Tag: Space
Dead satellites ‘pose very big’ danger to Earth
Around two-thirds of the satellites orbiting Earth are dead, posing a “very big danger” to the planet, European space ministers have heard. The European Space Agency (ESA) is proposing a mission to tackle the growing problem of space debris, its director general said. Speaking at the agency’s ministerial council in Seville, Spain, Johann-Dietrich Worner said…
Boeing capsule completes major flight test in desert
Boeing’s capsule for astronauts has undergone its first major flight test, shooting a mile into the air then parachuting back to the New Mexico desert. The Starliner capsule carried no crew, just a test dummy for the one-and-a-half-minute test of the launch abort system. Only two of the three main parachutes opened, but both NASA…
First all-female spacewalk makes NASA history
The first ever all-female spacewalk has kicked off at the International Space Station (ISS). US astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir made history as they floated out of the orbiting space laboratory 12 minutes ahead of schedule at 12.38pm BST on October 18 to replace a faulty power unit. This is Ms Koch’s fourth spacewalk…
Cosmonaut who performed first spacewalk dies aged 85
Alexei Leonov, the first human to walk in space 54 years ago, has died in Moscow aged 85. Russian space agency Roscosmos confirmed his death in a statement on its website, but gave no further details. Alexei Leonov carried out his first space walk in 1965 (Mikhail Klimentyev/AP) Mr Leonov performed his spacewalk on March…
UK’s first moon rover to be launched 2021
The UK’s first moon rover will be sent into space in 2021. The world’s smallest robotic moon rover, with legs not wheels, will be part of the first set of payloads to be sent to the astronomical body. Announced at the New Scientist Live event in London’s ExCeL, UK-grown start-up space company SpaceBit created and…
Astronauts take spacewalk to replace old batteries
Astronauts have kicked off the first of five spacewalks to replace old batteries at the International Space Station. Christina Koch and Andrew Morgan had to remove a pair of old batteries and install a new one delivered just a week ago. These new lithium-ion batteries are so powerful that only one is needed for every…
Listen to NASA’s InSight lander on Mars
NASA’s InSight lander on Mars has captured the low rumble of marsquakes and a symphony of other otherworldly sounds. Scientists released an audio sampling on Tuesday. The sounds had to be enhanced for humans to hear. InSight’s seismometer has detected more than 100 events, but only 21 are considered strong marsquake candidates. The rest could…
Elon Musk unveils SpaceX for Moon or Mars
Elon Musk has unveiled a SpaceX spacecraft designed to carry a crew and cargo to the moon, Mars or anywhere else in the solar system and land back on Earth perpendicularly. In a live-streamed speech from the SpaceX launch facility near the southern tip of Texas, Mr Musk said the space venture’s Starship is expected…
NASA unable to spot India’s lost moon lander
A NASA orbiter circulating the moon was unable to find India’s lost lander in newly released photos around its targeted landing site. The American space agency stepped in to help the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) find Vikram, part of India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission which was meant to make a soft landing on the moon earlier…
UK Space Agency launches scheme for young people
Young people’s chances of being able to engage with the UK space industry has been boosted by the announcement of a new scheme. The UK Space Agency has launched an initiative to help the sector deliver one million engagement activities a year. The sector generates billions of pounds for the economy and creates around 42,000…
