Tag: asteroid
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It’s Asteroid Day! Scientists look on the bright side of our cosmic shooting gallery
This chart shows the distribution of known asteroids as of 2011, projected onto the solar system’s ecliptic plane. White circles represent the orbits of Earth, Mars and Jupiter. Scientists say there may be more than a million asteroids measuring 130 feet or wider. (JAXA / AKARI Graphic) Asteroid experts say they’re looking forward to an…
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Are asteroids leaving the spotlight? No way, say Asteroid Day activists
An artist’s concept shows asteroids zooming past Earth (NASA / Asteroid Day Illustration) NASA may be closing down its grand plan to study a piece of an asteroid up close, but the researchers who focus on near-Earth objects aren’t turning their backs on massive space boulders. They say it’s just a matter of time before…
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An engine for Mars: Aerojet wins $67M NASA contract for solar electric propulsion
A prototype 13-kilowatt Hall thruster fires during testing at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. The prototype demonstrated the technology readiness needed for industry to continue the development of high-power solar electric propulsion into a flight-ready system. (Credit: NASA) Aerojet Rocketdyne’s operation in Redmond, Wash., has won a $67 million contract from NASA to design and develop…
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Killed by a meteorite? Indian bus driver V. Kamaraj’s death may be a first
An artist’s conception shows an asteroid entering Earth’s atmosphere. (Credit: NASA) Death by meteorite is a common theme in science-fiction movies, but in real life, the chances of being done in by a falling space rock are virtually nil. That’s what makes the reports about the death of Indian bus driver V. Kamaraj in an apparent meteorite strike…
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Asteroid-mining company launches $1M Kickstarter campaign for world’s first crowdfunded space telescope
When Planetary Resources first announced its plans to mine near-earth asteroids last year, the response was impressive. More than 3,500 people applied for jobs, another 2,500 inquired about investing and nearly 50,000 reached out wanting to get involved in some way or another. While the Bellevue-based company could only allow a select few onto the team, it knew there…
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Bill Nye and Star Trek’s ‘Data’ helping asteroid miners with ‘unprecedented’ new project
Planetary Resources is on a mission to mine near-earth asteroids and now they want you to join in on the fun, too. The Bellevue-based asteroid-mining company backed by some of the biggest names in technology and aerospace will hold a press conference this Wednesday to announce a new, “unprecedented project” intended to give the public access to its advanced space…
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Planetary Resources pulls in cash from nation’s largest engineering firm to help mine asteroids
Planetary Resources, the asteroid-mining company backed by some of the biggest names in technology and aerospace, just announced a big investment and new partnership with one of the world’s leading engineering companies. Bechtel Corporation, the largest construction and engineering company in the U.S. with 53,000 employees across 50 countries, has joined Planetary’s core group of…