November 25, 2023

Earth-Sized Planet Discovered, Can It Sustain Life? (Source: Big Freakin Robot)
Scientists have discovered a small terrestrial exoplanet (LTT 1445 Ac) 22 light-years away that bears a striking resemblance to Earth, according to Science Alert. Though the exoplanet has a similar composition and density to our home planet, its surface temperature is too hot to sustain life as we know it. Despite LTT 1445 Ac’s extremely high temperatures, astrophysicists consider it to be a suitable analog to Earth that will provide insight into how terrestrial exoplanets function around different star systems, and how they evolve within their own unique respective environments.

What sets LTT 1445 Ac apart from Earth is that the exoplanet revolves around a red dwarf, which is much dimmer and cooler than Earth’s yellow dwarf sun. Despite the red dwarf’s lower temperature, the rocky exoplanet in question runs so hot due to its proximity to the star, which gives it an orbital period of 3.12 days. LTT 1445 Ac is also part of a trinary star system, meaning that the exoplanet is bound to two other stars, gravitationally speaking. (11/21)

In Leasing Lockheed’s Maryland Factory, Rocket Lab Is “Laying Copper” (Source: Forbes)
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck, says the space-launch services provider’s mounting vertical integration will allow it to jump at opportunity. The latest addition to the California-based company’s infrastructure is the lease of a 113,000 square-foot former Vertical Launch Building at Lockheed Martin’s historic but now-defunct Middle River, Maryland facility near Baltimore. Rocket Lab will establish a new Space Structures Complex in the space, dedicated to producing a variety of finished assemblies and components for the growing firm’s launch vehicles and satellites.

The acquisition is part of a broader strategy that will see Rocket Lab vertically integrate much in the way that SpaceX has. It’s a departure from the established organization of companies in the space sector but very much in keeping with the in-house mentality that has defined both launch providers and spacecraft makers in the burgeoning commercial space market for Low Earth Orbit. (11/24)

There Aren't Many Galaxies Like The Milky Way Nearby. Now We Know Why (Source: Universe Today)
The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, maybe even a grand design spiral galaxy. We can’t be sure from our vantage point. But one thing is certain: there aren’t many disk galaxies like it in our part of the Universe called the supergalactic plane. We can locate things on Earth using compass points and latitudes and longitudes. But in space, that doesn’t work. Astronomers use the supergalactic coordinate system to describe where galaxies are. Part of that coordinate system is the Supergalactic Plane (SGP), which contains the Local Group of galaxies that the Milky Way is in. The SGP is nearly perpendicular to the Milky Way’s plane. (11/23)

Egypt's Sara Sabry on Making Space Exploration More Accessible (Source: CNN)
Last year, Sara Sabry made history when she became the first Egyptian, the first Arab woman and the first African woman in space. With a background in engineering and bioastronautics she was chosen by the non-profit Space for Humanity to join five other space tourists aboard a Blue Origin NS-22 sub-orbital space flight in August 2022.

Now pursuing a Ph.D. in aerospace sciences at the University of North Dakota, the 30-year-old says she came to the realization that in space research, “very few opportunities exist if you’re not from the West.” In response, she founded Deep Space Initiative, a Colorado-based non-profit that aims to increase access to the space industry for people of all backgrounds, by providing opportunities for research and education. (11/24)

Huntsville’s Blue Origin Plant Keeps Growing, $8.4 Million Permit Issued (Source: AL.com)
The city of Huntsville issued a permit this month for an $8.4 million project at Blue Origin’s facility. The project is the most expensive work issued a permit in Madison, Limestone and Morgan counties since the end of October. Blue Origin is undergoing its third major expansion in three years. Fite Construction of Decatur is listed as the project’s builder. (11/24)

A Nanosatellite and a Hot Air Balloon for Emergency Broadband Anywhere (Source: Space Daily)
The solution proposed by the researchers involves a rapid deployment system consisting of three components - two terrestrial and one non-terrestrial: a CubeSat (a nanosatellite design standard). The components on the ground are a pilot telecommunications station, deployed at the location where the emergency happens, and a base station. The CubeSat can connect the two places from anywhere, acting as a repeater and making it possible for users of the network to share information wirelessly. All three components are equipped with long-range (LoRa) radio technology, and allow for the creation of a vast communications area.

