Month: August 2023

Astronomers have witnessed a young, sun-like star blasting out high-energy gamma radiation for the first time.  The observation represents the first evidence that this type of low-mass star, called a T. Tauri star and surrounded by a planet-forming disk of gas and dust, can emit gamma radiation. In a nutshell, this type of radiation represents the most energetic form of light. Down the line, these findings could have important implications for our understanding of stars and planetary systems during their formative years.  “This observational evidence is essential for understanding the…

The target for a space debris cleanup mission is apparently in pieces. A leftover rocket adapter, expected to be removed from low Earth orbit in 2026, has new pieces of space debris floating nearby. That’s a likely aftereffect of being hit by something small flying through space. The problem was spotted by the 18th Space Defense Squadron of the U.S. Space Force, which monitors satellite movements. That’s an unexpected event for the European Space Agency‘s ClearSpace-1 mission, which is a planned test mission to remove that adapter in 2026. The…

The North Korean government has announced it will attempt to launch another satellite after the loss of a military satellite in May. North Korean officials informed Japan’s Coast Guard that the launch will fly over the Yellow Sea and East China Sea and occur between Aug. 24 and Aug. 31.  Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the potential launch “extremely regrettable,” according to Reuters, and South Korean officials called it a “clear illegal act” that violated current U.N. sanctions against North Korea testing ballistic missile technologies. “It cannot be justified…