Virgin Galactic’s reusable space plane VSS Unity launched again on November 2, 2023, maintaining the company’s one-mission-per-month pace that began in the spring of the same year. The flight, known as Galactic 05, transported two research scientists and one other private passenger, in addition to VSS Unity’s crew, to suborbital space. This marked the fifth […]
astrophysics
Taming Gravity is all about the possibility through science and technology to harness gravity. If we accomplish this we will then have the means to travel to the stars.
Of course, to do this will involve knowledge of astrophysics.
So, here at Taming Gravity we include inspiring news and breakthroughs happening in the field of astrophysics.
The James Webb Space Telescope’s tech breakthroughs are already impacting science. Here’s how
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), located about 1 million miles away from Earth, has been capturing stunning images and generating new insights into stars, planets, and galaxies. Additionally, technologies developed for the telescope are benefiting everyday life, including advancements in LASIK technology for eye health and significant improvements to simulation software. The software, Ansys […]
Satellite companies may be starting to take the fight against space junk seriously
French startup ThrustMe has reported a surge in orders for its iodine-based propulsion systems for small satellites, signalling a shift towards a more sustainable space environment. The company’s NPT30-I2 electric thruster, first tested in 2020, uses iodine instead of the more exotic xenon, providing small satellites with autonomous maneuverability to help avoid collisions and deorbit […]
James Webb Space Telescope finds rare heavy chemical element from ‘kilonova’ explosion
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected the rare element tellurium in the aftermath of two neutron stars merging about 1 billion light-years away. The stars were once part of a galaxy but were ejected after one exploded as a supernova. Despite this, they remained gravitationally bound and eventually merged. This event, known as […]
James Webb Space Telescope could have explained the mysterious signals from ‘hell planet’ 40 light-years away
The first super-Earth ever discovered, 55 Cancri e, has been emitting puzzling signals for nearly two decades. Scientists now believe these signals could be due to periodic volcanic activity on the planet. These eruptions spew out hot gas that forms a temporary atmosphere, which then burns off due to extreme heat, leaving the planet bare […]
Space weather is a growing threat. This new NASA center aims to help protect us
Space is fraught with dangers, including high-energy particles from solar activity that can threaten technology and human safety on Earth. NASA has responded to these risks by funding the CLEAR space weather forecasting center at the University of Michigan for five years. The center’s goal is to provide accurate, timely forecasts to anticipate solar energetic […]
If the Perseverance rover found evidence of life on Mars, would we recognize it?
NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered circular rock structures on Mars that resemble those formed by microbial communities in some Earth lakes. However, this finding highlights the challenge in determining what might constitute evidence for life on Mars. While some scientists were initially excited by the structures, they soon recognized inconsistencies with a biological origin. The […]
NASA’s interstellar Voyager probes get software updates beamed from 12 billion miles away
NASA’s Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched about 46 years ago, are still receiving software updates to keep them functioning and in contact with Earth. Recently, Voyager 1 began transmitting corrupted data, so a software fix was created to address this issue. Another set of updates is aimed at preventing the build-up of residue in […]
NASA scientists push for a treaty to tackle risky ‘space junk’
NASA scientists and other experts are calling for a legally binding treaty to manage “space junk” and protect Earth’s orbit. The space around our planet is increasingly crowded, with over 9,000 satellites in orbit today and projections that this number could rise to 75,000 by 2030. Disused satellites and their fragments pose a threat to […]
‘Missing link’ protostar may prove solar system’s water is older than the sun
Astronomers have discovered a disk of planet-forming material around a distant star, V883 Orionis, which contains hundreds of times more water than all of Earth’s oceans. The discovery could provide insights into how water travels from star-forming gas and dust clouds to planets, and may also suggest that Earth’s water is older than the sun. […]
