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NASA

Array Labs, Raytheon, Umbra form partnership focused on 3D mapping from space

WASHINGTON — Defense contractor Raytheon is partnering with satellite imaging startups Array Labs and Umbra Space to develop advanced three-dimensional Earth observation technologies for the commercial and government markets.The companies announced Jan. 27 they will jointly offer a new product called Site3D, which combines synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology with specialized mapping algorithms to create detailed 3D models of the Earth’s surface.SAR technology, which can capture images regardless of weather conditions or time of day, has gained increasing commercial adoption as satellite companies seek to provide continuous monitoring capabilities to customers.Santa Barbara-based Umbra Space currently operates SAR satellites for Earth observation, while Palo Alto startup Array ...

NASA’s Hubble Traces Hidden History of Andromeda Galaxy – Astronomy Now

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Astronomy

NASA’s Hubble Traces Hidden History of Andromeda Galaxy – Astronomy Now

In the years following the launch of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have tallied over 1 trillion galaxies in the universe. But only one galaxy stands out as the most important nearby stellar island to our Milky Way — the magnificent Andromeda galaxy (Messier 31). It can be seen with the naked eye on a very clear autumn night as a faint cigar-shaped object roughly the apparent angular diameter of our Moon. Though the Milky Way and Andromeda formed billions of years ago, evidence shows they have very different evolutionary histories despite sharing the same cosmological neighbourhood. A century ago, Edwin Hubble first established that this so-called “spiral nebula” was actually very far outside our own Milky Way galaxy —at a distance of approximately 2.5 million light-years or r...

A hole-filled battery could make wearables more breathable than cotton

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Science

A hole-filled battery could make wearables more breathable than cotton

A battery pouch with rectangular holesLiangbing Hu/Teng Li A stretchy and flexible battery pouch filled with strategically placed holes is more breathable than cotton. That could make it an ideal power source for wearable sports or fitness devices built directly into clothing. “This is especially useful for athletes or individuals who wear electronics for extended periods – smart clothing for fitness tracking, medical monitoring devices and similar applications that demand both comfort and reliable performance,” says Lin Xu at Yale University. To design the new battery, Xu and his colleagues created a pattern of long, rectangular holes in a pouch cell battery – a type of lithium battery that resembles a flat bundle with a limited degree of bendability. Simulations...

SPACECENT breaks ground on Space Campus project in CENTCOM AOR > United States Space Force > Article Display

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Space Force

SPACECENT breaks ground on Space Campus project in CENTCOM AOR > United States Space Force > Article Display

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AFNS) -- In a significant milestone for the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Forces - Central officially broke ground on the Space Campus at Al Udeid Air Base, Jan. 14. The ceremony, attended by key personnel and stakeholders, marked the beginning of a new era in space capabilities for the region.The Space Campus is a major initiative aimed at enhancing the base's space operations and capabilities in the area. The project is designed to provide a state-of-the-art facility for personnel to work together and advance the mission, supporting the growing demands of space-related activities.Col. Frank Brooks, Space Forces Central deputy commander, delivered remarks during the ceremony, highlighting the importance of the Space Campus an...

Rocket Lab, Orora Technologies contract for “responsive launch” ahead of main 2025 wildfire season – Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX

Rocket Lab, Orora Technologies contract for “responsive launch” ahead of main 2025 wildfire season – Spaceflight Now

Thermal imaging sensors developed for OroraTech and Spire Global’s OTC-P1 satellites. Image: Orora Technologies A new batch of eight fire detection satellites are getting ready to launch into low Earth orbit in what Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) described as a “responsive launch.” The dedicated flight is expected to launch from New Zealand in “just a few weeks” and will be the first OTC-P1 satellites deployed on behalf of German company, Orora Technologies (OroraTech). “This launch is a showcase of all the benefits of flying dedicated on Electron: control over schedule, agility and ability to meet tight deadlines and mission requirements, and the reliability of launching on the world’s most frequently launched small orbital rocket,” said Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s founder and CEO in a statement....