The scientific and astronomical community are eagerly waiting for Tuesday, July 12th, to come around. On this day, the first images taken by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will be released! According to a previous statement by the agency, these images will include the deepest views of the Universe ever taken and spectra obtained from an exoplanet atmosphere. In another statement issued yesterday, the images were so beautiful that they almost brought Thomas Zarbuchen – Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) – to tears!
Space News & Blog Articles
I watched hundreds of flat-Earth videos to learn how conspiracy theories spread — and what it could mean for fighting disinformation
By studying how flat Earthers talk about their beliefs, we can learn how they make their arguments engaging to their audience, and in turn, learn what makes disinformation spread online.
Perseverance Mars rover wind sensor damaged by pebbles, but still operational
The Perseverance team says the rover can still take key weather measurements after pebbles struck a wind sensor amid strong Red Planet gusts.
Aphelion 2022: Earth will be farthest from the sun on the Fourth of July
Earth will be the farthest from the sun on Monday (July 4) as it reaches aphelion at 3 a.m. EDT (0700 GMT).
James Webb Space Telescope has comets to catch when science begins
The James Webb Space Telescope's powerful infrared instruments will be trained on three types of comets, potentially providing insight into the solar system's early life.
The United State announces a stop to testing Anti-Satellite Weapons
The United States Government has declared that it will no longer be performing tests of Anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapons. In a public statement during a visit to the Vandenberg Space Force Base, Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed that this policy has the primary purpose of setting an example to other countries. It represents an important step in the direction of establishing “space norms” for all countries to follow.
Virgin Orbit’s first night launch a success; UK mission next
A camera on-board Virgin Orbit’s first stage captured this view of the main engine plume during the climb into space. Credit: Virgin Orbit
Virgin Orbit’s air-launched rocket carried seven small CubeSats into orbit on the company’s first nighttime mission late Friday night off the coast of California, helping clear the way for teams to base the next Virgin Orbit launch from the United Kingdom later this year.
Atlas 5 rocket launches two U.S. military satellites on $1.1 billion mission
United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, to begin the USSF-12 mission for the U.S. Space Force. Credit: United Launch Alliance
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket fired off its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Friday on a six-hour climb to geosynchronous orbit, deploying a classified payload and a U.S. Space Force satellite to test an improved infrared heat-sensitive sensor design that could help detect and track enemy hypersonic missiles.
Is the electric grid ready for extreme space weather?
It's clear that space weather can cause blackouts, but scientists are still working to predict extreme events and forecast their potentially devastating effects.
NASA reports 'significant progress' in rescuing Lucy asteroid spacecraft's solar array
A stubborn solar array on the NASA Lucy mission might yield enough to allow the mission to continue its asteroid-hunting mandate with few issues, NASA reports.
NASA's flying SOFIA observatory is in New Zealand for the last time
For its last international deployment, the aircraft returns to Christchurch for a seventh and final time.
James Webb Space Telescope will get best view yet of 'failed stars' and rogue planets
One of the instrument's early programs includes performing spectroscopy on stellar nursery NGC 133 to spot the small, dark celestial bodies.
Virgin Orbit launches 7 satellites in 1st night mission
Virgin Orbit just aced its fourth mission in a row, launching seven small satellites in the company's first-ever night flight.
Watch live: NASA moving SLS moon rocket back to hangar tonight
NASA’s Artemis 1 moon rocket stands on pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center on June 30. Credit: Stephen Clark / Spaceflight Now
NASA’s powerful new Space Launch System moon rocket will be hauled from its launch pad back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center overnight Friday into early Saturday morning for final repairs, testing and closeouts, moving closer to liftoff later this summer after completing a fueling demonstration last month.
Mystery Rocket Crash Site, ISS Independence, Space Nuclear Power
NASA teases JWST images, Rocket Lab launches CAPSTONE, mystery rocket’s crash site found on the Moon, how magnetars are created, ISS gets more independent from Russia and more.
Atlas V rocket launches classified missile-tracking satellite for US Space Force
A missile-warning satellite and another spacecraft are on their way to orbit to help the U.S. military get better at tracking fast-moving threats.
The Solar System is Stable for at Least the Next 100,000 Years
It’s nice to have a feel-good story every once in a while, so here’s one to hold off the existential dread: the Earth isn’t likely to get flung off into deep space for at least 100,000 years. In fact, all of the Solar System’s planets are safe for that time frame, so there is good news all around, for you and your favorite planetary body.
Space volcanoes: Origins, variants and eruptions
Capable of both destruction and creation, space volcanoes are common on planets and moons throughout the solar system and beyond.
China's Mars orbiter has mapped the entire Red Planet, nailing key science goal (photos)
China's first successful interplanetary mission has completed mapping the Red Planet more than a year after its arrival.
Exclusive: The hunter becomes the hunted in Marvel Comics 'Predator #1' relaunch
Marvel Comics releases its long-awaited "Predator" series from Ed Brisson and Kev Walker.
NASA's tiny CAPSTONE probe continues spiraling out toward the moon
NASA's little CAPSTONE cubesat is making good progress on its long journey to the moon.