Author Archives: Astrobitica

Is there evidence of a planet ever existing between Mars and Jupiter? MarkSmithtown, New York This splendid question gives us an opportunity to distinguish between what we know and what we believe might be true. First, we know that myriad small bodies orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. These objects are the asteroids that comprise the mainContinue reading “Was there ever a planet between Mars and Jupiter? ” The post Was there ever a planet between Mars and Jupiter?  appeared first on Astronomy Magazine. Continue ReadingWas there ever a planet between Mars and Jupiter? →

New ‘Superman’ trailer gives us more Krypto, a better look at the Fortress of Solitude, and a giggling robot with a familiar voice. Continue ReadingThe new ‘Superman’ trailer first shown at CinemaCon is finally available for the rest of us (video)→

NASA celebrated the release of its Artemis 2 crew patch by projecting the insignia’s art onto the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in Florida. Continue ReadingMoon mission patch beamed onto rocket assembly building: Space photo of the day→

SpaceX’s Fram2 astronauts take the first X-ray images of the human body in space, with a tip-of-the-hat to the first X-ray image ever taken. Continue ReadingSpaceX’s Fram2 mission captures 1st human X-ray in Earth orbit→

Axiom Space will fly two data centers on Kepler Communications satellites as the next step of its efforts to develop space-based cloud computing services. The post Axiom Space to launch orbital data centers on Kepler satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.

Fibertek proudly celebrates the achievement of 2 trillion laser shots fired from NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite in March 2025, marking more than six years of continuous, high-performance operation on orbit. This […] The post Fibertek Celebrates 2 Trillionth Laser Pulse on NASA’s ICESat-2 Mission appeared first on SpaceNews.

Millennium Space to deliver eight satellites in 2026 as Pentagon accelerates push on missile defense The post Space Force missile-tracking “Foo Fighter” satellites clear design milestone appeared first on SpaceNews.

The LIFE mission would feature four space telescopes acting together to search for biosignatures on rocky planets in the habitable zones of their stars. Continue ReadingHow rare are inhabited worlds in the universe? The ‘LIFE’ space telescope fleet could find out→

For most, satellite connectivity means ensuring that people everywhere have access to telecommunications, data and the internet. Connecting this way is a noble goal, and innovators are finding new approaches […] The post Space-based solar power is becoming reality — but the U.S. needs to help appeared first on SpaceNews.

TAMPA, Fla. — British component maker Olsen Actuators and Drives announced plans April 7 to open an office at Cape Canaveral to chase growing demand in the U.S. space industry. The post Olsen targets US space boom with new Florida office appeared first on SpaceNews.

A sudden stratospheric warming event reversed the winds that make up the northern polar vortex on March 9. A new animation shows the vortex also moved away from the Arctic towards Europe. Continue Reading‘Major disruption’ has caused Arctic polar vortex to slide off North Pole, scientists say→

The new system dubbed “Scout” is a portable version of the company’s established fixed-site radar infrastructure. The post LeoLabs unveils mobile radar for space surveillance appeared first on SpaceNews.

As Arianespace wrapped up the webcast of the March 6 launch of the CSO-3 French reconnaissance satellite on an Ariane 6 rocket, the broadcast aired a recorded message from Philippe […] The post Europe pursues ‘strategic autonomy’ amidst geopolitical shifts appeared first on SpaceNews.

Was it Robert Heinlein, author of Stranger in a Strange Land and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, who said that “everything was theoretically possible till it was done”? Whoever […] The post Space has a communications problem appeared first on SpaceNews.

Extraordinarily powerful light from gamma-ray bursts might help produce heavy elements from the outer shells of dying stars. Continue ReadingThe most powerful explosions in the universe could reveal where gold comes from→

The new Hestia telescope by Vaonis is the third of the company’s innovative instruments I have reviewed, and once again, I’m impressed. Vaonis named their creation for the Greek goddess of the hearth and home, and released it after a successful 2023 Kickstarter campaign which raised $4.1 million in just a month. The Hestia isContinue reading “Review: Astronomy tests Vaonis’ Hestia telescope for your smartphone” The post Review: Astronomy tests Vaonis’ Hestia telescope for your smartphone appeared first on Astronomy Magazine. Continue ReadingReview: Astronomy tests Vaonis’ Hestia telescope for your smartphone→

China’s construction of a pair of communications megaconstellations could cloud low Earth orbit with large spent rocket stages for decades or beyond, according to analysts. The post China’s megaconstellation launches could litter orbit for more than a century, analysts warn appeared first on SpaceNews.