Space - SlashGear

NASA says Artemis I Orion spacecraft has passed key certification tests

Brittany A. Roston | Sep 1, 2020

In an announcement on Tuesday, NASA revealed that the spacecraft it will launch as part of its Artemis I lunar mission has passed key certification tests, paving the way for the agency's hopeful launch in 2024. The Artemis I will involve the Orion spacecraft, as well as the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Exploration Ground Systems programs. Artemis I will be followed shortly after by a second mission aptly named Artemis II.

Future astronauts may zap away annoying, messy Moon dust

Brittany A. Roston | Sep 1, 2020

If you think sand is annoying, wait until you hear astronauts describe their experiences with Moon dust. The substance is apparently easy to kick up into the environment, causing it to settle all over the place: on suits, in vehicles, and other places it could end up being a problem. How will future astronauts, particularly ones stationed on the lunar surface for long periods of time, deal with this nuisance?

OGO-1 satellite burns up on reentry after 56 years in service

Shane McGlaun | Sep 1, 2020

With so many satellites in space today, when they are no longer functional, they can't simply remain in place. If at all possible, satellites are pushed back into the atmosphere with the final burn of their thrusters where they burn up on reentry. A satellite that had been in orbit for over five and a half decades, called OGO-1, recently burned up on reentry.

NASA shares stunning photo of Earth painted with sunrise shadows

Brittany A. Roston | Aug 31, 2020

NASA has captured thousands of images from space, many of which are made available on the agency's website. Though many of these images aren't terribly exciting, some of them have proven stunning, particularly ones showing off our own planet in a way we can't perceive from the surface. The latest example of this kind of content is a new image that shows Earth bathed in sunrise shadows.

Rocket Lab celebrates its latest successful launch

Shane McGlaun | Aug 31, 2020

Rocket Lab had a successful launch today that helped the company shake off its failed launch last month. The launch that happened today was the company's 13th orbital launch, and the rocket performed flawlessly. This particular mission put the Sequoia satellite into orbit for Capella Space.

Giant asteroid to zoom past Earth on September 1

Shane McGlaun | Aug 31, 2020

NASA recently announced that a giant asteroid approximately the size of a multistory building will fly by the Earth on September 1. The asteroid is called 2011 ES4, and it has measurements of between 22 and 49 meters. NASA believes that the asteroid will pass at a minimum distance to Earth of about 120,000 kilometers.

SpaceX bags first polar mission from Florida in 50 years

JC Torres | Aug 31, 2020

Just when you thought the company couldn't make history anymore, SpaceX just launched yet another one. Although it had to cancel the first of its two planned launches on Sunday due to unfavorable weather conditions, luck seemed to still smile on it as it launched what may be the more historic one. Not only that, but it was also able to safely land the Falcon 9 rocket that has now flown four times and is now also the first rocket to be launched from Florida on a polar corridor mission since 1969.

NASA shares a gorgeous image of Cygnus supernova blast wave

Shane McGlaun | Aug 30, 2020

NASA has shared a new and very cool photograph via its Instagram page. The image looks almost as if it was created using Photoshop, showing an undulating orange ribbon across space. NASA says the image is actually of a small section of Cygnus' supernova blast wave.

NASA will fund five ‘cutting edge’ mission studies involving the Sun

Brittany A. Roston | Aug 30, 2020

NASA has announced intentions to fund five mission proposals, up to two of which will proceed to full mission status. Under this new effort, the space agency will supply each proposal with $1.25 million, giving the teams behind the efforts nine months to conduct mission concept studies. Each potential mission proposes a Medium-Class Explorer that will revolve around the Sun.

NASA assigns astronaut Jeanette Epps to first operational Boeing Starliner-1 mission

Shane McGlaun | Aug 29, 2020

NASA has announced that it has assigned astronaut Jeanette Epps to the first operational crewed flight of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. That mission will launch the astronauts to the International Space Station, where Epps will join NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Josh Cassada aboard the ISS for a six-month expedition.

ULA Delta 4 Heavy rocket launch aborted seconds before liftoff

Shane McGlaun | Aug 29, 2020

The United Launch Alliance was set to launch a rocket in the early morning hours of August 29. The launch of the ULA Delta 4 Heavy rocket was meant to put a National Reconnaissance Office classified spy satellite into orbit. Liftoff was planned for 3:28 AM Eastern but was aborted during the ignition sequence.

NASA’s first OGO satellite out-lasted orbits of all others, and it falls tomorrow

Chris Burns | Aug 28, 2020

When this article was first written, there was a satellite orbiting the Earth. By the time you read this article, said satellite may've fallen out of the sky. According to calculations done by NASA and revealed on August 27, 2020, the OGO-1 satellite will end its journey and exploration of space on Saturday, August 29, 2020, at right around 5:10 PM ETD (2110 GMT).