Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News
May 21, 2020
IRON AND ICE
OSIRIS-REx ready for touchdown on Asteroid Bennu for sample collection



Tucson AZ (SPX) May 21, 2020
NASA's first asteroid sample return mission is officially prepared for its long-awaited touchdown on asteroid Bennu's surface. The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security - Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission has targeted Oct. 20 for its first sample collection attempt. "The OSIRIS-REx mission has been demonstrating the very essence of exploration by persevering through unexpected challenges," said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's associate administrator for science. "Tha ... read more

MOON DAILY
US seeks to change the rules for mining the Moon
Bloomington IN (The Conversation) May 21, 2020
Private industries have helped drop the cost of launching rockets, satellites and other equipment into space to historic lows. That has boosted interest in developing space - both for mining raw mat ... more
MOON DAILY
Made in India moon analog soil gets patent for ISRO
Chennai (IANS) May 21, 2020
The Indian space agency has got the patent for its method of manufacturing highland lunar soil simulant or simply lunar/moon soil. As a part of its Moon landing mission Chandrayaan-2, the Indi ... more
TIME AND SPACE
When materials differentiate between past and future
Dresden, Germany (SPX) May 19, 2020
What happened yesterday and what will happen tomorrow are usually two different and quite independent matters. The past and the future of human life are not symmetric and therefore not reversible. I ... more
SPACE MEDICINE
AFRL announces grand challenges for biotechnology
Wright-Patterson AFB CO (SPX) May 19, 2020
The Air Force Research Laboratory announced its three Biotechnology Grand Challenges last month in efforts to spearhead innovation among small businesses for the specific needs of the Department of ... more
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EXO WORLDS
ESO telescope sees signs of planet birth
Munich, Germany (SPX) May 21, 2020
Observations made with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT) have revealed the telltale signs of a star system being born. Around the young star AB Aurigae lies a dens ... more
ROBO SPACE
A soft touch for robotic hardware
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 18, 2020
Robots can be made from soft materials, but the flexibility of such robots is limited by the inclusion of rigid sensors necessary for their control. Researchers created embedded sensors, to replace ... more
EXO WORLDS
Astronomers confirm existence of two giant newborn planets
Kamuela HI (SPX) May 19, 2020
New evidence shows the first-ever pictures capturing the birth of a pair of planets orbiting the star PDS 70 are in fact authentic. Using a new infrared pyramid wavefront sensor for adaptive o ... more
MARSDAILY
NASA's Curiosity Rover Finds Clues to Chilly Ancient Mars Buried in Rocks
Greenbelt MD (SPX) May 20, 2020
By studying the chemical elements on Mars today - including carbon and oxygen - scientists can work backwards to piece together the history of a planet that once had the conditions necessary to supp ... more
MARSDAILY
The little tires that could go to Mars
Cleveland OH (SPX) May 20, 2020
It's rocky. It's sandy. It's flat. It's cratered. It's cold. The surface of Mars is a challenging and inhospitable place, especially for rovers. As future missions t ... more
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IRON AND ICE
Aerojet Rocketdyne delivers DART spacecraft propulsion systems ahead of 2021 asteroid impact mission
Redmond WA (SPX) May 20, 2020
The dual chemical and electric propulsion systems for NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) were recently delivered by Aerojet Rocketdyne to the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (AP ... more
EXO WORLDS
New study estimates the odds of life and intelligence emerging beyond our planet
New York NY (SPX) May 19, 2020
Humans have been wondering whether we alone in the universe since antiquity. We know from the geological record that life started relatively quickly, as soon our planet's environment was stabl ... more
EXO WORLDS
Statistical analysis reveals odds of life evolving on alien worlds
Washington DC (UPI) May 19, 2020
Scientists have used a statistical method known as Bayesian inference to determine the odds of complex extraterrestrial life evolving on alien planets, according to new research published this week. ... more
SPACE MEDICINE
NASA simulates realistic galactic cosmic rays to study effects on astronaut health
Washington DC (UPI) May 19, 2020
Galactic cosmic rays are everywhere, but they're also elusive. They're hard to block and come in a variety of forms, making them quite difficult to study. ... more
EXO WORLDS
Exoplanet climate 'decoder' aids search for life
Ithaca NY (SPX) May 19, 2020
After examining a dozen types of suns and a roster of planet surfaces, Cornell University astronomers have developed a practical model - an environmental color "decoder" - to tease out climate clues ... more


