube)

President Biden raises US import tariffs on Chinese EVs, batteries, solar cells, medical supplies, semiconductors, port cranes, minerals, and metals while ignoring patients and medical providers

President Biden has raised US import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, batteries, solar cells, medical supplies, semiconductors, port cranes, minerals, steel, and aluminum. The tariffs are in response to unfair Chinese trade p...

David Chien, 15 May 2024 03:16

Peak solar flare period threatens GPS, satellites, flights, electrical grids, and electronic devices worldwide. (Source: NASA/SDO)

Huge solar flares from peak year of Solar Cycle 25 disrupt GPS while threatening Starlink satellites, flights, and power grids

Huge solar flares from the peak year of Solar Cycle 25 have disrupted GPS services while threatening Starlink satellites, flights, power grids, and more. Solar flares are enormous bursts of energy from the sun crash into the magne...

David Chien, 12 May 2024 08:00

A thermoelectric radioisotope generator is large and impractical, but supplies permanent electricity. (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Mini plutonium battery with high performance in the long term: NASA wants even more

It's not a mini nuclear power plant, but the research for a new energy source presented by NASA has a lot to offer. With a permanent output that is sufficient for large systems, new destinations in the solar system are within reac...

Mario Petzold, 07 May 2024 17:58

The new Extravehicular Activity (EVA) spacesuit (image: SpaceX)

SpaceX reveals practical spacewalking suit with HUD helmet that can be scaled for Mars missions

SpaceX just unveiled its new space suit for Extravehicular Activity that could be scaled up for Moon and Mars missions.

Daniel Zlatev, 05 May 2024 15:35

Light and radio waves can transmit energy over long distances, even from orbit. (Image: Airbus)

Solar power plants in space: SOLARIS is looking for the best concepts

Solar cells in orbit could permanently supply huge amounts of electricity around the clock, regardless of the weather and without using up land surface. Now it's all about the technical realization and financial feasibility of ele...

Mario Petzold, 17 Apr 2024 15:56

If it's big enough, you can also sail in space. (Image: NASA/Aero Animation/Ben Schweighart)

Solar sails as satellite propulsion: NASA launches test run

It will be the size of a three-room apartment, fits in a shoebox when folded and could speed up future missions enormously. Sailing with solar wind could break several speed records.

Mario Petzold, 16 Apr 2024 17:23

Largest black hole in the Milky Way spotted 2,000 light years from us

A surprising discovery made in the data retrieved by the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission is the BH3 stellar black hole, located just 2,000 light years from Earth. No less than 33 times the size of the sun, BH3 is the largest ...

Codrut Nistor, 16 Apr 2024 11:33

The James Webb Space Telescope is re-writing what we thought we knew about the universe

The James Webb Telescope is the gift that keeps on giving for scientists. Rather than confirming what we already thought we understood about the universe, it is challenging everything at the heart of what is known and accepted as ...

Sanjiv Sathiah, 14 Apr 2024 11:55

The shadow literally flows over the cloud cover. (Image: ESA)

Video shows solar eclipse from space

A geostationary satellite at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles) had the best view of the solar eclipse on April 8. No clouds blocked the view here. On the contrary.

Mario Petzold, 12 Apr 2024 22:15

Play an astronaut and colonize the moon, please. (Image: Epic Games)

Epic Games and ESA build Fortnite mission on the moon: "Lunar Horizons" now available

The South Pole of the moon is about to be colonized. And just like in Fortnite, it works even better as a team. But beware: reduced gravity!

Mario Petzold, 12 Apr 2024 20:28

As tall as a man, as heavy as an off-road vehicle: LSST camera in Palo Alto. (Image: Greg Stewart/SLAC)

With 3,200 megapixels: huge digital camera built

Photographing a golf ball from 24 kilometers away or searching the universe for dark matter: With over 3 billion pixels, a lot is possible, even if the camera has not become very handy.

Mario Petzold, 10 Apr 2024 10:18

SpaceX satellite catches a glimpse of the solar eclipse (image: Starlink/X)

SpaceX films total solar eclipse from satellite as Elon Musk touts free Starlink Internet

The first real-time footage of a solar eclipse by a Starlink satellite in space has been recorded, and the total eclipse looks like a black dot moving across North America in the footage.

