Firefly Aerospace raised $175 million in an oversubscribed Series D round led by RPM Ventures, bringing its valuation to over $2 billion. The funds will support increased production of its Alpha launch vehicle and Elytra spacecraft, and accelerate the development of new vehicles. Firefly, a leader in responsive space capabilities, gained attention with its rapid-launch demonstration of the Space Force’s Victus Nox mission in 2023. … Continue reading Firefly Aerospace raises $175 million

The lunar calendar year ends with November’s “Beaver Moon,” marking the last supermoon of 2024, following a series that began in August. Supermoons appear larger and brighter due to the moon being closer to Earth. November’s full moon, named for beavers preparing for winter, follows other monthly names linked to nature, like the “Wolf Moon” in January and the “Snow Moon” in February. This month … Continue reading November’s ‘beaver moon’ marks the year’s final supermoon

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has successfully integrated the Roman Coronagraph Instrument into the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a key milestone for the upcoming observatory set to launch in 2027. The coronagraph is designed to block starlight, enabling the detection of faint exoplanet light. This technology demonstration will pave the way for future missions like the Habitable Worlds Observatory, aimed at searching for signs of … Continue reading NASA’s Roman space telescope gets ready to stare at distant suns to find alien planets

A brilliant fireball seen across Colorado, Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma on November 9, 2024, was likely the result of a SpaceX Starlink satellite, Starlink-4682, burning up during reentry. The fireball, observed by dozens of eyewitnesses, was part of a batch of 54 Starlink satellites launched in 2022. The spacecraft’s reentry was tracked over several states, with witnesses describing it as a fragmented fireball, Space.com has … Continue reading Starlink satellite falls to Earth, burns up as stunning fireball over US

SpaceX successfully launched 24 Starlink satellites into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on November 11, 2024. The Falcon 9 rocket, initially delayed due to weather, lifted off at 4:28 p.m. EST. About 8 minutes later, the rocket’s first stage landed on the droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” in the Atlantic, marking its 12th launch and landing. The 24 satellites were deployed into low Earth orbit … Continue reading SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites from Florida, lands rocket at sea

Astronomers have discovered an “interstellar tunnel” in our solar neighborhood, part of the Local Hot Bubble (LHB), an enormous structure of hot gas surrounding our solar system. A new study, using data from the eROSITA x-ray telescope, revealed the tunnel, which could connect to a nearby larger bubble. The LHB, first proposed over 50 years ago, was thought to be created by supernovas that blew … Continue reading Astronomers discover ‘interstellar tunnel’ in our galaxy

Astronomers have discovered an extremely fast-spinning neutron star, 26,000 light-years away, that releases bursts of energy as powerful as atomic bombs. Using NASA’s NICER telescope, they observed the neutron star, which completes 716 rotations per second, pulling material from its companion white dwarf star. This interaction causes powerful thermonuclear bursts, making the neutron star up to 100,000 times brighter than the Sun. The star system, … Continue reading Astronomers Discover Zombie Star Spinning at 716 Times a Second

NASA has extended its Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) 2 contracts with Northrop Grumman, Sierra Space, and SpaceX through 2030, ensuring continued cargo transportation to the International Space Station (ISS) until its planned retirement. These contracts, originally awarded in 2016, were set to expire in 2026. NASA’s decision to extend them comes after evaluating other companies but finding no viable alternatives, Space News has reported. The … Continue reading NASA extends ISS cargo contracts through 2030

The U.S. military’s secretive X-37B space plane has begun advanced aerobraking maneuvers to adjust its orbit, using atmospheric drag instead of fuel to gradually lower its altitude. Launched on its seventh mission in December 2023, the X-37B has been orbiting Earth in a highly elliptical path. This maneuver saves propellant and extends mission durations. The space plane, developed by Boeing for the U.S. Department of … Continue reading Mysterious US Military Space Plane Begins Advanced Maneuvers in Orbit

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft provided a boost to the International Space Station (ISS) on Nov. 8, performing an orbit-raising maneuver for the first time to stabilize the ISS’s trajectory. This maneuver is necessary to prevent orbital decay and has traditionally been done by Russian spacecraft. The successful reboost marks a milestone as SpaceX is now contributing to the ISS’s orbital maintenance. This demonstration also supports the … Continue reading SpaceX Dragon fires thrusters to boost ISS orbit for the 1st time

China’s Zhurong rover has uncovered evidence of a shoreline from a short-lived ancient ocean on Mars, supporting the theory that the planet was once a water world. The rover, which landed in Mars’ Utopia Planitia in 2021, found features like mud volcano remnants, polygonal troughs, and etched flows, suggesting past water presence. Researchers identified sedimentary deposits and subsurface layers using data from the rover and … Continue reading China’s rover uncovers compelling evidence of 3.5 billion-year-old Mars ocean

NASA’s NEOWISE planetary defense telescope has completed its mission after 10 years of monitoring potential threats to Earth. Originally launched in 2009 as WISE, the telescope surveyed the sky in infrared before transitioning in 2013 to focus on asteroids and comets. NEOWISE made over 1.45 million measurements of more than 44,000 objects, discovering 215 new near-Earth objects. Its mission ended after increased solar activity pushed … Continue reading NASA’s Planetary Defense Telescope NEOWISE Burns Up In Atmosphere