Mystery of lava-like flows on Mars solved by scientists

DRAGON SPACE
More details of China's space station unveiled
Beijing (XNA) May 19, 2020
After the successful maiden flight of the Long March-5B large rocket and the testing of China's new-generation manned spaceship, more details of China's space station have been unveiled. The s ... more
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MARSDAILY
NASA's Perseverance Rover goes through trials by fire, ice, light and sound
Pasadena CA (JPL) May 19, 2020
While auto manufacturers built over 92 million motor vehicles for this world in 2019, NASA built just one for Mars. The Perseverance Mars rover is one of a kind, and the testing required to get it r ... more
STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Researchers develop material capable of being invisible or reflective in IR spectrum
St. Petersburg, Russia (SPX) May 21, 2020
Modern optical devices require constant tuning of their light interaction settings. For that purpose, there exist various mechanical apparatuses that shift lenses, rotate reflectors, and move emitte ... more
MOON DAILY
Russia says ready to discuss Moon exploration with NASA
Moscow (Sputnik) May 19, 2020
Russia's Roscosmos space corporation on Saturday expressed readiness to negotiate Moon exploration initiatives with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as such talks could b ... more
MOON DAILY
US hopes Russia will support Artemis Space Development Accords
Washington (Sputnik) May 19, 2020
The US government still hopes that Russia will support the newly proposed bilateral Artemis Accords for the economic development of space between the Earth and the Moon, NASA Acting Associate Admini ... more
SPACE MEDICINE
Engineers develop low-cost, high-accuracy GPS-like system for flexible medical robots
San Diego CA (SPX) May 19, 2020
Roboticists at the University of California San Diego have developed an affordable, easy to use system to track the location of flexible surgical robots inside the human body. The system performs as ... more
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NASA's Perseverance Rover goes through trials by fire, ice, light and sound
Pasadena CA (JPL) May 19, 2020
While auto manufacturers built over 92 million motor vehicles for this world in 2019, NASA built just one for Mars. The Perseverance Mars rover is one of a kind, and the testing required to get it ready to roll on the mean (and unpaved) streets of the Red Planet is one of a kind as well. Because hardware cannot be repaired once the rover is on Mars, the team has to build a vehicle that can ... more
+ NASA's Curiosity Rover Finds Clues to Chilly Ancient Mars Buried in Rocks
+ Mystery of lava-like flows on Mars solved by scientists
+ The little tires that could go to Mars
+ ExoMars rover upgrades and parachute tests
+ The horst and graben landscape of Ascuris Planum
+ Sculpted by nature on Mars
+ Rover avoids sand traps with 'rear rotator pedaling'


Made in India moon analog soil gets patent for ISRO
Chennai (IANS) May 21, 2020
The Indian space agency has got the patent for its method of manufacturing highland lunar soil simulant or simply lunar/moon soil. As a part of its Moon landing mission Chandrayaan-2, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had to prepare an artificial moon surface so that the Vikram lander and Pragyaan rover could be tested. On May 18, the Indian Patent Office granted patent t ... more
+ US seeks to change the rules for mining the Moon
+ Russia says ready to discuss Moon exploration with NASA
+ US hopes Russia will support Artemis Space Development Accords
+ Lunar Surface Trash or Treasure
+ Innovators around the world help NASA improve a moon digging robot
+ Laser-powered rover to explore Moon's dark shadows
+ Faces behind NASA's Gateway
SOFIA finds clues hidden in Pluto's haze
Moffett Field CA (SPX) May 14, 2020
When the New Horizons spacecraft passed by Pluto in 2015, one of the many fascinating features its images revealed was that this small, frigid world in the distant solar system has a hazy atmosphere. Now, new data helps explain how Pluto's haze is formed from the faint light of the Sun 3.7 billion miles away as it moves through an unusual orbit. Remote observations of Pluto by NASA's teles ... more
+ New evidence of watery plumes on Jupiter's moon Europa
+ Telescopes and spacecraft join forces to probe deep into Jupiter's atmosphere
+ Newly reprocessed images of Europa show 'chaos terrain' in crisp detail
+ Mysteries of Uranus' oddities explained by Japanese astronomers
+ Jupiter probe JUICE: Final integration in full swing
+ The birth of a "Snowman" at the edge of the Solar System
+ New Horizons pushing the frontier ever deeper into the Kuiper Belt
Statistical analysis reveals odds of life evolving on alien worlds
Washington DC (UPI) May 19, 2020
Scientists have used a statistical method known as Bayesian inference to determine the odds of complex extraterrestrial life evolving on alien planets, according to new research published this week. "The rapid emergence of life and the late evolution of humanity, in the context of the timeline of evolution, are certainly suggestive," David Kipping, an assistant professor of astronomy at ... more
+ New study estimates the odds of life and intelligence emerging beyond our planet
+ Exoplanet climate 'decoder' aids search for life
+ Astronomers confirm existence of two giant newborn planets
+ ESO telescope sees signs of planet birth
+ TRAPPIST-1 planetary orbits not misaligned
+ Amsterdam researchers observe iron in exoplanetary atmosphere
+ Scientists reveal solar system's oldest molecular fluids could hold the key to early life
NASA astronauts arrive in Florida week before SpaceX flight
Washington (AFP) May 20, 2020
Two NASA astronauts arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, one week before they blast off aboard a SpaceX vessel - the first crewed space flight to leave from US soil in nine years. US astronauts have been flying to the International Space Station (ISS) on Russian Soyuz rockets since the shuttle program ended in 2011 - a dependence they are keen to break. "It ha ... more
+ Pentagon confirms developing a range of hypersonic weapons
+ The UK's first complete ground rocket test in 50 years takes place in Scotland
+ Aerojet Rocketdyne powers second mission for US Space Force
+ Theory of detonation-driven hypervelocity shock tunnels and its demonstration
+ Soyuz launch from Kourou postponed until 2021, 2 others to proceed
+ NASA's SLS Core Stage Green Run tests critical systems for Artemis I
+ Atlas 5 launches X-38B for USSF-7 mission


