Japanese space probe Hayabusa 2 successfully lands on asteroid February 22, 2019 A Japanese space probe has touched down on an asteroid 186 miles from Earth to collect samples that scientists hope will shed clues about the origins of life. The spacecraft, Hayabusa 2, named after the Japanese word for falcon, landed on the 3,000ft asteroid Ryugu this morning, more than four years after it launched from [...]
Space X and Boeing design risks threaten US access to the International Space Station February 21, 2019 Nasa has warned Space X and Boeing about safety concerns for their competing astronaut launch systems, threatening to delay US plans to revive its human spaceflight programme later this year. Nasa forged agreements with Space X for $2.6bn (£2bn) and Boeing for $4.2bn to build rocket and capsule launch systems to take astronauts to the International Space [...]
Peltarion, the AI startup used by Nasa, Ocado and Tesla, raises $20m February 14, 2019 Swedish artificial intelligence (AI) startup Peltarion is heading across the Atlantic after closing a $20m (£15.5m) funding round. The series A funding was led by Euclidean Capital, which has also backed the likes of popular DNA ancestry startup 23 And Me. Existing investors FAM, which is owned by Swedish investor family the Wallenbergs, and EQT Ventures also took [...]
The final frontier: Opportunities for global Britain lie in the stars February 11, 2019 This summer marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first humans landing on the moon on 20 July 1969. It was a defining moment of human achievement that still intrigues and fascinates to this day. First Man, Hollywood’s look at the life of the astronaut Neil Armstrong, played by Ryan Gosling, has just been nominated for [...]
Branson’s Virgin Galactic blasted as ‘dangerous, dead-end tech’ by Aussie astronaut December 18, 2018 Virgin Galactic, the commercial space endeavour led by billionaire Richard Branson, has been rejected by an Australian astronaut as "dangerous" to human space flight. Spaceman Andy Thomas told reporters in Adelaide last night that while he supported what Branson was contributing to satellite technology, he was critical of his goals to take tourists into orbit. [...]
Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic tourist spaceship successfully touches the edge of the world in today’s test flight December 13, 2018 Rocket man and Virgin billionaire Richard Branson's commercial space programme successfully reached the edge of the world's atmosphere for the first time in its fourth test flight across the US today. The Virgin Galactic Spaceship Two rocket, which was carried up to a height of above 12,000 metres by a specially-designed plane before igniting its motors, reached [...]
Space X rocket delivers Christmas dinner to International Space Station astronauts December 6, 2018 Elon Musk's Space X sent a rocket hurtling towards the International Space Station yesterday to bring astronauts their Christmas dinner in orbit. The rocket brought a turkey, helpings of cranberry sauce, candied yams and a fruitcake to allow the crew to enjoy Christmas as they might have back on Earth. The rocket also carried 40 mice [...]
Elon Musk’s Space X to be probed by Nasa after billionaire smoked marijuana in live interview November 21, 2018 Nasa has said it is launching a probe into workplace safety at Space X, prompted by the company's founder Elon Musk smoking marijuana during an interview. The review into Space X as a commercial partner of Nasa, which will also include an investigation at Boeing, comes as both companies prepare to fly astronauts up to the International Space Station. [...]
Japanese tycoon Yusaku Maezawa to become Space X’s first private passenger in trip to the moon September 18, 2018 A Japanese billionaire and online fashion tycoon is set to become the first private passenger to fly around the moon after revealing he will join Elon Musk’s SpaceX mission into orbit. Yusaku Maezawa, who owns fashion retailer Zozo, is expected to lift off on the Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) in 2023 after being unveiled as [...]
Astronauts on International Space Station about to harvest first-ever space-grown food, as Nasa develops “Veggie” plant growth chamber August 9, 2015 Nasa astronauts have been growing lettuce in space, as the first-ever space-grown fruit and veg is about to be harvested on the International Space Station. Forget freeze-dried meals, astronauts are about to get a better deal. Nasa has developed a plant growth chamber dubbed “Veggie” and sent it into orbit. Produce from the mini-greenhouse is [...]