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science/space

Risky Mission to Save NASA's Falling Observatory Faces Challenges

NASA is moving forward with a high-risk mission to rescue a space observatory that has been losing altitude, though early reports indicate the salvage operation is facing its own technical challenges. The effort underscores the growing concerns about orbital debris and the difficulties involved in servicing aging spacecraft at altitude.

Technology News

Europe Advances IRIS² Satellite Network Plans

The European Union has finalized plans for IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection & Security by Satellite), its ambitious satellite broadband network intended to serve as a European alternative to commercial megaconstellations. The program aims to provide secure, high-speed satellite communications across the EU and potentially beyond. By developing its own

Scientists Detect Unexpected Reversal in Earth's Molten Core Flow

Satellite observations have detected an unexpected reversal in the flow of Earth's molten iron core beneath the Pacific, researchers report. The findings suggest a dramatic shift in the geodynamo—the internal engine that generates our planet's protective magnetic field. The reversal was identified through careful analysis

China Announces Plans for World-Only Mars Sample Receiving Facility

China has announced plans to construct the world's only Mars sample receiving laboratory, a facility designed to safely handle Martian samples upon their return to Earth. The announcement comes as NASA's own Mars sample return infrastructure faces uncertainty amid ongoing budget and technical reviews. The development

NASA and Northrop Grumman Adapt Gateway Components for Lunar Surface Demonstrations

NASA and Northrop Grumman are reportedly repurposing components originally built for the lunar Gateway—a small space station intended to orbit the Moon—into demonstration missions aimed at establishing a sustained human presence on the lunar surface. The Gateway program was conceived as a staging point for deep space exploration,

Dormant Supermassive Black Hole Discovered 30,000 Light-Years From Its Galaxy's Center

A Black Hole Revealed by Cosmic Violence Supermassive black holes are typically found anchoring the centers of galaxies, but researchers have now identified one that breaks the mold. A recently observed dormant supermassive black hole sits roughly 30,000 light-years from the center of its host galaxy—roughly the distance

China Announces Planetary Protection Laboratory for Upcoming Mars Sample-Return Mission

China is moving forward with its Mars sample-return ambitions by establishing a specialized planetary protection laboratory. The facility will be designed to handle material collected from Mars, implementing rigorous containment procedures to prevent any potential biological or chemical contamination from reaching Earth while also protecting the integrity of the Martian