SpaceX launched a batch of spy satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office tonight (Sept. 5), the company's second orbital mission of the day.
Space News & Blog Articles
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The Final Vega Rocket Blasts Off
The European Space Agency (ESA) launched its final Vega rocket this week, lofting a Sentinel-2C Earth observation satellite into orbit. This wraps up 12 years of service and 20 successful flights for the venerable Vega. The rocket launched several well-known missions, including LISA Pathfinder (2015), the Earth-observing satellites Proba-V (2013), and Aeolus (2018). ESA will now launch these types of payloads on the new Vega-C rocket, capable of launching heavier payloads at a lower price.
Ouch! A Monster Asteroid Crashed Into Ganymede 4 Billion Years Ago, Rolling it Over
Jupiter’s moon, Ganymede, is a fascinating celestial body. Measuring 2,634 km (1,636 mi) in diameter, it is also the largest satellite in the Solar System and even larger than Mercury, which measures 2,440 km (1,516 mi) in diameter. Like Europa, it has an interior ocean and is one of the few bodies in the Solar System (other than the gas giants) with an intrinsic magnetic field. The presence of this field also means Ganymede experiences aurorae circling the regions around its northern and southern poles due to interaction with Jupiter’s magnetic field.
SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket on national security mission for the NRO
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands at Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) prior to the launch of the NROL-113 mission. Image: SpaceX
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket with an undisclosed number of satellites on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The spacecraft, which are believed to be Starshield satellites, make up the third batch of what the NRO calls its “proliferated architecture.”
NASA’s Putting its Solar Sail Through its Paces
Those of you following the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System may have heard that its booms and sail are now deployed. It is receiving light pressure from the Sun to propel it through the Solar System. Like a test pilot in a new aircraft, NASA are now testing out just how it handles. Before deployment, the spacecraft was slowly tumbling and now the controllers will see if they can get it under control and under sail power. The reflectivity of the sail means its an easy spot in the night sky, just fire up the NASA app to find out where to look.
A partial lunar eclipse of the Harvest Moon Supermoon is coming. Here's everything you need to know
September's Full Harvest Moon will be a supermoon in addition to experiencing a partial lunar eclipse. Here's everything you need to know for this month's full moon.
Watch eerie 1st teaser for Hulu's 'Alien: Earth' TV series (video)
A new teaser and plot description has arrived for Hulu’'s "Alien: Earth" TV series.
There are Important Differences Between the Ice Caps on Mars
In the 17th century, astronomers Giovanni Domenica Cassini and Christian Huygens noted the presence of hazy white caps while studying the Martian polar regions. These findings confirmed that Mars had ice caps in both polar regions, similar to Earth. By the 18th century, astronomers began to notice how the size of these poles varied depending on where Mars was in its orbital cycle. Along with discovering that Mars’ axis was tilted like Earth’s, astronomers realized that Mars’ polar ice caps underwent seasonal changes, much like Earth’s.
NASA spacecraft captures 1st photo of its giant solar sail while tumbling in space
NASA's testing a solar sail system in space, and the spacecraft that brought the tech there has snapped a photo.
'No Man's Sky' receives fishing, diving, and exo-skiffs via 'Aquarius' update (video)
After another major universe refresh, No Man's Sky continues its journey to become the ultimate time sink space game by adding alien fishing.
Archaeological Methods Reveal How Astronauts Work on the International Space Station
Archaeology is the study of human prehistory, so it seems incongruous to use its methods to study how humans behave in space. But that’s what astronauts aboard the International Space Station are doing.
The 1st Milky Way black hole image was groundbreaking — the next could be even better
By demonstrating the ability for joint observations at the short radio wavelength of 0.87mm, the Event Horizon Telescope has improved its observational acuity by half.
BepiColombo Mission Returns to Mercury for Best Flyby Views Yet
The BepiColombo mission has completed its fourth and closest pass yet of Mercury, giving us brand-new views of the planet's south pole region.
NASA astronauts can't wear Boeing Starliner spacesuits in SpaceX's Dragon. Here's why
NASA's Starliner astronauts will temporarily have an emergency spot available on a SpaceX Crew Dragon, but they can't wear spacesuits there. That will change in a few weeks.
Used SpaceX rocket launches 7,001st Starlink satellites (and 20 others), lands at sea (video)
A SpaceX rocket carrying the 7,001st Starlink internet satellite launched into orbit from Florida today (Sept. 5), then aced its landing at sea.
Meet Phaethon, a weird asteroid that thinks it's a comet – our new research may explain what's going on
Meet Phaethon, a "rock comet" that blurs the definitions between asteroid and comet, and learn why it will be worth paying attention to this fascinating object in the coming years.
The Andromeda Galaxy glows rosy red in gorgeous new Hubble Telescope image
The reddish structures of our neighboring galaxy glow brightly in a new image from the Hubble Space Telescope.
New Galileo satellites operational after successful in-orbit testing
The two new Galileo satellites launched in April have entered service, completing the second of three constellation planes. With every addition to the constellation, the precision, availability and robustness of the Galileo signal is improved. The next launch is planned in the coming weeks and the remaining six Galileo First Generation satellites will join the constellation in the next years.
Is the Sagittarius constellation a teapot or an archer?
Although officially known as the celestial archer, the zodiacal constellation of Sagittarius is far better recognized as a teapot. Here's how to see it this season.
Astronaut watches a meteor explode over Earth in a bright green fireball in stunning video from ISS
A new video from an astronaut's vantage point in space captures a bright green burst over Earth as a meteor exploded in the night sky.
BepiColombo's best images yet highlight fourth Mercury flyby
The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission has successfully completed its fourth of six gravity assist flybys at Mercury, capturing images of two special impact craters as it uses the little planet’s gravity to steer itself on course to enter orbit around Mercury in November 2026.
