NASA’s Juno spacecraft, on a close flyby of Jupiter’s moon Europa in 2022, has provided intriguing hints of potential present-day surface activity. The Stellar Reference Unit (SRU) aboard Juno captured a high-resolution image of an unusual region on Europa, resembling a platypus, sparking interest in the scientific community. The Platypus Image: The SRU image reveals … Read more
Sierra Space’s Burst Test Exceeds NASA Safety Standards, Paving the Way for Future Space Exploration Sierra Space, a key player in the race to replace the aging International Space Station (ISS), recently conducted a groundbreaking burst test on its Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) habitat prototype. The test, deliberately causing the module to explode, aimed … Read more
In a groundbreaking achievement, NASA scientists have triumphantly opened the sample-return capsule from the OSIRIS-REx mission, revealing the first-ever chunks of a space rock collected by a NASA mission. The capsule, containing approximately 8.8 ounces (250 grams) of rocky material snatched from the potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu, was carefully disassembled at NASA’s Johnson Space Center … Read more
Astrobotic’s ambitious Peregrine lunar lander faced an unexpected propulsion anomaly during its debut mission, resulting in a premature end to its journey. Launched on January 8 aboard United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket, the Peregrine lander encountered a valve issue that led to a propellant leak, preventing it from reaching the moon. Despite this … Read more
In a surprising revelation, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Mars Express mission has uncovered extensive layers of water ice near Mars’ equator, challenging previous assumptions about the planet’s dryness. The spacecraft’s findings indicate that a massive deposit, possibly several kilometers deep, exists in a region known as the Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF). If confirmed to … Read more
In the intricate dance of celestial bodies, new findings have unveiled a previously overlooked chapter in the formation of planets. Researchers, led by Alice Quillen, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Rochester, have delved into the dynamics of planetesimals, the precursors to planets, in their tumultuous journey within protosolar nebulae. The study, … Read more
First Vulcan Centaur Test Flight Marks Milestone in Private Lunar Exploration The United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched its inaugural Vulcan Centaur rocket on January 8, carrying the Astrobotic Peregrine moon lander and making history as the first private mission to land on the moon. The mission, known as Cert-1, aims to demonstrate the readiness … Read more
Historic Mission Stumbles with Propulsion System Anomaly Astrobotic’s ambitious Peregrine moon lander, part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, encountered a setback after a successful launch on United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket. The mission aimed for the first-ever moon landing by a private spacecraft but faced complications shortly after deployment. First-Ever … Read more
A Recap of the Year’s Extraterrestrial Endeavors and Discoveries In a year marked by challenges on Earth, the world of space exploration saw significant strides in 2023. NPR’s science correspondent, Geoff Brumfiel, takes us through the highlights, from asteroid revelations to lunar missions and the launch of a groundbreaking rocket. Asteroid Discoveries: Unlocking the Secrets … Read more
Falcon 9 Booster, which Catapulted US Astronauts to Orbit, Lost During Return to Cape Canaveral In a bittersweet conclusion to its illustrious career, the Falcon 9 rocket, renowned for restoring NASA crew launches to US soil, faced an unfortunate demise just before Christmas. The historic booster, known by the tail number B1058, launched and landed … Read more