Autumnal equinox 2023 brings fall to the Northern Hemisphere this weekend

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When is the first day of fall in 2023?  A carefully worded answer is that on Saturday (Sept. 23), at 2:50 a.m. EDT (0650 GMT), autumn begins astronomically in the Northern Hemisphere, and spring starts in the Southern. The sun is currently migrating south, having spent the previous six months shining directly on the northern half of our planet.  So, at the official start time of autumn, the sun would appear directly overhead from a ship in the Laccadive Sea, positioned on the equator, 170 miles (275 kilometers) northeast of…

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Next stop, Europa? Nano subs to get test beneath Antarctic ice in 2026

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Submarines, it turns out, could have a big future in space exploration. The subsurface oceans of the Jupiter moon Europa and Saturn satellite Enceladus are perhaps the most tantalizing places in the solar system in the search for alien life. But these water bodies remain out of reach, hundreds millions of miles away and beneath thick icy crusts. Now, a European collaboration aims to break through some of the technological and physical barriers in the way of future exploration of icy moons and their waters, using Antarctica as a proving…

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How NASA’s OSIRIS-REx will bring asteroid samples to Earth in 5 not-so-easy steps

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NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission faces the most difficult part of its journey as it approaches Earth for atmospheric reentry and recovery. The spacecraft is on course to deliver a capsule that will touch down in a western United States desert Sept. 24, completing a seven-year journey and making it the first NASA mission to retrieve surface material from an asteroid.  OSIRIS-REx launched on Sept. 8, 2016 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, in Florida, and began a two-year trip to rendezvous with the asteroid Bennu. The spacecraft arrived…

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Virgin Galactic’s next flight will take a Pakistani to space for the 1st time

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Namira Salim will make spaceflight history next month. The adventurer will become the first Pakistani to reach space on Virgin Galactic‘s next mission, called “Galactic 04,” which is scheduled to launch from New Mexico’s Spaceport America on Oct. 5. “Thrilled to take to the #stars with @trevorbmbagency and @ronrosano aboard #Galactic04 with @virgingalactic. Inspiring #girls #women and #youth globally to reach for the stars,” Salim posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Sunday (Sept. 17). Related: Virgin Galactic launches 3 of its original space tourist customers to the final…

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After 1 year in space, what’s next for an astronaut? ‘Peace and quiet’ on Earth, Frank Rubio says (video)

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NASA astronaut Frank Rubio is about to do what no other American has done before: Celebrate an entire year in space. The record-breaking NASA astronaut spoke to reporters from the International Space Station on Tuesday (Sept. 19), just two days ahead of the 365-day mark for his current mission. The Salvadoran-American physician, born in Los Angeles, also paid tribute to the mentors in the military and at NASA that helped him reach space. “You have the opportunity to work with a tremendous breadth of great individuals (in the military), and…

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Japan’s SLIM moon lander completes 1st critical phase in Earth orbit

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Japan’s SLIM lunar lander has passed a first critical stage on its voyage to the moon. The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) launched successfully on Sept. 6 with the main objective of demonstrating a highly accurate soft landing on the moon. Teams on the ground have since been working to verify the functionality of the spacecraft.  The lightweight moon lander has now passed a first critical operation period, meaning its solar panels, communications, propulsion and other systems are working well, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced on Sept.…

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