Menu

Blog

Archive for the ‘space’ category: Page 818

Jul 30, 2018

Chinese Scientists Want to Capture a Small Asteroid and Land it on Earth

Posted by in categories: robotics/AI, space

Space agencies have successfully studied asteroid and comets up close on several occasions, but capturing one for mining is also in the works. A group of Chinese scientists is looking to go a step further. Their ambitious plan involves not just capturing an asteroid, but bringing it down to the surface of Earth for study and mining.

This does sound pretty crazy on the face of it, but researchers from the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences say it’s feasible. Researcher Li Mingtao and his team presented the idea at a conference to explore ideas for future technology in Shenzhen. Li says that the mission could focus on asteroids that cross Earth’s orbit, which could make them a potential hazard in the future. The Chinese plan could turn a hazard into a new source of rare materials.

The asteroids targeted by this project would be on the small side — probably just a few hundred tons. The first step is to send a fleet of small robotic probes to intercept the space rock. Then, they would deploy a “bag” of some sort that covers the asteroid, allowing the robots to slowly alter its course and steer it back to Earth.

Continue reading “Chinese Scientists Want to Capture a Small Asteroid and Land it on Earth” »

Jul 30, 2018

Hubble Snapped Exquisite Photos of Mars and Saturn as They Passed Earth

Posted by in category: space

Well lit and close to Earth this summer, Mars and Saturn got the crisp glamor shots that they so richly deserve, courtesy of the Hubble Space Telescope.

On June 27, Saturn’s orbit brought it into opposition with the Earth, meaning that the two planets were fully aligned with the sun, and as a consequence Saturn could reflect a maximum amount of sunlight back towards Earth. Hubble — NASA’s cheeky interstellar paparazzo and a non-sentient satellite containing imaging hardware — observed the planet on June 6, 2018, while it was about 870 million miles from Earth.

Due to Saturn’s tilt toward the Earth at this moment in its orbit, Hubble was able to very clearly image all of the bands and gaps that comprise Saturn’s rings: Moving inward from the outermost ring, these are known as the A ring, the Encke Gap, the Cassini Division, the B ring, and the C ring with the Maxwell Gap.

Continue reading “Hubble Snapped Exquisite Photos of Mars and Saturn as They Passed Earth” »

Jul 30, 2018

Astronomers Have Made The First Detection of a Radioactive Molecule in Space

Posted by in category: space

After a long search, a cosmic mystery has an answer. Astronomers have made the very first unambiguous detection of a radioactive molecule in space — an isotope of aluminium, found in the heart of a rare nova.

Scientists have long been searching for 26 AlF — or Aluminium monofluoride — containing 26 Al, but a direct observation has been exceptionally illusive.

We’ve known about the presence of 26 Al in space for decades. In 1984, NASA’s HEAO 3 satellite data was used to identify gamma-ray radiation originating from the beta decay of the isotope. According to these observations, there’s roughly two solar masses of 26 Al in the Milky Way.

Continue reading “Astronomers Have Made The First Detection of a Radioactive Molecule in Space” »

Jul 30, 2018

Indian priest discovers proof of long-lost galaxy. He’s also an astronomer

Posted by in category: space

This discovery and its method will now pave the way for the discovery of other galaxies that have been cannibalized by other larger galaxies.


The researcher discovers conclusive proof of a galaxy that was cannibalized by neighbouring Andromeda.

Read more

Jul 29, 2018

Ride to Space

Posted by in category: space

See the Earth from 20 miles (32 km) above in this breathtaking 360° footage captured from a weather balloon.

Read more

Jul 28, 2018

Putin’s robo-nauts ‘to be in space by 2019’

Posted by in categories: robotics/AI, space

Russia is planning to blast two robot astronauts into space to work on the international space station.

Scientists have developed the advanced machines, named FEDOR, to conduct rescues — even though they have recently been recently trained to use firearms.

Continue reading “Putin’s robo-nauts ‘to be in space by 2019’” »

Jul 28, 2018

The Cosmic Radiation Forecast Could Be Bad for a Human Mars Mission

Posted by in category: space

Weird.


A major decline in sunspots could leave the solar system exposed.

Read more

Jul 28, 2018

Could We Use Space to Pay for a Universal Basic Income?

Posted by in categories: economics, government, robotics/AI, space

Universal basic income is a generous idea in principle, with clear benefits to society. However, the question of how to pay for it remains an enigma. While some propose taxation, others think we should use the booming space trade to benefit us all.

Universal basic income is the idea that every citizen should receive an amount of money from the government to meet their needs, regardless of age, race, gender, or even need. It has been billed as a solution to a variety of current and potential societal problems, including AI automation, poverty, and people losing the ability to allocate their own time.

Read more

Jul 28, 2018

The Experimental Potential of Space Bubbles

Posted by in category: space

Why are astronauts making bubbles in space?

Follow Seeker Universe for more!

Read more

Jul 28, 2018

LIVE: NASA — National Aeronautics and Space Administration live stream of the total lunar eclipse

Posted by in category: space

LunarEclipse

Read more

Page 818 of 1,006First815816817818819820821822Last