Near-Earth satellites are created in a way to ensure all their elements are burned upon entry into the atmosphere. But this does not always happen. A new experiment by the ESA aims to demonstrate what happens to space vehicles near our planet.
Starlight sometimes has a negative effect on telescopes, which is why experts at NASA are currently working on two projects geared towards blocking unnecessary radiation. One of them is operating under the working title ‘Starshade’.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has presented the concept of its new space vehicle to deliver equipment into orbit. Upon completion of its mission, the capsule will return to Earth ready to be used again.
Space is vast and it has many objects that we know to exist, but have never seen yet. Now, there is one such object less, as astronomers have recently spotted one of the rarest neutron stars in the Universe.
According to recently leaked information, the moon rover for the Luna-29 mission might be piloted by an anthropomorphic robot - presumably, FEDOR - currently being developed by NPO ‘Androidnaya Technika’ and the Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects.
According to official sources, the unmanned test flight of the Starliner spacecraft will take place in August at the earliest, with the manned launch set for the end of the year. Boeing is currently actively testing the spacecraft. Its parachutes, intended for the crew’s safe landing on Earth inside a capsule, were recently tested in terms of functionality.
Space flights adversely affect astronauts’ health. Particularly affected are their muscles and bones, therefore astronauts have to undergo long courses of rehabilitation after space expeditions. However, ISS specialists have developed a method to make them considerably shorter.
Pulsars are dead stars characterized by their constant rotation and emission of strong impulses. Scientists love them for this, as pulsars are perfect beacons that can be used for navigation in space by calculating the distance between objects.
At present, Asteroid Bennu is being rigorously studied by interstellar station OSIRIS-REx. Its approach will happen next year, which is why NASA is currently creating a detailed map of the object. The agency has made several photos of the asteroid and posted them online.
The Chinese media have announced Beijing's plans to build a research base on the Earth’s satellite within the next decade, according to spokespersons for the Chinese National Space Agency.
The space industry could be developing at a faster pace, but unprecedented costs related to spacecraft construction are preventing its growth. The most costly vehicles can reach high altitudes, serving as platforms for satellites. A newly discovered method might make these vehicles much cheaper to build.
Roscosmos Director Dmitry Rogozin met up with representatives of other countries’ space agencies, they visited the Russian Mission Control Center together and discussed the details of Moon exploration.