Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News
December 08, 2017
EXO WORLDS
WASP-18b has smothering stratosphere without water



Greenbelt MD (SPX) Dec 08, 2017
A NASA-led team has found evidence that the oversized planet WASP-18b is wrapped in a smothering stratosphere loaded with carbon monoxide and devoid of water. The findings come from a new analysis of observations made by the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. The formation of a stratosphere layer in a planet's atmosphere is attributed to "sunscreen"-like molecules, which absorb UV and visible radiation coming from the star and then release that energy as heat. The new study suggests that the "ho ... read more

MARSDAILY
NASA's oldest Mars rover survives another harsh winter
Washington (UPI) Dec 7, 2017
Opportunity, NASA's senior Mars rover, has lasted through another harsh winter on the Red Planet. ... more
EXO WORLDS
Two Super-Earths around red dwarf K2-18
Toronto, Canada (SPX) Dec 08, 2017
New research using data collected by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has revealed that a little-known exoplanet called K2-18b could well be a scaled-up version of Earth. Just as exciti ... more
EXO WORLDS
A New Spin to Solving Mystery of Stellar Companions
Pasadena CA (SPX) Dec 08, 2017
Taking a picture of an exoplanet - a planet in a solar system beyond our Sun - is no easy task. The light of a planet's parent star far outshines the light from the planet itself, making the planet ... more
EXO WORLDS
The CHEOPS scientific instrument is complete
Paris (ESA) Dec 08, 2017
The scientific instrument at the heart of the CHEOPS mission has been fully assembled, marking an important milestone in the development of this small, fast-track exoplanet-characterising mission. ... more
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ROBO SPACE
Helping hands guide robots as they learn
Houston TX (SPX) Dec 06, 2017
Like toddlers, robots can use a little help as they learn to function in the physical world. That's the purpose of a Rice University program that gently guides robots toward the most helpful, human- ... more
OUTER PLANETS
Wrapping up 2017 one year out from MU69
Boulder CO (SPX) Dec 07, 2017
New Horizons is in good health and cruising closer each day to its next encounter: a flyby of the Kuiper Belt object (KBO) 2014 MU69 (or "MU69" for short). If you follow our mission, you likely know ... more
EXO WORLDS
Discovery about rare nitrogen molecules offers clues to makeup of life-supporting planets
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 07, 2017
A team of scientists using a state-of-the-art UCLA instrument reports the discovery of a planetary-scale "tug-of-war" of life, deep Earth and the upper atmosphere that is expressed in atmospheric ni ... more
EXO WORLDS
First Light for Next Generation Planet Hunter ESPRESSO
Garching, Germany (SPX) Dec 06, 2017
The Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanet and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO) has successfully made its first observations. Installed on ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, ES ... more
IRON AND ICE
B612 Asteroid Institute provides valuable analysis to discovery of First Interstellar Object
San Francisco CA (SPX) Dec 06, 2017
Within days of the announcement by NASA's Minor Planet Center of the discovery of the first-ever interstellar object, 'Oumuamua, B612's new Asteroid Institute began a collaborative effort that led t ... more
MARSDAILY
Mars Rover Team's Tilted Winter Strategy Works
Pasadena CA (JPL) Dec 07, 2017
NASA's senior Mars rover, Opportunity, has just passed the shortest-daylight weeks of the long Martian year with its solar panels in encouragingly clean condition for entering a potential dust-storm ... more