More details of China's space station unveiled
Beijing (XNA) May 19, 2020
After the successful maiden flight of the Long March-5B large rocket and the testing of China's new-generation manned spaceship, more details of China's space station have been unveiled. The space station, expected to be completed around 2022, will operate in the low-Earth orbit at an altitude from 340 km to 450 km for more than 10 years, supporting large-scale scientific, technological an ... more
+ China's tracking ship Yuanwang-5 back from rocket monitoring mission
+ China's Kuaizhou rocket industrial park partially operational
+ China's experimental new-generation manned spaceship works normally in orbit
+ Long March-5B rocket enables China to construct space station
+ China's new spacecraft returns to Earth: official
+ China's space test hits snag with capsule 'anomaly'
+ China launches new rocket as it eyes moon trip
OSIRIS-REx ready for touchdown on Asteroid Bennu for sample collection
Tucson AZ (SPX) May 21, 2020
NASA's first asteroid sample return mission is officially prepared for its long-awaited touchdown on asteroid Bennu's surface. The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security - Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission has targeted Oct. 20 for its first sample collection attempt. "The OSIRIS-REx mission has been demonstrating the very essence of exploration by perse ... more
+ Why ESA and NASA's SOHO Spacecraft Spots So Many Comets
+ Aerojet Rocketdyne delivers DART spacecraft propulsion systems ahead of 2021 asteroid impact mission
+ The discovery of Comet SWAN by solar-watcher SOHO
+ NASA DART mission may cause first ever human-induced meteor shower
+ Hayabusa2 reveals more secrets from Ryugu
+ Hayabusa2's touchdown on Ryugu reveals its surface in stunning detail
+ Last Supermoon of 2020 will wash out asteroid showers


Navy breaks ground on laser weapons test lab in California
Washington DC (UPI) May 08, 2020
Navy leaders and private contractors broke ground this week on what will become the fleet's only dedicated facility to test, fire and evaluate complete laser weapon systems in a maritime environment, Naval Sea Systems Command announced on Thursday. The Directed Energy Systems Integration Laboratory is projected to open in roughly a year along the Point Mugu Sea Range near Naval Base Ventur ... more
+ The power of short range air defense
+ Lockheed nabs $22.4M for work on LCS-based laser system
+ Navy: Chinese warship fired laser at U.S. aircraft
+ AFRL engineer leaves a legacy called HADES
+ Israel hails 'breakthrough' towards laser air defence system
+ China's air force seeks aircraft-mounted laser weapon
Boeing awarded $128.5M modification to GMD missile upgrade contract
Washington DC (UPI) May 08, 2020
Boeing was awarded a $128.5 million modification to its Ground-based Midcourse Defense development and sustainment contract Thursday, according to the Pentagon. The deal modifies a contract awarded in 2018 for upgrades to the GMD, which is the United States' ballistic missile defense system. The modification increases the total value of the contract from $11.2 billion to $11.3 billio ... more
+ US pulling Patriot missile batteries from Saudi
+ Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Missiles and Defense Partner on Next Generation Interceptor
+ US Army awards $6B contract to Lockheed Martin for PAC-3 MSE production
+ SBIRS GEO-5 space vehicle enters critical thermal vacuum testing
+ Syria air defence intercepts 'Israeli' missiles: state media
+ Russia positions S-500 as game changer for missile defense
+ Iran warns US after Patriot deployment to Iraq


