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NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Moon Probe Struggles with Power and Signal Loss
NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, launched on 26 February, has lost communication and is running low on power. The spacecraft, meant to detect water ice on the moon, has been unable to perform key trajectory corrections. Ground controllers are using the Deep Space Network and observatories to assess its position, but recovery remains uncertain. The missi...
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NASA Tests Advanced Infrared Technology to Improve Wildfire Monitoring
NASA tested its Compact Fire Infrared Radiance Spectral Tracker (c-FIRST) over California wildfires to improve real-time fire tracking. Managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the instrument captures high-resolution thermal infrared data, identifying temperature variations across wildfire-affected areas. Experts believe this could help firef...
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SpaceX Delays Starship Flight 8 Launch After Technical Glitches
The scheduled launch of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 8 on March 3 was delayed due to last-minute technical issues. The test flight was expected to evaluate the booster recovery system and deploy four Starlink satellite models. A previous test, Flight 7, saw partial success, with the booster landing as planned but the upper stage failing due to a prop...
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NASA Launches Satellite On Mission To Detect Water On The Moon
Lunar Trailblazer, which weighs about 440 pounds (200 kg) and measures about 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) wide when its solar panels are fully deployed, is being sent to find and map this water on the moon's surface.
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Solar Sail Satellites Could Enhance Space Weather Forecasting and Alerts
Solar sail satellites, harnessing sunlight for propulsion, are being developed to improve space weather forecasting. NOAA and NASA’s Solar Cruiser project aims to extend geomagnetic storm alert times by 50%, reducing risks to power grids, GPS, and air traffic. The new spacecraft, expected to launch in 2029, will move beyond traditional observatio...
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Suspicion Gives Way To TRUST: India-US Joint Space Missions Take Flight
An Indian astronaut - or a Gaganyatri - will soon travel to the International Space Station (ISS), and a groundbreaking India-US earth-imaging satellite will be launched on an Indian rocket.
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May 2024 Solar Storm Triggers Unusual Radiation Belts, Raising Space Safety Concerns
A significant solar storm in May 2024 led to the creation of two temporary radiation belts, detected by the CIRBE satellite in June. One belt contained high-energy electrons, while the other was rich in protons, a rare occurrence. While the electron belt dissipated in three months, the proton-dominated belt remains, potentially affecting space miss...
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A Star With a Planet May Be Racing Through the Galaxy at Record Speed
Astronomers have identified a potential record-breaking exoplanet system moving at 1.2 million mph. Detected through microlensing, the discovery suggests a low-mass star with an orbiting planet is racing through the Milky Way. Data from the Keck Observatory and ESA’s Gaia satellite indicate a high-speed celestial body that may eventually escape t...
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NASA’s PUNCH Mission Set to Track the Sun’s Corona and Solar Wind in 3D
NASA’s PUNCH mission, set for launch on Feb 27, will deploy four satellites to study the transition between the sun’s corona and the solar wind. The mission aims to improve understanding of space weather by capturing 3D images, helping predict solar storms with greater accuracy. The data will also complement NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, offerin...
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SpaceX Falcon 9 Deploys SpainSat NG-1, Enhancing Secure Communications
SpaceX has successfully launched SpainSat NG-1, a next-generation communications satellite, aboard its Falcon 9 rocket. Developed by Hisdesat in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the satellite is designed to enhance secure governmental communications across Europe. The launch took place from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, with dep...
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Chorus Waves Found Far From Earth Raise Concerns for Space Exploration
Chorus waves, energetic electromagnetic bursts resembling bird chirps, have been detected 100,000 miles from Earth, far beyond their usual range. NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale satellites observed these waves in a flatter region of Earth's magnetosphere, contradicting prior assumptions about their formation near strong magnetic gradients. The wav...
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Finland is Now the 53rd Member of the Artemis Accords for Lunar Exploration
Finland has joined 52 other nations in signing the Artemis Accords, committing to safe and peaceful space exploration. The agreement, signed on January 21, 2025, during the Winter Satellite Workshop in Espoo, Finland, underscores the Nordic nation’s efforts to advance global collaboration in space activities. Finland's Minister of Economic Affai...
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Astronomers Spot Hundreds of Hidden Supermassive Black Holes Using Infrared
Hundreds of hidden supermassive black holes have been identified using infrared observations, offering fresh insights into their role in galaxy formation. Researchers relied on data from NASA's Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) to detect emissions from black holes obscured by thick clouds ...
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Satellite Captures Svalbard Bear Island's Rare Cloud Formations and Algal Bloom
A 2023 satellite image captured algal bloom and atmospheric vortices near Bear Island in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. The algal bloom, stretching 400 kilometres, formed vibrant spirals due to ocean currents. Atmospheric vortices, caused by airflow disruption over Miseryfjellet mountain, mirrored these patterns in the sky. Bear Island’s radioa...
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Mars Satellite Images Reveal Giant 'Kidney Beans,' Sparking Hints of Water and Life
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of frozen sand dunes in Mars' northern hemisphere, revealing unique formations halted by carbon dioxide frost during winter. Unlike Earth's desert dunes, which shift with wind, these Martian dunes remain stationary until spring thaw releases their icy grip. Scientists study these features to unders...
