Asteroid Exploration
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UCLA Unveils SPLITTER, a Tethered Jumping Robot for Space Exploration
Researchers at UCLA’s RoMeLa lab have developed SPLITTER, a robotic system designed for planetary exploration through tethered jumping. The system consists of two quadrupedal robots connected by a tether, allowing efficient movement in low-gravity environments like the Moon and asteroids. Unlike traditional rovers, SPLITTER’s design enables sta...
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Tesla Roadster Mistakenly Classified as Near-Earth Asteroid
A recent error by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) mistakenly classified Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster as a near-Earth asteroid. The object, launched into space aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy in 2018, was briefly listed in the MPC’s database before the error was identified and corrected within hours. This incident highlights growing concerns about the ...
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Asteroid 2024 YR4 Has a Small but Notable Chance of Earth Impact in 2032
NASA scientists are closely monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4, a newly discovered 55-metre-wide object with a 1.2% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. If it collides, it could release energy equivalent to eight megatons of TNT, enough to cause serious regional damage. Currently ranked as a Level 3 threat on the Torino Scale, its classificati...
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Study Reveals Earth's Small Asteroid Likely Originated from the Moon
Asteroid 2024 PT5, discovered near Earth in 2024, is suspected to be a fragment from the Moon’s surface. Researchers found its composition matches lunar rock samples, specifically silicate-rich materials, unlike any known asteroid. Analysis from NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies confirmed it is a natural object, not human-made debris,...
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Space Missions of 2025: Lunar Landings, Asteroid Sampling, and More
Space exploration in 2025 will see remarkable missions from global agencies like NASA, ESA, China, and Japan. Key initiatives include lunar landings through NASA’s CLPS and Japan’s M2/Resilience, which will test new technologies and study lunar resources. China’s Tianwen-2 mission aims to collect asteroid samples and explore a comet, advancin...
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Mars' Moons Might Have Been Created From Asteroids Coming Too Close to the Red Planet
A study published in Icarus explores the possibility that Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos, formed from asteroid debris torn apart by the planet’s gravitational forces. Researchers ran advanced simulations to propose this scenario, which fits the moons’ circular orbits better than previous theories. Japan’s upcoming MMX mission is expected to...
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Mars’ Moons Phobos and Deimos Could Be Asteroid Debris, New Study Reveals
New research proposes that Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos, could have originated from an asteroid torn apart by the planet’s gravity. Simulations show that this shredded asteroid could have formed a ring around Mars, eventually coalescing into the moons. The theory is being tested through the upcoming Mars Moons Exploration mission, which could...
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Earth’s Temporary Second Moon 2024 PT5 Bids Farewell as It Exits Orbit
On 29 September 2024, Earth briefly welcomed asteroid 2024 PT5 as a second moon. Discovered by NASA's ATLAS, this small asteroid will exit Earth's orbit by mid-November 2024. Its fleeting presence offers astronomers valuable insights into tracking mini-moons and potential asteroid threats. As scientists explore these transient companions, they unco...
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New Mini-Moon 2024 PT5: A Major Step Towards Space Mining Opportunities
The newly discovered mini-moon, 2024 PT5, entered Earth's orbit on September 29, 2024, and will remain until November 25. This small asteroid, measuring around 10 metres, provides a unique opportunity for researchers to study near-Earth objects and explore the viability of space mining. Experts believe that asteroids contain precious metals, which ...
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Hera Spacecraft Embarks on Mission to Study Asteroid Redirected by NASA in 2022
The Hera spacecraft has successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, embarking on an international mission to study the asteroid Dimorphos, which was altered in course by NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in 2022. Expected to reach its target by December 2026, Hera will examine the impact crater left by the DART mission and deploy two ...
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Dwarf Planet Ceres Once Hosted a Muddy Ocean Below Its Icy Surface
Recent research indicates that Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt, likely harboured a muddy ocean beneath its icy crust. Advanced computer simulations suggest that its surface features and gravity measurements point to a past rich in ice. With its proximity to Earth, Ceres presents a promising target for further exploration, making it t...
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US Scientists Demonstrate Revolutionary Method To Deflect Asteroids Using Nuclear Explosion
In New Mexico, scientists are exploring a futuristic solution to defend Earth against asteroid threats: harnessing X-ray blasts from nuclear explosions.
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Elon Musk Believes He Might Be Dead Before Humans Settle on Mars, Here's Why
Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, has openly questioned whether he will live to see humans colonize Mars. Speaking at the Satellite 2020 conference, Musk highlighted the slow pace of advancements in space travel and the enormous challenges that remain. Despite the remarkable achievements of SpaceX, including the successful launches of Falcon 9 and ...
-
James Webb Space Telescope Discoveries Challenge Theories About Asteroid Psyche’s Origin
Recent findings from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have introduced new uncertainties about asteroid 16 Psyche. Known for its high iron content, Psyche was previously considered a potential remnant of a protoplanet, providing a valuable opportunity to study the early solar system. However, JWST has detected hydrated minerals on its surface, ...
-
NASA Concludes NEOWISE Mission After Successful Asteroid Detections
NASA has officially decommissioned the NEOWISE mission, a key component of its planetary defense strategy. Over its more than 10-year lifespan, NEOWISE exceeded its objectives by detecting thousands of asteroids and comets, including many near-Earth objects that could potentially pose a threat to our planet. The infrared data collected by the space...