Daniel Zlatev, 09 Apr 2024 13:33

Spectacle in space: Matter is hurled into space. (Image: Danielle Futselaar & Nathalie Degenaar, University of Amsterdam)

Almost at the speed of light: jets from a neutron star observed

Thermonuclear explosions hurl sometimes exotic elements into space at high speed. This teaches us a lot about the physics behind them and the universe, except that observing them is difficult.

Mario Petzold, 02 Apr 2024 17:24

Milani is to study the effects of a targeted impact from 2022. (Image: ESA/Science Office)

Deflecting asteroids: trio of satellites almost ready for mission

A shoebox-sized satellite is to investigate what it takes to deflect an asteroid on a collision course. It is ready for take-off to the test area.

Mario Petzold, 19 Mar 2024 17:22

Spiral galaxy NGC 4414 could also has been formed without dark matter. (Image: pixabay/WikiImages)

Without dark matter: Tired light and a much older universe

The universe could be 27 billion years old if there is no dark matter. Then light would also behave differently than expected, and a few old theories would once again be valid.

Mario Petzold, 19 Mar 2024 14:26

IRAS 23385 und IRAS 2A will eventually become stars. (Image: NASA)

Alcohol orbits protostar: James Webb telescope finds basics for life

Ethanol, formic acid and other organic compounds have been detected in a distant nebula. The discovery sharpens our view of the origin of life.

Mario Petzold, 14 Mar 2024 10:48

Scans the entire surface of the earth once a week: MethaneSAT. (Image: methanesat.org)

MethaneSAT vs climate change: search for sources of methane from space

Methane has 80 times more impact on the greenhouse effect than CO2. Researchers, engineers and Google are searching for it with MethaneSAT - at just the right time.

Mario Petzold, 04 Mar 2024 22:57

This, or at least something like this, is how a dying star explodes. (Image: ESA/L. Calcada)

Supernova remeasured: View into the center of the stellar explosion

Since neutrinos appeared worldwide in 1987 and a supernova in the neighborhood was registered shortly afterwards, observations, measurements and speculations have been ongoing. The latest ones not only show different elements, but...

Mario Petzold, 23 Feb 2024 21:15

NASA CHAPEA participants will live in a simulated Mars habitat for one year. (Source: NASA)

NASA accepting applications for CHAPEA mission crew to live one year inside a simulated Mars habitat

NASA is accepting applications for the CHAPEA mission crew. A 4-man crew will live inside a 1,700 square foot, simulated Mars habitat for one year while challenges like equipment failure will test their ability to survive.

David Chien, 18 Feb 2024 08:01

From the moon, the view of the universe is unfiltered. (Source: Intuitive Machines)

Moon landing with telescope: New view of the universe, exoplanets and Earth

A whole arsenal of equipment has made its way to the surface of the moon. It is part of the new lunar missions that could turn our satellite into a valuable research station.

Mario Petzold, 15 Feb 2024 21:00

Surgeons on the ground successfully remote-controlled the two pound spaceMIRA surgical robot on the ISS. (Source: Virtual Incision)

Surgeons successfully remote-controlled spaceMIRA surgical robot on the International Space Station during mock surgery

Surgeons at the headquarters of Virtual Incision have successfully remote-controlled the spaceMIRA surgical robot 250 miles afar on the International Space Station during mock surgery. This trial run simulated surgical tasks requi...

David Chien, 15 Feb 2024 09:30

A magnetic field provides good protection. Sun, Venus, Earth and Mars in comparison - with the right proportions. (Source: ESA)

Solar storms schedulable: ESA Solar Orbiter on its way

The weather forecast for plasma storms is to become more accurate. To this end, ESA is sending a satellite 100 million miles on a journey to provide much earlier and more reliable warnings of solar flares.