Toyota showcases humanoid robot that mirrors user

MARSDAILY
Brown: Clay on Mars May Have Formed in Primordial Steam Bath
Providence RI (SPX) Dec 06, 2017
Planetary scientists from Brown University have proposed a new scenario for the formation of ancient clay minerals on Mars that, if shown to be true, could rewrite the early history of the red plane ... more
SPACE MEDICINE
Biotemplates breakthrough paves way for cheaper nanobots
Washington DC (SPX) Dec 05, 2017
A feature of science fiction stories for decades, nanorobot potential ranges from cancer diagnosis and drug delivery to tissue repair and more. A major hurdle to these endeavors, however, is finding ... more
OUTER PLANETS
Research bolsters possibility of plate tectonics on Europa
Providence RI (SPX) Dec 05, 2017
A Brown University study provides new evidence that the icy shell of Jupiter's moon Europa may have plate tectonics similar to those on Earth. The presence of plate tectonic activity could have impo ... more
EXO WORLDS
An Orbital Dance May Help Preserve Oceans on Icy Worlds
Pasadena CA (JPL) Dec 05, 2017
Heat generated by the gravitational pull of moons formed from massive collisions could extend the lifetimes of liquid water oceans beneath the surface of large icy worlds in our outer solar system, ... more

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NASA's oldest Mars rover survives another harsh winter
Washington (UPI) Dec 7, 2017
Opportunity, NASA's senior Mars rover, has lasted through another harsh winter on the Red Planet. Like Earth, Mars has a tilted axis. But because Mars takes longer to circle the sun, its seasons are nearly twice as long. With the sun hanging low and appearing only for a brief time each day, keeping Opportunity charged via its solar panels is a challenge. Engineers worried the rov ... more
Providence RI (SPX) Dec 06, 2017
Brown: Clay on Mars May Have Formed in Primordial Steam Bath
Pasadena CA (JPL) Dec 07, 2017
Mars Rover Team's Tilted Winter Strategy Works
Moscow (Sputnik) Dec 04, 2017
EU exempts fuel for ExoMars mission from Russian sanctions


December's 'supermoon' expected to be bigggest, brightest of 2017
Washington (UPI) Nov 28, 2017
The 'supermoon' set for next week is expected to be the brightest of the year as the moon's orbit will be at its closest point to the earth. Public astronomer Dr. Marek Kukula at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, Britain, told AGN News a supermoon is when"a full moon happens to occur when the moon is also at its closest point" to the earth and appears brighter and bigger than usual. ... more
Tokyo, Japan (Sputnik) Nov 27, 2017
Japan signals growing support for Deep Space Gateway concept
Austin TX (SPX) Nov 22, 2017
Moon's crust underwent resurfacing after forming from magma ocean
Moscow (Sputnik) Nov 15, 2017
Russia tests new spaceship set to deliver people, cargo to moon
Wrapping up 2017 one year out from MU69
Boulder CO (SPX) Dec 07, 2017
New Horizons is in good health and cruising closer each day to its next encounter: a flyby of the Kuiper Belt object (KBO) 2014 MU69 (or "MU69" for short). If you follow our mission, you likely know that flyby will occur on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day 2019, which is just barely over a year from now! As I write this, New Horizons is wrapping up an active period that began when the spa ... more
Pasadena CA (JPL) Dec 04, 2017
Jupiter Blues
Providence RI (SPX) Dec 05, 2017
Research bolsters possibility of plate tectonics on Europa
Santa Cruz CA (SPX) Nov 16, 2017
Pluto's hydrocarbon haze keeps dwarf planet colder than expected
The CHEOPS scientific instrument is complete
Paris (ESA) Dec 08, 2017
The scientific instrument at the heart of the CHEOPS mission has been fully assembled, marking an important milestone in the development of this small, fast-track exoplanet-characterising mission. The Focal Plane Module (FPM), which houses the CCD detector array and the Front-End Electronics, was secured in place on the telescope assembly at the University of Bern this month, completing th ... more
Toronto, Canada (SPX) Dec 08, 2017
Two Super-Earths around red dwarf K2-18
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Dec 08, 2017
WASP-18b has smothering stratosphere without water
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 07, 2017
Discovery about rare nitrogen molecules offers clues to makeup of life-supporting planets
Rocket Lab to launch rocket from New Zealand
Washington (UPI) Dec 7, 2017
Aerospace startup company Rocket Lab have delayed plans to launch its Electron rocket until Friday. The four-hour launch window was originally supposed to open at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday - Friday in New Zealand, where the rocket will launch from. The new window will open at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday - 1:30 in the afternoon on Saturday in New Zealand. Officials said the launch was ... more
Miami (AFP) Dec 6, 2017
SpaceX's Elon Musk to launch his own car into deep space
New Delhi (IANS) Nov 30, 2017
ISRO eyes one rocket launch a month in 2018
Moscow (Sputnik) Nov 29, 2017
Russia to build launch pad for super heavy-lift carrier by 2028


