Asteroid 2021 CZ2 belongs to the Aten group of asteroids, as per NASA. (Pixabay)

Space

NASA reveals size and other details of asteroid set to pass Earth at a staggering speed of 51636 kmph

Adriana MaraisJanuary 16, 24asteroids, NASA

According to NASA, asteroids are remnants from the early stages of our solar system’s formation approximately 4.6 billion years ago. Although the majority of these space rocks are typically found in the main asteroid belt situated between Mars and Jupiter, there are instances where they can approach Earth, potentially endangering our planet. But what causes this to occur? NASA explains that the gravitational pull of Jupiter, as well as occasional near encounters with planets like Mars or other celestial bodies, can alter the trajectory of asteroids. These chance encounters have…

Asteroid 2015 AK1 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids, according to NASA. (WikiMedia Commons)

Space

Today, NASA announces that a 160-foot asteroid will approach Earth; Discover its velocity, proximity, and additional details.

Sanjay PatilJanuary 16, 24asteroids, NASA

NASA’s Defense Coordination Office (PDCO), which oversees the monitoring of celestial bodies and Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), has revealed new information about an asteroid that will come close to Earth today, January 15. This asteroid was detected and tracked using NASA’s state-of-the-art instruments, including the NEOWISE telescope, Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), Pans-STARRS1, and Catalina Sky Survey. Gain insights into the asteroid’s proximity to Earth, including its velocity, dimensions, distance of approach, and other pertinent details. Asteroid 2015 AK1: Speed, Size, Distance and More According to NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object…

The first US-made moon lander, the Peregrine lander built by Astrobotic, experienced a propulsion error shortly after reaching space, causing it to leak propellant and preventing it from reaching the moon. (AFP)

Space

NASA incorporated mistakes into its moonshot strategy, taking inspiration from Elon Musk-led SpaceX.

Adriana MaraisJanuary 14, 24Elon Musk, NASA

The recent failure of the first US-made moon lander in over 50 years came as a surprise when it experienced a critical issue soon after entering space on Monday. However, NASA had anticipated such a possibility. The Peregrine lander, constructed by Astrobotic, a startup from Pittsburgh, encountered a propulsion error shortly after being launched into orbit, resulting in the leakage of propellant into space. Within a day, the company confirmed that the spacecraft had no chance of reaching the moon. NASA actually expected a few low-impact accidents like this when…

NASA's and Lockheed Martin's X-59 experimental supersonic jet is unveiled during a ceremony in Palmdale, California. (AFP)

Space

Lockheed and NASA Introduce X-59 Supersonic Jet with Reduced Sonic Boom Impact on Windows

Adriana MaraisJanuary 13, 24NASA

Lockheed Martin Corp. and NASA have provided the public with an exclusive preview of an aircraft that has the potential to significantly reduce flight durations. Unveiled in Palmdale, California, on Friday, the X-59 has been specifically engineered to achieve supersonic speeds while generating minimal noise. Traditional aircrafts breaking the sound barrier, known as Mach 1, produce a disruptive and continuous sonic boom that can cause damage to ground structures. Consequently, the US prohibited civilian planes from surpassing this speed over land in 1973. “This breakthrough really redefines the feasibility of…

Among the most dramatic events in this cosmic saga are supernovas, stellar explosions of unimaginable scale and power, which seed the universe with the building blocks of planets and life. (ISRO)

Space

A Stellar Journey: ISRO’s XPOSAT Explores the Cosmic Phenomena of Supernovas

Febin MathewJanuary 13, 24ISRO

“We are composed of starstuff, as the nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, and the carbon in our apple pies all originated from the interiors of collapsing stars.” – Carl Sagan This profound statement by Carl Sagan beautifully captures the essence of our cosmic connection. The stars, those twinkling specks in the night sky, are not just distant suns, but the very vessels in which the recipe for life was cooked. The most dramatic events in this cosmic saga include supernovae, unimaginable…

ISRO's Aditya L-1 mission is India's first mission to study the Sun. (ISRO)

Space

ISRO’s Aditya L-1 Mission: Exemplifying Accuracy and Financial Prudence

Nitin MisraJanuary 11, 24ISRO

With meticulous planning and execution, the Aditya L-1 mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set a new precedent in space exploration, showcasing innovation and cost-effectiveness. This pioneering mission, India’s first dedicated to studying the Sun, has redefined the boundaries of what can be achieved. ISRO embarked on a mission unprecedented in its history: placing a satellite in a halo orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1) – a place in space that has no physical reference whatsoever and is navigated solely by mathematical calculations and software algorithms. This…

Asteroid 2023 WZ3 belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA), as per NASA. (Pixabay)

Space

Get the details of today’s close encounter as NASA announces Asteroid 2023 WZ3’s approach to Earth

Jim HendlerJanuary 11, 24January 26, 24asteroids, NASA

Although these celestial objects are situated millions or even billions of kilometers away from our planet, specifically within the main asteroid belt positioned between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, their paths occasionally bring them into close proximity with Earth. The investigation and comprehension of asteroids have been facilitated by spacecraft like Dawn, OSIRIS-REx, and Hayabusa2. Additionally, NASA has established various space telescopes and observatories, including the NEOWISE telescope, Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), Pans-STARRS1, Catalina Sky Survey, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the recently developed James Webb Space Telescope,…

A solar storm could be on the cards today, NASA has revealed. Know more. (Pixabay)

Space

NASA reveals that a growing sunspot could potentially trigger a solar storm today, posing a risk from solar flares.

