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Spaceflightnow

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Live coverage: SpaceX to launch national security satellite for NRO on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

  • SpaceX is set to launch the NROL-69 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
  • The mission is the fifth for the NRO out of roughly a dozen planned for the year, with liftoff scheduled for 1:48 p.m. EDT (1748 UTC).
  • The 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 90 percent chance of favorable weather for the launch.
  • SpaceX plans to reuse the Falcon 9 first stage booster B1092, which previously launched the Starlink 12-13 flight.
  • The mission will see the booster attempting to land back at Landing Zone 1, marking the 50th touchdown at LZ-1 and the 422nd booster landing overall if successful.
  • NROL-69 is part of the National Security Space Launch program Phase 2, with SpaceX and ULA being awarded contracts worth billions of dollars.
  • The NRO provides limited details about its missions, including payload information, with a national security payload onboard the Falcon 9 for this launch.
  • The Falcon 9 rocket's second stage features a grey band, indicating potential measures for keeping the rocket's propellant at a consistent temperature during long coast phases.
  • SpaceX's strategic use of different configurations like medium-coast kits for second stages is highlighted, optimizing performance and system operations during spaceflight.
  • The protective grey stripe on the rocket's second stage was also seen during previous launches, aiding in maintaining the necessary fuel temperature for mission success.

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Livescience

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Image Credit: Livescience

Which states will see the March 29 solar eclipse — and which will see a 'double sunrise'?

  • Thirteen U.S. states will see the March 29 solar eclipse in some form, with a deeper eclipse visible the farther northeast you go.
  • In Maine, up to 86% of the sun will be eclipsed as it rises, while New Hampshire and Massachusetts will see up to 57% and 55% coverage respectively. Boston will experience a 43% eclipse.
  • Viewers must use protective eyewear at all times as this is a partial eclipse.
  • In some locations, a 'double sunrise' will be visible, where the silhouette of the moon makes the rising sun look like two separate 'horns' emerging from the horizon.

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Knowridge

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Image Credit: Knowridge

Astronomers discover mysterious filaments near Milky Way’s center

  • Astronomers have discovered long, thin 'space tornadoes' near the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
  • These filaments, made of swirling gas, were found using the ALMA telescope in Chile.
  • The filaments are created by violent shocks moving through space, and they help circulate materials around the galactic center.
  • Further studies and simulations are needed to fully understand these space tornadoes and their role in our galaxy.

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Earthsky

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Image Credit: Earthsky

Amazing iguanas conquered Fiji after a 5,000-mile journey

  • Researchers have discovered that iguanas in Fiji and Tonga likely arrived on the islands by rafting from western North America, traveling 5,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean.
  • The iguanas arrived on the islands around 34 million years ago, making them the longest known transoceanic dispersal of any non-human terrestrial vertebrate.
  • These iguanas belong to the genus Brachylophus and are closely related to iguanas of the genus Dipsosaurus, particularly the North American desert iguana.
  • The study confirms that the iguanas colonized Fiji and Tonga from North America, diverging from Dipsosaurus iguanas around 30 million years ago when volcanic activity could have produced land.
  • The journey of the iguanas showcases their resilience and ability to survive long periods without food or water, likely traveling on rafts made of fallen trees and plants.
  • The iguanas' dispersal over water contributed to the evolution of new species and ecosystems, with Fiji and Tonga hosting these unique reptiles, now listed as critically endangered.
  • The unique journey of the iguanas sheds light on the incredible adaptations of these reptiles and their ability to conquer distant islands through transoceanic dispersal.
  • The discovery highlights the importance of understanding the origins and colonization patterns of different species, offering insights into the evolutionary history of iguanas.
  • Despite facing threats such as habitat loss and exploitation by smugglers, the iguanas of Fiji and Tonga remain a testament to the remarkable journeys undertaken by wildlife in the natural world.
  • This study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, expands our understanding of how iguanas conquered remote islands and the challenges they face in their unique habitats.

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Insider

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Image Credit: Insider

I took my 7-year-old to space camp. I got to live out my own childhood dream and bond with my son.

  • A mother took her 7-year-old son to family space camp at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama to live out their childhood dreams and bond.
  • Attending astronaut training activities at space camp helped the parents fulfill their childhood dreams.
  • The mother surprised her son with the gift of a trip to family space camp due to his fascination with space and astronauts.
  • The experience allowed the mother to relive her own childhood dream and create lasting memories with her son.
  • Participants at space camp stayed in futuristic habitats that added to the ambiance of the astronaut training.
  • The mother's presence at sleep away camp with her son facilitated their bonding and navigating camp routines together.
  • The four-day astronaut training at space camp included activities like riding the multi-axis trainer and building model rockets.
  • The mother encouraged her son to face his fears and try new experiences, leading to moments of growth and fun for both of them.
  • The space camp experience involved challenging experiments, group activities, and opportunities for problem-solving and learning.
  • At the end of the weekend, participants graduated from their training, creating memories that left a lasting impression on both the mother and son.

