NASA's Lucy asteroid-hopping spacecraft pins down ages of 1st asteroid targets

Last November, when NASA’s Lucy spacecraft flew past its first official asteroid target named Dinkinesh, it found the space rock was not one, not two but three rocks huddled together. While scientists were surprised to spot Selam, Dinkinesh’s natural satellite, they were shocked to discover that Selam itself was, in fact, two objects melded together.…

Planet reveals $20 million Carbon Mapper contract

Planet announced a $20 million agreement to provide hyperspectral data for Carbon Mapper’s greenhouse gas monitoring campaign from 2026 to 2030. The post Planet reveals $20 million Carbon Mapper contract appeared first on SpaceNews.

Satellite firms cautiously optimistic as DoD boosts funding to integrate commercial satcom

The Pentagon is seeking $134 million in its fiscal year 2025 budget for “commercial satcom integration” compared to $71 million in 2024 The post Satellite firms cautiously optimistic as DoD boosts funding to integrate commercial satcom appeared first on SpaceNews.

China appears to be trying to save stricken spacecraft from lunar limbo

Tracking data appears to show China is attempting to salvage spacecraft initially intended for the moon but left stranded by a rocket stage malfunction. The post China appears to be trying to save stricken spacecraft from lunar limbo appeared first on SpaceNews.

Japanese lunar lander company ispace raises $53.5 million in stock sale

Japanese lunar lander developer has raised $53.5 million in a stock sale to help fund development of upcoming missions. The post Japanese lunar lander company ispace raises $53.5 million in stock sale appeared first on SpaceNews.

Life as we know it could exist on Venus, new experiment reveals

If Venus hosts lifeforms in its toxic clouds, they likely won’t be deprived of amino acids, one of the essential building blocks of life (as we know it). At least, that’s what scientists say is the result of a new lab experiment. Despite being Earth’s “twin,” Venus sizzles at temperatures reaching hundreds of degrees and…

Final launch of Delta IV Heavy rocket scrubbed late in countdown

We’ll have to wait at least one more day to see the swan song of United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) powerful Delta IV Heavy rocket. The Delta IV Heavy was supposed to launch for the final time this afternoon (March 28), sending a U.S. spy satellite skyward from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. But…

Giant Mars asteroid impact creates vast field of destruction with 2 billion craters

Over two million years ago, a giant asteroid slammed into Mars, scarring the surface with one massive crater and around two billion smaller individual craters. These secondary craters appear across a region of 1,000 miles (1,800 kilometers), making this asteroid event one of the biggest impacts seen on the Red Planet in relatively recent history. …

365 days of satellite images show Earth's seasons changing from space (video)

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, the recent chirping of birds and blooming of flowers are welcome signs that spring has arrived — and a new video released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows a stunning glimpse of what this change of seasons looks like from space. The high-speed video…

Still alive! Japan's SLIM moon lander survives its 2nd lunar night (photo)

SLIM’s not dead yet.  The SLIM spacecraft, Japan’s first-ever successful moon lander, has survived the long, cold lunar night for the second time. Mission team members announced the news via X on Wednesday (March 27), in a post that also featured a photo newly snapped by the lander’s navigation camera.  SLIM, whose name is short…

Lego Education Eclipse Collection teaches students about April 8 total solar eclipse

Lego has launched a new solar eclipse education collection featuring special activities to engage students in the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8.  On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, 15 U.S. states and Canada. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun,…

SpaceX to launch 22 Starlink satellites from California tonight

SpaceX is set to launch another batch of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit tonight (March 28). A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink spacecraft is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California tonight during a four-hour window that opens at 10:30 p.m. EDT (7:30 p.m. local California time; 0230 GMT…

Connecting the Dots | Making light work of space junk removal

As inter-satellite laser links help fuel the rapid expansion of the largest constellations the world has ever seen, a traditional satellite operator wants to put stronger lasers to work clearing the debris that LEO megaconstellations risk leaving behind. The post Connecting the Dots | Making light work of space junk removal appeared first on SpaceNews.

Lego NASA Mars Rover Perseverance review

Essential Info: Price: $99.99/£84.99 Model number: 42158 Number of pieces: 1,132 Dimensions: 9 in x 12.5 in x 9 in (23 cm x 32 cm x 23) Recommended age: 10+  If you’re in the market for a Martian rover and don’t want to spend the requisite $2.7 billion to get NASA to build you one,…

SunChips will sell exclusive total solar eclipse flavors only during totality on April 8

These chips sound absolutely delicious. And of all the brands to jump on the solar eclipse train, this one is an undeniably obvious perfect pairing.  SunChips, the wavy, multigrain chips brand from the snack overlords of Frito-Lay, are putting on their solar eclipse glasses for April 8, and offering free bags of a special eclipse-themed…

Hancom InSpace orders more Spire satellites with Hancom-2 in limbo

South Korea’s Hancom InSpace has ordered two more remote sensing satellites from Spire as the status of a cubesat ordered two years ago remains up in the air. The post Hancom InSpace orders more Spire satellites with Hancom-2 in limbo appeared first on SpaceNews.

JAXA selects Interstellar Technologies as priority launch provider

Japan’s space agency has selected startup Interstellar Technologies as a priority launch provider as part of a program to advance the commercialization of space.  The post JAXA selects Interstellar Technologies as priority launch provider appeared first on SpaceNews.

Boeing files lawsuit against Virgin Galactic over development of new mothership aircraft

Boeing and its subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences are suing Virgin Galactic over unpaid work and the misappropriation of trade secrets. The suit alleges that Virgin Galactic has not paid $26.4 million in invoices for work related to the development of a new “mothership” aircraft intended to power Virgin’s next-generation suborbital space planes. The suit was…

NASA's new astronauts are excited for April's total eclipse: 'I'm going to be that little kid all over again' (exclusive)

New NASA astronaut Andre Douglas used to study the sun’s behavior for a living. This puts Douglas, who passed basic NASA astronaut training on March 5, in the perfect position to talk about the total solar eclipse 2024 that will sweep across the United States on April 8.  The moon will pass completely in front…

Vast space hires former Voyager Space executive

Commercial space station developer Vast Space has hired an executive from another space station company as an adviser. The post Vast space hires former Voyager Space executive appeared first on SpaceNews.