Space

NATO

How NATO is Preparing for War in Outer Space

Christopher Plain·
The North Atlantic Treaties Organization (NATO) has issued a formal policy statement, which says that any attack on a member’s assets in space will be considered an attack on the entire alliance. This policy comes mere weeks after Russia put...
asteroids

Why Are Asteroids Sneaking Up on Earth?

Christopher Plain·
NASA funded scientists have identified a celestial “danger zone” where asteroids approaching Earth can go undetected by the system designed to spot such objects until it is too late. In the past, such space rocks have caused significant damage, even...
gravity moon

China Creates Gravity Chamber for Moon Simulations

Christopher Plain·
Chinese scientists have created a gravity manipulation chamber that simulates low gravity environments like those found on the moon. Inspired by previous research that involved levitating a frog, the “artificial moon” is expected to help the Chinese National Space Agency...
setii

SETI to Begin Searching for Alien Lasers

Christopher Plain·
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is adding a new set of laser detectors to its arsenal, upping its array of tools in the search for signs of life beyond Earth. Designed to detect laser pulses originating from space, including...
water on the moon

Chinese Rover Finds Water on the Moon

Christopher Plain·
China’s Chang’E-5 rover has found evidence of water molecules on the surface of the moon. Also, measurements taken by the rover indicate that the sun itself is the likely cause of the sparse yet detectable lunar water. BACKGROUND: WATER ON...
moon

First Moon Landing in 50 Years Only Weeks Away

Christopher Plain·
The first moon landing since the final Apollo missions of the early 1970’s is expected to touch down on Earth’s lone satellite sometime early this year. If everything goes according to plan, the same NASA contractor behind the lander hopes...
DART

DART Returns First Photos Readying for Asteroid Smash

Christopher Plain·
NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft has returned its first photos, proving its onboard navigation camera survived launch. Known as DRACO, which is short for Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for Optical navigation, the lone camera carried by DART...
James Webb

Tracking James Webb Telescope in Real Time

Christopher Plain·
Curious viewers can track the progress of the James Webb telescope in real time, thanks to a new, dedicated YouTube channel. Launched a day after the telescope itself, the channel charts the current position of the groundbreaking space observatory, its...
rogue exoplanets

70 New Rogue Exoplanets Spotted by Astronomers

Christopher Plain·
70 rogue exoplanets, or planets not bound to a host star, have been discovered wandering through the Milky Way galaxy. Described as a “breakthrough discovery,” the newly identified rogue exoplanets could help researchers better understand how these space bodies develop...
venus

First Venus Life Finder Mission Eyes 2023 Launch

Christopher Plain·
A new report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) details the privately funded Venus Life Finder (VLF) missions, starting with the first proposed launch in 2023. Hoping to settle the debate regarding potential microbial life in the clouds of...
Mars

MARS Perseverance Rover Reveals Key Discoveries

Christopher Plain·
NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover has made some exciting new discoveries, offering even more clues to the red planet’s complex, watery past. Plus, mission scientists say, these new discoveries will help direct the planned Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission planned for the...
NASA app

New 3D NASA App Shows All Near Earth Objects

Christopher Plain·
A new app released by the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) provides users a unique tour of the varied array of space rocks known as Near Earth objects (NEOs) currently surrounding our planet. The 3D real-time visualization tool’s developers...
exoplanet

List of Confirmed Exoplanets Grows by 301

Christopher Plain·
A recent analysis of previously recorded satellite data has added 301 new exoplanets to the continuously growing list. This latest addition comes as a result of a new deep neural network tool employed by NASA researchers that can distinguish the...
nasa video

NASA Video Animates Space Laser Communication System

Christopher Plain·
A November, 2021 video animation from NASA shows how their soon to be launched demonstrator spacecraft will test laser communications in space, both between two satellites as well as between the International Space Station and Earth. Dubbed the “Laser Communications...