Space, NASA and Science News

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Astronomers find what may be the universe’s brightest object with a black hole devouring a sun a day

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronomers have discovered what may be the brightest object in the universe, a quasar with a black hole at its heart growing so fast that it swallows the equivalent of a sun a day.

https://apnews.com/article/brightest-object-universe-quasar-46ecf903335014ee870ab1adcf70235b?

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Ukraine Offers SpaceX an 'Algorithm' to Stop Russian Use of Starlink

Ukraine is in talks with SpaceX, but it's unclear if the algorithm has been used.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/ukraine-offers-spacex-an-algorithm-to-stop-russian-use-of-starlink?

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Private lunar lander achieves successful moon orbit ahead of Thursday touchdown attempt

A commercial company’s lunar lander launched from Kennedy Space Center last week successfully made it into the moon’s orbit on Wednesday ahead of its Thursday attempt to stick the landing.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/21/private-lunar-lander-achieves-successful-orbit-ahead-of-thursday-touchdown-attempt/?

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To Improve Starlink Speeds, SpaceX Wants to Orbit Satellites Closer to Earth

The company is requesting to orbit some second-generation Starlink satellites 'in the 340 km-360 km range,' according to an FCC filing.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/to-improve-starlink-speeds-spacex-wants-to-orbit-satellites-closer-to-earth?

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Private lander makes first US moon landing in more than 50 years

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A private lander on Thursday made the first U.S. touchdown on the moon in more than 50 years, but managed just a weak signal back until flight controllers scrambled to gain better contact.

https://apnews.com/article/moon-landing-private-company-intuitive-machines-9c896bfca61582773d381f4045fd35d7?

Commercial lunar lander makes it to the moon but faces communication issues

It had been 18,700 days since the U.S. last made a soft landing on the moon.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/22/from-space-coast-to-the-moon-1st-commercial-lunar-landing-could-happen-today/?

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🚀 USA's first lunar landing in 52 years

The Odysseus lunar lander during its descent toward the Moon yesterday. Photo: Intuitive Machines via AP An American-made spacecraft reached the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo missions ended in 1972. Why it matters: The mission made Houston-based Intuitive Machines the first private company to land a spacecraft on the moon, Axios' Jacob Knutson writes. Flight controllers at Intuitive Machines in Houston celebrate the landing. Photo: Intuitive Machines via AP The robotic Odysseus lander touched down during dinnertime newscasts after a several-minute delay because of communication issues between equipment on Earth and the spacecraft. The mission includes experiments that are crucial for NASA's Artemis program and the manned lunar landing currently scheduled for 2026. 🔭 Between the lines: The successful touchdown could be the start of a lunar economy and the anticipated era of for-profit moon exploration. Keep reading.

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Private US spacecraft is on its side on the moon with some antennas covered up, the company says

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A private U.S. lunar lander tipped over at touchdown and ended up on its side near the moon’s south pole, hampering communications, company officials said Friday.

https://apnews.com/article/moon-landing-private-odysseus-nasa-14dfdc76176f9f7a6a68a099c98bbbb9?

Private US spacecraft is on its side on the moon with some antennas covered up, the company says

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A private U.S. lunar lander tipped over at touchdown and ended up on its side near the moon’s south pole, hampering communications, company officials said Friday.

https://apnews.com/article/moon-landing-private-odysseus-nasa-14dfdc76176f9f7a6a68a099c98bbbb9?

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SpaceX crams in an extra Starlink in latest Cape Canaveral launch

SpaceX sent up the 12th launch from the Space Coast on Sunday afternoon with another mission to expand its Starlink satellite constellation.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/24/spacex-lines-up-cape-canaveral-launch-this-afternoon/?

SpaceX launch this week could end NASA astronaut’s nearly 15-year wait to get to space

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps has had to get comfy in three different spacecraft seats, but while she said she would have fit in any of them, it’s the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour set to lift off this week that ended up being the one that was just right.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/25/spacex-launch-this-week-could-end-nasa-astronauts-nearly-15-year-wait-to-get-to-space/?

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First private moon landing mission to be cut short after spacecraft tip over

The mission for the first private spacecraft to land on the moon will be cut short after the vehicle stops working on Tuesday, space company Intuitive Machines said Monday.

https://www.axios.com/2024/02/26/moon-landing-intuitive-machines-us-mission-end?

Sideways moon landing cuts mission short, private US lunar lander will stop working Tuesday

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A private U.S. lunar lander is expected to stop working Tuesday, its mission cut short after landing sideways near the south pole of the moon.

https://apnews.com/article/moon-landing-private-nasa-28fdcd5ce5b50586d3feee68ae26864c?

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FAA closes investigation into SpaceX Starship’s double-explosion 2nd flight

As SpaceX continues to gear up for flight No. 3 of its massive Starship and Super Heavy from Texas, the Federal Aviation Administration has closed the investigation into the second flight that resulted in explosions of both the booster and upper stages back in November.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/27/faa-closes-investigation-into-spacex-starships-double-explosion-2nd-flight/?

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Intuitive Machines finally releases moon landing shots as mission nears conclusion

Nearly six days after making history by becoming the first commercial company to successfully land on the moon, Intuitive Machines released the first images of its lander on the surface.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/28/intuitive-machines-finally-releases-moon-landing-shots-as-mission-nears-conclusion/?

