Expedition Space: Space Launch, Events, News

https://ift.tt/dxtUTDR 3 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) An Alta-8 small Unmanned Aircraft System testbed vehicle flies above NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Flying beyond visual line of sight from observers on the ground required special approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and NASA. NASA / Bowman Researchers at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia recently flew multiple drones beyond visual line of sight with no visual observer. The drones successfully flew around obstacles and each other during takeoff, along a planned route, and upon landing, all autonomously without a pilot controlling the flight. This test marks an important step towards advancing self-flying capabilities for air taxis. “Flying the vehicles beyond visual line of sight, where neither the vehicle nor the airspace is monitored using direct human observation, demonstrates years of research into automa...

https://ift.tt/S1NqvIn NASA / Bill Ingalls Artemis II crew members (from left) CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman pose for a group photograph after their meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on Dec. 14, 2023. The crew will travel aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft on a 10-day mission around the Moon, testing spacecraft systems for the first time with astronauts for long-term exploration and scientific discovery. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls from NASA https://ift.tt/EacG1jy

https://ift.tt/yJNGs1D Sediment from Canada’s Mackenzie River empties into the Beaufort Sea in milky swirls in this 2017 satellite image. Scientists are studying how river discharge drives carbon dioxide emissions in this part of the Arctic Ocean. NASA Earth Observatory image by Jesse Allen using Landsat data from USGS Runoff from one of North America’s largest rivers is driving intense carbon dioxide emissions in the Arctic Ocean. When it comes to influencing climate change, the world’s smallest ocean punches above its weight. It’s been estimated that the cold waters of the Arctic absorb as much as 180 million metric tons of carbon per year – more than three times what New York City emits annually – making it one of Earth’s critical carbon sinks. But recent findings show that thawing permafrost and carbon-rich runoff from Canada’s Mackenzie River trigger part of the Arctic Ocean to release more carbon dioxide (CO2) than it absorbs. The study , published earlier this ye...

https://ift.tt/ERi6x1I Image credit: NASA As part of NASA’s ongoing commitment to supporting American innovators and advancing new aerospace technologies the agency announced its second round of Phase I awards for  Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Ignite . The 10 selected small businesses will each receive up to $150,000 and have six months to establish the scientific, technical, and commercial merit and feasibility of their proposed innovation – the same timeframe as the program’s main SBIR Phase I awards. Astral Forge, LLC , Palo Alto, California: Development of a High-temperature (>1200 C) Crystal Growth Furnace toward Semiconductor In-Space Production Applications in LEO for Terrestrial Use Astrobotic Technology Inc. , Pittsburgh: Photon Counting Sensor for In-space Debris Detection Benchmark Space Systems , Burlington, Vermont: Resilient Independent Propulsive Controlled On-orbit Recovery Device (RIPCORD) Brayton Energy, LLC , Hampton, New Hampshi...

https://ift.tt/avltwGg 4 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) La Movilidad Aérea Avanzada conectará a los habitantes de las ciudades con los residentes de las zonas rurales ofreciendo una nueva forma de viajar en avión. Como se muestra en este arte conceptual, los pasajeros podrían viajar de las zonas rurales a la ciudad más rápidamente que en coche para subir a un avión comercial, recibir atención médica o comprar mercancías. NASA/Kyle Jenkins Read this feature in English here. Imagina pedir un taxi aéreo por app, como haces ahora con Uber o Lyft, para viajar a tu aeropuerto local: podrías elevarte por encima del tráfico de carretera y llegar mucho más rápido que si fueras en coche. Los creativos de la industria aeronáutica ya están diseñando servicios aéreos de viaje compartido entre casa y el aeropuerto. Las nuevas aeronaves autónomas y pilotadas por control remoto harán que los viajes aéreos sean más accesibles al pú...