Astronomers may be close to discovering a ninth hidden planet, often called “Planet Nine,” suspected to reside far beyond Neptune in the Kuiper Belt. The existence of this planet gained attention in 2016 when scientists Michael Brown and Konstantin Batygin suggested that its gravitational influence could explain the strange orbits of some Kuiper Belt objects. Though no direct observation has been made, unusual orbital patterns … Continue reading Discovery of Hidden Ninth Planet in Solar System Could Reshape Astronomy, Claims New Study

The sun erupted with an X2.3-class solar flare on November 6, 2024, originating from sunspot region AR 3883. This powerful flare caused radio blackouts, particularly affecting high-frequency signals over parts of the Atlantic Ocean, South America, and Africa. Scientists are awaiting data from NASA’s SOHO spacecraft to determine if a coronal mass ejection (CME) will impact Earth, potentially causing geomagnetic storms and auroras. Solar flares … Continue reading Sun erupts with powerful X2.3 solar flare, triggers radio blackouts

NASA plans to determine the next steps for its canceled VIPER lunar rover mission by early 2025. The rover, originally set to launch in 2025 on Astrobotic’s Griffin lander, was canceled in July due to concerns over cost overruns and delays. Following this, NASA issued a request for information (RFI) in August, receiving around 11 responses, some of which proposed using the rover’s components for … Continue reading NASA evaluating “next steps” for VIPER lunar rover mission

Chinese launch company Cosmoleap has raised over 100 million yuan ($14 million) to develop its Yueqian reusable rocket and a recovery system modeled after SpaceX’s technology. Founded in March 2024, Cosmoleap aims to create low-cost, reliable launch vehicles to support satellite Internet, particularly for China’s megaconstellation plans. The company plans its first test flight of the Yueqian rocket, a methane-fueled vehicle, by 2025 or 2026. … Continue reading Chinese launch startup Cosmoleap secures funding for rocket featuring chopstick recovery system

On November 6, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will complete its seventh and final flyby of Venus, which will adjust its trajectory to bring it within 3.8 million miles of the Sun—closer than any human-made object has ever been. This milestone is a significant achievement, compared to the Apollo moon landing. Launched in 2018, the probe is studying the Sun’s mysteries, such as why its outer … Continue reading NASA’s Parker Solar Probe to glimpse Venus’ surface tomorrow before historic sun encounter

Astronomers predict that Earth’s gravitational pull during Apophis’ close approach in April 2029 could cause quakes and landslides on the asteroid’s surface. Apophis, a 1,100-foot-wide asteroid, will pass within 24,000 miles of Earth—much closer than the Moon. The event is expected to alter Apophis’ spin and surface, revealing insights into asteroid composition and solar system history. NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX mission is en route to study these … Continue reading Asteroid Apophis Will Endure Quakes and Surface Shifts During 2029 Earth Flyby

Japanese scientists are set to launch the first wooden satellite, LignoSat, on Nov. 5, in collaboration with American space agencies. Developed by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, the small satellite, made from durable magnolia wood, will be tested from the ISS over six months to assess its resilience in space. Researchers, including astronaut Takao Doi, hope this experiment could pave the way for sustainable materials … Continue reading World’s first experimental wooden satellite set for launch

SpaceX launched its 31st resupply mission to the ISS, carrying 6,000 pounds of supplies, science experiments, and equipment. A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, with the first stage successfully landing at Cape Canaveral shortly after. The uncrewed Cargo Dragon capsule is set to dock with the ISS on Tuesday morning, delivering experiments like the Coronal Diagnostic Experiment to study solar … Continue reading SpaceX launches 3 tons of cargo on 31st ISS resupply flight for NASA

On Sunday, November 3, four astronauts will relocate a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft at the International Space Station (ISS), with live coverage starting at 6:15 a.m. EST. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, both from Crew-9, will be joined by former Boeing Starliner astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The relocation process, which involves temporarily undocking from the Harmony module at 6:35 … Continue reading SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts move Crew Dragon spacecraft to new ISS parking spot

The National Space Science Center in China has launched the scientific experiment mirror platform for the China Space Station, facilitating essential research. The platform includes 14 experiment cabinets and supports payload testing, astronaut training, and troubleshooting. On October 30, the Shenzhou 19 crew arrived at the Tiangong Space Station for a six-month mission focused on space science experiments, including testing bricks made from simulated lunar … Continue reading Mirror platform for science experiments on China’s space station now operational

New research indicates that Miranda, a moon orbiting Uranus, may harbor enough water beneath its surface to support alien life. Scientists from Johns Hopkins and the University of North Dakota suggest this finding could enhance our understanding of potential ocean worlds in the outer solar system. Their analysis of Voyager 2 images revealed that Miranda likely had an ocean between 100 to 500 million years … Continue reading Uranus’ moon could be home to aliens — scientists reveal ‘bizarre’ new find

NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel has urged SpaceX to maintain focus on safety amid recent issues with its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, noting the importance of vigilance as mission frequency rises. The panel highlighted several recent incidents, including a Falcon 9 second-stage launch failure in July, an engine anomaly in September, and a delayed Crew-8 parachute deployment. The panel also supported SpaceX’s decision … Continue reading NASA panel calls on SpaceX to “maintain focus” on Dragon safety after recent anomalies

On Halloween, sunspot AR 3878 unleashed a powerful X2.0 solar flare at 5:20 p.m. EDT. Though intense, it did not produce a coronal mass ejection (CME), meaning no geomagnetic storm or aurora effects for Earth this time. The flare was strong enough to cause a shortwave radio blackout over parts of the Pacific, Space.com has reported. X-class flares are the most intense solar flares, and … Continue reading Sun erupts with X-class solar flare on Halloween, causes radio blackouts