Uranus’ moon Ariel has a surprising amount of carbon dioxide ice on its trailing hemisphere, despite the moon’s distance from the Sun, where CO2 typically sublimates into gas. Scientists had hypothesized that radiolysis—breakdown of molecules by ionizing radiation from Uranus’ magnetosphere—might be responsible. However, a new study published on July 24 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters suggests an alternative: carbon dioxide and other molecules might be emerging … Continue reading Carbon oxides on Uranus’ moon Ariel hint at hidden ocean, Webb telescope reveals

NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered a potentially crucial clue on Mars that might indicate ancient life. On July 18, the rover found a vein-filled red rock with leopard-like spots, which could suggest past microbial activity due to ancient chemical reactions. David Flannery, a member of the Perseverance science team, noted that similar features on Earth are often linked to fossilized microbes. Although the rock’s origin … Continue reading Perseverance rover finds evidence that suggests ancient microbial life might have existed on Mars

After weeks of troubleshooting, NASA and Boeing still can’t set a return date for the astronauts on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which is facing issues such as helium leaks and thruster failures. Recent tests have revealed that heat buildup in the thrusters may cause Teflon seals to bulge and restrict propellant flow. Engineers have replicated the thruster issues on the ground, providing insights into the problems. … Continue reading Boeing, NASA may have found ‘root cause’ of Starliner spacecraft’s issues

SpaceX has secured a $112.7 million contract to launch NOAA’s JPSS-4 satellite, scheduled for 2027. This mission will use a Falcon 9 rocket from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base. The JPSS program, a joint effort between NOAA and NASA, aims to monitor Earth’s environment, aiding in weather and climate predictions. To date, three JPSS satellites have launched successfully, with JPSS-4 joining the constellation as the … Continue reading SpaceX wins $113 million contract to launch advanced NOAA climate satellite

In the past six months, satellites in SpaceX’s Starlink megaconstellation performed nearly 50,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers, double the number from the previous half-year. According to SpaceX’s latest Semiannual Constellation Status Report, each Starlink satellite executed its thrusters an average of 14 times to avoid collisions with other satellites, spacecraft, and space debris. The constellation grew from about 5,100 to 6,200 satellites during this period. SpaceX also … Continue reading SpaceX Starlink satellites made 50,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in the past 6 months

SpaceX and NASA are preparing to de-orbit the International Space Station (ISS) using an upgraded Dragon spacecraft designed for this purpose. NASA awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to create a spacecraft capable of shifting the ISS, which weighs over 400 tons, into a controlled re-entry trajectory over an unpopulated ocean area. The ISS is scheduled for decommissioning after 2030, marking the end of its … Continue reading SpaceX Reveals Plan to Bring Down the ISS Using a Powered-Up Dragon Spacecraft

Scientists believe that if life exists on Saturn’s moon Enceladus or Jupiter’s moon Europa, detectable trace molecules might survive just beneath their icy surfaces. Both moons are thought to have vast liquid oceans that could harbor life, potentially containing complex organic molecules like amino acids and nucleic acids—key indicators of life. Although harsh solar radiation could destroy these molecules at the surface, new research suggests … Continue reading Signs of life could survive on solar system moons Enceladus and Europa

A study in Nature Astronomy reveals that China’s Chang’e-5 lunar probe detected trace amounts of water in moon soil samples. These findings, from a higher lunar latitude, suggest water may persist on the moon as hydrated salts. The Chang’e-5 mission, which returned to Earth in 2020, was the first lunar sample collection in 40 years, following the Chang’e-4’s 2019 landing on the far side of the moon, … Continue reading Chinese lunar probe finds water in moon samples

China is seeking collaboration with 50 countries for its International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program, aiming to build a lunar base at the south pole. Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program, announced that China is open to international partners from both emerging and established nations. This initiative follows NASA’s recent cancellation of its VIPER lunar rover mission, which was intended to search … Continue reading China wants 50 countries involved in its ILRS moon base

China is planning to dominate cislunar space with a new satellite network designed to enhance communication, navigation, and monitoring between Earth and the moon. Developed by researchers at the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, the network aims to provide real-time services for global users, enabling simultaneous communication for up to 20 travelers through images, audio, or … Continue reading China plans 30-satellite information superhighway to connect Earth, moon

A recent study published in Nature Communications suggests that Mercury, the smallest planet in the solar system, has a thick diamond layer at its core-mantle boundary, up to 18 kilometers (11 miles) thick. This finding, from scientists in China and Belgium, challenges previous assumptions that graphite was the only stable form of carbon on Mercury. The diamond layer likely formed from the crystallization of Mercury’s carbon-rich magma … Continue reading Mercury has an 11-mile thick diamond layer between its core and mantle

NASA’s Juno spacecraft has provided new insights into volcanic activity on Jupiter’s moon Io using its JIRAM instrument. This high-resolution infrared imagery has revealed extensive lava lakes and dynamic volcanic processes, offering unprecedented detail about Io’s volcanic landscape. These findings, recently published in Communications Earth & Environment, enhance our understanding of Io as the most volcanically active body in the solar system. Io’s extreme volcanic activity … Continue reading NASA’s Juno Uncovers the Fire-Breathing Lakes of Jupiter’s Volcanic Moon Io

