Latest news with #Earth-observing
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rocket Lab launches private Earth-observing satellite toward orbit
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Rocket Lab launched an Earth-observing satellite for the company BlackSky toward orbit tonight (June 2). An Electron rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site today at 7:57 p.m. EDT (0057 GMT or 11:57 a.m. local New Zealand time on June 3), carrying a "Gen-3" satellite for Virginia-based BlackSky toward low Earth orbit (LEO). If all goes to plan, the mission, which Rocket Lab calls "Full Stream Ahead," will deliver the spacecraft to a circular orbit 292 miles (470 kilometers) above Earth. Once there, the spacecraft "will join the remainder of the company's constellation delivering very high-resolution imagery and AI-enabled analytics for daily intelligence operations," Rocket Lab wrote in a mission description. "'Full Stream Ahead' is the second in a series of four Electron launches booked by BlackSky to deploy its Gen-3 satellites to orbit this year, and the 10th overall [Electron] launch for the company — making Electron the most prolific launcher for their constellation to date," Rocket Lab added. Related stories: — Rocket Lab launches new NASA solar sail tech to orbit (video, photos) — Rocket Lab launches sharp-eyed Earth-observation satellite to orbit (video) — Rocket Lab launches 5 'Internet of Things' satellites to orbit (video) Tonight's launch was the seventh of 2025 and the 65th overall flight for the 59-foot-tall (18 meters) Electron, which gives small satellites dedicated rides to orbit. Rocket Lab also flies a suborbital variant of Electron known as HASTE, which serves as a testbed for hypersonic technologies. The company is also developing a larger, more powerful orbital rocket called Neutron, which is designed to be partially reusable. Neutron is expected to debut later this year. Editor's note: This story was updated at 8:10 p.m. ET on June 2 with news that Electron had lifted off.
NDTV
01-06-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Scientists Can Tell When A Volcano Is About To Erupt Using This 'Green' Cue
Scientists can predict when a volcano is about to erupt by looking at the vegetation nearby. A new study collaboration between NASA and the Smithsonian Institution claims that the greenness of the trees around a volcano can indicate a potential imminent blast. As volcanoes get charged up to explode, they push magma close to the surface, releasing higher levels of carbon dioxide. In turn, the health of the surrounding trees is boosted with the leaves becoming greener by consuming the excess CO2. "The remote detection of carbon dioxide greening of vegetation potentially gives scientists another tool - along with seismic waves and changes in ground height-to get a clear idea of what's going on underneath the volcano," read a NASA statement. Up until recently, scientists had to trek to volcanoes if they wanted to measure the CO2 levels, as a volcano emitting modest amounts of carbon dioxide does not show up in satellite imagery. However, with a number of volcanoes located in remote areas, assessing the greenery could help scientists avoid the trouble of trekking through the dangerous terrains. "There are plenty of satellites we can use to do this kind of analysis," study lead author Nicole Guinn, a doctoral student in volcanology at the University of Houston in Texas, said in the statement. Researchers analysed images collected by Landsat 8, NASA's Terra satellite, ESA's (European Space Agency) Sentinel-2, and other Earth-observing satellites to monitor trees around the Mount Etna volcano on the coast of Sicily. Results showed 16 clear spikes in both the amount of CO2 and vegetation's greenness, which coincided with upward migrations of magma from the volcano. The findings could have important real-life implications as 10 per cent of the world's population lives in areas susceptible to volcanic hazards. Predicting a volcanic eruption in advance could help move out people who live or work within a few miles of the volcano and face dangers that include ejected rock, dust, and surges of hot, toxic gases.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Watch India launch its 2nd space mission of the year tonight
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. India will launch an Earth-observing radar satellite tonight (May 17) on the nation's second mission of 2025, and you can watch the action live. The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) EOS-09 spacecraft is scheduled to lift off atop a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre tonight at 8:29 p.m. EDT (0029 GMT and 5:59 a.m. India Standard Time on Sunday, May 18). You can watch the launch live here at courtesy of ISRO, or directly via the space agency. Coverage will start at 7:59 p.m. EDT (2329 GMT). As its name suggests, EOS-09 is the ninth mission in India's Earth Observation Satellite series. The spacecraft is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payload, which will allow it to observe our planet both day and night and through cloud cover. If all goes according to plan tonight, the 3,735-pound (1,694 kilograms) EOS-09 will deploy from the PSLV's upper stage about 18 minutes after liftoff, at an altitude of 332 miles (535 kilometers). After a checkout period, the satellite will begin an Earth-observing mission designed to last at least five years. EOS-09 will "provide continuous and reliable remote-sensing data for operational applications across various sectors," ISRO wrote in a mission description. "Its ability to provide round-the-clock, reliable intelligence is especially significant given ongoing security concerns along India's borders with Pakistan and China," India Today wrote. Related stories: — Facts about ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation — India launches Earth-observing satellite on 3rd mission of new rocket (video) — India launches Aditya-L1 solar observatory, its 1st-ever sun probe EOS-09 will be the second orbital liftoff of the year for India. The first occurred in January, when a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle launched the NVS-02 navigation spacecraft to the final frontier. Tonight's launch will be the 101st to date for ISRO and the 63rd for the four-stage, 146-foot-tall (44.5 meters) PSLV. The workhorse rocket is flying in its "XL" configuration, which features six strap-on solid rocket boosters.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Here's what 'Wisconsin' looks like spelled out in satellite images from NASA
