spaceflight
-
Returning SpaceX Rockets Are Creating Bright Glowing ‘Holes’ in the Sky
In mid-July, viewers hoping to catch a glimpse of a SpaceX rocket launch were stunned to see it followed by a bright aurora-like phenomenon over Arizona. The rocket had formed a hole in the upper atmosphere, evinced by a red glow captured by photographers on the ground. The glow itself was nothing new, these types…
-
California Legislators Slam ‘Rash’ NASA Cuts to Marquee Mars Mission
Six California lawmakers wrote to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson last week to oppose the agency’s recent cuts to the Mars Sample Return mission, which aims to bring samples collected by the Perseverance rover on Mars to Earth. The letter was written by congresspeople Judy Chu, Laphonza Butler, Mike Garcia, and Young Kim, as well as…
-
Pesky Heat Shield Issue Threatens to Delay NASA’s First Crewed Moon Journey in Decades
Nearly a year after an uncrewed Orion splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, NASA anticipates it still needs a few more months to resolve a lingering issue with the capsule’s heat shield before a crew can ride on board. During a recent meeting, NASA officials revealed that the space agency would not proceed with the…
-
Airbus Launches Device to Keep Dead Satellites from Tumbling in Space
Earth’s orbit can be a chaotic place, with defunct spacecraft darting aimlessly across the dark skies. In order to tackle the growing issue of space debris, Airbus created a new device designed to keep satellites from tumbling around after they’re no longer of use. The device, aptly named Detumbler, launched on Saturday on board a…