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Livescience

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Image Credit: Livescience

Intelligent aliens would need a power supply to jump-start their civilization — would they require fossil fuels?

  • Intelligent aliens building a civilization would likely require a source of energy as abundant as fossil fuels.
  • Aliens may need to follow a similar path as humans in utilizing fossil fuels initially, due to the energy requirements for industrialization.
  • The production of alternative energy sources like solar panels also demands significant energy input, creating a dilemma.
  • While aliens could start by burning materials for fuel, they might eventually harness starlight or wind energy for more sustainable sources.
  • However, wind energy alone may not generate the high temperatures necessary for industrial processes like metalworking.
  • Hydropower could be a viable option if the alien planet has significant accessible liquid, which is uncommon in planets observed so far.
  • The presence of fossil fuels on a planet correlates with plate tectonics regulating climate and creating conditions for life to evolve and transform into fuels.
  • Active plate tectonics contribute to the formation of fossil fuels like coal over millions of years by creating ideal conditions for life and fuel production.
  • Scientists have yet to find another planet with active plate tectonics or fossil fuels, but evidence of fuel components like hydrogen and carbon exists in space.
  • Aliens may have access to elements like liquid hydrocarbons on moons, such as Saturn's Titan, which could potentially serve as fuel sources.

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Astronomynow

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Saturn’s Rings to “Disappear”

  • Saturn’s iconic rings are set to seemingly vanish from view this weekend as they align edge-on with Earth for the first time since 2009.
  • Every 13 to 15 years, Saturn’s rings align perfectly with our line of sight, making them appear nearly invisible from Earth.
  • Saturn's rings will slowly begin to tilt back toward Earth, appearing as a thin line before gradually becoming more visible in the coming months.
  • If you miss this opportunity, mark your calendar for September 21, 2025 for a chance to observe Saturn's rings at their brightest.

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Guardian

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Image Credit: Guardian

Solar eclipse to follow lunar display in March

  • On March 14, a lunar eclipse occurred, and now, a solar eclipse is set to follow.
  • There will be no total solar eclipse visible from the surface of Earth, however, parts of North America and Greenland may witness up to 90% obscuration.
  • In Iqaluit, Canada, the capital of Nunavut, the sun will be around 92% covered.
  • Observers are advised to use certified eclipse glasses to avoid permanent eye damage.

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Digitaltrends

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How to watch SpaceX launch its first private crewed mission in nearly 7 months

  • SpaceX is set to launch its first private human spaceflight mission in nearly seven months.
  • The mission, named Fram2, will send four civilians into a polar orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft.
  • The crew will observe Earth's polar regions, study atmospheric phenomenon STEVE, conduct research on the effects of spaceflight on the human body, and take the first-ever X-ray image of a human in space.
  • The livestream of the launch can be watched via SpaceX's X account, with liftoff currently targeted for 11:20 p.m. ET on Monday, March 31.

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Knowridge

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Wolf-Rayet 104: The “pinwheel star” isn’t a death star after all

  • Astronomers have discovered that Wolf-Rayet 104 is made up of two massive stars orbiting each other every 8 months.
  • The stars' powerful stellar winds collide, creating a spiral of dust that glows in infrared light and spins like a cosmic pinwheel.
  • The system was previously thought to be potentially aiming a deadly gamma-ray burst (GRB) towards Earth, but new research reveals that the dust spiral is tilted differently from the stars' orbit, reducing the chance of a GRB hitting Earth.
  • While the discovery is reassuring, it also raises new questions about the unknown forces and processes shaping the dust spiral.

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Brighter Side of News

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Ripples from deep space reveal the most massive black hole ever detected

  • Astronomers detected the strongest gravitational wave ever recorded, produced by the merger of two massive black holes creating a black hole 142 times the size of the Sun.
  • This event named GW190521 challenges existing theories of black hole formation, as it involves an intermediate-mass black hole not previously clearly detected.
  • The gravitational waves traveled an astonishing 17 billion light-years to reach Earth, marking one of the most distant events detected by astronomers.
  • The discovery of the massive black hole raises questions about how such large black holes form, leading scientists to reconsider existing theories.
  • International teamwork involving over 1,000 researchers across 18 countries contributed to this groundbreaking discovery of gravitational waves.
  • Further improvements to observatories through Advanced LIGO+ upgrades will enhance sensitivity and enable more remarkable discoveries in the future.
  • With ongoing advancements in technology, scientists expect to observe more extraordinary events, expanding our understanding of black holes and the cosmos.
  • Gravitational-wave astronomy offers a new way to explore the universe, providing insights into invisible and extreme cosmic phenomena.
  • Each new detection of gravitational waves challenges old theories and inspires new ones, contributing to humanity's understanding of the universe.
  • Future discoveries in gravitational-wave astronomy hold the potential to unravel profound mysteries about the universe and its evolution.

