Front Page / Titelseite

Title picture: Giuranna et al. (2019)

Mars Express matches methane spike measured by Curiosity

A reanalysis of data collected by ESA’s Mars Express during the first 20 months of NASA’s Curiosity mission found one case of correlated methane detection, the first time an in-situ measurement has been independently confirmed from orbit.

There Is Definitely Methane on Mars, Scientists Say. But Is It a Sign of Life?

We may be one step closer to cracking the Mars methane mystery.

All-Female Spacewalk Was Cancelled on ‘My Recommendation,’ Astronaut Anne McClain Says

Astronaut Anne McClain is defending NASA’s decision to scrap the first all-female spacewalk over a lack of appropriately sized spacesuits.

NASA Won’t Have 2 Medium-Size Spacesuits Ready Any Time Soon Despite Criticism

NASA isn’t planning to change the International Space Station’s current spacesuit configuration, which drew criticism after size constraints stymied the first spacewalk of all female astronauts.

Spacesuit Sizing Stymied a Historic NASA Moment, and It May Always Be Tricky

t’s spacewalk season this spring at the International Space Station, and that means astronauts are relying on highly engineered, difficult-to-fit suits to stay safe in the vacuum of space.

These Simulations Reveal What Happened During India’s Anti-Satellite Missile Test (Videos)

A U.S. space and defense software company created two new simulation videos, revealing how the anti-satellite weapon recently launched by India might have looked hitting a satellite in space.

The Lunar South Pole Is a Rich Target for NASA’s 2024 Moon Goal

Pence’s five-year lunar challenge targets the moon’s south pole, an area rich in water and science.

International Spacestation (ISS)

Zwei US-Astronauten zu Batteriewechsel aus der ISS ausgestiegen

Zwei US-Astronauten haben am Freitag um 12.50 Uhr deutscher Zeit die Internationale Raumstation ISS verlassen, um deren Energiespeichersystem auf den neuesten Stand zu bringen. Nick Hague und Christina Koch sollen in rund

Second Spacewalk for Power Upgrades at Station Begins

NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch have begun the second spacewalk in a week to complete the installation of new batteries to upgrade the International Space Station’s power capability.

NASA Astronauts Complete 215th Spacewalk at Station

Expedition 59 Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Christina Koch of NASA concluded their spacewalk at 2:27 p.m. EDT. During the six hour and 45-minute spacewalk, the two NASA astronauts successfully connected three newer, more powerful lithium-ion batteries to replace the previous six nickel-hydrogen batteries that provide power for one channel on one pair of the station’s solar arrays. The new batteries provide an improved and more efficient power capacity for operations.

The Spacewalks of Expedition 59 in Photos

During the Expedition 59 mission to the International Space Station, astronauts are doing a series of three spacewalks. See photos of them working in space!

Spacewalking Astronauts Replace Old Batteries on Space Station

NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch successfully completed a spacewalk at the International Space Station today to continue an ongoing power upgrade at the orbiting lab.

Resupply Rocket at Launch Pad as Astronauts Prep for Third Spacewalk

The Expedition 59 crew is ramping up for new supplies arriving at the International Space Station on Thursday and another spacewalk taking place on Monday. The orbital residents also managed to conduct ongoing microgravity science and life support maintenance today.

Earth / Erde

Weltraumschrott nach Satellitenabschuss: Wenn Tausende Trümmer durchs All rasen

Indien hat unter dem Codenamen “Mission Shakti” einen Militärsatelliten abgeschossen und in Weltraummüll verwandelt. Wie groß ist die Gefahr, dass die vielen Schrotteile den Erdorbit verschmutzen?

India’s Anti-Satellite Test Created Dangerous Debris, NASA Chief Says

India’s recent anti-satellite test created 60 pieces of orbital debris big enough to track, 24 of which rise higher than the International Space Station’s orbit around Earth.

Risiko für die ISS: NASA-Chef kritisiert Indiens Abschuss eines Satelliten

Indiens Abschuss eines Satelliten mit einer Rakete sei eine “schreckliche, schreckliche Sache” sagt Jim Bridenstine. Entstanden seien Dutzende größere Trümmer.

