Odysseus broke leg on landing thanks to overlooked laser switch

As the Odysseus Moon lander faces its final hours of life, it turns out there’s one final twist in the saga: The spacecraft broke one of its legs on landing, thanks to a cascade of mistakes that began back on Earth, when a safety switch wasn’t flicked … Continue reading Odysseus broke leg on landing thanks to overlooked laser switch

Sikorsky’s new tilt-wing hybrid VTOL aircraft promises 575-mile range

Sikorsky is developing a hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (HEX/VTOL) tilt-wing demonstrator, one of a new family of hybrid rotorcraft that will also offer pilot-optional autonomous flight.Continue ReadingCategory: Aircraft, TransportTags: S… Continue reading Sikorsky’s new tilt-wing hybrid VTOL aircraft promises 575-mile range

Asteroid-redirecting DART probe made a splash slamming into Dimorphos

When NASA’s DART deep space probe smashed into the asteroid Dimorphos, it didn’t leave a crater. Instead, there was a splash, where the asteroid was distorted like a jelly as its entire structure shifted.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: NA… Continue reading Asteroid-redirecting DART probe made a splash slamming into Dimorphos

Japan’s SLIM lunar lander comes back to life after killer Moon night

Beating incredible odds, Japan’s SLIM lunar lander came back to life after surviving the intense dark and cold of the Moon’s night. On February 25, JAXA confirmed that it had temporarily reestablished communications with the robotic spacecraft.Continue… Continue reading Japan’s SLIM lunar lander comes back to life after killer Moon night

The Odysseus lunar mission ends following human error on Earth

The IM-1 Moon landing mission will come to a premature end on Tuesday morning. Intuitive Machines has announced that the Odysseus lander will no longer be able to charge its batteries by February 27 as sunlight stops falling on its solar panels.Continu… Continue reading The Odysseus lunar mission ends following human error on Earth

Nuclear SMR welding breakthrough: A year’s work now takes a day

Small Modular Reactor (SMR) construction shifts into high gear, as UK company Sheffield Forgemasters welds a full-size nuclear reactor vessel in under 24 hours instead of the usual 12 months. The rollout of this game-changing tech could be massive.Cont… Continue reading Nuclear SMR welding breakthrough: A year’s work now takes a day