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NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Moon Probe Struggles with Power and Signal Loss
NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, launched on 26 February, has lost communication and is running low on power. The spacecraft, meant to detect water ice on the moon, has been unable to perform key trajectory corrections. Ground controllers are using the Deep Space Network and observatories to assess its position, but recovery remains uncertain. The missi...
-
NASA Tests Advanced Infrared Technology to Improve Wildfire Monitoring
NASA tested its Compact Fire Infrared Radiance Spectral Tracker (c-FIRST) over California wildfires to improve real-time fire tracking. Managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the instrument captures high-resolution thermal infrared data, identifying temperature variations across wildfire-affected areas. Experts believe this could help firef...
-
SpaceX Delays Starship Flight 8 Launch After Technical Glitches
The scheduled launch of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 8 on March 3 was delayed due to last-minute technical issues. The test flight was expected to evaluate the booster recovery system and deploy four Starlink satellite models. A previous test, Flight 7, saw partial success, with the booster landing as planned but the upper stage failing due to a prop...
-
NASA Launches Satellite On Mission To Detect Water On The Moon
Lunar Trailblazer, which weighs about 440 pounds (200 kg) and measures about 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) wide when its solar panels are fully deployed, is being sent to find and map this water on the moon's surface.
-
Solar Sail Satellites Could Enhance Space Weather Forecasting and Alerts
Solar sail satellites, harnessing sunlight for propulsion, are being developed to improve space weather forecasting. NOAA and NASA’s Solar Cruiser project aims to extend geomagnetic storm alert times by 50%, reducing risks to power grids, GPS, and air traffic. The new spacecraft, expected to launch in 2029, will move beyond traditional observatio...
-
Suspicion Gives Way To TRUST: India-US Joint Space Missions Take Flight
An Indian astronaut - or a Gaganyatri - will soon travel to the International Space Station (ISS), and a groundbreaking India-US earth-imaging satellite will be launched on an Indian rocket.
-
May 2024 Solar Storm Triggers Unusual Radiation Belts, Raising Space Safety Concerns
A significant solar storm in May 2024 led to the creation of two temporary radiation belts, detected by the CIRBE satellite in June. One belt contained high-energy electrons, while the other was rich in protons, a rare occurrence. While the electron belt dissipated in three months, the proton-dominated belt remains, potentially affecting space miss...
-
A Star With a Planet May Be Racing Through the Galaxy at Record Speed
Astronomers have identified a potential record-breaking exoplanet system moving at 1.2 million mph. Detected through microlensing, the discovery suggests a low-mass star with an orbiting planet is racing through the Milky Way. Data from the Keck Observatory and ESA’s Gaia satellite indicate a high-speed celestial body that may eventually escape t...
-
NASA’s PUNCH Mission Set to Track the Sun’s Corona and Solar Wind in 3D
NASA’s PUNCH mission, set for launch on Feb 27, will deploy four satellites to study the transition between the sun’s corona and the solar wind. The mission aims to improve understanding of space weather by capturing 3D images, helping predict solar storms with greater accuracy. The data will also complement NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, offerin...
-
SpaceX Falcon 9 Deploys SpainSat NG-1, Enhancing Secure Communications
SpaceX has successfully launched SpainSat NG-1, a next-generation communications satellite, aboard its Falcon 9 rocket. Developed by Hisdesat in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the satellite is designed to enhance secure governmental communications across Europe. The launch took place from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, with dep...
-
Chorus Waves Found Far From Earth Raise Concerns for Space Exploration
Chorus waves, energetic electromagnetic bursts resembling bird chirps, have been detected 100,000 miles from Earth, far beyond their usual range. NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale satellites observed these waves in a flatter region of Earth's magnetosphere, contradicting prior assumptions about their formation near strong magnetic gradients. The wav...
-
Finland is Now the 53rd Member of the Artemis Accords for Lunar Exploration
Finland has joined 52 other nations in signing the Artemis Accords, committing to safe and peaceful space exploration. The agreement, signed on January 21, 2025, during the Winter Satellite Workshop in Espoo, Finland, underscores the Nordic nation’s efforts to advance global collaboration in space activities. Finland's Minister of Economic Affai...
-
Astronomers Spot Hundreds of Hidden Supermassive Black Holes Using Infrared
Hundreds of hidden supermassive black holes have been identified using infrared observations, offering fresh insights into their role in galaxy formation. Researchers relied on data from NASA's Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) to detect emissions from black holes obscured by thick clouds ...
-
Satellite Captures Svalbard Bear Island's Rare Cloud Formations and Algal Bloom
A 2023 satellite image captured algal bloom and atmospheric vortices near Bear Island in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. The algal bloom, stretching 400 kilometres, formed vibrant spirals due to ocean currents. Atmospheric vortices, caused by airflow disruption over Miseryfjellet mountain, mirrored these patterns in the sky. Bear Island’s radioa...
-
Mars Satellite Images Reveal Giant 'Kidney Beans,' Sparking Hints of Water and Life
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of frozen sand dunes in Mars' northern hemisphere, revealing unique formations halted by carbon dioxide frost during winter. Unlike Earth's desert dunes, which shift with wind, these Martian dunes remain stationary until spring thaw releases their icy grip. Scientists study these features to unders...
