Science

Updated 8:40 p.m. Eastern with comments from media call. WASHINGTON — Astra’s third attempt to reach orbit failed Aug. 28 when its Rocket 3.3 vehicle struggled to get off the launch pad because of an engine shutdown and eventually failed in flight. The small launch vehicle, designated LV0006 by Astra, ignited its five first-stage engines

COLORADO SPRINGS — Defense Department satellite programs are feeling the effects of the widespread microchip shortage that has stymied carmakers and consumer electronic manufacturers. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is hoping to launch as many as 12 satellites into low Earth orbit next year for the Blackjack program, but supply shortages are creating schedule

Taken from the August 2021 issue of Physics World where it first appeared under the headline “History made tangible”. Members of the Institute of Physics can enjoy the full issue via the Physics World app. Laura Hiscott reviews Sir James Jeans: Scientist, Philosopher and Musician  by Christopher Jeans and Alexandr Kozenko (Courtesy: AIP Emilio Segrè

HELSINKI — The National Natural Science Foundation of China has outlined a five-year project for researchers to study the assembly of ultra-large spacecraft. Scientists are being directed to meet the “urgent need” for the construction of ultra-large spacecraft. Preliminary research is to include studying the challenges of developing lightweight structures and subsequent on-orbit assembly and

COLORADO SPRINGS — Currently more known for the high-resolution cameras it builds than for spacecraft, Dragonfly Aerospace’s plan to move into microsatellite manufacturing got a major boost in April when it was sold to serial entrepreneur Max Polyakov.  The deal helps fund the development of satellite buses and upgrade Dragonfly Aerospace facility in South Africa,

Expecting to fly: Koji Murata showing a metal-framed wood panel that will be sent to the Kibō platform in late 2021. (Courtesy: Kyoto University) Wood is an amazing material. It can be strong, flexible or lightweight – and sometimes all of the above depending upon the tree. Wood can be used on its own, or

COLORADO SPRINGS — Amazon is urging the Federal Communications Commission to dismiss SpaceX’s revised plans for its second-generation Starlink constellation, saying they are too broad and speculative. SpaceX proposed two potential configurations for nearly 30,000 follow-on satellites Aug. 18, which Amazon said breaks FCC rules that require details of a proposed amendment to be settled

COLORADO SPRINGS — Shares in small launch vehicle and spacecraft developer Rocket Lab dropped in their first day of trading Aug. 25, but the company’s chief executive says it remains focused on its long-term plans enabled by going public. Rocket Lab made its debut on the Nasdaq exchange Aug. 25 after completing its merger with

Distance matters: a new study recommends that devices such as mobile phones should be kept at least 15 cm from implanted pacemakers and defibrillators. (Courtesy: iStock/grinvalds) Modern consumer electronics can produce magnetic fields strong enough to interfere with implanted medical devices, but the effect only poses a low risk to patients. That is the conclusion

COLORADO SPRINGS — Intelsat has amended its restructuring plan to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection later this year, securing the support of holders of nearly 75% of its debt.  Similar to the plan the satellite operator announced Feb. 12, the restructuring would slash its debt by more than half from nearly $15 billion to $7

COLORADO SPRINGS – Phase Four plans to fuel its Maxwell engine with a green propellant developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, under a contract the Southern California startup won Aug. 18 at the U.S. Space Force’s first SpaceWERX Pitch Day. By fueling Maxwell engines with the green propellant, called Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic

Tough times: researchers are less productive when they have children, a survey suggests, but women find the going tougher as they generally do more childcare than male parents (Courtesy: istock/Steve Debenport) Academics with children become less productive and do work of lower impact as their childcare responsibilities increase. That’s the finding of a survey of

COLORADO SPRINGS — Efforts to digitize spacecraft manufacturing processes to support remote workers during the pandemic are also creating operational advantages for deep space missions, according to a Lockheed Martin executive. Lisa Callahan, Lockheed Martin Space’s vice president and general manager of commercial civil space, said during an Aug. 24 Space Symposium session that COVID-19

COLORADO SPRINGS — Virgin Orbit will use the proceeds of a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company to expand its launch business and develop a satellite constellation for internet-of-things and Earth observation services. Virgin Orbit announced Aug. 23 that it will merge with NextGen Acquisition Corp. II, a SPAC, in a deal expected to close

Effective theorists: Sonia Bacca (left), Bijaya Acharya (centre) and Joanna Sobczyk. (Courtesy: Sabrina Hopp/Angelika Stehle) The interaction between an electron and a calcium-40 nucleus has been calculated from first principles for the first time. Physicists in Germany and the US led by Joanna Sobczyk, Sonia Bacca and Bijaya Acharya at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz used

SPAC deals have grown notably in the space sector as they provide companies faster access to the public markets. COLORADO SPRINGS — Aerospace and defense companies have raised more than $11 billion in the first quarter of 2021 through mergers with special purpose acquisition companies. The SPAC trend does not appear to be letting up,

COLORADO SPRINGS — Small launch vehicle developer Virgin Orbit will go public through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in a deal that includes an investment by Boeing, the company announced Aug. 23. Virgin Orbit will merge with NextGen Acquisition Corp. II, a SPAC that holds $383 million in capital. A concurrent private