Report

A Beijing think tank offered a frank review of China’s technological weaknesses. Then the report disappeared | Science

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A prominent Peking University think tank posted a surprisingly frank assessment of China’s technological strengths and weaknesses on 30 January—and took it down less than 1 week later. The report, titled China-US Strategic Competition in Technology: Analysis and Prospects in Mandarin, warns China has more to lose than the United States if technological cooperation between … Read more

NASA Just Announced Where ISS Will Plunge to Its Death in Early 2031

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NASA says it plans to plunge the vestiges of the International Space Station (ISS) into a remote part of the Pacific Ocean known as Point Nemo in early 2031, after passing the baton to commercial space stations.   In an updated transition report just delivered to Congress, the space agency detailed the endgame for the space station, which … Read more

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins to set new record for Black women in space (report)

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NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins is preparing to make history as the first Black woman to embark on an extended mission in space. This April, Watkins will launch to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that will lift off as part of the company’s Crew-4 mission. Watkins, who is a part of … Read more

North Korean missile test captures photos of Earth from space: report

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North Korea has launched yet another missile, in what appears to be the nation’s biggest such test in more than four years. North Korea conducted a test launch of its Hwasong 12 intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday (Jan. 30), continuing a very busy January for the rogue nation. And the vehicle managed to snap some … Read more

SpaceX snags $102 million contract to rocket military supplies and humanitarian aid around the world: report

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A visualization of a “rocket cargo” vehicle launch from the Air Force Research Laboratory.  (Image credit: Air Force Research Laboratory) SpaceX has won a contract, worth over $102 million, to transport military supplies and humanitarian aid around the world using a rocket. The U.S. Air Force awarded SpaceX the contract on Jan. 14. It’s a … Read more

NASA may need more astronauts for space station, moon missions, report says

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NASA may need more astronauts to meet its human spaceflight goals over the coming years, according to a new report from the agency’s investigative office. Currently, NASA only flies astronauts to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsules and Russia’s Soyuz vehicles. But the agency’s ambitious Artemis program to return humans to the … Read more

A ‘rogue asteroid field’ almost delays the Valoria 3 analog Mars mission — Commander’s Report: sol 2

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Dr. Michaela Musilova is the director of Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) program, which conducts analog missions to the moon and Mars for scientific research at a habitat on the volcano Mauna Loa. Currently, she is in command of the two-week Valoria 3 Martian mission and contributed this report to Space.com’s Expert Voices: … Read more

NASA’s new astronaut candidates report to Houston to begin training

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HOUSTON — One month after being announced to the world, NASA’s ten new astronaut candidates are reporting to work to begin two years of training. The four women and six men, who were chosen from a pool of more than 12,000 applicants, are starting their new careers as future space station crew members and possible … Read more

‘Chestbursters’ and the dark calling of the lunar underground — Commander’s report: lunar day 14

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Dr. Michaela Musilova is the director of Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) program, which conducts analog missions to the moon and Mars for scientific research at a habitat on the volcano Mauna Loa. She commanded the two-week Selene V lunar mission and contributed this report to Space.com’s Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. Commander’s … Read more