DLR und Universität Stuttgart testen Übertragung von Erdbeobachtungsdaten mittels Laserkommunikation

Erdbeobachtungssatelliten spielen eine zentrale Rolle bei der Wettervorhersage, der Klimaforschung, der Vermessung der Erdoberfläche oder auch bei der Detektion von Waldbränden. Dabei fallen sehr große Datenmengen an, die vom Satellit zur Auswertung zum Boden übertragen werden müssen.

Solar System / Sonnensystem

Dark dust devil tracks on Mars

The winds of Mars are responsible for myriad features across the planet’s surface – including the dark dunes and wispy, filament-like streaks seen in this image from ESA’s Mars Express.

What the devil is leaving these trails on Mars?

New images acquired by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) operated by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) on board the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Mars Express spacecraft in early 2019 show a region in the southern hemisphere of Mars that is defined by a thick blanket of dust and the activity of Martian winds.

Woher zum Teufel kommen diese Spuren auf dem Mars?

Neue Bilder der vom DLR betriebenen High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) der Mission Mars Express zeigen eine Region auf dem Mars, die durch eine starke Staubbedeckung und der Aktivität von Marswinden gekennzeichnet ist. Besonders auffallend sind unzählige schmale, dunkle Linien, die sogenannte “Staubteufel”, kleine Windhosen, auf den Boden gemalt haben.

Beresheet Gears up for Lunar Rendezvous

The Israeli spacecraft is set to enter lunar orbit on 4 April at 17:57 UTC (13:57 EDT).

Weirdly Colored Saturn Moons Linked to Ring Features, NASA’s Cassini Revealed

The bizarre shapes and diverse colors seen in some of Saturn’s moons may now be explained, with the help of data taken by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft before it plunged to its doom.

What to Expect When Hayabusa2 Blows a Hole in Asteroid Ryugu

The Hayabusa 2 spacecraft will deploy its Small Carry-on Impactor experiment, SCI, on 5 April.

Israeli Moon Lander Tweaks Orbit to Prep for Thursday Lunar Arrival

Israel’s Beresheet lunar lander has almost made it to the moon.

China’s Chang’e 4 Moon Lander, Yutu 2 Rover Awake for 4th Lunar Workday

It’s back to work for China’s moon mission: The Chang’e 4 lander and the Yutu 2 rover both awoke over the weekend to start their fourth lunar day.

First Science Results from Hayabusa2 Mission

The Hayabusa2 team held a press briefing last week at LPSC to report newly published results on asteroid Ryugu.

Why Does Enceladus Have an Underground Ocean? New Research Probes Differences Between Saturn’s Moons

New answers for mysteries concerning Saturn’s moons could shed light on whether one, Enceladus, could support life.

Mars May Have Lots of Water Deep Underground

Mars may harbor lots of liquid water deep underground, and not just near its poles, a new study suggests.

Beyond Solar System / Milchstraße & Kosmos

Artikel Milchstraße

Politics / Politik

Are We Really in a New Space Race with China and Russia?

How do you make an ambitious goal and a speedy timeline seem worth tackling among a busy slate of jostling existential crises? Appeal to America’s competitive spirit, apparently.

Technology / Technologie

NASA’s Mars Helicopter Completes Flight Tests

The first helicopter to fly on Mars had its first flight on Earth.

Russland stellt Raumschiff zur Beseitigung von Weltraummüll vor

Junge Wissenschaftler der Holding Russische kosmische Systeme (RKS) haben einen Satelliten entwickelt, mit dem Weltraummüll auf der Umlaufbahn beseitigt werden kann.

Meet SpaceX’s Starship Hopper

Elon Musk has teased the world with sneak peeks of what the spaceship to take humans to Mars could look like.

Ready for the Red Planet! NASA’s Mars Helicopter Aces Key Flight Tests

The 4-lb. Mars Helicopter, a technology demonstration that will launch with NASA’s next Red Planet rover in July 2020, aced its first-ever test flight under Red Planet conditions.

