#China launches Mars probe in space race with US

“#China launches Mars probe in space race with US” China’s ambitious Tianwen-1 Mars mission lifted off from the southern island of Hainan China launched a rover to Mars on Thursday, a journey coinciding with a similar US mission as the powers take their rivalry into deep space. The two countries are taking advantage of a…

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#Image: Letting a satellite breathe

“#Image: Letting a satellite breathe” Credit: VKI This air intake collector is designed to harvest sufficient air particles as it skims the top of the atmosphere to fuel an “air-breathing” electric thruster. The aim is to help satellites to overcome atmospheric drag to operate on an ongoing basis in orbits from as low as 180…

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#Asteroid shower on the Earth-Moon system 800 million years ago revealed by lunar craters

“#Asteroid shower on the Earth-Moon system 800 million years ago revealed by lunar craters” An asteroid shower on the Earth-Moon system Credit: Artist’s illustration, credit: Murayama/Osaka Univ. A research team led by Osaka University investigated the formation ages of 59 lunar craters with a diameter of approximately 20 km using the Terrain Camera (TC) onboard…

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#South Korea’s first military satellite launched

“#South Korea’s first military satellite launched” The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the ANASIS-II satellite blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida South Korea’s first-ever military communications satellite has been successfully launched by private operator SpaceX, Seoul said Tuesday, as it looks to build up its defence capabilities. The ANASIS-II is intended to…

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#Scientists discover volcanoes on Venus are still active

“#Scientists discover volcanoes on Venus are still active” The 3D rendition above shows two coronae observed on the surface of Venus. The ring-like structures are formed when hot material from deep inside the planet rises through the mantle and erupts through the crust. Research by UMD’s Laurent Montesi found that at least 37 coronae on…

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#NASA’s next laser communications demo installed, integrated

“#NASA’s next laser communications demo installed, integrated” Northrop Grumman technicians in front of the LCRD payload fully installed and integrated on the Space Test Program Satellite (STPSat-6). Credit: NGSS On July 16, 2020, the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) payload was installed and integrated on the U.S. Department of Defense Space Test Program Satellite 6…

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