Month: November 2024

‘Superhighways’ connecting the cosmic web could unlock secrets about dark matter

NeRD

Giant filaments crisscross the universe, connecting galaxy clusters like superhighways between cities. Their shape and structure encode vital information about the contents and history of the universe. But due to their complex shapes, they are stubbornly difficult to measure. Now, researchers have presented a new method for measuring these filaments’ mass, which could be used to unlock secrets about dark matter and dark energy. At the very largest scales, our universe resembles a spider web. Known appropriately as the cosmic web, it is the largest pattern found in nature. Within…

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I love this Star Trek-themed underwear and it’s 20% off for Black Friday

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Oddballs’ Star Trek-themed underwear boldly goes where no briefs and panties have gone before and are now 20% cheaper in this Black Friday deal. There is a selection of two different Stark Trek fabric prints to choose from and a range of underwear styles for both male and female Trekkies. Get a 20% saving on Star Trek-themed underwear at Oddballs. For men, there’s a choice of boxers and briefs, while women can choose from boxers, panties, and bra tops. All of the underwear pieces are made from a 95% cotton,…

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See Mars make a close pass to the moon tonight

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The moon and Mars will share a close approach in the night sky tonight (Nov. 20), coming close enough together for a nice pairing for the naked eye or binoculars. As seen from the United States, the moon will rise in the east about four hours after sunset and will stay visible throughout the night, remaining high in the sky until after sunrise. Just above the moon will be Mars, shining brightly as an orange-yellow orb. The Red Planet and the moon will also join up in what’s known as…

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From Houston to the Moon: Johnson’s Thermal Vacuum Chamber Tests Lunar Solar Technology 

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Imagine designing technology that can survive on the Moon for up to a decade, providing a continuous energy supply. NASA selected three companies to develop such systems, aimed at providing a power source at the Moon’s South Pole for Artemis missions.  Three companies were awarded contracts in 2022 with plans to test their self-sustaining solar arrays at the Johnson Space Center’s Space Environment Simulation Laboratory (SESL) in Houston, specifically in Chamber A in building 32. The prototypes tested to date have undergone rigorous evaluations to ensure the technology can withstand…

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On This Day: Apollo 12 Lands on the Moon

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NASA NASA astronaut Alan Bean steps off the lunar module ladder in this photo from Nov. 19, 1969, joining astronaut Charles Conrad Jr. on the Moon in the area called the Ocean of Storms. The two would then complete two spacewalks on the lunar surface, deploying science instruments, collecting geology samples, and inspecting the Surveyor 3 spacecraft, which had landed in the same area. While Bean and Conrad worked on the Moon, astronaut Richard F. Gordon completed science from lunar orbit. Learn more about Apollo 12’s pinpoint landing on the…

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NASA Plans to Assign Missions for Two Future Artemis Cargo Landers

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Early conceptual renderings of cargo variants of human lunar landing systems from NASA’s providers SpaceX, left, and Blue Origin, right. The large cargo landers will have the capability to land approximately 26,000 to 33,000 pounds (12-15 metric tons) of large, heavy payload on the lunar surface. Credit: SpaceX/Blue Origin NASA, along with its industry and international partners, is preparing for sustained exploration of the lunar surface with the Artemis campaign to advance science and discovery for the benefit of all. As part of that effort, NASA intends to award Blue…

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Northwestern University Takes Top Honors in BIG Idea Lunar Inflatables Challenge 

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Following eight months of intense research, design, and prototyping, six university teams presented their “Inflatable Systems for Lunar Operations” concepts to a panel of judges at NASA’s 2024 Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-Changing (BIG) Idea Challenge forum.  The challenge, funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate and Office of STEM Engagement, seeks novel ideas from higher education on a new topic each year and supports the agency’s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative in developing new approaches and innovative technologies to pave the way for successful exploration on the surface of the Moon.…

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NASA Engineer Carries Indigenous Roots into New Aviation Era

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5 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Abigail Reigner, a systems engineer at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, supports the agency’s research in electrified aircraft propulsion to enable more sustainable air travel. Behind her is a 25% scale model of NASA’s SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Electrofan aircraft concept used to test and demonstrate hybrid electric propulsion systems for emission reductions and performance boosts in future commercial aircraft. Credit: NASA/Sara Lowthian-Hanna Growing up outside of Philadelphia, Abigail Reigner spent most of her childhood miles away…

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How to watch SpaceX launch Flight 6 of its Starship megarocket today

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Just before sunset this evening (Nov. 19) on the outskirts of the southernmost town in Texas, SpaceX’s Starship rocket is scheduled to launch on its sixth test flight to space, and you can watch it live on Space.com. The two-stage reusable vehicle is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, consisting of the Starship upper stage and its Super Heavy booster. Today’s launch, designated Integrated Flight Test-6 (IFT-6), is scheduled to lift off during a 30-minute window that opens at 5:00 p.m. EST (2100 GMT; 4 p.m. local Texas…

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Sols 4366–4367: One of Those Days on Mars (Sulfate-Bearing Unit to the West of Upper Gediz Vallis)

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Curiosity Navigation Curiosity Home Mission Overview Where is Curiosity? Mission Updates Science Overview Instruments Highlights Exploration Goals News and Features Multimedia Curiosity Raw Images Images Videos Audio Mosaics More Resources Mars Missions Mars Sample Return Mars Perseverance Rover Mars Curiosity Rover MAVEN Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mars Odyssey More Mars Missions The Solar System The Sun Mercury Venus Earth The Moon Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto & Dwarf Planets Asteroids, Comets & Meteors The Kuiper Belt The Oort Cloud 3 min read Sols 4366–4367: One of Those Days on Mars…

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