NASA has raised concerns about Asteroid 2011 MW1, a massive 380-foot object speeding towards Earth at nearly 29,000 km/h. Expected to make its closest approach on July 25, it will come within 2.4 million miles of Earth. Despite its size and proximity, NASA has assured that it poses no immediate threat, as the asteroid’s trajectory has been carefully monitored and it is not considered potentially … Continue reading NASA on alert as gigantic asteroid zooms too close to Earth, might turn catastrophic if moves from orbit

NASA announced Wednesday that it is canceling the Viper rover mission due to cost overruns and launch delays. Originally scheduled for late 2023, the mission faced setbacks from increased expenses and additional testing, impacting other projects. The rover was intended to explore the moon’s south pole, with about $450 million already invested. NASA will pursue lunar ice studies through other initiatives, the Associated Press has … Continue reading NASA cancels its moon rover mission, citing cost overruns and launch delays

NASA scientists have discovered pure sulfur on Mars for the first time, found by the Curiosity rover when it drove over a rock in the Gediz Vallis channel. This unexpected finding is notable because while sulfur-containing minerals have been observed on Mars, pure sulfur has not. The discovery, made on May 30, is significant because the conditions needed to form elemental sulfur are not known … Continue reading NASA’s Curiosity rover accidentally uncovered pure sulfur crystals on Mars

The sun is currently experiencing intense activity, firing off powerful solar flares. Sunspot AR3738, as it rotates out of view on the sun’s western limb, has emitted a strong X-class solar flare, the most powerful type. T his flare occurred on Tuesday morning (July 16) at 9:26 a.m. EDT (1326 GMT), causing a shortwave radio blackout primarily over the Atlantic Ocean and affecting much of … Continue reading Sun blasts out 2nd X-class flare this week, triggers more radio blackouts

In 2029, an asteroid larger than the Eiffel Tower, known as 99942 Apophis, will pass near Earth, an event that previously sparked fears of a potential catastrophic collision. Now, scientists aim to study Apophis closely during its approach to enhance our planetary defense systems. The European Space Agency (ESA) has funded the Rapid Apophis Mission for Security and Safety (RAMSES), which will deploy a spacecraft … Continue reading Scientists set sights on asteroid larger than Eiffel Tower as it skims past Earth

For the first time, scientists have discovered a cave on the Moon, which is at least 100 meters deep and could serve as an ideal location for a permanent human base. T his cave is part of an extensive network of potentially hundreds of hidden caves, according to researchers. As countries race to establish a permanent lunar presence, protecting astronauts from radiation, extreme temperatures, and … Continue reading Cave discovered on Moon could be home for humans

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered the closest massive black hole to Earth, described as a “frozen in time” cosmic titan. This intermediate-mass black hole, with a mass of about 8,200 suns, may help bridge the gap between stellar-mass and supermassive black holes. It is significantly more massive than stellar-mass black holes (which range from 5 to 100 solar masses) but much less … Continue reading Hubble Space Telescope finds closest massive black hole to Earth

Recently identified flaws in electronic circuits on NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft could jeopardize the $5 billion mission to explore Jupiter’s icy moon and its subsurface ocean. As preparations continue for an October launch from Kennedy Space Center, a team of engineers is reviewing the issue, with a report expected later this month. The problem involves metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) that fail to meet the mission’s … Continue reading Vulnerable transistors threaten to upend Europa Clipper mission

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Thursday night, carrying 20 Starlink satellites. However, about an hour later, the rocket’s second stage failed to reignite, resulting in the satellites being deployed into a shallower orbit, where they are expected to soon reenter and burn up in the atmosphere. CEO Elon Musk reported on X that the failure led … Continue reading SpaceX rocket grounded after orbital failure

Scientists are investigating a massive, enigmatic scar on Mars whose origins remain a mystery. Dubbed Aganippe Fossa, this feature stretches approximately 600km (373 miles) across, longer than the Grand Canyon, and is located on the lower flank of Mars’ colossal volcano, Arsia Mons. Initially identified in 1930, the scar has now been observed up close for the first time by the ESA spacecraft Mars Express. … Continue reading Scientists investigate mysterious giant scar stretching across Mars

The exoplanet HD 189733b, similar in size to Jupiter, has fascinated astronomers with its extreme conditions—searing temperatures, intense winds, and sideways rain composed of glass. Recent data from the James Webb Space Telescope has unveiled another intriguing detail: the planet emits a scent reminiscent of rotten eggs. Researchers detected trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide in its atmosphere, a gas known for its pungent sulfuric odor … Continue reading Scientists find a molecule never before found outside our solar system on a planet with glass rain

The European Space Agency’s long-awaited Ariane 6 rocket launched successfully from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, marking its maiden voyage after years of setbacks. The launch proceeded smoothly, achieving key milestones such as satellite deployment. However, approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes into the mission, an anomaly occurred during the rocket’s return phase, attributed to an engine reignition issue, CNN has reported. Despite … Continue reading Long-awaited European rocket experiences ‘anomaly’ before reentry to Earth

During its final close approach to Jupiter’s moon Io, NASA’s Juno orbiter captured unprecedented images of volcanic plumes erupting from the moon’s surface. Io, known as the most volcanically active world in our solar system, features numerous volcanoes spewing material miles high into space. Juno’s February flyby at a distance of 2,400 miles provided detailed snapshots of these eruptions, revealing new insights into Io’s volcanic … Continue reading NASA spacecraft catches volcano plumes blasting into space