NASA’s Orion Capsule Emergency Abort System Checks Its Attitude in Test

The Orion crew capsule needs a backup plan if, during the start of a trip to the moon or to deep space, there’s a launch malfunction.

NASA Aims to Accelerate SLS Megarocket for 2024 Moon Push

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said that speeding up production of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket is absolutely essential to getting humans to the moon by 2024.

Exoplanet satellite ready

ESA’s Characterising Exoplanet Satellite, Cheops, was recently declared ready to fly after completing a series of final spacecraft tests.

NASA’s Piggyback Experiment on Israeli Moon Lander Could Aid Future Lunar Touchdowns

NASA put a small, laser-reflecting instrument on Israel’s Beresheet lunar lander. Here’s why.

Tiny Cubesats Could Do Big Science at the Moon and Venus

Two proposed microsatellites could help NASA explore Venus and the moon.

NASA’s WFIRST Space Telescope Faces Funding Crunch

A NASA astrophysics mission that avoided cancellation last year could still face budget problems if it evades another termination threat this year, agency officials warned this week.

Video: Building spaceships

How do you build a spaceship? It’s not easy, because space is risky – but potential payoffs are vast. ESA’s track record allows us to manage that risk, balancing it with chances for rich rewards

Ready to face the Sun

Space Science Image of the Week: Our Solar Orbiter spacecraft is undergoing a series of tests ahead of launch early next year

Entertainment / Unterhaltung

This New Barbie Doll Launches Real-Life Astronaut’s Face Into a Toy World

Space enthusiasts may recognize the face of a new Barbie doll touring at special events around the world; she looks just like European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

World / Welt

ESA und NASA unterzeichnen Absichtserklärung für gemeinsame Mondforschung

Der ESA-Direktor für astronautische und robotische Exploration, David Parker, und NASA-Wissenschaftsdirektor Thomas Zurbuchen haben in Washington eine Absichtserklärung über die Koordinierung der gemeinsamen wissenschaftlichen Mondforschung und die Ermittlung von Kooperationsmöglichkeiten unterzeichnet. „Damit betonen sie das gemeinsame Interesse an der wissenschaftlichen Erschließung des Mondes und die Unterstützung des […]

ESA und NASA beabsichtigen gemeinsame Mondforschung

Am 27.März 2019 unterzeichneten David Parker, ESA-Direktor für astronautische und robotische Exploration und Thomas Zurbuchen, Wissenschaftsdirektor der NASA während der National Academies’ Space Science Woche in Washington eine Absichtserklärung über die Koordinierung der gemeinsamen, wissenschaftlichen Mondforschung und die Ermittlung von Kooperationsmöglichkeiten.

‘Make Another Suit,’ Clinton Tells NASA After Scrapped All-Female Spacewalk

Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and presidential candidate, whose pantsuits became a political fashion statement, is now making a statement about NASA’s spacesuits.

$1 Million Prize Offered to Israeli Moon Lander Mission

The stakes just got even higher for an Israeli moon lander’s historic touchdown attempt next month.

Can NASA Really Put Astronauts on the Moon in 2024?

A crewed mission to the lunar surface by 2024 is probably feasible, experts say. But it won’t be easy.

Mixed Reactions to NASA’s Accelerated Moon Plan

Shortly after Vice President Mike Pence directed NASA to return humans to the moon by 2024, reactions from space companies and organizations ranged from excitement to bewilderment.

Deutscher Innovationspreis für CIMON

Der von Airbus im Auftrag des Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) entwickelte Technologie-Demonstrator CIMON hat den Deutschen Innovationspreis in der Kategorie Großunternehmen 2019 erhalten. Die Auszeichnung wurde in München überreicht.

Discover ESA

Discover ESA bietet eine bunte Reise durch die Aktivitäten und Raumfahrtmissionen der ESA – und ist in 6 Sprachen erhältlich.