Nation 'leads world' in remote sensing technology
Beijing (XNA) Nov 27, 2017
China is now the world leader in remote sensing technologies for scientific purposes and is able to provide an unprecedented amount of data to support research and development for the world, officials said on Tuesday. Remote sensing refers to aerial or satellite-based technologies to detect and measure objects on Earth's surface, atmosphere and oceans. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Sci ... more
Beijing (XNA) Nov 19, 2017
China plans for nuclear-powered interplanetary capacity by 2040
Beijing (Sputnik) Nov 16, 2017
China plans first sea based launch by 2018
Beijing (XNA) Nov 02, 2017
China's reusable spacecraft to be launched in 2020
B612 Asteroid Institute provides valuable analysis to discovery of First Interstellar Object
San Francisco CA (SPX) Dec 06, 2017
Within days of the announcement by NASA's Minor Planet Center of the discovery of the first-ever interstellar object, 'Oumuamua, B612's new Asteroid Institute began a collaborative effort that led to significant analysis about the discovery. Bryce Bolin, a senior researcher at the Asteroid Institute as well as a DIRAC Institute Fellow, was the lead author on the study measuring 1I/'Oumuamu ... more
Stirling UK (SPX) Dec 04, 2017
Metal asteroid Psyche is all set for an early visit from NASA
Gottingen, Germany (SPX) Dec 07, 2017
Rosetta details a comet's key ingredients
Paris (ESA) Nov 30, 2017
Selected asteroids detected by GAIA between August 2014 And May 2016


Lockheed Martin to develop compact airborne high energy laser capabilities
Bothell WA (SPX) Nov 07, 2017
The US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) has awarded Lockheed Martin $26.3 million for the design, development and production of a high power fiber laser. AFRL plans to test the laser on a tactical fighter jet by 2021. The contract is part of AFRL's Self-protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) program, and is a major step forward in the maturation of protective airborne laser systems. ... more
Sunnyvale CA (SPX) Oct 09, 2017
Lockheed Martin developing technology to intercept missile threats with Directed Energy
White Sands Missile Range NM (SPX) Sep 21, 2017
Upgraded Lockheed Martin Laser Outguns Threat in Half the Time
Washington (UPI) Sep 20, 2017
ATHENA laser testbed system successfully shoots down drones
Aerojet Rocketdyne Achieves Significant Air Force Demonstration and Validation Milestone with Successful Hot-Fire Test
Sacramento CA (SPX) Dec 08, 2017
Aerojet Rocketdyne recently achieved a significant milestone by completing a successful hot-fire test of a controllable solid rocket motor under the U.S. Air Force Demonstration and Validation Post Boost Study A program. "This hot-fire test successfully demonstrated the increased capabilities of an advanced, controllable solid rocket motor system," said Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and President ... more
Washington (UPI) Dec 4, 2017
Raytheon to supply Qatar with Patriot missile defense system
Washington (UPI) Dec 4, 2017
Raytheon tapped to provide radar system for DDG-127
Washington (AFP) Dec 4, 2017
US Patriot missiles may have failed in Saudi Arabia: report