Jim HendlerJanuary 11, 24NASA, Solar Flare, Solar storm

Solar activity has been increasing dangerously in recent months, resulting in various solar events affecting Earth. Within the past month, two alarming X-class solar flares struck the planet, with one causing a radio blackout in the polar regions lasting nearly three days. The Sun has been displaying its full power for the past couple of months, and as we approach the anticipated solar maximum in 2024-25, its intensity is expected to escalate further. NASA has recently disclosed the emergence of a growing sunspot that has the potential to emit a…

Asteroid 2023 XT14 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids, according to NASA. Know how close it will get. (Pixabay)

Space

NASA reports that an asteroid from the Apollo group will pass close to Earth; Find out its speed, size, and other information.

Jim HendlerJanuary 11, 24asteroids, NASA

NASA, along with other space agencies such as ESA, has developed advanced technology to monitor the movement of asteroids in their orbits and potentially divert them if they pose a threat of collision. Although most asteroids reside in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, they frequently cross paths with Earth. Interactions with a planet’s gravitational force can alter their trajectory, causing them to veer towards a collision course. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to track these asteroids to minimize uncertainties surrounding their close encounters. Utilizing its cutting-edge…

ISRO jobs: Chairman S Somanath urged IIT Bombay students to join the space agency, as per reports. (ANI)

Space

ISRO employment: Somanath shares inspiring salary journey of IIT students; appeals with sincerity

Adarsh V.KJanuary 9, 24ISRO

The Chairman of ISRO, S Somanath, expressed his desire to have more IITians join the organization during his speech at Techfest, the annual science and technology festival of IIT Bombay. Somanath encouraged the students to contribute to India’s space missions and assist in the development of the nation by becoming a part of ISRO. Address by ISRO Chairman at IIT Bombay According to reports, the ISRO chairman would also shed some light on ISRO’s future space missions, including the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first space flight program, and the launch of…

Asteroid 2024 AS1 and Asteroid 2023 XN13 belong to the Apollo group of asteroids, says NASA. Check other details. (Pixabay)

Space

NASA discloses details about two asteroids approaching Earth today; Verify their speed, size, and other particulars

Jim HendlerJanuary 9, 24asteroids, NASA

According to NASA, when NASA’s telescopes monitor a newly discovered Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA), astronomers record its observed positions in the sky and submit the information to the Minor Planet Center. The Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) utilizes this data to calculate the asteroid’s probable orbit around the Sun. The year 2024 has already witnessed several asteroid approaches in the initial two days, and this pattern is expected to persist today. On January 9, not just one, but two asteroids are anticipated to pass by Earth at a close distance.…

NASA as a Private US lunar lander suffered a technical malfunction. Check details here. (AP)

Space

Private US lunar lander faces failure after ‘critical fuel loss’, dealing a setback to NASA

Adarsh V.KJanuary 9, 24NASA

NASA, the US space agency, experienced a significant setback as a pioneering private mission to land on the Moon encountered an almost certain failure on Monday. The spacecraft suffered a severe depletion of fuel, dealing a major blow to America’s aspirations of deploying its initial robotic presence on the lunar surface in fifty years. Attached to United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan rocket making its maiden flight, Astrobotic’s Peregrine Lunar Lander blasted off overnight from the Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida and then successfully separated from its launch vehicle. A…

A solar storm could be sparked due to 3 sunspots hurling out solar flares towards Earth, NASA SDO revealed. (nasa.gov)

Space

NASA warns of potential M-class solar flares as three sunspots emerge

Sanjay PatilJanuary 8, 24NASA, Solar Flare, Solar storm

The space weather in 2023 was dominated by sunspots, solar storms, solar flares, and geomagnetic storms. The trend continues into 2024, as we witnessed the strongest solar flare since 2017 on the last day of the previous year. This flare caused radio blackouts in the polar regions for almost four days. Shortly after, four sunspots with unstable beta-gamma’ magnetic fields released M-class solar flares. These events serve as a reminder of the Sun’s power, which is expected to intensify as we approach the solar maximum in 2024-25. NASA has recently…

Asteroid 2002 AY1 belongs to the Aten group of Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA), as per NASA. (Pixabay)