Have you ever wondered what your name might look like spelled out in natural landscapes? Maybe not. But this tool from NASA will show you anyway — and fair warning: it's hard to stop once you start. NASA Landstat Science will use real satellite images to spell out any word you choose. The images range from rivers, mountains, islands or lakes and were all captured by one of Landstat's Earth-observing satellites, which first launched in 1972. Once you enter a word, the tool will tell you where exactly in the world each image comes from, and generate a new combination of images every time you re-enter the word. We tried out "Wisconsin" and "Milwaukee" — more than few times each. Here's what we got and how you can try it for yourself: Here's how Landstat Science spelled out Wisconsin for us — though you may get something a little different when you try it out for yourself. The above images are from: W: La Primavera, Columbia I: Djebel Ouarkziz, Morocco S: N'Djamena, Chad C: Deception Island, Antarctica O: Manicouagan Reservoir, Canada N: Yapacani, Bolivia S: Mackenzie River, Canada I: Canandaigua Lake, New York N: Yapacani, Bolivia Here's Milwaukee spelled out with satellite images from: M: Tian Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan I: Djebel Ouarkziz, Morocco L: Nusantara, Indonesia W: Ponoy River, Russia A: Lake Mjøsa, Norway U: Canyonlands National Park, Utah K: Sirmilik National Park, Canada E: Firn-filled Fjords, Tibet E: Sea of Okhotsk Here's how to see your name — or any word — in satellite images: Go to NASA Landsat Science. Type in your word of your choice and hit enter. You'll see your name spelled out in the images. You can click on each one to see the location in the world, down to the exact coordinates, where the "letter" appears. To download the image, you can hit the downward arrow button next to "Enter." Cheryl McCloud contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How to spell out your name in satellite images from NASA
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Russia's secretive Cosmos 2553 nuclear satellite malfunctions, risks military fallout
Russia's ambitions to militarize space may have suffered a major blow. According to U.S. analysts, Cosmos 2553, a secretive satellite suspected of supporting Moscow's nuclear anti-satellite weapon development, appears to be malfunctioning. Launched just weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Cosmos 2553 has shown signs of erratic tumbling over the past year. New tracking data suggests the spacecraft may no longer be functioning as intended, raising questions about the status of Russia's military space programs. The satellite, believed to serve both intelligence-gathering and radiation-testing roles, has become a focal point for U.S. concerns over Russian activities in orbit. Officials say Cosmos 2553 is not itself a weapon but plays a crucial role in developing technology that could target satellite constellations like SpaceX's Starlink, a system heavily relied on by Ukrainian forces. Moscow denies any intent to develop nuclear space weapons, stating that Cosmos 2553's mission is purely scientific. Cosmos 2553 was deployed to a high-radiation orbit about 2,000 kilometers above Earth — a zone communication and Earth-observing satellites typically avoid. Experts believe Russia used the harsh environment to test the durability of its space technologies. In November, LeoLabs detected anomalies in the satellite's behavior using Doppler radar. By December, it upgraded its assessment to 'high confidence' that Cosmos 2553 was tumbling, based on additional radar data and satellite imagery. Darren McKnight, Senior Technical Fellow at LeoLabs, told Reuters that additional radar measurements and imagery confirmed the satellite's instability. "This observation strongly suggests the satellite is no longer operational," the Center for Strategic and International Studies stated in its latest Space Threat Assessment. U.S. Space Command confirmed noticing changes in Cosmos 2553's altitude but declined to offer a detailed assessment of its current status. Tracking firm Slingshot Aerospace reported unusual activity from the satellite in May 2024. "Slingshot noted that the object's brightness became variable, indicating a potential tumble," a company spokesperson said. More recent observations from Slingshot suggest the satellite may have stabilized, according to Belinda Marchand, the company's Chief Science Officer. However, it remains unclear whether Cosmos 2553 is still functional or if it has sustained critical damage. The incident marks a potential setback in Russia's efforts to bolster its space-based military capabilities. U.S. Space Command officials noted that Russia's claims about the satellite's scientific mission "do not align with its characteristics." The malfunction comes amid intensifying space competition between the U.S., Russia, and China. As the number of satellites in orbit surges, defense agencies are ramping up efforts to better distinguish between civilian, commercial, and military assets. A U.S. Space Command spokesperson warned that Cosmos 2553's inconsistencies and Russia's 'demonstrated willingness to target U.S. and Allied on-orbit objects' heighten the risk of misperception and potential escalation. Cosmos 2553 is among several satellites suspected of supporting Russia's military and intelligence operations. Its troubled status underscores the growing challenges surrounding space security and the fragile balance between national defense and global stability.
