Science Magazine - Page 144 of 4024

The Fiction of the ‘Stranded Astronauts’: Space Politics in Orbit

20 February 2025

SpaceX’s Elon Musk and Donald Trump claimed astronauts were stranded on the ISS due to political reasons. The astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, were initially on a mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner. Unforeseen challenges extended their stay, requiring NASA’s careful analysis and

Asteroid 2024 YR4·News·Telescopes

The Asteroid That Could (But Probably Won’t) Hit Us

20 February 2025

The Atlas sky survey team has discovered an asteroid named 2024 YR4, measuring between 40 to 90 meters. There is a 3.1% chance, about 1-in-32, of this asteroid impacting Earth by December 2032. Impact predictions may change with more precise astronomical data,

News

Unveiling the Y4 Simulator: The Cutting-Edge Tool Defending Earth from Space Threats

20 February 2025

The Y4 Asteroid Impact Simulator is a revolutionary tool in planetary defense, utilizing AI and machine learning for precision in predicting asteroid impacts. It analyzes factors such as asteroid size, speed, composition, and impact angles, surpassing previous models in both accuracy and

Exoplanets·News·Planets·Stars·Telescopes

Revolutionary Mission Aims to Transform Exoplanet Exploration

20 February 2025

The University of Michigan’s Department of Astronomy, with a $10 million NASA grant, will lead the innovative STARI mission, launching in 2029. STARI aims to revolutionize exoplanet study by using interferometry techniques, a first for deep space exploration. The mission will use

Astrobiology·News

The Asteroid That Could Threaten a City: NASA’s Daring Plan

20 February 2025

An asteroid, ominously named “city-killer,” presents a 1.5% chance of colliding with Earth. NASA’s plan involves deflecting the asteroid with a spacecraft called a kinetic impactor, rather than destroying it. The mission requires precise calculations to alter the asteroid’s trajectory safely, likened

News·Planets·Telescopes

Celestial Spectacle! 2025 UK Planet Alignment Unveiled

20 February 2025

A rare planetary alignment featuring Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will occur over the UK in 2025. The event combines cutting-edge technology with traditional astronomy to enhance the viewing experience. State-of-the-art telescopes and augmented reality (AR) applications will offer unique, interactive

News

Is a City-Destroying Asteroid Heading Our Way? Here’s What We Know

20 February 2025

An asteroid named 2024 YR4 is on a potential collision course with Earth, with a 2.6% chance of impact on 22 December 2032. Comparable in size to Big Ben, its collision could unleash a force 500 times more potent than the Hiroshima

News·Space Tourism

SpaceX Lands in The Bahamas: A New Era for Space Tourism and Innovation

20 February 2025

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 booster landed on a droneship near The Exumas, marking the first international SpaceX rocket landing in The Bahamas. The event was witnessed by Prime Minister Phillip E. Davis and other officials, emphasizing the nation’s emerging role in innovation. The

News

Elon Musk’s Oversight Shake-Up: The Future of NASA Under the Microscope

20 February 2025

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, is investigating NASA’s finances, highlighting potential conflicts of interest. SpaceX, Musk’s company, has received over $14.5 billion in contracts from NASA, raising concerns about influence and oversight. Executive orders threaten NASA’s diversity