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Knowridge

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Image Credit: Knowridge

Cosmic dark energy may be weakening, astronomers say, raising questions about the fate of the universe

  • Astronomers are now suggesting that dark energy, the force driving the universe's acceleration, may be evolving over time, according to new results from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI).
  • If confirmed, this evolution of dark energy could challenge current cosmological theories and have significant implications for the fate of the universe, potentially leading to scenarios like the 'Big Rip' or 'Big Crunch'.
  • For years, dark energy has been thought to be constant, but DESI's findings hint that it may have been stronger in the past and is now weakening, questioning the Lambda-CDM model that dominates cosmology.
  • DESI, with over 900 researchers globally, is creating a detailed 3D map of the universe by analyzing light from thousands of galaxies and using baryon acoustic oscillations as cosmic rulers to map the universe's expansion history.
  • The recent DESI results are based on data from over 14 million galaxies and quasars spanning 11 billion years, revealing stronger evidence that dark energy may not behave as a constant.
  • While the findings are not yet at the 'confirmed discovery' level, the increasing clarity in the data suggests a potential need to revise our understanding of dark energy and cosmology as a whole.
  • If dark energy is indeed evolving, it could lead to catastrophic outcomes for the universe, such as the universe tearing apart in a 'Big Rip' or collapsing in a 'Big Crunch', depending on whether dark energy strengthens or weakens over time.
  • DESI plans to gather data from 40 million galaxies and quasars to improve precision and further refine the dark energy model, with future releases and independent experiments playing a vital role in determining the validity of these new findings.
  • The evolving nature of dark energy, if confirmed, could necessitate new physics beyond general relativity, potentially reshaping our understanding of particle physics and quantum gravity.

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Bitcoinist

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Image Credit: Bitcoinist

From Blockchain To Orbit: Crypto Tycoon Drops $1 Billion On Private Space Station

  • Cryptocurrency mogul Jed McCaleb is spending $1 billion of his own money to build a private space station.
  • Vast Space, McCaleb's aerospace company, has completed designs for its first station, Haven-1, which will launch in May 2026 using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets.
  • The company aims to fill the gap left by the decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS) in 2030 and support long-term human stays, scientific research, and space tourism.
  • Vast Space is competing for a NASA contract and plans to expand its modular stations in the future, while its work on artificial gravity could bridge the gap between science fiction and reality.

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Medium

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How I Earned $500 a Week Selling AI Prompts

  • PromptBuddy is an AI-driven tool that allows users to create and sell AI-generated prompts.
  • With over 80,000 preloaded high-demand prompts, users can tap into a market where creativity can drive earnings.
  • Creating a store on PromptBuddy takes less than 60 seconds and requires no technical expertise.
  • Users have reported earning over $500 in their first week using PromptBuddy.

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Brighter Side of News

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Image Credit: Brighter Side of News

Life may have formed billions of years earlier than previously thought

  • Water appeared in the universe much earlier than previously believed, within just 200 million years after the Big Bang.
  • Research led by Dr. Daniel Whalen suggests that water formed rapidly after the universe began, reshaping the cosmic timeline of life.
  • Oxygen from primordial supernovae explosions combined with hydrogen gas to create the first water molecules in the universe.
  • Water concentrations from early supernova explosions were found to be high in dense gas clouds, essential for star and planet formation.
  • The discovery challenges the notion that water and life emerged long after galaxy formation, indicating conditions for life appeared early.
  • The presence of water just 100-200 million years after the Big Bang suggests planets and life could have emerged much earlier than thought.
  • Powerful simulations confirmed water's creation during early cosmic events, paving the way for a new understanding of the universe's evolution.
  • The study could reshape the search for life beyond Earth, indicating the potential for older civilizations and expanding the timeline for life's existence.
  • The early cosmic water discovery doesn't confirm life elsewhere but increases the optimism around finding life in the universe.
  • Water, a crucial ingredient for life, was present in the universe from its early stages, changing perspectives on life's origins.

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