Science, Space, Health & Robotics News - Page 401

All the latest Science, Space, Health & Robotics news with plenty of coverage on space launches, discoveries, rockets & plenty more - Page 401.

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Enjoy the photos of another historic SpaceX launch

Lana Jelic | Jun 26, 2017 10:23 AM CDT

Back in March, SpaceX successfully launched and landed an already used Falcon 9 rocket, which was the first time in history that an already used rocket was launched again.

Enjoy the photos of another historic SpaceX launch

This weekend, the company marked the second reflight of a Falcon 9 first stage. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the BulgariaSat-1 satellite into orbit - the first geostationary communications satellite in Bulgaria's history.

Now, the company has published images of this historic launch.

Continue reading: Enjoy the photos of another historic SpaceX launch (full post)

SpaceX successfully lands second Falcon 9 in 48 hours

Lana Jelic | Jun 25, 2017 5:24 PM CDT

SpaceX has successfully completed its second launch and landing this week. The two Falcon 9 launches and landings in 48 hours show the strength of SpaceX rockets, previously stating that the company intends to up the pace of its launches.

SpaceX successfully lands second Falcon 9 in 48 hours

SpaceX's rocket took off from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base at 1:25 PM Pacific Time, and launched ten satellites to low-Earth orbit for Iridium, a global leader in mobile voice and data satellite communications.

This is the second set of 10 satellites in a series of 75 total satellites that SpaceX will launch for Iridium's next-generation global satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT.

Continue reading: SpaceX successfully lands second Falcon 9 in 48 hours (full post)

SpaceX successfully launches and lands a used rocket

Lana Jelic | Jun 23, 2017 7:25 PM CDT

SpaceX has successfully launched and landed another Falcon 9 rocket. This mission marked the second reflight of a Falcon 9 first stage, having previously supported the Iridium-1 mission from Vandenberg Air Force Base in January of this year.

SpaceX successfully launches and lands a used rocket

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the BulgariaSat-1 satellite into orbit - the first geostationary communications satellite in Bulgaria's history.

Following stage separation, the first stage of Falcon 9 successfully landed on SpaceX's East Coast droneship 'Of Course I Still Love You,' stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Continue reading: SpaceX successfully launches and lands a used rocket (full post)

NASA to send a spacecraft into the Sun next year

Lana Jelic | May 31, 2017 12:17 PM CDT

NASA plans to send a spacecraft straight into the Sun next year. The space agency made the announcement during a news conference and a ceremony at the University of Chicago.

NASA to send a spacecraft into the Sun next year

The mission begins in August 2018. Since this isn't a journey that a human can take, NASA will send a 10-foot high probe on the historic mission, since this will mark the first time humanity has reached the giant star.

NASA named the probe Parker Solar Probe in honor of astrophysicist Eugene Parker, which is the first time in the space agency's history a space vessel is named after a living person.

Continue reading: NASA to send a spacecraft into the Sun next year (full post)

NASA shows Mars 2020 rover concept

Lana Jelic | May 24, 2017 10:31 AM CDT

NASA has published an artist' concept of the Mars 2020 rover, which should join Opportunity and Curiosity rover on the Red Planet in 2020.

NASA shows Mars 2020 rover concept

The Mars 2020 rover is intended to investigate an astrobiological relevant ancient environment on Mars, investigate its surface geological processes and history, including the assessment of its past habitability, the possibility of past life on Mars, and a potential for preservation of biosignatures within accessible geological materials.

The Mars 2020 rover introduces a drill that can collect core samples of the most promising rocks and soils and set them aside on the surface of Mars. A future mission could potentially return these samples to Earth.

Continue reading: NASA shows Mars 2020 rover concept (full post)

ISS crew on an urgent spacewalk after equipment failure

Lana Jelic | May 23, 2017 12:33 PM CDT

NASA's astronauts have successfully completed an emergency spacewalk after a key equipment failure on the ISS. The Expedition 51 astronauts had to fix a problem after a computer failure on ISS over the weekend.