Lockheed Martin Unveils ‘Vector’ Fragrance for that Space-y Smell

The folks at aerospace giant Lockheed Martin do a lot of things in space. They launch rockets. They build Mars landers. And now, they’re bottling the smell space.

ESA und DLR bündeln ihre Kompetenzen bei Weltraumissionen

Eine Deep-Space-Antenne am DLR-Standort Weilheim bei München könnte das Problem ausreichender Kapazitäten bei aktuellen und zukünftigen Weltraummissionen der ESA lösen, teilte das DLR am Dienstag in Köln mit. In diesem und in den nächsten Jahren starte die ESA einige Missionen in unser Sonnensystem, zum Mars, zum Merkur […]

ESA unterstützt Startup bei Mondmission

Die ESA-Experten für den Missionsbetrieb unterstützen das europäische Startup PTScientists mit Sitz in Berlin dabei, zum Mond zu fliegen. Das Unternehmen plant, Lander und Rover in Zukunft regelmäßig für Mondmissionen einzusetzen. Der Jungfernflug wird für das Jahr 2020 erwartet.

ESA boosts startup to the Moon

European Space Agency operations specialists are helping flight planners at new European space startup PTScientists, headquartered in Berlin, pilot their way to the Moon. PTScientists are planning to launch lunar landers and rovers as a regular service in the future, with an inaugural flight expected in 2020.

Here’s What Elon Musk Had to Say to NASA’s Chief Before SpaceX’s 1st Crew Dragon Test Flight (Video)

Hear from the future riders of Crew Dragon, the reusable vehicle developed by SpaceX through a partnership with NASA.

Why Next-Generation Astronauts Will Need the ‘New Right Stuff’ for Space Travel

Space is going to ask more from us than brains and brawn.

Science / Wissenschaft

Hubble Captures Rare Active Asteroid [heic1906]

Thanks to an impressive collaboration bringing together data from ground-based telescopes, all-sky surveys and space-based facilities – including the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope – a rare self-destructing asteroid called 6478 Gault has been observed.

High School Senior Uncovers Potential for Hundreds of Earth-Like Planets in Kepler Data

An 18-year-old high school senior has won a $250,000 prize for calculating the potential for finding more planets outside our solar system, called exoplanets, using data from NASA’s Kepler space telescope.

Rare Disintegrating Asteroid Spied by Hubble Telescope (Photo)

Two long, narrow tails of material are streaming from a 2.5-mile-wide (4 kilometers) rock in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, a new study reports.

Next Stop, Triton? Here’s Two Wild Ideas to Explore Neptune’s Weirdest Moon

Neptune’s moon Triton is one of the strangest worlds in the solar system — and that’s why scientists are exploring mission concepts that could give them a detailed look at it.

Life on Jupiter’s Moon Europa? Lander Design Team Hopes to Be the Ones to Find It

There’s a stark difference between knowing that the conditions for life exist and actually finding some form of life, and that difference is at the heart of the Europa Lander mission concept.

Here’s What a Spacecraft Orbiting Uranus Could Learn

No spacecraft has gotten a close look at Uranus in more than three decades — but scientists know they want to go back, if they can design the right mission to do so.

Not a Heart of Ice

Mark Marley explains what planetary scientists mean when they say the word “ice.”

History / Geschichte

Waleri Bykowski gestorben

Als Held der Sowjetunion ging er in die Geschichte ein: Waleri Bykowski. Nun ist er gestorben. Einen Rekord hält er bis heute.

Michael Müller: Berlin trauert um seinen Ehrenbürger Waleri Bykowski

Der Regierende Bürgermeister von Berlin, Michael Müller, hat zum Tod des russischen Kosmonauten und Ehrenbürgers von Berlin, Waleri Fjodorowitsch Bykowski, kondoliert.

Vostok Cosmonaut Valery Bykovsky, Who Flew Three Missions, Dies at 84

Soviet-era cosmonaut Valery Bykovsky, whose first of three spaceflights was a joint mission with the world’s first woman to fly into space, has died. He was 84.