Mario Petzold, 14 Feb 2024 21:27

No Falcon 9, but this is roughly how PACE flies into space. (Source: pixabay/SpaceX-Imagery)

PACE flies into space: Satellite explores clouds and oceans

It is about 50 percent of the oxygen on earth and 90 percent of our sunlight. This is no small task for a spectacularly expensive satellite that is supposed to investigate many unanswered questions about the global climate.

Mario Petzold, 06 Feb 2024 21:00

Small planet and small star: 600 trillion miles away there is water. (Source: NASA, ESA, Leah Hustak and Ralf Crawford (STScI))

Hubble finds water 97 light years away

Three years of observations show that water must be present on an exoplanet. This is the first time that the molecule has been detected on such a small planet. It is the starting signal for further investigations.

Mario Petzold, 31 Jan 2024 21:10

50 million kilometers away, the experimental field is being built. (Source: ESA)

Lasers in space: LISA discovers space-time shifts

Three satellites with floating cubes of gold and laser light are to detect gravitational waves. The system is set up millions of miles away from Earth, is gigantic and can make the previously unknown visible.

Mario Petzold, 29 Jan 2024 23:58

2023 in review: Curiosity Mars rover's most spectacular captures (Source: NASA)

Curiosity Mars rover's most spectacular captures from 2023

CheckMag Since landing on Mars on August 5, 2012, NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has been investigating the planet's past ability to support life. In 2023, Curiosity captured 3 significant images and videos, crucial for future Mars exploratio...

Triet Le, 16 Jan 2024 23:33

A highly portable satellite Internet dish sounds like a great idea - but is it, really? (Image source: Unsplash)

No Elon, portable Starlink dishes are a bad idea

CheckMag The portable Starlink dish is actually coming and the question of "why pay over half a grand for bizarrely low connection speeds" is the first to come to mind. With average 2023 cellular connection speeds close to 200 Mbit/s, will...

Sergey Tarasov, 16 Jan 2024 22:50

An exoplanet could look exactly like this, perhaps. (pixabay/Peter Schmidt)

Storm in space: exoplanet has weather

The Hubble Space Telescope has discovered a cyclone on a planet almost 1,000 light years away. An astonishing observation when you realize the dimensions.

Mario Petzold, 05 Jan 2024 21:34

One exploding star is not enough to create gold. (pixabay/WebTechExperts)

Creating gold: Physicists show how the precious metal is created

Alchemists puzzled over it for centuries, physicists have now been able to calculate it precisely. A comprehensive model shows how gold and other precious, rare and heavy metals are formed. The only ingredients: Just two neutron s...

Mario Petzold, 24 Dec 2023 19:00

The Ariane (far right) will soon take off with clean hydrogen. (pixabay/stux)

Space travel with renewable energy: ESA launches fuel production with green hydrogen

A rocket launch consumes a few hundred tons of fuel. Roughly speaking, the equivalent of 1 million liters of petrol. All the better that ESA wants to send its Ariane launch vehicles into space using solar energy in future.

Mario Petzold, 23 Dec 2023 21:46

NASA streams a cat video from space with impressive transmission speed (Image source: JPL NASA)

NASA shares cat video from space using lasers

NASA has streamed a high-definition video of a cat named Taters. The video was transmitted to Earth from 19 million miles away, nearly 80 times the distance from the Moon. But what's really interesting is that the video was beamed...

Abid Ahsan Shanto, 20 Dec 2023 12:25

The night sky is a place where we can all explore the great mysteries of physics. (pexels.com / InstaWalli)

Discover gravitational waves from your sofa

In the "Pulsar Seekers" project, anyone can search for pulsars using their own computer and brainpower. However, it is not necessary to have your own spaceship. The findings help to better understand Einstein's theories, including...

Mario Petzold, 07 Nov 2023 20:35

Agnilet single-piece 3D printed engine emerging from powdered metal (Image Source: Agnikul)

Space startup with 3D printed rocket engine tech secures US$26.7 million in funding

Indian space technology startup Agnikul has secured US$26.7 million in its series-B funding round. The company is developing its own launch vehicle propelled by the 3D-printed ‘Agnilet’ rocket engine. The rocket is unique in being...

Vishal Bhardwaj, 20 Oct 2023 09:46