Discovered a multilayer haze system on Saturn's Hexagon
Leioa, Spain (SPX) May 11, 2020
A rich variety of meteorological phenomena take place in the extensive hydrogen atmosphere of the planet Saturn, a world about ten times the size of the Earth. They help us to better understand those that operate in a similar way in the Earth's atmosphere. Featuring among them due to its uniqueness is the well-known "hexagon", an amazing wave structure that surrounds the planet's polar reg ... more
+ Data from NASA's Cassini may explain Saturn's atmospheric mystery
+ Why is NASA Sending Dragonfly to Titan
+ New SwRI models reveal inner complexity of Saturn moon
+ Huygens landing spin mystery solved
+ Final images from Cassini spacecraft
+ How Enceladus got its stripes
+ A study of Saturn's largest moon may offer insights for earth
Transporting energy through a single molecular nanowire
Groningen, Netherlands (SPX) May 11, 2020
Photosynthetic systems in nature transport energy very efficiently towards a reaction centre, where it is converted into a useful form for the organism. Scientists have been using this as inspiration to learn how to transport energy efficiently in, for example, molecular electronics. Physicist Richard Hildner from the University of Groningen and his colleagues have investigated energy transport ... more
+ To make an atom-sized machine, you need a quantum mechanic
+ Magnetic nanoparticles help researchers remotely release adrenal hormones
+ New DNA origami motor breaks speed record for nano machines
+ Deep-sea osmolyte makes biomolecular machines heat-tolerant
+ Nanobubbles in nanodroplets
+ New production method for carbon nanotubes gets green light
+ A quantum breakthrough brings a technique from astronomy to the nano-scale


Seeing the universe through new lenses
Berkeley CA (SPX) May 15, 2020
Like crystal balls for the universe's deeper mysteries, galaxies and other massive space objects can serve as lenses to more distant objects and phenomena along the same path, bending light in revelatory ways. Gravitational lensing was first theorized by Albert Einstein more than 100 years ago to describe how light bends when it travels past massive objects like galaxies and galaxy cluster ... more
+ L3Harris lays foundation for first space-based gravitational wave observatory
+ Gravitational waves could prove the existence of the quark-gluon plasma
+ TAMA300 blazes trail for improved gravitational wave astronomy
+ A gravitational-wave signal like none before
+ Solar gravity lens concept receives $2m NASA grant for technology maturation
+ Australian researchers create new tools to detect gravitational waves.
+ Astronomers detect first double helium-core white dwarf gravitational wave source
UCLA physicists develop world's best quantum bits
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 19, 2020
A team of researchers at UCLA has set a new record for preparing and measuring the quantum bits, or qubits, inside of a quantum computer without error. The techniques they have developed make it easier to build quantum computers that outperform classical computers for important tasks, including the design of new materials and pharmaceuticals. The research is pu ... more
+ When materials differentiate between past and future
+ Photon discovery is a major step toward at-scale quantum technologies
+ Scientists use light to accelerate supercurrents, access forbidden light, quantum world
+ NIST team builds hybrid quantum system by entangling molecule with atom
+ The Space Station's coolest experiment gets astronaut-assisted upgrade
+ Physicists observe quantum entanglement of 15 trillion atoms
+ Why clouds form near black holes


A soft touch for robotic hardware
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 18, 2020
Robots can be made from soft materials, but the flexibility of such robots is limited by the inclusion of rigid sensors necessary for their control. Researchers created embedded sensors, to replace rigid sensors, that offer the same functionality but afford the robot greater flexibility. Soft robots can be more adaptable and resilient than more traditional rigid designs. The team used cutting-ed ... more
+ Next generation of soft robots inspired by a children's toy
+ E-commerce startup banks on robotics, AI to win consumers
+ UCLA and Carnegie Mellon researchers develop real-time physics engine for soft robotics
+ 'Steering wheel' brain neurons control if mouse turns left, right
+ Facebook trains AI on 'hateful memes'
+ Pandemic gives fresh momentum to digital voice technology
+ Inspired by cheetahs, researchers build fastest soft robots yet
Northrop Grumman supports government flight testing of the MQ-8C Fire Scout Radar
Patuxent River MD (SPX) May 11, 2020
The U.S. Navy, with support from Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), commenced flight testing of the MQ-8C Fire Scout equipped with the Leonardo AN/ZPY-8 radar. "The AN/ZPY-8 radar significantly increases Fire Scout's detection and tracking of targets. The ability to simultaneously employ multiple modes supports U.S. Navy intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance requirements," s ... more
+ FLIR to supply Black Hornet Nano-UAV Systems for US Army's Soldier Borne Sensor Program
+ Textron nabs $20.7M contract modification for Navy drone program
+ Elbit Systems Introduces a UAS-Based Long-Range Maritime Rescue Capability
+ US military lose second drone in Niger
+ Boeing presents first Loyal Wingman drone aircraft to Australia
+ Pentagon announces new mission for secretive space drone
+ Israel Defense Ministry buys small exploding drones
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