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Space News & Blog Articles
Tune into the SpaceZE News Network to stay updated on industry news from around the world.
Teaming up for space fun
PLAYMOBIL's little robot space explorer ROBert was reunited with ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer and ESA Kids mascot Paxi as they teamed up to meet young space fans at ESA's Space Days. Children had an absolute blast at ESA's Space Days, held at the PLAYMOBIL FunPark in Zirndorf, Germany from 30 May to 2 June 2024.
Instead of Losing its Atmosphere, an Exoplanet Puffed Up and Held Onto it
To date, astronomers have confirmed the existence of 5638 extrasolar planets in 4,199 star systems. In the process, scientists have found many worlds that have defied expectations. This is certainly the case regarding “hot Neptunes,” planets that are similar to the “ice giants” of the outer Solar System but orbit much closer to their stars. But when a Johns Hopkins University-led team of astronomers discovered TIC365102760 b (aka. Pheonix), they observed something entirely unexpected: a Neptune-sized planet that retained its atmosphere by puffing up.
Carbon is Surprisingly Abundant in an Early Galaxy
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has once again found evidence that the early universe was a far more complex place than we thought. This time, it has detected the signature of carbon atoms present in a galaxy that formed just 350 million years after the Big Bang – one of the earliest galaxies ever observed.
Sandworms rise from the sands of Arrakis in exclusive sneak peek at 'Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 3'
An exclusive look at "Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 3: The Prophet," which comes out on July 16.
What is the 3-body problem, and is it really unsolvable?
The three-body problem is a physics conundrum that has boggled scientists since Isaac Newton's day. But what is it, why is it so hard to solve and is the sci-fi series of the same name really possible?
Astronauts test SpaceX Starship hardware and spacesuits for Artemis 3 moon mission (photos)
Two astronauts performed tests inside full-scale mock ups of SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System to test spacesuits and other hardware for NASA's Artemis 3 moon mission.
'Stellar Dreams' project gifting 100 telescopes to 100 families (exclusive)
An interview with Raven Baxter and NASA's Ronald Gamble about the Stellar Dreams Project, which will give 100 telescopes to 100 families.
Euclid is Finding Free Floating Planets in Orion Too
There are likely millions of “rogue” or free-floating planets (FFPs) spread through the galaxy. These planets, which aren’t big enough to become stars but also aren’t beholden to a star’s gravity, are some of the hardest objects for astronomers to spot, as they don’t give off their own light, and can only be seen when they cross in front of something that does give off its own light. Enter Euclid, a space telescope that launched last year. Its primary mission is to observe the universe’s history, but a new paper describes an exciting side project – finding FFPs in Orion.
At long last: Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket set to debut on July 9
Europe's new Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket is set to launch for the first time on July 9 after a series of delays.
Where Did Venus's Water Go?
It should not be surprising that Venus is dry. It is famous for its hellish conditions, with dense sulphurous clouds, rains of acid, atmospheric pressures comparable to a 900 meter deep lake, and a surface temperature high enough to melt lead. But it’s lack of water is not just a lack of rain and oceans: there’s no ice or water vapour either. Like Earth, Venus is found within our Solar System’s goldilocks zone, so it would have had plenty of water when it was first formed. So where did all of Venus’s water go?
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 114 —Starliners & Starships
On Episode 114 of This Week In Space, Rod and Tariq talk about the launches of Boeing's Starliner and SpaceX's Starship.
SpaceX wants to build 1 Starship megarocket a day with new Starfactory
During a successful fourth flight test of Starship this week, SpaceX stated another big goal: Building one megarocket a day at its new Starfactory.
Arrokoth the 'space snowman' probably tastes like sweet soap
Kuiper Belt Object Arrokoth, the farthest object ever explored by a spacecraft, likely tastes sweet — and soapy.
Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders, who captured 'Earthrise,' killed in plane crash
Bill Anders, who as an Apollo 8 astronaut was one of the first people to fly to the moon in 1968, was killed on June 7 when the vintage plane he was piloting crashed off the coast of Washington.
Starliner crew welcomed aboard space station
Space station commander Oleg Kononenko, flanked on his left by Starliner commander Butch Wilmore and on his right by co-pilot Sunita Williams, anchors a group photo of the lab’s seven long-duration crew members and their two visitors. Back row, left to right: cosmonaut Nikolai Chub, Jeanette Epps and Matthew Dominick; middle row, left to right: cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, Tracy Dyson and Michael Barratt. Image: NASA
Working around multiple helium leaks and thruster problems, the crew of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft wrapped up a challenging rendezvous and a delayed-but-successful docking with the International Space Station Thursday in a major milestone for the new ship’s first piloted test flight.
SpaceX to launch 20 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 flight from Vandenberg Space Force Base
A stack of SpaceX Starlink satellites, which included the first six featuring Direct to Cell capabilities. The batch launched on the Starlink 7-9 mission, which lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Jan. 2, 2024. Image: SpaceX
SpaceX is preparing to kick off the weekend with the launch of another batch of its Starlink satellites. The mission, dubbed Starlink 8-8, will add 20 more satellites to the low Earth orbit constellation, including 13 that have Direct to Cell capabilities.
We’re Now Just Weeks Away from a Stellar Explosion You Can See With Your Own Eyes
I’ve seen some pretty incredible things using my eyes.. First off of course, is the stunning sight of a dark star filled sky, then there is the incredible sight of the Andromeda Galaxy 2.5 million light years away. Planets too can of course be seen as they slowly move across the sky but it’s a little more unusual to see something that reminds us the Universe changes. Well, we have an opportunity in just a few weeks time. The star T Corona Borealis (T CrB) will brighten about 1,500 times so it can be seen with the unaided eye. Miss it though and you will have to wait another 80 years!
NASA wants new ideas for its troubled Mars Sample Return mission
NASA's Mars Sample Return mission has faced quite a few hurdles, and the agency has selected ten studies to try and find more affordable and quicker means of going about the project.
