With NASA gearing up to send humans back to the Moon in the next few years with the Artemis missions with the goal of establishing a permanent outpost at the lunar south pole, nations are making efforts to contribute to Artemis and a permanent presence on our nearest celestial neighbor. Recently, the Italian Space Agency, formally known as Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), has taken steps to establish the first permanent outpost on the lunar surface, known simply as the Multi-Purpose Habitat (MPH). This endeavor was officially kicked by the ASI signing a contract with the French-based aerospace company, Thales Alenia Space, who specializes in space-based systems, including ground segments and satellites used for both Earth observation and space exploration.
Space News & Blog Articles
Hubble is Offline Because of a Problem with one of its Gyros
The rich flow of scientific data—and stunning images—that comes from the Hubble Space Telescope is being interrupted by gyro problems. One of the telescope’s three remaining gyros gave faulty readings, and the Hubble automatically entered safe mode. In safe mode, science operations are suspended.
Spider Pulsars are Tearing Apart Stars in the Omega Cluster
Pulsars are extreme objects. They’re what’s left over when a massive star collapses on itself and explodes as a supernova. This creates a neutron star. Neutron stars spin, and some of them emit radiation. When they emit radiation from their poles that we can see, we call them pulsars.
Fermi has Found More than 300 Gamma-Ray Pulsars
In June 2008, the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope began surveying the cosmos to study some of the most energetic phenomena in the Universe. Shortly after that, NASA renamed the observatory in the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope in honor of Professor Enrico Fermi (1901-1954), a pioneer in high-energy physics. During its mission, Fermi has addressed questions regarding some of the most mysterious and energetic phenomena in the Universe – like gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), cosmic rays, and extremely dense stellar remnants like pulsars.
ESA Director General: Ariane 6 aiming for summer 2024 debut
The Ariane 6 rocket photographed at dusk in French Guiana. During a briefing on Thursday, Nov. 30, ESA officials discussed a summer timeframe for the first launch of the rocket. Image: ESA
Lengthy delays for the debut of Europe’s future flagship rocket may have an end in sight. During a briefing with press on Thursday, European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher announced that Ariane 6 would have its first launch between mid-June and the end of July in 2024.
Vera Rubin Will Generate a Mind-Boggling Amount of Data
When the Vera C. Rubin Observatory comes online in 2025, it will be one of the most powerful tools available to astronomers, capturing huge portions of the sky every night with its 8.4-meter mirror and 3.2-gigapixel camera. Each image will be analyzed within 60 seconds, alerting astronomers to transient events like supernovae. An incredible five petabytes (5,000 terabytes) of new raw images will be recorded each year and made available for astronomers to study.
Six Sub-Neptunes Discovered 100 Light-Years Away
Astronomers have uncovered six sub-Neptune exoplanets dancing in lock-step around the same distant star, shedding light on their formation.
Global Stocktake: how space drives climate action
Video: 00:12:34
Almost 200 countries are gathering in Dubai to attend the biggest climate event of the year. COP28 – the 2023 United Nations climate change summit – isn’t just another conference though. For the first time, country representatives will assess the progress they’ve made towards cutting their greenhouse gas emissions through a process called the ‘global stocktake’.
Mary Cleave, space shuttle astronaut who led NASA's science division, dies at 76
Mary Cleave, who launched twice on the space shuttle before becoming the first woman to head NASA's science division, has died. Cleave was the 10th woman to fly in space and spent 11 days in orbit.
Hubble Space Telescope is in safe mode — but scientists aren't too worried
The Hubble Space Telescope has entered an automatic safe mode due to gyroscope difficulties, but scientists aren't worried about the observatory's health.
Powerful 'Cannibal' solar burst will hit Earth tonight. Widespread auroras predicted
A 'Cannibal' plasma eruption from the sun will hit Earth on Dec. 1. Scientists predict strong geomagnetic storm conditions and impressive auroras.
Asteroid Phaethon's mysterious tail may finally have an explanation
Spectral analysis of the mystery asteroid Phaethon reveals its composition at last.
Webb study reveals rocky planets can form in extreme environments
An international team of astronomers have used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to provide the first observation of water and other molecules in the inner, rocky-planet-forming regions of a disc in one of the most extreme environments in our galaxy.
Our solar system's planets aren't weird after all. Exoplanets have tilted orbits, too
All solar system planets circle our sun with slightly tilted orbits — and a new study shows even distant planetary systems in quiet neighborhoods have orbital tilts, too.
Big blob of hot water in Pacific may be making El Niño act weirdly
El Niño is in full swing and will likely remain "strong" this winter, but its effect on weather patterns in the U.S. depends on the behavior of an unusually warm blob in the western Pacific, experts say.
Earth-like planets may form even in harsh environments, James Webb Space Telescope finds
The James Webb Space Telescope has found water and organic carbon molecules in the vicinity of a massive, active young star.
Our neighbor the Andromeda Galaxy shines overhead this week. Here's how to see it
Located at a distance of 2.5 million light-years, the Andromeda Galaxy is readily visible to the unaided eye on dark, clear nights. Here's where you should look this week.
A Gamma-ray Burst Disturbed the Earth’s Ionosphere
You’d think that something happening billions of light-years away wouldn’t affect Earth, right? Well, in 2002, a burst of gamma rays lasting 800 seconds actually impacted our planet. They came from a powerful and very distant supernova explosion. Its gamma-ray bombardment disturbed our planet’s ionosphere and activated lightning detectors in India.
ISS astronauts watch Russian cargo ship burn up in Earth's atmosphere (photos)
NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli watched Russia's Progress MS-23 cargo ship burn up in Earth's atmosphere just hours after it undocked from the International Space Station.
Get Ready to Greet the Geminid Meteor Shower!
The year's most spectacular meteor shower is upon us. Prepare to enjoy the Geminids under a dark, moonless sky, when you might see more than 100 meteors per hour.
Watch Jupiter's Moons in Unusual Lineups
You'll have five opportunities in the coming months to see Jupiter's moons in interesting alignments.