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SpaceX slips in Starlink launch after Crew-8 gets delayed until Saturday

Bad weather along the launch corridor for a planned human spaceflight from Kennedy Space Center has prompted at least a two-day delay, so SpaceX took the opportunity to shoehorn in a launch without humans from nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/29/spacex-delays-crew-8-launch-but-lines-up-starlink-launch-instead/?

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Watch live: SpaceX tries for Crew-8 liftoff again Sunday night after Saturday weather woes

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — SpaceX is set to hit a milestone in human spaceflight as it aims to bring up another four passengers to the International Space Station, with weather much improved Sunday after a Saturday night scrub.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/03/spacex-crew-8-aims-for-late-night-space-coast-liftoff-if-weather-holds-off/

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Why it’s so challenging to land upright on the moon

When the robotic lander Odysseus last month became the first U.S.-built spacecraft to touch down on the moon in more than 50 years, it toppled over at an angle.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/10/why-its-so-challenging-to-land-upright-on-the-moon/?

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Watch live: SpaceX targets Sunday night launch during busy week with Crew-7 return, possible Starship launch

SpaceX is set to send up another batch of Starlink satellites on Sunday night from the Space Coast while prepping for the return of Crew-7 from the International Space Station and the potential third test flight of the Starship and Super Heavy.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/10/spacex-targets-sunday-night-launch-during-busy-week-with-crew-7-return-possible-starship-launch/?

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Crew-7 astronauts depart ISS after nearly 200 days in space

After a slightly extended stay on board the International Space Station, four astronauts from four international space agencies climbed aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance and began their return trip to Earth.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/11/watch-live-crew-7-astronauts-depart-iss-after-nearly-200-days-in-space/?

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New NASA budget request still kneecapped by 2-year deal in Congress

NASA’s reduced budget for fiscal year 2024 was only approved by Congress last week, and its limitations play into the Biden Administration’s ask for the next fiscal year, which was announced Monday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/11/new-nasa-budget-ask-still-kneecapped-by-2-year-deal-in-congress/?

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SpaceX Crew-7 astronauts splash down near Pensacola after nearly 200 days in space

After a slightly extended stay on board the International Space Station, four astronauts from different international space agencies splashed down safely off the Florida coast on board the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance early Tuesday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/11/watch-live-crew-7-astronauts-depart-iss-after-nearly-200-days-in-space/?

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SpaceX scrubs Wednesday KSC launch attempt

SpaceX scrubbed a launch attempt Wednesday night with just over 2 minutes on the countdown clock. The mission was set to send up another batch of Starlink satellites from the Space Coast using a first-stage booster for a record-tying 19th time.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/13/spacex-targets-sunset-launch-from-ksc-using-booster-for-record-tying-19th-time/?

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SpaceX’s 3rd Starship launch makes it to space without exploding, but breaks up on reentry

SpaceX’s powerful Starship and Super Heavy rocket completed a more successful third orbital test flight from Texas on Thursday morning without the explosions on the way up that marred the first two test flights in 2023.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/14/spacex-aims-for-nonexplosive-3rd-starship-launch-from-texas/?

SpaceX comes close to completing test flight of mega rocket but loses spacecraft near end

SpaceX came close to completing an hourlong test flight of its mega rocket on its third try Thursday, but the spacecraft was lost as it descended back to Earth.

https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-launch-musk-bb8bd2b8c20d9aa5920aea93e9bbfee6?

SpaceX scrubs KSC launch for 2nd night in a row

SpaceX scrubbed a launch attempt for a second night in a row Thursday, again with about 2 minutes on the countdown clock.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/13/spacex-targets-sunset-launch-from-ksc-using-booster-for-record-tying-19th-time/?

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3rd time’s the charm as SpaceX finally manages KSC launch with record-tying booster

After two days of scrubs, SpaceX pulled out some Friday night lights in sending up another batch of Starlink satellites from the Space Coast and using a first-stage booster for a record-tying 19th time.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/13/spacex-targets-sunset-launch-from-ksc-using-booster-for-record-tying-19th-time/?

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SpaceX rocket launch during spring break in Florida: Best places to watch it lift off

Spring break is this week, and if you’re looking for something to do, places to go, consider watching a rocket launch.

https://local.newsbreak.com/florida-state/3379669245052-spacex-rocket-launch-during-spring-break-in-florida-best-places-to-watch-it-lift-off?

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A faster spinning Earth may cause timekeepers to subtract a second from world clocks

Earth’s changing spin is threatening to toy with our sense of time, clocks and computerized society in an unprecedented way — but only for a second.

https://apnews.com/article/leap-second-subtract-melting-ice-clocks-74eaac47b9c429910723a604897032a4?

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SpaceX knocks out 2 Space Coast launches as ULA delays final Delta IV Heavy

A retry for the final launch of United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy, the last of the Delta family of rockets, remained up in the air over the weekend, but in the meantime, SpaceX sent up a pair of rockets from the Space Coast on Saturday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/30/spacex-lines-up-2-space-coast-launches-today-as-ula-delays-final-delta-iv-heavy/?

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🌖 Moon time

Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios

NASA has a difficult new assignment, Reuters reports — figuring out what time it is on the moon. ⏰ Time unfolds differently on the moon than it does on Earth, and a unified standard will be important as both commercial activity and scientific exploration on the moon increase. "The same clock that we have on Earth would move at a different rate on the moon," Kevin Coggins, NASA's space communications and navigation chief, told Reuters. The White House has directed NASA and other agencies to figure out a system of lunar time by 2026, per Reuters.