Space

NASA reveals details of potentially hazardous asteroid passing Earth today

Jim HendlerJanuary 8, 24asteroids, NASA

NASA has announced that a massive asteroid, classified as a ‘Potentially Hazardous Object’, will pass close to Earth today, January 8. The asteroid was detected by NASA’s Defense Coordination Office (PDCO), which is in charge of monitoring Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) like asteroids and comets. Find out more about this upcoming close approach and learn about NASA’s advanced technology used for observing and monitoring NEOs. Asteroid 2002 AY1: Speed, size and more NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has named the asteroid Asteroid 2002 AY1. It will come close to…

A total of nine employees were soon terminated for their involvement in the letter, according to a November 2022 filing made on behalf of one of the employees to the NLRB

Space

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Faces Allegations of Wrongful Termination of Employees for Criticizing the Company

Adriana MaraisJanuary 8, 24Elon Musk

The U.S. Department of Labor has accused SpaceX of illegally firing workers who wrote an open letter criticizing CEO Elon Musk and creating the impression that the rocket company was monitoring workers. The Los Angeles-based regional director of the National Labor Relations Board filed the complaint Wednesday, which consolidates eight unfair labor practice charges against SpaceX. The cases stem from the company’s alleged actions after the workers’ letter was circulated in June 2022. The letter, among other workplace concerns, urged executives to condemn Musk’s public behavior on X — the…

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the X-37B spaceplane for the U.S. Space Force lifts off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP)

Space

Secretive US military spaceplane launched into orbit by SpaceX’s powerful Falcon Heavy rocket

Adarsh V.KDecember 31, 23SpaceX

On Thursday evening, SpaceX successfully launched the US Space Force’s secretive space plane into orbit using the Falcon Heavy rocket. This marked the first time that the Boeing Co.-built experimental spacecraft was sent into space using this powerful rocket. The launch, which started at 8:07 p.m. local time began the seventh mission for the Space Force’s secret X-37B space plane. Shaped like a mini-space shuttle, the X-37B is an unmanned and reusable experimental test platform that the Department of Defense uses in orbit, sometimes for years at a time. Before…

ISRO XPoSat launch date: ISRO will launch its first X-ray Polarimeter Satellite on January 1, 2024. (ISRO)

Space

ISRO’s XPoSat prepared for launch: Groundbreaking x-ray polarimeter satellite ready for D-day

Jim HendlerDecember 30, 23ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) on January 1, marking a significant step in understanding the mysteries of the universe. This mission, India’s first dedicated polarimeter, seeks to investigate the complex behavior of bright astronomical X-ray sources found in extreme environments. Rising at 9:10 a.m., XPoSat will propel the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) into low Earth orbit. This mission includes two state-of-the-art payloads and promises groundbreaking revelations that will further our understanding of the vast astronomical universe. The primary payload,…

NASA's Juno spacecraft is set for an extraordinarily close encounter with Jupiter's moon Io on December 30, 2023. ( NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Ted Stryk)

Space

Date for historic encounter between NASA’s Juno spacecraft and Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io announced

Adriana MaraisDecember 30, 23NASA

Get ready for an extraordinary event in space as NASA’s Juno spacecraft gets ready to meet Jupiter’s fiery moon, Io, in an unprecedented manner on Saturday, December 30. This encounter, happening at a distance of only 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) from Io’s turbulent surface, is the closest any spacecraft has come to the moon in more than twenty years. It is expected to provide a wealth of revolutionary information. The scientific charge is led by Juno’s principal investigator Scott Bolton of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, who…

A solar storm is approaching Earth and will impact in the next few days. (Pixabay)

Space

Impending solar storm to reach Earth by January 1, promising visible auroras in high latitudes.

Sanjay PatilDecember 29, 23NASA, Solar Flare, Solar storm

As 2024 draws near, the occurrence of solar storms, solar flares, geomagnetic storms, and other solar events is expected to rise. Scientists have predicted that solar cycle 25 will reach its peak, known as solar maximum, in mid-2024. During this phase, the Sun will have the greatest number of sunspots, which are active regions that produce solar flares. These sunspots are responsible for sending potentially dangerous solar storms towards Earth. A recent report has indicated that Earth may be hit by a solar storm, with a possibility of generating auroras.…

NASA shared two new black and white videos capturing a Martian day with its Curiosity Rover from dusk to dawn.

Space

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Captures a Full Martian Day from Sunset to Sunrise with ‘Hazcams’

Nitin MisraDecember 29, 23Mars, NASA

NASA has released two new black-and-white videos from its Curiosity Rover capturing a Martian day from dusk to dawn on Nov. 8, which happened to be the mission’s 4,002nd Martian day. In the first video, the Curiosity Rover can be seen using black and white Hazcams to capture a 12-hour window of a Martian day. Everything changes dynamically, from the shadow the rover casts on the surface of Mars to how it gets dark. The video is from Gediz Valliks, a valley on Mount Sharp, a 5 km high mountain…