As it turns out, when you build a bear to fly into space, one mission is not enough. “GiGi,” the Build-A-Bear doll outfitted in a miniature version of Axiom Space’s next-generation lunar spacesuit, will be returning to Earth orbit on Ax-3, Axiom’s third crewed mission to the International Space Station set to launch this month. The doll — and the partnership that led to its creation — debuted on Ax-2 in 2023. “We love to foster creativity and create special moments at Build-A-Bear, so we are pleased to continue our…
Read MoreHubble Views a Vast Galactic Neighborhood
ESA/Hubble & NASA, J. Dalcanton, Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA; Acknowledgment: L. Shatz This image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope features a richness of spiral galaxies: the large, prominent spiral galaxy on the right side of the image is NGC 1356; the two apparently smaller spiral galaxies flanking it are LEDA 467699 (above it) and LEDA 95415 (very close at its left) respectively; and finally, IC 1947 sits along the left side of the image. This image is a really interesting example of how challenging it can be to tell whether two galaxies are actually close…
Read MoreNASA, NOAA to Announce 2023 Global Temperatures, Climate Conditions
This map depicts global temperature anomalies for meteorological summer in 2023 (June, July, and August). It shows how much warmer or cooler different regions of Earth were compared to the baseline average from 1951 to 1980. Climate researchers from NASA and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will release their annual assessments of global temperatures and discuss the major climate trends of 2023 during a media briefing at 11 a.m. EST Friday, Jan. 12. NASA will stream audio of the briefing on the agency’s YouTube. Participants will include: Kate Calvin,…
Read MoreNASA Armstrong Builds Model Wing to Help Advance Unique Design
4 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Experimental Fabrication Shop technicians created parts for the assembly of a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing model. Based at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, the technicians also assembled sections, and did a final fit-check to ensure the wing model was ready for testing. Credits: NASA/Quincy Eggert German Escobar works on a model aircraft wing structure that has two long sides and bars in between, which resembles a mini ladder. He sands the rough edges, uses four vices to…
Read MoreDHL delivering Everest rock, ‘meme’ coin to the moon on Astrobotic lander
A rock from the top of Mount Everest, a tiny time capsule from Belgium, a physical “meme” coin, a collection of Reddit posts and a letter from a private astronaut who followed his father into space are now all being delivered to the moon. But it is not NASA nor any of the world’s other space agencies that are shipping these items to the lunar surface. It is DHL. The same American-founded German logistics company that is perhaps best known for its delivery services across Europe has expanded its worldwide…
Read MoreFloating ‘magic islands’ on Saturn’s moon Titan may be honeycomb-shaped snow
The floating “magic islands” of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, may finally have a scientific explanation. Scientists believe they’re clumps of glacier-like snow shaped like honeycomb. The so-called islands were first spotted in 2014 by the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft as it peered through the orange haze surrounding Titan, which is a moon that’s bigger than the planet Mercury. Appearing as shifting bright spots on the Saturnian moon above lakes of liquid methane and ethane, the islands left scientists struggling for an explanation. No one could figure out how these ephemeral blocks could…
Read MoreULA’s 1st Vulcan Centaur rocket launch looks spectacular in these photos and videos
United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket lifted off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Monday (Jan. 8) at 2:18 a.m. EST (0718 GMT). The launch — the first ever for the powerful Vulcan Centaur — sent Astrobotic’s private Peregrine moon lander toward Earth’s nearest neighbor, where it is expected to land on Feb. 23. Success in that effort would be historic: No private spacecraft has ever touched down softly on the lunar surface. Here we take a look at some of the first photos from this stunning nighttime launch. Related: ULA’s Vulcan…
Read MoreNASA Science Heads to Moon on First US Private Robotic Artemis Flight
As part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander launched on United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket at 2:18 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Carrying NASA scientific instruments as part of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander launched on United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket at 2:18 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Peregrine has about a 46-day journey to reach the lunar surface. Once on the…
Read MoreNASA, United Arab Emirates Announce Artemis Lunar Gateway Airlock
NASA and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) have entered into an agreement for MBRSC to provide the Crew and Science Airlock module for the Gateway Space Station. As part of the agreement, NASA will fly a United Arab Emirates astronaut to Gateway on a future Artemis mission. Pictured is an artist’s concept of Gateway (left) and an artist’s concept of a government reference airlock (right). NASA NASA and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced Sunday plans for the space centre…
Read MoreWatch Vulcan rocket launch private Peregrine moon lander on debut mission early Jan. 8
A historic moon mission will launch early Monday morning (Jan. 8), and you can watch the action live. United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket is scheduled to lift off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Monday at 2:18 a.m. EST (0718 GMT). The launch — the first ever for the powerful new rocket — will send the private Peregrine moon lander toward Earth’s nearest neighbor. You can watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV, beginning at 1:30 a.m. EST (0630 GMT) on Monday. Related: 10…
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