-
UCLA Unveils SPLITTER, a Tethered Jumping Robot for Space Exploration
Researchers at UCLA’s RoMeLa lab have developed SPLITTER, a robotic system designed for planetary exploration through tethered jumping. The system consists of two quadrupedal robots connected by a tether, allowing efficient movement in low-gravity environments like the Moon and asteroids. Unlike traditional rovers, SPLITTER’s design enables sta...
-
Tesla Roadster Mistakenly Classified as Near-Earth Asteroid
A recent error by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) mistakenly classified Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster as a near-Earth asteroid. The object, launched into space aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy in 2018, was briefly listed in the MPC’s database before the error was identified and corrected within hours. This incident highlights growing concerns about the ...
-
Asteroid 2024 YR4 Has a Small but Notable Chance of Earth Impact in 2032
NASA scientists are closely monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4, a newly discovered 55-metre-wide object with a 1.2% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. If it collides, it could release energy equivalent to eight megatons of TNT, enough to cause serious regional damage. Currently ranked as a Level 3 threat on the Torino Scale, its classificati...
-
Study Reveals Earth's Small Asteroid Likely Originated from the Moon
Asteroid 2024 PT5, discovered near Earth in 2024, is suspected to be a fragment from the Moon’s surface. Researchers found its composition matches lunar rock samples, specifically silicate-rich materials, unlike any known asteroid. Analysis from NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies confirmed it is a natural object, not human-made debris,...
-
Space Missions of 2025: Lunar Landings, Asteroid Sampling, and More
Space exploration in 2025 will see remarkable missions from global agencies like NASA, ESA, China, and Japan. Key initiatives include lunar landings through NASA’s CLPS and Japan’s M2/Resilience, which will test new technologies and study lunar resources. China’s Tianwen-2 mission aims to collect asteroid samples and explore a comet, advancin...
-
Mars' Moons Might Have Been Created From Asteroids Coming Too Close to the Red Planet
A study published in Icarus explores the possibility that Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos, formed from asteroid debris torn apart by the planet’s gravitational forces. Researchers ran advanced simulations to propose this scenario, which fits the moons’ circular orbits better than previous theories. Japan’s upcoming MMX mission is expected to...
-
Mars’ Moons Phobos and Deimos Could Be Asteroid Debris, New Study Reveals
New research proposes that Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos, could have originated from an asteroid torn apart by the planet’s gravity. Simulations show that this shredded asteroid could have formed a ring around Mars, eventually coalescing into the moons. The theory is being tested through the upcoming Mars Moons Exploration mission, which could...
-
Earth’s Temporary Second Moon 2024 PT5 Bids Farewell as It Exits Orbit
On 29 September 2024, Earth briefly welcomed asteroid 2024 PT5 as a second moon. Discovered by NASA's ATLAS, this small asteroid will exit Earth's orbit by mid-November 2024. Its fleeting presence offers astronomers valuable insights into tracking mini-moons and potential asteroid threats. As scientists explore these transient companions, they unco...
-
New Mini-Moon 2024 PT5: A Major Step Towards Space Mining Opportunities
The newly discovered mini-moon, 2024 PT5, entered Earth's orbit on September 29, 2024, and will remain until November 25. This small asteroid, measuring around 10 metres, provides a unique opportunity for researchers to study near-Earth objects and explore the viability of space mining. Experts believe that asteroids contain precious metals, which ...
-
Hera Spacecraft Embarks on Mission to Study Asteroid Redirected by NASA in 2022
The Hera spacecraft has successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, embarking on an international mission to study the asteroid Dimorphos, which was altered in course by NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in 2022. Expected to reach its target by December 2026, Hera will examine the impact crater left by the DART mission and deploy two ...
-
Dwarf Planet Ceres Once Hosted a Muddy Ocean Below Its Icy Surface
Recent research indicates that Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt, likely harboured a muddy ocean beneath its icy crust. Advanced computer simulations suggest that its surface features and gravity measurements point to a past rich in ice. With its proximity to Earth, Ceres presents a promising target for further exploration, making it t...
-
US Scientists Demonstrate Revolutionary Method To Deflect Asteroids Using Nuclear Explosion
In New Mexico, scientists are exploring a futuristic solution to defend Earth against asteroid threats: harnessing X-ray blasts from nuclear explosions.
-
Elon Musk Believes He Might Be Dead Before Humans Settle on Mars, Here's Why
Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, has openly questioned whether he will live to see humans colonize Mars. Speaking at the Satellite 2020 conference, Musk highlighted the slow pace of advancements in space travel and the enormous challenges that remain. Despite the remarkable achievements of SpaceX, including the successful launches of Falcon 9 and ...
-
James Webb Space Telescope Discoveries Challenge Theories About Asteroid Psyche’s Origin
Recent findings from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have introduced new uncertainties about asteroid 16 Psyche. Known for its high iron content, Psyche was previously considered a potential remnant of a protoplanet, providing a valuable opportunity to study the early solar system. However, JWST has detected hydrated minerals on its surface, ...
-
NASA Concludes NEOWISE Mission After Successful Asteroid Detections
NASA has officially decommissioned the NEOWISE mission, a key component of its planetary defense strategy. Over its more than 10-year lifespan, NEOWISE exceeded its objectives by detecting thousands of asteroids and comets, including many near-Earth objects that could potentially pose a threat to our planet. The infrared data collected by the space...
