ScientistPankaj: US Space Force 5 years later: What has it accomplished so far, and where does it go from here?

Friday, December 20, 2024

US Space Force 5 years later: What has it accomplished so far, and where does it go from here?

Watch Rocket Lab launch a private imaging satellite today | Space Quiz! How old is the sun? | US Space Force 5 years later: What has it accomplished?

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December 20, 2024

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The Launchpad

Watch Rocket Lab launch a private imaging satellite today

(Rocket Lab)

Rocket Lab plans to launch an Earth-observing radar satellite this morning (Dec. 20), and you can watch it live. An Electron rocket is scheduled to lift off from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site today, during a 75-minute window that opens at 9:00 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT; 3:00 a.m. on Dec. 21 local New Zealand time). Rocket Lab will webcast the action live, beginning 20 minutes before liftoff. Space.com will air the stream if, as expected, the company makes it available.

Full Story: Space (12/19)

Space Quiz! How old is the sun?

Learn the answer here!

US Space Force 5 years later: What has it accomplished?

(U.S. Space Force)

The U.S. Space Force celebrates its fifth anniversary today. The service was formally established on Dec. 20, 2019, when President Donald Trump signed it into law with the National Defense Authorization Act, the bill that allocates U.S. military spending each year. Since then, the U.S. Space Force has grown to nearly 15,000 servicemembers and civilian personnel. In its fifth year, Space Force has overseen astronaut launches from its facility at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and has even seen one of its own active Guardians, as Space Force members are known, launch into space.

Full Story: Space (12/20)

Skywatching

How to see the Ursid meteor shower peaks this weekend

(Jean Clark)

Missed the Geminid meteor shower earlier this month? Don't worry. We're in for a little pre-Christmas stargazing treat. The Ursid meteor shower - the final one of the year - is predicted to peak in the early morning hours of Sunday (Dec. 22). As far as meteor showers go, the Ursids aren't known to be particularly active. If viewing conditions are perfect, you might see upwards of 10 meteors per hour, according to In-the-Sky.org. But this year, the last quarter moon will interfere with the show, so it's best to keep expectations low -- say, maybe five meteors per hour.

Full Story: Space (12/20)

Spaceflight

Russian cosmonauts install X-ray detector on ISS spacewalk

(NASA+)

A Russian cosmonaut took a short ride at the end of a robotic arm to jettison spent equipment that he and a crewmate collected during a spacewalk outside the International Space Station today (Dec. 19).

Full Story: Space (12/19)

Science & Astronomy

Space telescopes give Christmas Tree Cluster a makeover

(NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: Clow, M.; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare and K. Arcand)

We've all looked for shapes in Earth's clouds. But what about shapes in space clouds? If you glance at NGC 2264, you'll see very quickly why this cluster of stars is nicknamed the "Christmas Tree Cluster."

Full Story: Space (12/19)

SpaceX

SpaceX inks deal for 2 more astronaut missions to the ISS

(SpaceX)

SpaceX has signed a deal to fly two more private astronaut missions to the International Space Station (ISS) using its Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule. The flights were booked by California company Vast Space, which is developing a private space station called Haven-1 that could reach orbit as soon as next year, also atop a Falcon 9.

Full Story: Space (12/19)

Entertainment

A bird? A plane? It's the 1st fantastic 'Superman!' trailer!

(DC Studios)

The new DC Universe might have technically already launched earlier this month with Max's animated series "Creature Commandos," but that was just an appetizer for the Big Blue Boy Scout as he swoops in for the first official trailer today for director James Gunn's "Superman."

Full Story: Space (12/19)

Star Trek

Did 'Lower Decks' just set up an exciting new spin-off?

(Paramount)

"All Good Things", "What You Leave Behind", "Endgame"… Now "The New Next Generation" becomes the latest addition to the pantheon of memorable "Star Trek" season finales, as the franchise's only out-and-out comedy, "Lower Decks", goes out in style.

Full Story: Space (12/19)