SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, known for its reliability and reusability, recently faced a rare failure when its first-stage booster tipped over and exploded during an attempted landing. The Federal Aviation Administration has initiated an investigation to determine the root cause of this event and to enhance public safety measures. The failure occurred after the rocket
Space
The upcoming Polaris Dawn mission marks a significant milestone in space exploration, as it will feature the first ever spacewalk by commercial space travelers. This mission, backed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, showcases a new era of privately-funded orbital spaceflight, diverging from traditional government-backed missions. The crew composition, mission objectives, and the implications of the Polaris
SpaceX is gearing up to launch an unprecedented all-civilian crew on a bold orbital expedition, signaling a significant milestone in space exploration. The Polaris Dawn mission, spearheaded by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, is scheduled for liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch is set for 3:38 am with contingency options available if
Boeing’s Starliner faced a setback recently when it was announced that two US astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, who arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) will have to stay six more months. This decision was made due to thruster malfunctions on the Boeing spacecraft, forcing the astronauts to return home with
The expansion speed of the Universe has long been a subject of fascination and debate among astronomers and physicists alike. Recent measurements using the James Webb Space Telescope have shed new light on this complex issue, offering insights that could potentially resolve a longstanding discrepancy in our understanding of the accelerating expansion of the Universe.
Andromeda, the closest major galaxy to our Milky Way, is on a collision course with our galaxy at a speed of about 110 kilometers (68 miles) per second. While this may sound alarming, the two galaxies are still about 2.5 million light-years away from Earth, giving us billions of years before any potential collision. Previous
Fast radio bursts (FRBs) have long captured the attention of astrophysicists worldwide due to their sudden and intense blasts of radio wave energy from deep space. A recent study conducted by a team from the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) sheds new light on the potential sources of these enigmatic phenomena. The researchers focused
The Sun may appear calm and peaceful from a distance, but upon closer observation, it is revealed to be a hub of erupting solar activity that has defied astrophysicists’ expectations. Andrew Gerrard, the department chair and director of the Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research at New Jersey Institute of Technology, expressed surprise at the heightened solar
Giant black holes residing in the centers of galaxies such as the Milky Way have been observed to engage in a peculiar activity – consuming nearby stars and transforming them into a dramatic spectacle of destruction. This process, known as a tidal disruption event, involves the star being stretched and torn apart as it approaches
Stars collapsing past the event horizon of a black hole is not an uncommon sight in the world of astronomy. The flashes representing the death throes of these stars serve as a grim reminder of the destructive forces at play. However, in rare instances, a star manages to escape being completely swallowed by its gigantic
On Monday, the Earth experienced a level-four geomagnetic storm, which has the potential to bring the northern lights further south than usual. This phenomenon, observed by a specialized center at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is caused by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun. These explosions of particles disrupt the Earth’s
One of the most intriguing mysteries in the realm of space exploration is the apparent absence of intelligent alien life, despite the age and size of the Milky Way galaxy. According to a new study, the reason for this silence could be that alien civilizations are simply too advanced for us to detect. The study
As scientists embarked on unraveling a century-old cosmic mystery, they stumbled upon an unexpected cosmic laboratory in Terzan 5, a dense star cluster hurtling through our galaxy at a rapid pace. This discovery has opened up a plethora of opportunities to delve into the enigmatic world of cosmic rays. The existence of cosmic rays came
The Gaia mission, known for its remarkable efforts in mapping stars in the Milky Way Galaxy, has also proven to be a successful asteroid hunter. Recent reports from astronomers highlight Gaia’s achievement in identifying more moons of asteroids within our solar system. With the upcoming confirmation of data from Gaia’s release 3, these observations are
The recent analysis of seismic data collected by the Mars InSight lander has revealed the presence of huge reservoirs of liquid water hidden deep within the Martian interior. While this discovery sheds light on the mysterious aquatic history of Mars, it also presents a significant challenge due to the inaccessibility of the water. Geophysicist Vashan