The CubeSat is a small nanosatellite that can be created from scratch using a 3D printer in just 90 minutes, and launched over the disaster area using a hot air balloon. The route that the balloon will follow can be determined by a prior simulation that takes the characteristics of the balloon and the meteorology of the area into account. The CubeSat is also equipped with a GPS system that means it can be retrieved and reused. (11/24)

Deformable Mirrors in Space: Key Technology to Directly Image Earth Twins (Source: Space Daily)
Finding and studying Earth-like planets orbiting nearby stars is critical to understand whether we are alone in the universe. To study such planets and assess if they can sustain life, it is necessary to directly image them. However, these planets are difficult to observe, since light from the host star hides them with its glare. A coronagraph instrument can be used to remove the glare light from the host star, enabling reflected light from the planet to be collected. A deformable mirror is an essential component of a coronagraph, as it can correct the tiniest of imperfections in the telescope and remove any remaining starlight contamination. (11/23)

A Major Boost for Space Skills and Research in North East England (Source: Space Daily)
In a significant development for the UK's space sector, Northumbria University, Newcastle, has announced the establishment of a new space skills, research, and technology centre, dubbed the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST). This initiative represents a substantial investment in the region's future in space technology and education, with the centre poised to become a key player in the UK's expanding space economy. (11/24)

China's GalaxySpace to Boost Mobile Broadband with New-Gen Satellite Technology (Source: Space Daily)
Chinese commercial space company GalaxySpace is currently developing a new-generation communication satellite, poised to enhance broadband communication capabilities for mobile phones by allowing direct connectivity to satellites. This development was recently reported by the Science and Technology Daily, shedding light on an innovative approach in the field of space-based communication. (11/24)

NASA's Future Space Exploration Bolstered by Major Plutonium-238 Delivery (Source: Space Daily)
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) recent achievement in shipping a substantial amount of heat source plutonium-238 to the Los Alamos National Laboratory signifies a pivotal advancement for NASA's future space missions. This latest shipment, consisting of 0.5 kilograms (a little over 1 pound) of new heat source plutonium oxide, is noteworthy as the largest since the domestic restart of plutonium-238 production over ten years ago. (11/24)

Shanghai Sets Sights on Expanding Space Industry with Ambitious 2025 Goals (Source: Space Daily)
Shanghai, a growing center for technological advancement, has unveiled a bold plan to develop a comprehensive industrial chain for commercial rocket production, aiming to reach an annual production capacity of 50 commercial rockets and 600 commercial satellites by 2025.

Outlined in an official plan released on Monday, this initiative underscores Shanghai's commitment to reinforcing its position in the space sector. The city will concentrate on several key areas: satellite manufacturing, launching, ground system equipment, spatial information applications, and services. This strategy is aligned with the city's broader goal to enhance the integrated development of satellite communications, navigation, and remote-sensing technologies. (11/23)

India Opens Skies to Eutelsat OneWeb for Satellite Broadband Services (Source: Space Daily)
In a significant development for India's satellite broadband landscape, OneWeb India, part of the Eutelsat Group (Euronext Paris: ETL), has received the green light from IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) to launch Eutelsat OneWeb's commercial satellite broadband services in the country. This landmark approval positions OneWeb India as the first organization to attain such authorization from the Indian space regulator. (11/23)

NASA Awards $2.3 Million to Study Growing Food in Lunar Dirt (Source: Space Daily)
NASA has awarded $2.3 million to scientists to study how to grow vegetation in lunar soil as human exploration prepares to go beyond Earth's atmosphere, scientists said Tuesday. Researchers say their priorities are advancing work that will grow organisms in lunar soil as part of the Thrive in DEep Space, or TIDES, program. (11/23)