Solar sails have been a topic of fascination in the realm of space exploration for quite some time. Drawing inspiration from the sail ships of the past, solar sails are considered to be one of the most efficient ways to propel crafts in outer space. The concept of using sunlight as a means of propulsion
Space
The Hubble Space Telescope has been a beacon of discovery for over three decades, capturing images that have expanded our understanding of the cosmos. Recently, an international team of citizen scientists, in collaboration with astronomers from the European Space Agency (ESA), utilized machine learning algorithms to identify over one thousand asteroids in Hubble’s archival data.
The Lyrid meteor shower is currently active from April 15 to April 29, with the peak activity happening on Sunday night and Monday morning. However, the shower will still be visible for the next week. On Tuesday night, the Lyrids will coincide with the April full moon, or “pink moon,” which rises at 7:49 p.m.
NASA’s Voyager 1 probe recently faced a major setback when it began spouting gibberish and stopped sending readable data back to Earth. However, after months of troubleshooting, the US space agency announced that the spacecraft is once again returning usable information to ground control. This achievement comes after a single malfunctioning chip was identified as
In a groundbreaking study published in May 2023, researchers have finally debunked the age-old myth that the Moon is made of green cheese. Instead, they have revealed that the Moon’s inner core is actually a solid sphere with a density comparable to that of iron. This discovery not only settles the debate regarding the state
Jupiter’s moon, Io, is a place like no other in our Solar System. With more volcanic activity than any other celestial body of its size, Io is a realm of fire and fury. Home to over 400 active volcanoes, the moon’s surface is constantly changing, with molten lava flowing and erupting in a spectacular display.
When considering the possibility of finding extraterrestrial life, scientists acknowledge that the characteristics of potential alien worlds may differ significantly from our own Earth. While it is challenging to predict the exact nature of alien life, Earth can provide valuable insights. Some organisms on our planet have adapted to survive in extreme environments that are
The Surprising Discovery Planetary atmospheres are known to be leaky, with Earth itself losing about 90 tonnes of atmospheric material every day. This phenomenon provides insights into the evolution of other planets in our solar system. A recent discovery involving Venus, Earth’s evil twin, has intrigued scientists. A spacecraft passing by Venus detected carbon and
Pluto, the dwarf planet at the edge of our solar system, is renowned for its distinct feature known as the “heart,” scientifically termed as Tombaugh Regio. This heart-shaped region on Pluto has puzzled researchers for years, with its relatively bright appearance standing out against the icy landscape. The formation of this heart is shrouded in
NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission has faced numerous challenges in recent years. The independent review highlighted unrealistic budget and schedule expectations, an unwieldy structure, and ineffective leadership. This has ultimately led to significant budget cuts, layoffs at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and uncertainty about the mission’s future. The proposed budget cut of $454,080,000 to NASA’s
Throughout history, the quest for eternal youth has captivated our imagination, leading to stories of extreme measures taken to preserve youthful beauty. While the tale of Countess Elizabeth Báthory’s alleged use of blood baths for this purpose may be more myth than reality, a new study suggests that a similar rejuvenating process is happening in
Solar energy is abundant and free, making it an attractive option for spacecraft operating within the Solar System. Solar sails have the ability to harness the solar wind emitted by the Sun and use it as propulsion for spacecraft. Despite the advantages that solar sails offer, there are challenges that need to be overcome for