Tag: space technology
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GO-LoW: A New Frontier Revealing the Low-Frequency Radio Cosmos
Unveiling the Hidden Sky: GO-LoW’s Mission For centuries, humanity has peered at the stars, expanding our understanding of the cosmos with naked-eye observations and increasingly sophisticated telescopes. Yet a sweeping portion of the electromagnetic spectrum—the low-frequency radio sky—has remained largely unseen. Now, a NASA-funded concept study aims to change that with the Great Observatory for…
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Space Armor: A New Shield for Satellites and Astronauts Against Space Debris
A New Frontier in Space Debris Protection In the relentless environment of low Earth orbit, speed compounds danger. Millions of micrometeoroids and man-made debris zip around at velocities that can reach 16,000 mph (about 25,750 kph). Until now, defenses relied on traditional shielding that could be heavy and prone to fragmentation. Enter Space Armor, a…
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Space Armor: A New Shield Against Space Debris for Satellites and Astronauts
Introducing Space Armor: A Breakthrough in MMOD Shielding In a move that could redefine how humanity operates in low Earth orbit, Atomic-6 of Marietta, Georgia, has unveiled Space Armor, a multi-functional composite designed to protect both spacecraft and astronauts from the relentless onslaught of space debris. The new material is produced via a proprietary fiber-to-resin…
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The Space Junk Crisis: Why Orbital Debris Is the Next Big Threat to Our Future in Space
The Growing Threat of Orbital Debris Space has long stood as a frontier of human ambition, where satellites orbiting Earth enable weather forecasting, communications, GPS, and scientific discovery. Yet the very infrastructure that powers our connected world is increasingly threatened by a growing cloud of debris circling the planet. From defunct satellites to spent rocket…
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SpaceX Starship Flight 11: Live Launch Oct. 13
SpaceX Eyes Starship Flight 11 as Oct. 13 Launch Window Opens The countdown is on for SpaceX to mount the next test flight of its colossal Starship system, Flight 11. The two-stage behemoth, built for rapid reuse, is scheduled to lift off from SpaceX’s Starbase site in South Texas during a 75-minute launch window that…
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Sunlight on Demand: The Night-Skimming Mirror Satellites Raising Global Light- Pollution Fears
Introduction: A Bright Idea with Dark-Sky Repercussions A bold, controversial concept is stirring alarm in the astronomy community: a constellation of mirrors in orbit designed to beam sunlight down to Earth so solar farms can operate after sunset. US startup Reflect Orbital calls this idea “sunlight on demand.” If realized, the plan would involve an…
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Sunlight on Demand? The Risks and Realities of Reflect Orbital’s Night-Beaming Satellites
Overview: A Bold Idea Awakens Strong Reactions A US startup, Reflect Orbital, proposes a radical way to extend solar power beyond daylight: a constellation of mirrors in orbit that would beam sunlight down to Earth, effectively delivering “sunlight on demand.” The plan centers on an 18-meter test satellite, Earendil-1, slated for launch in 2026, with…
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Australian Nanosatellite SpIRIT Snaps Space Selfie, Sets Stage for GRB Hunt
Australia’s SpIRIT Takes a Space Selfie as it Prepares to Track Gamma-Ray Bursts In a milestone that mirrors the playful spirit of space exploration, Australia’s SpIRIT nanosatellite has taken its first so-called ‘selfie’ from orbit. The image, captured during in-orbit commissioning, marks the completion of critical testing and paves the way for the mission’s core…
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Australian nanosatellite SpIRIT snaps first selfie in space before gamma-ray burst hunt
SpIRIT makes its space selfie a milestone for Australian space tech Australia’s Space Industry Responsive Intelligent Thermal nanosatellite, or SpIRIT, has achieved a milestone—its first “selfie” in orbit. This moment marks the completion of commissioning and the transition from hardware testing to scientific operations, a crucial step for a mission designed to showcase Australian spacecraft…
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SpIRIT Nanosatellite Selfie in Space and Gamma-Ray Burst Mission
Australia’s SpIRIT Nanosatellite Takes a Milestone Selfie in Orbit The Australian Space Agency’s first funded space telescope, SpIRIT (Space Industry Responsive Intelligent Thermal nanosatellite), has delivered a celebratory milestone: its first in-space selfie. Launched in December 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, SpIRIT has completed commissioning and is poised to begin its core science mission,…