Dragonfly brains could make missile defenses faster and more accurate

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories led by computational neuroscientist Frances Chance are looking to the common dragonfly for clues to develop smaller, more efficient missile defenses. By replicating the predatory insect’s brain in a… Continue reading Dragonfly brains could make missile defenses faster and more accurate→

France's new space command considers using lasers to protect satellites

France is considering using lasers to protect its military space assets

France has announced it will expand its military space assets and defend them using systems that may include anti-satellite lasers. In a speech before the Commandement de Défense Aérienne et des Opérations Aériennes (Command of air defense and air operations, CDAOA) at Air Base 942 Lyon Mont-Verdun, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly said that the government will spend an additional €700 million (US$780 million) by 2025 to produce new surveillance satellites with self-defense capabilities.

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NASA starts fueling up Mars 2020 rover's nuclear powerplant

The angled unit on the rover is the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG)

NASA engineers have started loading nuclear fuel into the Mars 2020 rover. In anticipation of the unmanned explorer’s scheduled 2020 launch, the space agency’s Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen has given the green light to begin placing the plutonium-238 dioxide fuel into the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) that will provide the rover with heat and electricity.

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Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch celebrates the Moon landing with historic calibre

In January, Swiss watchmaker Omega announced that it was bringing back its famous Calibre 321 that flew to the Moon inside the Omega Speedmaster wrist watches worn by the Apollo astronauts. Now, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Neil Armst… Continue reading Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch celebrates the Moon landing with historic calibre→

Chris Kraft, the man who created NASA Mission Control, dies at age 95

Chris Kraft, who conceived NASA’s Mission Control, passed away on July 22, 2019 at the age of 95. The space agency’s first flight director, he oversaw manned space missions from Mercury to the early Space Shuttle launches and developed many o… Continue reading Chris Kraft, the man who created NASA Mission Control, dies at age 95→