Month: July 2024

Alien weather report: James Webb Space Telescope detects hot, sandy wind on 2 brown dwarfs

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The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered stormy weather in the sky of two brown dwarfs in the most detailed weather report yet from such “failed stars.” The two brown dwarfs form a binary pair called WISE 1049AB that was discovered by NASA‘s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) in 2013; the duo sits just 6.5 light-years away from us. They are the closest brown dwarfs to our sun, and thus make an excellent target for the James Webb Space Telescope‘s powerful infrared instruments. A brown dwarf is an object…

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NASA’s 21st Northrop Grumman Mission Launches Scientific Studies to Station

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NASA and its international partners are sending scientific investigations to the International Space Station on Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial resupply services mission. Flying aboard the company’s Cygnus spacecraft are tests of water recovery technology and a process to produce stem cells in microgravity, studies of the effects of spaceflight on microorganism DNA and liver tissue growth, and live science demonstrations for students. The mission is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida by early August. Read more about some of the research making the journey to…

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Seed Funding Proposals Due November 19 This Year!

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Since it began in 2020, NASA’s Citizen Science Seed Funding Program (CSSFP) has helped twenty-four new NASA citizen science projects get off the ground. This one-year funding opportunity aims to expand the pool of professional scientists who use citizen science techniques in their science investigations. We’d like to remind you about two key changes to the CSSFP program this year! First, we heard that researchers could make better use of seed funding if it arrived in time to enable work during the summer — a crucial season for students, faculty, and interns.  To…

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Europe on the moon: ESA targeting 2031 for 1st ‘Argonaut’ lunar lander mission

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A European moon lander being developed to provide the continent autonomous access to the moon is targeted to launch in 2031, according to a development call published last week by the European Space Agency (ESA).  The robotic lander, called Argonaut, is expected to lift off on an Ariane 6 rocket, which after a long series of delays made its debut flight on July 9.  ESA wants Argonaut to perform multiple deliveries of cargo and science instruments to the moon. The lander will be capable of ferrying up to 4,600 pounds…

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LIVE: NASA is with you from Oshkosh

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2 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA / Maria Werries Meet Nils and Clue Monday, July 22 at 2:30 p.m. EDT NASA’s pavilion at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 airshow is home to a number of aeronautics- and space-related exhibits. NASA / John Gould Visitors to the NASA pavilion are finding plenty to do during this first full day of the airshow. Activities inside include collecting informational handouts, trying out a flight simulator, and chatting with NASA researchers and engineers.  A popular attraction today is…

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‘A dark day for lunar science:’ Scientists shocked as NASA cancels VIPER moon rover

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It is a classic wait-a-minute Moon moment. The message from NASA last week: “NASA Ends VIPER Project, Continues Moon Exploration.” The space agency’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) project had undergone a comprehensive internal review. NASA found price tag sticker shock, delays to the launch date, and risk of future cost growth – reasons to “stand down” the lunar ice-hound mission.  Some disassembly required At this point in time, NASA had put in $450 million into VIPER. NASA said it’s planning to disassemble and reuse VIPER’s instruments and components…

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25 Images to Celebrate NASA’s Chandra 25th Anniversary

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NASA/SAO/CXC This montage contains 25 new images with data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory that is being released to commemorate the telescope’s 25th anniversary in space, as described in our latest press release. Since its launch into space on July 23, 1999, Chandra has been NASA’s flagship mission for X-ray astronomy in its fleet of “Great Observatories.” Chandra discovers exotic new phenomena and examines old mysteries, looking at objects within our own Solar System out to nearly the edge of the observable Universe. There is a broad range of astronomical…

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Who are the sisters of the Bene Gesserit in the new ‘Dune: Prophecy’ trailer? (video)

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Dune: Prophecy | Official Teaser 2 – Control | Max – YouTube Watch On Previously announced back in May as a 6-episode “Dune” prequel series destined for Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max streaming platform, “Dune: Prophecy” has been rebranded for HBO airing and a new release window was just announced alongside a “Game of Thrones”-ish teaser loaded with a spice-hauler of fresh intense footage. This backstory spinoff show will land sometime in November of 2024 and was adapted from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s 2012 “Dune” novel, “Sisterhood of Dune.” It’s…

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Explore an Apollo-era mission gone wrong in sci-fi mystery game ‘Lifeless Moon’ (video)

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Lifeless Moon – Launch Trailer – YouTube Watch On With an eerie “The Twilight Zone” vibe and surreal cosmic elements, Stage 2 Studios and Serenity Forge’s sci-fi video game called “Lifeless Moon” has arrived and we’ve got the odd launch trailer to share that highlights its immersive old-school storyline. It’s appears to be a trippy 3D action adventure release designed with platform stages that combine logic and puzzle-solving skills, where a pair of Apollo-era astronauts encounter a strangely familiar desert town during a dream-like expedition to the Moon.  “Lifeless Moon”…

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