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Astrophysicists at the University of Jena (Germany) prove that dust particles in space are mixed with ice.

The matter between the stars in a galaxy – called the interstellar medium – consists not only of gas, but also of a great deal of dust. At some point in time, stars and planets originated in such an environment, because the dust particles can clump together and merge into celestial bodies. Important chemical processes also take place on these particles, from which complex organic – possibly even prebiotic – molecules emerge. However, for these processes to be possible, there has to be water. In particularly cold cosmic environments, water occurs in the form of ice. Until now, however, the connection between ice and dust in these regions of space was unclear. A research team from Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy has now proven that the dust particles and the ice are mixed. They report their findings in the current issue of the research journal Nature Astronomy.

Better modelling of physico-chemical processes in space.

This week on #SpaceToGround : the International Space Station is set for a delivery of supplies and science from the Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Cygnus spacecraft, while the next astronauts set to launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon prepare for their upcoming mission:

NASA’s Watts on the Moon Challenge seeks solutions for energy distribution, management, and/or storage that address NASA technology gaps and can be further developed for space flight and future operation on the lunar surface. Not only could novel solutions make a difference in lunar and space exploration, but technologies discovered during NASA’s Watts on the Moon competition could help facilitate new power options on Earth.

There’s an emerging industry thought to be only science fiction not too long ago that’s close to becoming a reality: space tourism.

The space tourism market has remained nascent for the past two decades, but a handful of companies are looking to change that.

ESA Astronaut Pesquet revealed Crew-2 has been actively training for “Mission Alpha” aboard Crew Dragon. He shared photographs via Twitter of him training on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon simulator which involves learning how to control the spacecraft’s functions via a trio of touchscreen displays. – “Here’s the posse together, training on @SpaceX crew dragon. @Aki_Hoshide looking like a boss, and all of us wishing we had as cool socks as our awesome pilot @Astro_Megan. #MissionAlpha,” he wrote. During training, all astronauts are wearing face masks to protect each other from the coronavirus respiratory illness, pictured below.

Here’s the posse together, training on @SpaceX crew dragon. @Aki_Hoshide looking like a boss, and all of us wishing we had as cool socks as our awesome pilot @Astro_Megan. #MissionAlpha pic.twitter.com/UCDJvTcRgp— Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) September 23, 2020

To familiarize with the spacecraft, the astronauts train with an interactive simulator and touchscreen interface that is a replica of Dragon’s cockpit. Earlier this year, SpaceX released an online game that allows players to try to dock the Crew Dragon spacecraft to the Space Station, using similar controls the astronauts will use during their voyage in space. You can play the online game on SpaceX’s website: Crew Dragon Simulator.

After a brief hiatus, the Space Coast appears to be on course to host a spate of rocket launches from three separate pads before the end of the month.

The latest Eastern Range schedule has both United Launch Alliance and SpaceX launching three missions starting early Saturday through late Tuesday, all of which will be handled by Delta IV Heavy and Falcon 9 rockets, respectively.

Two of the launches come after several delays due to weather and technical issues while the third is a last-minute addition by the Space Force.

Featured image: Axel Springer

With his inventive and innovative spirit, Elon Musk has revolutionized several industries, from electric vehicles and batteries to space travel. This year’s Axel Springer Award goes to Elon Musk.

The Axel Springer Prize is awarded annually to outstanding individuals who are extremely innovative, create new markets and change old markets, shape culture and value social responsibility. Musk will accept the award on December 1, 2020, at Axel Springer’s headquarters in Berlin. The theme of the evening is “An Evening for Elon Musk — Mission to Mars.”

Earlier this year, Axiom Space announced it signed a deal with SpaceX to launch a crew of four private passengers to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft. New details emerged about who those passengers will be, turns out, the voyage is booked for Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, who is notorious for putting his life on the line to perform his own stunts in the action-packed saga ‘Mission: Impossible.’

Cruise will ride alongside producer Doug Liman who will film the first movie in outer space. One of the passengers will be former NASA Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria. He is heading back to orbit as Dragon-ship commander for Axiom’s space tour with Cruise. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will propel Dragon to orbit towards the Space Station where they will stay for eight days to film in microgravity and enjoy beautiful views of Earth. The fourth passenger has not been revealed yet, it will probably be a Hollywood actress that will join them. They are scheduled to embark on a 10-day voyage to the Space Station in October 2021. These details were released in a graph about planned launches to ISS, created by Space Shuttle Almanac, pictured below.

So its confirmed that @CommanderMLA is flying the @Axiom_Space @SpaceX #CrewDragon tourist mission with Director @DougLiman & Tom Cruise. One seat still to be filled. They are to launch in October, 2021. pic.twitter.com/dn6SLvCOGz — Space Shuttle Almanac (@ShuttleAlmanac) September 19, 2020

Blue Origin just announced the timing of its next rocket launch — and it’s surprisingly soon, in just two days, on Thursday, September 24. The launch of Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle will be its thirteenth overall for that category of launch craft, and the seventh in a row for this particular rocket. The payload will include an even dozen commercial cargo items, including a Deorbit, Descent and Landing Sensor Demonstration done in partnership with NASA — basically a highly precise automated landing system that will help NASA land on the moon and eventually Mars.

That payload is unique not just because of the technology involved in the landing system, but also because it’ll actually be mounted to the exterior of the New Shephard’s booster stage, rather than in the capsule that rides atop it. This is the first time that Blue Origin has carried a payload this way, and the company expects it could pave the way for similar future missions, enabling sensing at high altitudes, and experiments made possible through use of equipment exposed to the external environment.

NASA to test precision automated landing system designed for the moon and Mars on upcoming Blue Origin mission