NASA announced Wednesday a new consortium focused on making in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities a routine part of space architectures and mission lifecycles.
Read MoreMonth: April 2023
Damage from violent clashes in Sudan visible from space (satellite photos)
This image of Sudan’s Khartoum International Airport, captured by a Maxar Technologies satellite on April 17, 2023, shows damage from the ongoing fighting in the country. (Image credit: Maxar Technologies) Satellite imagery has provided insight into the damage caused by fighting between rival military factions in Sudan. Battles broke out across the African nation on Saturday (April 15), as a power struggle between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) spilled over into violence. Images from satellites operated by Maxar Technologies published on Monday (April 17) and Tuesday (April…
Read MoreRocket Lab to fly used engine for 1st time later this year
Rocket Lab is about to take a big step toward reusability. The company announced today (April 19) that it plans to incorporate a used Rutherford engine in one of its Electron rockets, which will launch on a commercial mission later this year. And success on that flight could pave the way for an even bigger milestone. “Rocket Lab will assess the opportunities for flying a complete pre-flown first stage booster following the launch of the pre-flown Rutherford engine in the third quarter this year,” company representatives wrote in an update…
Read MoreChina’s Shenzhou 15 astronauts complete record-breaking 4th spacewalk (video)
China’s Shenzhou 15 astronauts have completed the fourth and final spacewalk of their six-month-long mission. Mission commander Fei Junlong and Zhang Lu embarked on the extravehicular activity (EVA), exiting via the Wentian science module airlock of the Tiangong space station on Saturday (April 15) Beijing time. Crewmate Deng Qingming assisted operations from inside the outpost. Fei and Zhang’s tasks included installing an external pump set, which is part of Tiangong’s coolant system, onto the Mengtian science module. Other completed objectives were installing inter-module cables and devices to support a science…
Read MoreMartian Milestone for Ingenuity
This April 16, 2023, enhanced color image of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter is the clearest view of the rotorcraft since its first flight.
Read MoreYou can watch SpaceX launch 21 Starlink V2 satellites on April 19. Here’s how.
SpaceX is launching another batch of Starlink satellites on Wednesday (April 19). A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 of SpaceX’s new Starlink “V2 mini” satellites will take off at 8:27 a.m. ET (1227 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. There are four backup launch opportunities currently scheduled for the same day in case issues arise during the original window. Some 8 minutes and 26 seconds after launch, the rocket’s first stage will attempt to land on the autonomous SpaceX droneship A Shortfall of…
Read MoreKatmai National Park
The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, located in Katmai National Park, forms a unique and ashen landscape. Encircled by volcanoes – both active and inactive – it has served as a perfect collection area for huge amounts of volcanic ash.
Read MoreNASA Awards Omnibus Multidiscipline Engineering Services III Contract
NASA has awarded the Omnibus Multidiscipline Engineering Services (OMES) III contract to Space & Technology Solutions of Houston.
Read MoreApril 20 hybrid solar eclipse: An observer’s guide
This month will see the first of two solar eclipses in this year of 2023. But this upcoming eclipse will be a rather special kind of eclipse. When speaking of eclipses of the sun, there are three basic types. First are partial eclipses, when only the moon’s outer shadow, called the penumbra, interacts with Earth. From within the penumbra, only a part of the sun is seen to be covered by the disk of the moon. Next are total eclipses, where from only from within the dark shadow cone of…
Read MoreTax Day in space: How do astronauts pay taxes off Earth?
Just like the rest of us, NASA astronauts pay taxes. Astronauts are supposed to file taxes no matter where they are working, even on the International Space Station (ISS). In 1970, in fact, one astronaut on a moon mission got in a pickle when he discovered he forgot to file his taxes before leaving Earth, which we’ll talk more about below. Here we have very general guidance on how astronauts pay taxes and what happened to that astronaut in 1970, who was on a mission called Apollo 13. Remember that…
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