In a happy twist of fate, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope just witnessed a comet in the act of breaking apart. The chance of that happening while Hubble watched is extraordinarily minuscule. The findings published Wednesday in the journal Icarus. The comet K1, whose full name is C/2025 K1 (ATLAS)—not to be confused with interstellar comet […].
Comet K1, whose full name is Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), had just passed its closest approach to the Sun and was heading out of the Solar System. Though it had been intact just days before, K1 fragmented into at least four pieces while the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope was watching. The odds of that happening while Hubble viewed the comet are extraordinarily miniscule..
At the dawn of the Space Age, then President-elect John F. Kennedy spoke to the American people of “a new frontier” of unknown opportunities and perils, unfulfilled hopes and unfilled threats, uncharted science and unsolved problems. Six years later, Star Trek expanded on President Kennedy’s new frontier premise with tales of the starship Enterprise boldly […] The post Frontier justice: navigating the future legal landscape for private actors in space law appeared first on SpaceNews..
China has identified a new target near-Earth asteroid for its first planetary defense kinetic test mission, which is scheduled to launch in December 2027. The post China signals new target for 2027 asteroid deflection test appeared first on SpaceNews..
NASA’s planetary science program, while spared steep cuts proposed last year, is still facing a funding shortfall that requires “strategic choices” about which missions to continue. The post NASA grappling with planetary science funding shortfall appeared first on SpaceNews..
Thanks to the success of the Arctic Weather Satellite prototype and Eumetsat’s recent greenlight to develop a full constellation of similar satellites called Sterna, the European Space Agency has awarded OHB Sweden with the contract to build 20 satellites..
An advancing cold front kicked up a sharp line of sand and other small particles that swept over the high plains..
New structure gives ‘Portfolio Acquisition Executives’ authority over funding, requirements and integration across major space missions The post Space Force overhauls buying structure with new mission portfolios appeared first on SpaceNews..
Telesat plans to carve out 25% of its Lightspeed broadband constellation for military Ka-band as the program’s latest delay pushes global service into early 2028, creating more room to align the design with shifting geopolitical priorities. The post Telesat pivots Lightspeed toward defense as delays push global service to 2028 appeared first on SpaceNews..