ScientistPankaj: Tiny laser-propelled spaceships could travel to the far reaches of the solar system

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Tiny laser-propelled spaceships could travel to the far reaches of the solar system

Created for ceo.studentlike.spuniv@blogger.com | Web Version

March 7, 2022

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The Launchpad

China wants its new rocket for astronaut launches to be reusable

(CASC)

China's next crewed rocket would allow a reusable launch option for sending astronauts or cargo to the new Tiangong space station or deep space missions. But you won't believe how they'll catch the booster.

Full Story: Space (3/6)

Tiny laser-propelled spaceships could travel to the far reaches of the solar system and beyond

(Adapted from Nano Letters 2022, DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c04188)

Miniature spaceships the size of cellphones could fly across the solar system using sails propelled by lasers, which would allow the tiny spacecraft to reach much faster speeds - and, potentially, much more distant destinations.

Full Story: Space (3/6)

When NASA's Parker Solar Probe flew by the sun, telescopes were watching

(NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben/SDO)

To be clear, the Parker Solar Probe wasn't directly visible in the various instruments, as the van-sized spacecraft was too small for the telescopes to pick out. But what the long-distance view did provide is valuable context for what the spacecraft saw close up, from as close as 5.3 million miles (8.5 million kilometers) from the sun's surface.

Full Story: Space (3/6)

Spaceflight

Astra rocket launch failure traced to issues with payload fairing, software

(Astra/NASASpaceflight.com)

Astra thinks it knows what went wrong during last month's failed flight, which was the company's first-ever mission with operational payloads onboard.

Full Story: Space (3/7)

Romania signs the Artemis Accords for space exploration cooperation

(Romanian Space Agency)

The country of Romania signed the Artemis Accords on March 1, becoming the 16th nation to join the NASA-led project for cooperation in space.

Full Story: Space (3/6)

Russia removes Soyuz rocket with 36 OneWeb satellites from launch pad

(Roscosmos)

The outcome was expected, but the visuals are still dramatic. On Friday, Russia removed a Soyuz rocket topped with 36 OneWeb internet satellites from its launch pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in the wake of UK sanctions on Russia over its Ukraine invasion.

Full Story: Space (3/4)

Science & Astronomy

Curiosity rover snaps close-up of tiny 'mineral flower' on Mars

(NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)

The beautiful branching rock, which is just 0.4 inch (1 centimeter) wide, looks a bit like a coral or a sponge. Despite its likeness to a living organism, however, the deposit is not alive and is a fairly common sight across the Martian landscape.

Full Story: Space (3/6)

James Webb Space Telescope will study super-bright quasars to understand early universe

(NASA, ESA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI))

Some of the James Webb Space Telescope's first science investigations will probe the role that bright objects called quasars played in early galaxy evolution.

Full Story: Space (3/6)

Large Hadron Collider to explore cutting edge physics after 3-year shutdown

(Ronald Patrick/Getty Images)

Scientists are gearing up to once more push the boundaries of the cutting edge of particle physics with the reopening of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN near Geneva, Switzerland after a three-year shutdown.

Full Story: Space (3/4)

SpaceX

Elon Musk says SpaceX focusing on cyber defense after Starlink signals jammed in Ukraine conflict

A fleet of SpaceX Starlink internet satellites poised for deployment in orbit (SpaceX)

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said Friday that his company is now focusing on cyber defense and overcoming signal jamming of its Starlink internet satellites amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Starlink V2 and Starship work may be delayed, he said.

Full Story: Space (3/5)

SpaceX's Starlink asked to block Russian news sources by some governments, Elon Musk says

(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

"Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We will not do so unless at gunpoint," Elon Musk wrote on Twitter Friday.

Full Story: Space (3/5)