Space
The latest news and reporting on space exploration and discovery.
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NASA is recycling 98 percent of astronaut pee and sweat on the ISS into drinkable water
This week, NASA revealed that the International Space Station’s Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) is recycling 98 percent of all water astronauts bring aboard the station.
Cellular satellite test successfully beams 4G data from space to a regular phone
AST SpaceMobile recently completed a series of tests where its engineers downloaded data at 10Mbps from an off-the-shelf smartphone connected to a satellite in low-Earth orbit.
Hitting the Books: Why AI won't be taking our cosmology jobs
In "The Universe in a Box" cosmologist Andrew Pontzen discusses how recent advances in supercomputing technology are revolutionizing our capability to model the complexities of the cosmos on a smaller scale.
Firefly Aerospace buys the final scraps of doomed Virgin Orbit
The last remnants of Virgin Orbit have been offloaded. Firefly Aerospace has agreed to buy the defunct satellite-launch company’s remaining assets for $3.8 million. Firefly’s purchase included the leftovers from a May auction that cleaned out most of the company’s possessions, netting $36 million in Virgin Orbit’s bankruptcy proceedings. Firefly’s purchase was reported in June 15th filings in a Delaware bankruptcy court (via SpaceNews).
Scientists claim they're the first to transmit space-based solar power to Earth
A team of Caltech researchers claim to be the first to successfully transmit solar power from space to Earth.
Boeing Starliner's first crewed ISS flight delayed due to technical issues
Boeing's Starliner was supposed to fly its first crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 21st, but a couple of technical issues has kept the company from pushing through with its plan.
Japan will try to beam solar power from space by 2025
A Japanese public-private partnership will attempt to put orbital solar arrays in space later this decade.
Japan's ispace says Hakuto-R crashed because it got confused by a crater rim
ispace is done analyzing data from its failed Hakuto-R lunar landing, and it sounds like tricky terrain and a late change in the landing site are to blame.
Virgin Galactic completes its final VSS Unity flight test before space tourism debut
Virgin Galactic has completed the last VSS Unity test before it starts space tourism service.
Watch Axiom Space’s second private flight to the ISS with us at 5PM ET
Axiom Space's second all-civilian space flight will launch later today from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
NASA picks Blue Origin to build the Artemis V Moon landing system
NASA has chosen TKTKTK to develop the Artemius V Moon landing system.
Astronomers identify volcano-covered planet that could have water on its surface
The boringly named LP 791-18 d is located about 90 light-years from Earth in the Crater constellation.
Virgin Galactic's final VSS Unity flight test is slated for May 25th
Virgin Galactic's last flight test before paid service is now set for May 25th.
James Webb telescope finds water around a comet in the main asteroid belt
The James Webb telescope has spotted the first known instance of a comet with water vapor in the main asteroid belt.
Vast and SpaceX plan to launch the first commercial space station in 2025
Vast is teaming with SpaceX to launch what could be the first commercial space station.
JWST captures images of the first asteroid belts seen beyond the Solar System
Since 1983, astronomers have known the 440 million-year-old Fomalhaut is surrounded by dust and debris, but what they didn’t expect to find was three different debris fields surrounding the star.
Astronomers finally spot a star consuming a planet
For the first time, scientists have spotted a star eating a planet.
SpaceX's Starship didn't immediately respond to a self-destruct command
Musk explained it exploded after a 40-second delay.
SpaceX’s Starship launch caused a fire in a Texas state park
After a string of delays and a scrubbed launch attempt, SpaceX finally conducted the first test flight of its Starship spacecraft earlier this month. Federal agencies say the launch led to a 3.5-acre fire on state park land.
Japan's ispace confirms that Hakuto-R failed its lunar landing
ispace says there was a 'high probability' that the Hakuto-R lander 'made a hard landing on the moon's surface.'