ScientistPankaj: China's space plane apparently deployed 6 'mysterious wingmen' in orbit

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

China's space plane apparently deployed 6 'mysterious wingmen' in orbit

China space plane deploys 6 'mysterious wingmen' in orbit | Space Quiz! How many moons does Uranus have? | SpaceX gearing up for 3rd Starship flight (photos)

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December 19, 2023

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The Launchpad

China space plane deploys 6 'mysterious wingmen' in orbit

(Erik Simonsen/Getty Images)

Just four days after being launched on its third mission, China's Shenlong ("Divine Dragon") robotic space plane seems to have placed six objects into Earth orbit. Amateur spacecraft trackers around the world have been following the objects closely for days and have recorded emissions coming from some of them.

Full Story: Space (12/18)

Space Quiz! How many moons does Uranus have?

Learn the answer here!

SpaceX gearing up for 3rd Starship flight (photos)

(SpaceX)

A month after its latest liftoff, SpaceX's giant Starship rocket is getting ready to fly again. Starship launched Nov. 18 on its second-ever test mission, which ended in two spectacular explosions. But the company, as ever, is gearing up for the next try.

Full Story: Space (12/18)

Spaceflight

Western Europe's 1st vertical spaceport cleared for launch

(SaxaVord)

The SaxaVord spaceport on the Shetland Islands off the northern coast of Scotland has officially become western Europe's first licensed spaceport capable of launching rockets vertically.

Full Story: Space (12/18)

Science & Astronomy

The rings of Uranus look positively festive in epic photo

(NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI)

The JWST's new image shows Uranus' north polar cap almost directly facing us (and therefore also facing the sun), with a bright spot at its center and a dark collar, both of which have previously been seen in infrared and radio-wavelength observations, but never with this clarity before. The bright spot, seen as white in the new JWST, is warmer than its surroundings and is the center of a huge cyclonic vortex.

Full Story: Space (12/18)

SpaceX

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites after delays

(SpaceX)

As to plan on Monday, the Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth for a vertical landing about 8.5 minutes after launch. It touched down on the droneship "A Shortfall of Gravitas," which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast.

Full Story: Space (12/11)

Entertainment

'Apollo 13' movie hits a new high for film fans

(Universal/Getty Images)

The iconic space film -- based on the near-disaster of NASA's 1970 Apollo 13 human moon mission -- was named part of the Library of Congress' National Film Registry on Wednesday (Dec. 13). Each year, the registry selects 25 films for inclusion due to their "cultural, historic or aesthetic importance."

Full Story: Space (12/18)

Star Wars

Everything we know about Star Wars Eclipse

(Quantic Dream)

On the horizon is Star Wars Eclipse, Quantic Dream's ambitious take on an action-adventure Star Wars game with branching narratives. This is thanks to Lucasfilm Games extending the development of new Star Wars video games to publishers and studios beyond EA. So, after the excellent Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and as we are also preparing for a romp through the galaxy's colorful criminal underworld in Ubisoft Massive's Star Wars Outlaws, we're being treated to yet another rich space adventure.

Full Story: Space (12/18)