ScientistPankaj: NASA's Perseverance Mars rover enters new Red Planet territory: 'Bright Angel'

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover enters new Red Planet territory: 'Bright Angel'

NASA, Boeing to discuss Starliner ISS departure, listen live | Space Quiz! About how long until the Earth's sun exhausts its supply of hydrogen, and begins expanding into a Red Giant? | Perseverance rover enters new Mars territory: 'Bright Angel'

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June 18, 2024

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The Launchpad

NASA, Boeing to discuss Starliner ISS departure, listen live

(NASA)

NASA and Boeing representatives will discuss the progress of Starliner's mission at the International Space Station (ISS), which docked June 6 after experiencing several helium leaks and issues with five onboard reaction control system (RCS) thrusters. The press conference begins at 12 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) and you can listen to it live here at Space.com, via NASA Television.

Full Story: Space (6/18)

Space Quiz! About how long until the Earth's sun exhausts its supply of hydrogen, and begins expanding into a Red Giant?

Learn the answer here!

Perseverance rover enters new Mars territory: 'Bright Angel'

(NASA)

Since January, NASA's Perseverance rover has been tracing the south side of Neretva Vallis, which is possibly the fossil of a river that once fed the rover's landing site in Jezero Crater. In the distance, Perseverance's operators could see the glimmer of its next destination: Bright Angel, so named for the light-toned outcrops that may be ancient rocks uncovered by the previously running river.

Full Story: Space (6/17)

Skywatching

The summer solstice: What is it and when does it occur?

(Anton Petrus via Getty Images)

The summer solstice marks the official start of astronomical summer and the longest day of the year. It is celebrated by many cultures around the world with numerous traditions, holidays and festivals. From sunrise gatherings to midsummer festivals, summer solstice celebrations certainly blow the winter cobwebs away, and is happening this week.

Full Story: Space (5/28)

Spaceflight

Shine on, Starliner! Aurora glows as astronauts prep return

(NASA/Matthew Dominick)

A new image and incredible timelapse show an aurora filling the view as Boeing Starliner astronauts performed a crucial in-flight test in space on Saturday (June 15). Starliner is currently at the International Space Station (ISS), and the crew was testing the capsule's thrusters because problems had delayed its docking procedures; the first time issues occurred was June 6, when astronauts were on board. While that was happening, NASA astronauts floated into a nearby SpaceX Dragon capsule, also attached to the ISS, and captured a green aurora shimmering behind the Starliner's rear end.

Full Story: Space (6/17)

Science & Astronomy

Long-studied star actually stellar duo: 'We were stunned'

(U.S. NSF/ NSF NRAO/B. Saxton.; NASA/JPL-Caltech/Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)

Shrouded in a dense cloud of gas and dust, a young star in the constellation Ophiuchus that astronomers have studied for decades has been found to be a duo. It would also appear that both members of the pair are encircled by a disk of material within which planets may have just begun coalescing.

Full Story: Space (6/17)

Technology

DARPA unveils 6 new designs for uncrewed vtol aircraft

(DARPA)

The U.S. military could soon have new uncrewed aircraft that carry weapons and take off and land vertically. The vehicles could undergo test flights as early as 2026. The Advanced Aircraft Infrastructure-less Launch And Recovery (ANCILLARY) program will field designs for new, uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) carrying weapons. Specifically, the project aims to deliver X-planes capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) like a helicopter that can operate from aircraft carriers.

Full Story: Space (6/11)