Space Exploration
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- It's almost time for summer's meteor shower duet.
- Sandia scientist John Sandusky believes he has found a way to put heliostats, which typically turn solar energy into electricity, to work in the dark.
- When spacecraft land on the moon, their engines unleash huge clouds of dust and debris that can damage expensive equipment and threaten future lunar bases. As space agencies plan to establish a lasting presence on the moon, understanding how these plumes form has become a critical priority.
- Brain researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have detailed temporary reductions in gray matter following prolonged isolation in Antarctica. Structural losses were most apparent in regions governing memory and spatial processing. Longer sleep durations and higher sleep efficiency corresponded with smaller changes in brain volume.
- The mission team of NASA's Jupiter-orbiting Juno spacecraft executed a deep-space move in December 2023 to repair its JunoCam imager to capture photos of the Jovian moon Io. Results from the long-distance save were presented during a technical session on July 16 at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Nuclear & Space Radiation Effects Conference in Nashville.
- The rapid rise in global rocket launches could slow the recovery of the vital ozone layer, says Sandro Vattioni. The problem is being underestimated—yet it could be mitigated by forward-looking, coordinated action.
- Geology is full of detective stories about the Earth's history, and a new paper in Geology by University of New Mexico Distinguished Professors Emeritus Karl Karlstrom and Laurie Crossey, along with their co‐authors, links two iconic geologic landmarks of the American Southwest: the Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater.
- Space junk is a huge problem. The surge in satellite launches in recent years is leaving low Earth orbit (LEO) cluttered with debris such as discarded rocket bodies, broken parts and defunct satellites. Beyond the risk of debris colliding with working satellites that are vital for navigation, communication and weather forecasting, large pieces could come crashing back down to Earth.
- For sale: A 54-pound (25-kilogram) rock. Estimated auction price: $2 million to $4 million. Why so expensive? It's the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth.
- Astronomers want to unlock the secrets of the "Cosmic Dawn" by sending a miniature spacecraft to listen out for an "ancient whisper" on the far side of the moon.
- Recreating artificial solar eclipses in space could help astronomers decipher the inner workings of our sun much quicker than if they had to wait for the celestial show on Earth.
- If humans are ever going to live beyond Earth, they'll need to construct habitats. But transporting enough industrial material to create livable spaces would be incredibly challenging and expensive. Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) think there's a better way, through biology.
- When astronauts make the long journey to Mars in the not-so-distant future, communication with mission control will be impossible for days to weeks at a time. Enter Daphne-AT: a virtual assistant (VA) designed to help astronauts safely and efficiently solve problems that arise on their spacecraft.
- After nearly 20 years of operations, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is on a roll, performing a new maneuver to squeeze even more science out of the busy spacecraft as it circles the Red Planet. Engineers have essentially taught the probe to roll over so that it's nearly upside down. Doing so enables MRO to look deeper underground as it searches for liquid and frozen water, among other things.
- Sarcopenia, which is a progressive and extensive decline in muscle mass and strength, is common with aging and is estimated to affect up to 50% of people aged 80 and older. It can lead to disability and injuries from falls and is associated with a lower quality of life and increased mortality. Apart from lifestyle changes, there is no current clinical treatment for sarcopenia.
- A NASA spacecraft around the moon has photographed the crash site of a Japanese company's lunar lander.
- Before they take the long journey to another planet, humans will have to find the right place to land. New findings from a University of Mississippi researcher may point to just such a place on Mars.
- As NASA prepares to send astronauts back to the moon for the first time in over 50 years, new research from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) has found that lunar dust is less harmful to human lung cells than previously feared, and significantly less toxic than common Earth-based air pollution.
- Just when we thought we'd learned from the past, humanity is preparing to repeat its most destructive habits—this time, in space.
- The international space industry is on a growth trajectory, but new research shows a rapid increase in rocket launches would damage the ozone layer.
Foto: SpaceX auf Pexels
