Category: Solar System

Our solar system

NASA delays ISS spacewalks indefinitely to investigate spacesuit coolant leak

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NASA says its next spacewalk will be delayed indefinitely until engineers understand more about what caused a coolant leak on June 24. Tracy Dyson, a NASA astronaut, had a brief spacesuit leak a month ago while still in the hatch of the International Space Station (ISS). She and Mike Barrett had just opened the door for a 6.5-hour spacewalk for maintenance activities, when showers of ice particles erupted from a spacesuit connection to the ISS. The spacewalk was suspended, but the astronauts were never in any danger, NASA has emphasized.…

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A high-speed particle struck the Gaia space telescope — but Gaia came back stronger than ever

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In the eleventh year of its mission, the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Gaia space telescope has suffered a pair of technical snags. The telescope has spent its time in space precisely measuring the positions and motions of distant stars, offering an immense boon to astronomers. ESA said that Gaia suffered first a puncture from a fast-moving micrometeoroid, then an electronics malfunction. Due to these issues, the telescope began sending its Earthbound operators gigabytes of junk data. “Gaia typically sends over 25 gigabytes of data to Earth every day, but this…

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NASA wants fresh ideas for recycling garbage on the moon

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With crewed Artemis launches on the horizon, NASA is searching for sustainable solutions for waste management during long-term missions on the moon.  An initiative called LunaRecycle, under the space agency’s Centennial Challenges Program, aims to incentivize the design and development of recycling solutions for use on the surface of the moon and/or inside pressurized lunar habitats. The program aims to reduce solid waste streams during long duration lunar missions under the Artemis Program, as well as to improve the sustainability of future space exploration.  “As NASA prepares for future human…

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Loneliness is a dish best served in space: Why food may taste weird to astronauts

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Studying common food aromas may help scientists better understand why meals reportedly taste bland in space, leading to astronauts’ decreased nutritional intake.  Researchers from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia have found that spatial perception can play a significant role in how people smell various aromas, which, in turn, impacts their flavor. As it turns out, a greater sense of loneliness and isolation — which astronauts may experience while on the International Space Station (ISS) — can influence how people smell and taste their food, according to…

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SpaceX launches to ISS are under independent NASA review after rare Falcon 9 rocket failure

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NASA will perform its own re-authorization of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 before the rocket launches its next astronaut crew or cargo mission, the agency confirmed Wednesday (July 17). Falcon 9 experienced a rare failure during an engine burn of SpaceX rocket’s second stage, due to an oxygen leak, during a launch on Thursday (July 11). A mandatory mishap investigation is ongoing. SpaceX, however, asked the Federal Aviation Administration Monday (July 15) to allow for future launches under a “public safety determination”, meaning the launch posed no risk to public safety. On…

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‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ episode 8: How open-ended is the conclusion?

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The twisty mystery of season 1 of The Acolyte wasn’t a ‘whodunit’ after all, but focused on why the murders were happening instead. While the first half of the season felt underbaked, it was episode 5 that turned things around, with the following two chapters doing most of the season’s compelling character and thematic work. Last week in episode 7, we finally found out what really transpired on Brendok 16 years before the main events of the series. Now, the finale closes that story arc, gives some characters closure, and…

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The James Webb Space Telescope is studying an exoplanet’s eternal day — and eternal night

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What’s the James Webb Space Telescope’s favorite movie? Eternal sunshine of the exoplanet WASP-39 b, perhaps. In a new study, data from the James Webb Space Telescope reveals details of this mysterious gas giant exoplanet, which orbits a star about 700 light-years away from Earth. WASP-39 b is tidally locked to that star, which means the same side of the planet always faces its star. In other words, half of the planet experiences perpetual day, and the other experiences perpetual night. But the dividing line isn’t black and white — there’s a…

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These durable Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars have dipped below $200 at Amazon

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In our hands-on Celestron Nature DX 12×56 review a few years ago, we gave these attractive-looking binoculars 4.5 stars out of 5. We still think they deserve their place in our best binoculars guide, where they proudly sit as the best binoculars for affordable stargazing. The well-respected Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binos have dipped below $200 when you apply the extra $15 discount at checkout. They are rubber-armored, fog-proof, and waterproof, so they are perfect for outdoor use. You need not worry if you are caught out in inclement weather…

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This nerve-rattling ‘Alien: Romulus’ trailer reminds us that ‘fear is bigger in IMAX’ (video)

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Alien: Romulus I Bigger – YouTube Watch On The birth of director Fede Álvarez’ “Alien: Romulus” feature is inching ever closer to its Aug. 16, 2024 release date, and 20th Century Studios wants to ensure you’re all aware of your opportunity to watch this bloody sci-fi horror unfold on the massive canvas of an immense IMAX screen in this latest promotional teaser. Working closely with acclaimed director Ridley Scott on this interstellar fright fest set within the “Alien” universe as the seventh official installment, Álvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) injected…

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Sun blasts out 2nd X-class flare this week, triggers more radio blackouts (video)

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The sun continues firing off solar flares during what has been a period of intense activity.  Sunspot AR3738 might be making its exit as it rotates out of our view on the sun’s western limb, but not before firing off a powerful X-class solar flare, the strongest of its kind. The solar flare from sunspot AR3738 occurred Tuesday morning (July 16) at 9:26 a.m. EDT (1326 GMT). A shortwave radio blackout in conjunction with the latest event was reported over mostly the Atlantic Ocean and also noted across much of Africa, Europe, and…

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