Space news

NASA Awards Launch Service Task Order for Aspera’s Galaxy Mission

NASA has selected Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Long Beach, California, to launch the agency’s Aspera mission, a SmallSat to study galaxy formation and evolution, providing new insights into how the universe works. The selection is part of NASA’s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. This contract allows the agency to […].

Kepler demonstrates space-to-ground optical links for proposed relay network

Canada’s Kepler Communications said it has successfully demonstrated optical data links between a prototype satellite in low Earth orbit and a partner’s ground station for the first time. The post Kepler demonstrates space-to-ground optical links for proposed relay network  appeared first on SpaceNews..

Axiom Mission 4 delayed due to Dragon capsule readiness

The capsule flying the Ax-4 mission was originally set to launch in support of the Crew-10 mission to the ISS, which launched in mid-March. .

Pretty in Pink

The spiral galaxy known as Messier 81 (M81) has a rosy tint in this June 1, 2007, composite image that incorporates data from NASA’s Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes, and NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer. Discovered by the German astronomer Johann Elert Bode in 1774, M81 is one of the brightest galaxies in the night sky. […].

Gilmour Space’s Eris rocket set for Australia’s first homegrown orbital launch

Gilmour Space Technologies is performing final system checks before launching its homegrown Eris rocket. The… The post Gilmour Space’s Eris rocket set for Australia’s first homegrown orbital launch appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com..

NASA to Participate in Next Private Astronaut Mission Teleconference

NASA will join a media teleconference hosted by Axiom Space at 10:30 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, May 20, to discuss the launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Briefing participants include: To join the call, media must register with Axiom Space by 12 p.m., Monday, May 19, […].

NASA Observes First Visible-light Auroras at Mars

On March 15, 2024, near the peak of the current solar cycle, the Sun produced a solar flare and an accompanying coronal mass ejection (CME), a massive explosion of gas and magnetic energy that carries with it large amounts of solar energetic particles. This solar activity led to stunning auroras across the solar system, including […].

NASA’s Magellan Mission Reveals Possible Tectonic Activity on Venus

Using archival data from the mission, launched in 1989, researchers have uncovered new evidence that tectonic activity may be deforming the planet’s surface. Vast, quasi-circular features on Venus’ surface may reveal that the planet has ongoing tectonics, according to new research based on data gathered more than 30 years ago by NASA’s Magellan mission. On […].

Hubble Pinpoints Young Stars in Spiral Galaxy

In this image, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope peers into the spiral galaxy NGC 1317 in the constellation Fornax, located more than 50 million light-years from Earth. Visible in this galaxy image is a bright blue ring that hosts hot, young stars. NGC 1317 is one of a pair, but its rowdy larger neighbor, NGC […].

Nuclear battery startup Zeno Power raises $50 million to expand in space and at sea

The funding round was led by Hanaco Ventures and other space and defense-focused investors The post Nuclear battery startup Zeno Power raises $50 million to expand in space and at sea appeared first on SpaceNews..