ScientistPankaj: DARPA moon tech study selects 14 companies to develop a lunar economy

Friday, December 8, 2023

DARPA moon tech study selects 14 companies to develop a lunar economy

DARPA selects 14 companies to develop a lunar economy | Why is there so much military interest in the moon? | Halo around full moon spotted during SpaceX launch

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December 8, 2023

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The Launchpad

DARPA selects 14 companies to develop a lunar economy

(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)

We've seen the movies and read the books about what it would be like to have a habitat on the moon, but in order to turn our Sci-Fi fantasy into a reality, scientists must lay out some groundwork.

Full Story: Space (12/8)

Why is there so much military interest in the moon?

(DARPA)

Over the last few years, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, better known as DARPA, has increasingly zeroed-in on the moon. A trio of DARPA undertakings look to advance technologies for use on the moon. DARPA kick-started its Novel Orbital moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass Efficient Design (NOM4D) program. Last month, DARPA threw in some "LOGIC" into the mix via the Lunar Operating Guidelines for Infrastructure Consortium, or LOGIC for short. DARPA has also initiated the 10-Year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) Capability Study to spur the development of an integrated future lunar infrastructure for "peaceful U.S. and international use."

Full Story: Space (12/8)

Skywatching

Halo around full moon spotted during SpaceX launch

(Gilbert E. Plumer)

An ethereal halo of light around the full moon created by ice crystals from overhanging clouds recently shone bright during a SpaceX rocket launch in Florida, setting the stage for a stunning time-lapse photo that captured the luminous ring and streaking rocket in the same frame.

Full Story: Space (12/7)

Spaceflight

NASA nails down OSIRIS-REx parachute problem

(NASA/Keegan Barber)

"After a thorough review of the descent video and the capsule's extensive documentation, NASA found that inconsistent wiring label definitions in the design plans likely caused engineers to wire the parachutes' release triggers such that signals meant to deploy the drogue chute fired out of order," agency officials wrote.

Full Story: Space (12/7)

Science & Astronomy

Scientists study violent 'superflares' on massive stars

(NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory/Emily Mason)

Scientists may have solved the physics behind massive and violent "superflares" that rip free from stars thousands of times as bright as the sun. Our host star regularly erupts with solar flares that can impact Earth and, if strong enough, disrupt communications and power infrastructure on a global scale. But these solar flares are mere child's tantrums compared to the thousands of "superflares" that NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and Kepler space telescopes have seen blasting from stars between 100 and 10,000 times brighter than the sun.

Full Story: Space (12/7)

SpaceX

SpaceX, Space Force to launch secretive X-37B space plane

(U.S. Space Force/Staff Sgt. Adam Shanks)

The space plane is scheduled to lift off atop a Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a 10-minute window that opens at 8:14 p.m. EST (0114 GMT on Dec. 11). If SpaceX webcasts the launch as expected, you'll be able to watch the action live here at Space.com.

Full Story: Space (12/7)

Technology

Space Force radar to 'identify emerging threats' in orbit

(U.S. Space Force/Craig Weiman/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory)

The United States, United Kingdom and Australia have signed an agreement to develop a deep space radar capable of keeping an eye on what's happening in geosynchronous orbit.

Full Story: Space (12/8)

Entertainment

'For All Mankind' season 4 episode 5 review

(Apple TV+)

A new body in the Solar System starts a multi-trillion-dollar gold rush, while the shockwaves from a certain someone's departure continue to resonate on Mars.

Full Story: Space (12/8)