Category: Solar System

Our solar system

SpaceX’s Starship will fly Lunar Outpost’s rover to the moon

NeRD

SpaceX’s Starship megarocket just added another moon mission to its docket. Colorado company Lunar Outpost announced today (Nov. 21) that it has chosen Starship to launch its new moon rover, known as Eagle, and land the wheeled vehicle on the lunar surface. The news comes two days after the 400-foot-tall (122 meters) Starship flew for the sixth time ever, on a suborbital test flight from Texas that achieved all of its main objectives. “Having experienced the recent groundbreaking Starship test flight firsthand, we’re confident that SpaceX is advancing the most…

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Will astronauts need to be rescued from the moon? NASA wants to be prepared just in case

NeRD

NASA wants ideas on how to create emergency response plans for future missions to the moon. The space agency’s South Pole Safety challenge focuses on the development of innovative solutions for a compact, efficient system that astronauts can use in the event of an emergency during extravehicular activities (EVAs) on the lunar surface. Participants are asked to submit technical design concepts that could be adapted for NASA’s Artemis program. “If an astronaut crew member becomes incapacitated during a mission, the ability to return them safely and promptly to the human…

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Star imaged in detail outside the Milky Way for the 1st time (image, video)

NeRD

Astronomers have captured a “zoomed-in” image of a star outside the Milky Way for the first time. The team brought the vast red supergiant star designated WOH G64 into focus using the Very Large Telescope  Interferometer (VLTI). WOH G64 is located a staggering 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a satellite dwarf galaxy companion of the Milky Way. Astronomers have known of the existence of this star for some time, and it has earned the nickname the “behemoth star” because it is an incredible 2,000 times the…

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What’s next for SpaceX’s Starship after its successful 6th test flight?

NeRD

The biggest and most powerful rocket ever built now has six test flights under its belt — and it’s just getting started. SpaceX launched its 400-foot-tall (122-meter-tall) Starship megarocket for the sixth time ever on Tuesday (Nov. 19), sending the giant stainless-steel vehicle skyward from its Starbase site in South Texas. Starship performed well throughout the lengthy trial. Its Super Heavy first stage splashed down softly in the Gulf of Mexico after an issue with the launch tower precluded a planned “chopsticks” catch-landing back at the pad, and the “Ship”…

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‘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

NeRD

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

NeRD

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

NeRD

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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‘Star Trek Generations’ at 30: Director David Carson reflects on The Nexus and Kirk’s quiet death (exclusive)

NeRD

“They say time is the fire in which we burn” Today marks the 30th anniversary of Paramount Pictures’ “Star Trek Generations,” an extremely important and entertaining 7th entry in the Star Trek movie franchise that acted as a bridge between “The Original Series‘” Enterprise crew led by James T. Kirk and “The Next Generation’s” gang under the command of Jean-Luc Picard. And yes, it’s the movie that killed off William Shatner’s starship captain! Upon a recent rewatch, “Generations” holds up remarkably well with its polished visual effects by Industrial Light…

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Blue Origin targeting Nov. 22 for next space tourism launch

NeRD

Blue Origin’s ninth crewed spaceflight will lift off this week, if all goes according to plan. Jeff Bezos‘ aerospace company announced today (Nov. 18) that it’s targeting Friday (Nov. 22) for the launch of NS-28, which will send “Space Gal” Emily Calandrelli and five other people to suborbital space. Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket-capsule combo will lift off from the company’s West Texas spaceport on Friday during a window that opens at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT; 9:30 a.m. local Texas time). You can watch the action live here at…

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