ISS crew on an urgent spacewalk after equipment failure

Expedition 51 Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Jack Fischer of NASA had to change out a multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM) data relay box on the S0 truss that failed on Saturday morning. The cause of the MDM failure is not known. The data relay box is one of two fully redundant systems housed in the truss that controls the functionality of radiators, solar arrays, cooling loops and other station hardware. The other MDM in the truss is functioning perfectly, providing uninterrupted telemetry routing to the station's systems.

NASA pointed out that the crew was never in any danger.

Continue reading: ISS crew on an urgent spacewalk after equipment failure (full post)

SpaceX marks 6th successful launch this year

Lana Jelic | May 16, 2017 3:21 PM CDT

Just two weeks after their last launch, SpaceX has successfully launched another Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX marks 6th successful launch this year

The company launched a communications satellite that will complete Inmarsat's fifth-generation broadband network. The Inmarsat-5 F4 communications satellite is the heaviest object delivered by the company to space, for now.

Getting the 13,400-lb. (6,100 kilograms) heavy F4 into its intended orbit emptied the Falcon's fuel tanks, leaving no propellant for the landing attempt.

Continue reading: SpaceX marks 6th successful launch this year (full post)

Tesla releases solar roof prices: Cheaper than expected

Lana Jelic | May 11, 2017 1:27 PM CDT

We've heard a lot about Tesla's solar roof tiles products, but the most important piece of information was missing - the price.

Tesla releases solar roof prices: Cheaper than expected

The company has now announced the prices, and they are lower than expected. Consumer Reports estimates that a Solar Roof for an average size U.S. home would need to cost less than $24.50 per square foot to be cost-competitive with a regular roof. The cost of Solar Roof is less.

Tesla says that typical homeowner can expect to pay $21.85 per square foot for Solar Roof. The $21.85 per square foot price point was calculated for a roof where 35 percent of the tiles are solar (solar tiles cost more per square foot than non-solar tiles). A 14kWh Powerwall 2 is also an available option.

Continue reading: Tesla releases solar roof prices: Cheaper than expected (full post)

SpaceX first Falcon Heavy static fire test is a success

Lana Jelic | May 10, 2017 2:42 PM CDT

SpaceX is currently using the Falcon 9 rocket for the company's launches, but the bigger Falcon Heavy should take over soon. Elon Musk first mentioned Falcon Heavy in a September 2005 news update. The rocket was scheduled to fly in 2014, then 2015, but there have been delays, and now, the company is aiming for the second half of this year.

SpaceX first Falcon Heavy static fire test is a success

SpaceX CEO explained last year that developing the Falcon Heavy proved to be much more difficult than they previously thought, but it seems that the company is on track. They conducted the first static fire test on the rocket's critical center core, and the test was successful.

This is a huge milestone in the development of the Falcon Heavy. The company has big plans for this rocket, which should play a major role in the crewed mission to the Moon and Mars. SpaceX plans to begin sending uncrewed spacecraft to Mars by 2020, meaning it is crucial that the Falcon Heavy starts flying soon if the company wants to stay on schedule.

Continue reading: SpaceX first Falcon Heavy static fire test is a success (full post)

ESA 3D prints bricks which may help build lunar colonies

Lana Jelic | May 8, 2017 4:28 PM CDT

A base on the Moon is many scientists' dream because it would set a new milestone in space exploration. According to observations from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft that might be much more complicated than previously thought.

ESA 3D prints bricks which may help build lunar colonies

According to NASA's last year's data, the Moon experiences a heavier bombardment by small meteoroids than models had previously predicted. This revelation implies that equipment placed on the Moon for long durations, such as a lunar base, will have to be sturdier.

Of course, building on the Moon wouldn't be easy, but the ESA produced their first 3D printed brick, which could help with the building material. Bricks have been 3D printed out of simulated moondust using concentrated sunlight - proving in principle that future lunar colonists could one day use the same approach to build settlements on the Moon.

Continue reading: ESA 3D prints bricks which may help build lunar colonies (full post)