An asteroid will eclipse the puzzling red star Betelgeuse on Dec. 11

A rare astronomical event will be perfectly positioned in the night sky on Monday (Dec. 11) for some parts of the world. On that evening, an asteroid will pass in front of the curious red star Betelgeuse, eclipsing it from our vantage point here on Earth and blocking it from view for up to 15…

Three satellites presumed lost in Transporter deployment malfunction

Three satellites on a SpaceX Transporter rideshare launch in November failed to deploy, including one from a company that previously stated its satellite was in orbit and operating. The post Three satellites presumed lost in Transporter deployment malfunction appeared first on SpaceNews.

U.S. Space Force activates new unit to support operations in Europe and Africa

The U.S. Space Force on Dec. 8 officially activated its first component dedicated to both Europe and Africa. The post U.S. Space Force activates new unit to support operations in Europe and Africa appeared first on SpaceNews.

India's Aditya-L1 solar observatory captures 1st gorgeous views of the sun (images)

An instrument onboard India’s first sun-studying observatory has officially opened its scientific eyes and sent home beautiful images of our star. The pictures, captured earlier this week by a payload named SUIT (short for Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope), reveal a handful of features on the sun’s surface, including a few sunspots, a solar “plage” and…

Ghana warns against illegal Starlink services

Ghana is the latest country in Africa to warn against using Starlink before it issues licenses for SpaceX’s satellite broadband service. The post Ghana warns against illegal Starlink services appeared first on SpaceNews.

How to watch 'Doctor Who' anniversary specials: Stream 'The Giggle' from anywhere

‘Doctor Who: The Giggle’: Key information • Airs at 6:30pm GMT, 1:30pm EST and 10:30am PST on Saturday, December 9 • UK: Watch for FREE on BBC One and BBC iPlayer • Away from home: Use a VPN such as ExpressVPN to watch your usual service from anywhere • US, Canada and Australia: Disney Plus has the rights…

Experts raise concerns about U.S. commitment to GPS modernization

Members of a key advisory board questioned the U.S. military’s commitment to deliver enhancements to the Global Positioning System, arguing that the network is at risk of falling behind other satellite navigation systems built by Europe and China. The post Experts raise concerns about U.S. commitment to GPS modernization appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter gearing up for longest flight ever this weekend

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter is poised to set yet another record this weekend. The 4-pound (1.8 kilograms) Ingenuity, the first robot ever to explore the skies of a world beyond Earth, is scheduled to make its 68th Red Planet flight on Saturday (Dec. 9). The plan calls for Ingenuity to cover 2,717 feet (828 meters)…

That’s no moon! Scientists doubt proposed detection of the 1st exomoons

New research has a duo of scientists channeling Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars: A New Hope regarding the proposed detection of two moons orbiting planets outside the solar system. In short, they’re not sure humanity’s first-ever exomoon detections are accurate. In fact, the same findings also showed that exomoons in general may only show themselves…

'Dark force' theory could solve 2 open cosmic mysteries

A new theory that suggests dark matter is made up of particles that strongly interact with each other via a so-called “dark force.” If true, this may finally explain the extreme densities we see in dark matter haloes surrounding galaxies. The existence of particles called self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) acts as an alternative to cold…

Wild new NASA plasma tech reduces drag during hypersonic flight

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program is licensing its rights to a radical new form of propulsion that uses electromagnets to control the flow of plasma over aircraft and spacecraft flying at hypersonic speeds. As vehicles fly through a planetary atmosphere at hypersonic speeds — at least five times faster than the speed of sound — they…

All black holes feast chaotically, no matter how hungry they are

Feeding black holes lurking at the center of most galaxies gulp nearby stars, gas and dust the same way irrespective of how hungry they are, new research suggests.  Until now, there appeared to be an order to these massacres. The hungriest of black holes, which also beam out very powerful radiation, were thought to “eat”…

Halley's Comet begins its 38-year journey back toward Earth tonight

Beginning on Friday, Dec. 8 we can finally state with absolute certainty that Halley’s Comet is coming.  This most famous of all comets travels around the sun in a flattened elliptical orbit that brings it near to the sun and then takes it far out to beyond the outer limits of the solar system. Ever…

Colliding space junk makes 'noise' that could be heard from Earth

Orbital smashups cause tiny pieces of space junk to emit signals that could be detected from Earth, a new study has found.  Space junk is a growing problem. As of November 2023, the world’s space surveillance networks were tracking about 35,610 pieces of space debris larger than 4 inches (10 centimeters), according to the European…

DARPA moon tech study selects 14 companies to develop a lunar economy

We’ve seen the movies and read the books about what it would be like to have a habitat on the moon, but in order to turn our Sci-Fi fantasy into a reality, scientists must lay out some groundwork. That’s what the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a U.S. organization that aims to develop advancements…

'For All Mankind' season 4 episode 5 review: A new asteroid heading for Mars puts a rocket under the season

Arguably the most famous asteroid in popular culture was named Dottie, and it threatened to wipe out all life on Earth in “Armageddon” (sadly not recognized as one of the best space movies). “For All Mankind” has always aspired to be a little more cerebral, however, so it’s no surprise that Goldilocks, a new body…

Northrop Grumman tests new solid rocket motor technologies

Northrop Grumman test-fired a new solid rocket motor that marks the beginning of an annual test campaign to demonstrate advanced technologies that could be incorporated into space and defense programs. The post Northrop Grumman tests new solid rocket motor technologies appeared first on SpaceNews.

Ex-NASA scientist dishes on space food in new memoir 'Space Bites'

Of all of the freeze-dried, thermostablized and off-the-shelf food items that she helped send into space, Vickie Kloeris’ personal favorite was the cherry-blueberry cobbler. A food scientist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for 34 years, Kloeris not only enjoyed the cobbler, but helped to develop it. “During the shuttle program, we really weren’t…

Everything we know about 'Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire'

Rebel Moon is finally almost here. Dropping down your chimney with a tumbling force of pre-Christmas cheer, the first half of director Zack Snyder’s (“Watchmen,” “Man of Steel,” “Justice League”) new space opera project for Netflix arrives on the streaming giant’s platform on Dec. 22, 2023 and we’ve got all the sweet details to get…

US Space Force plans space radar to 'identify emerging threats' in distant Earth orbit

The United States, United Kingdom and Australia have signed an agreement to develop a deep space radar capable of keeping an eye on what’s happening in geosynchronous orbit. Found around 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above Earth, this region is one of the most distant areas in which satellites operate. Interestingly, each spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit…