Tag Archives: esa

Most accurate map of oldest light in the universe published by European Space Agency

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European scientists earlier today released the most accurate map yet of the light released shortly after the Big Bang, when the universe was just 380,000 years old (the universe is now thought to be 13.8 billion years old). The result…


European Space Agency wants you and your drone to help it dock spaceships

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Wondering what to do with that Parrot.AR Drone collecting dust on your shelf? Why not help scientists at the European Space Agency (ESA) work on automated spaceship docking methods? The agency recently released an augmented reality ap…


Moon bases could be 3D-printed from lunar soil

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3D printers could be used to help construct lunar bases with materials taken from the Moon itself. The European Space Agency (ESA) is collaborating with architects Foster + Partners to conduct research into the construction te…


Space travel coming to an airport near you? Maybe, if Skylon keeps its cool

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Want to get from New York to Perth in under 4 hours, or maybe just head to outer space on a lark? Reaction Engines’ “Skylon” mach 5 spaceplane might be your chariot — or not. Its scheme of ingesting oxygen from the atmosphere instead of stowing it l…


ESA’s Vega rocket takes flight, delivers low-tonnage objects to high places

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On Monday, the European Space Agency (ESA) conducted a successful test of its newest projectile, the Vega rocket. Designed to carry up to nine objects totaling less than 2.5 metric tons (“tonnes,” for those in the know) into orbit, the four-stage vehi…


Lawmaker launches assault on violent video games

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An Oklahoma lawmaker has proposed levying a new tax on violent video games. Oklahoma Democrat Will Fourkiller has suggested the tax be applied to all games that receive an ESRB rating, which is intended for adults only. In addition, Fourkiller thinks T-Rated games should also have a tax added to the cost of the games, since some include “simulated gambling.” But a tax on all T-Rated games would be too broad, Ars Technica points out, as there are also titles that are rated T for “cartoon violence, crude humor and suggestive themes.” Read on for more. During his effort to gain backing for the proposed tax, Rep. Fourkiller refers to a crime in which a man killed a police officer and stole his car


Lawmaker launches assault on violent video games

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An Oklahoma lawmaker has proposed levying a new tax on violent video games. Oklahoma Democrat Will Fourkiller has suggested the tax be applied to all games that receive an ESRB rating, which is intended for adults only. In addition, Fourkiller thinks T-Rated games should also have a tax added to the cost of the games, since some include “simulated gambling.” But a tax on all T-Rated games would be too broad, Ars Technica points out, as there are also titles that are rated T for “cartoon violence, crude humor and suggestive themes.” Read on for more. During his effort to gain backing for the proposed tax, Rep. Fourkiller refers to a crime in which a man killed a police officer and stole his car


Russia in talks for Moon base timeshare with European Space Agency, NASA

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Whether or not you believe we actually put a man on the moon, there’s about to be a whole gaggle of’em bouncing about the place and mucking things up in the name of Science. Taking that whole “one giant leap for mankind” motto a few baby steps further…


ESA abandons Russian space probe, hopes it doesn’t plummet to earth

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Things have gone from bad to worse for the orbit locked Phobos-Grunt space probe, having lost contact with the European Space Agency, the probe faces abandonment and disaster. The soviet star-gazer got stuck in Earth’s orbit shortly after launch, st…


Russian and Chinese satellites going to Martian moon, plan to bring back some of the Red Planet (update: stranded in Earth orbit)

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Russia just finished its Mars500 simulation, proving that man can handle the arduous task of traveling to and from the Red Planet — or at least it proved man can live in a confined space for 520 days with dodgy internet. However, Moscow needs to know …