Unique atmospheric chemistry explains cold vortex on Saturn's moon Titan
Washington (UPI) Nov 21, 2017
New analysis suggests unique atmospheric chemistry explains why the polar vortex on Saturn's moon Titan isn't behaving as expected. Titan is Saturn's largest moon, and is the only moon in the solar system with a sizable atmosphere. Recent observations suggest that atmosphere hasn't been behaving as predicted by models. During the winter, air in the upper atmosphere tends to warm ... more
Pasadena CA (JPL) Nov 22, 2017
Cassini Image Mosaic: A Farewell to Saturn
Bristol UK (SPX) Nov 22, 2017
Unexpected atmospheric vortex behavior on Saturn's moon Titan
Paris (ESA) Nov 08, 2017
Heating ocean moon Enceladus for billions of years
New nanowires are just a few atoms thick
Boston MA (SPX) Dec 07, 2017
"Two-dimensional materials" - materials deposited in layers that are only a few atoms thick - are promising for both high-performance electronics and flexible, transparent electronics that could be layered onto physical surfaces to make computing ubiquitous. The best-known 2-D material is graphene, which is a form of carbon, but recently researchers have been investigating other 2-D materi ... more
Moscow, Russia (SPX) Nov 30, 2017
Physicists explain metallic conductivity of thin carbon nanotube films
Karlsruher, Germany (SPX) ov 27, 2017
Ceria nanoparticles: It is the surface that matters
Washington DC (SPX) Nov 27, 2017
Semiconducting carbon nanotubes can reduce noise in interconnects


Researchers measure magnetic moment with greatest possible precision
Mainz, Germany (SPX) Nov 30, 2017
The magnetic moment of an individual proton is inconceivably small, but can still be quantified. The basis for undertaking this measurement was laid over ten years ago, and physicists of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, GSI Darmstadt, and the RIKEN research institute in Japan are still performing experiments to measure this force with a sin ... more
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Nov 28, 2017
Physicists make most precise measurement ever of a proton's magnetic moment
Pasadena CA (JPL) Nov 15, 2017
Listening for gravitational waves using pulsars
New York NY (SPX) Nov 14, 2017
Gravity waves from merging supermassive black holes will be found soon
A Black Hole Behemoth at the Edge of Cosmic Dawn
Tucson, AZ (SPX) Dec 06, 2017
Supermassive black holes lurk at the centers of many galaxies. While some supermassive black holes - like the one at the center of our own galaxy - live quiet lives, occasionally snacking on a star or two, others feed voraciously, consuming gas and stars and growing rapidly in mass. To understand when supermassive black holes first appeared, astronomers scan the skies for actively-feeding ... more
Heidelberg, Germany (SPX) Dec 06, 2017
The Most Distant Black Hole in the Cosmos
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 01, 2017
Key component for quantum computing invented
Perth, Australia (SPX) Dec 05, 2017
Astronomer's map reveals location of mysterious fast-moving gas


Helping hands guide robots as they learn
Houston TX (SPX) Dec 06, 2017
Like toddlers, robots can use a little help as they learn to function in the physical world. That's the purpose of a Rice University program that gently guides robots toward the most helpful, human-like ways to collaborate on tasks. Rice engineer Marcia O'Malley and graduate student Dylan Losey have refined their method to train robots by applying gentle physical feedback to machines while ... more
Chicago IL (SPX) Nov 29, 2017
Amputees can learn to control a robotic arm with their minds
Tokyo (AFP) Nov 29, 2017
Toyota showcases humanoid robot that mirrors user
San Francisco (AFP) Dec 8, 2017
'Grinch bots' may steal Christmas by snatching up prized toys
Falcon's attack strategy could inspire new drones: study
Miami (AFP) Dec 4, 2017
Peregrine falcons are nature's fastest predators, and the way they swoop down on a target may one day inspire small, visually guided drones that can take out rogue drones, researchers said Monday. Falcons' attack trajectories do not follow any geometric rules, contrary to popular belief, said the report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Rather, the birds use their e ... more
Washington (UPI) Dec 7, 2017
Hensoldt intros new counter-drone system
Tokyo (AFP) Dec 7, 2017
'Go home' drone seeks to stop Japan overtime binge
Beijing (AFP) Dec 7, 2017
China says Indian drone 'invaded' its airspace, crashed
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