Tag: Space
Mars Rover assembly complete ahead of 2020 launch
The assembly of the ExoMars Rover is now complete ahead of its proposed blast-off date next year. However, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ExoMars mission to the Red Planet could hang in the balance, as successful tests on the rover’s parachutes are yet to be conducted. The Rosalind Franklin rover’s supersonic parachutes will be put…
Russian capsule carrying robot fails Space Station docking
A Russian space capsule carrying a humanoid robot has failed to dock as planned with the International Space Station. A statement from the Russian space agency Roscosmos said the failure to dock on Saturday was because of problems in the docking system. It said the space station itself and the six-person crew are safe. Given…
Indian spacecraft now orbiting moon in search for water
An unmanned spacecraft India launched last month has begun orbiting the moon before it lands on the far side to search for water. The Indian Space Research Organisation said it has manoeuvred Chandrayaan – the Sanskrit word for “moon craft” – into lunar orbit. Chandrayaan will continue circling the moon in a tighter orbit until…
NASA space telescope finds ‘first nearby super-Earth’
A NASA planet spotting telescope has uncovered another three planets, which scientists say include the first nearby super-Earth. The planet, called GJ 357 d, orbits a star around 31 light years away in the so-called habitable zone, an area far enough from its star not be too hot but close enough to not be too…
Astronomers uncover 3 ‘exoplanets’ 73 light years away
Scientists say they have discovered three new 'exoplanets' outside our solar system which orbit a star situated 73 light years away from Earth. The trio are among the smallest and nearest exoplanets known to date, discovered using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which was sent into space in 2018 with the aim of finding…
Watch: Meteor captured by security cameras over US
Security cameras have captured a fireball caused by an apparent meteor over the east coast of the US. In various pieces of footage shared on social media a bright ball of light can be seen in the night sky. #UFO #meteor just seen in the sky in Central MA. @NBC10Boston take a look. pic.twitter.com/0HS96hmUFf —…
India sends unmanned mission to moon’s far side
India’s space agency says it has launched an unmanned spacecraft to the far side of the moon, a week after aborting the mission due to a technical problem. Scientists at the mission control centre in Sriharikota, off the Bay of Bengal, burst into applause as the rocket lifted off in clear weather as scheduled at 2.43pm…
Britons share memories of Apollo 11 moon landing in digital scrap book
Members of the public have shared their personal memories of the Apollo 11 moon landings, as the world marks 50 years since the remarkable feat. Britons have revealed touching stories, from a woman in labour who delayed going to hospital, to a man who proposed as they tuned into coverage of the landing. “At the…
Sir Richard Branson ‘ready to head into space’ after Virgin Galactic tests
Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson has said his spaceship has just a few more test flights before he jumps on board for the first tourist trip. The British billionaire celebrated his 69th birthday at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre during 50th anniversary festivities for humanity’s first moon landing. His guests were 100 other aspiring astronauts…
In Pictures: Partial lunar eclipse celebrated across the world
Across the UK and as far afield as Australia, Africa and much of Asia, stargazers gathered on Tuesday evening to view a partial lunar eclipse. The eclipse was seen in the UK from moon rise, from approximately 9.07pm until around 1.17am, and coincided with the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 launching its moon mission. With…
