Centaur

A previously unknown satellite may be shaping the rings of Chariklo, a petite body that orbits the Sun between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus, according to a team of astronomers that recently simulated the rings’ dynamics.Alex Winter on Innovative Horror Movies Chariklo is about 160 miles (257.5 kilometers) across and is one of the Centaurs, a group of icy bodies between Jupiter and the ice giants Uranus and Neptune. Chariklo is the largest of these small bodies, making it similar to a large boulder the size of a small…

The analyzed centaur head from Parthenon temple, National Museum of Denmark. Credit: John Lee, National Museum of Denmark At the National Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark, there is a marble head that was once part of the ancient Greek Parthenon temple on the Acropolis in Athens. The head originally belonged to a centaur figure and was part of a scene depicting the Greek mythological Lapiths' battle against the centaurs (mythical…

On Monday, January 8, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur is scheduled for its inaugural flight, a mission that will send a wide range of payloads to the Moon. Although not as advanced as SpaceX’s rockets, this expendable rocket boasts features that could make it a cornerstone vehicle in the industry.Will You Click Windows’ New Copilot Button?The 202-foot-tall (61.6-meter) Vulcan Centaur is set to launch from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral. This is a huge deal, as it marks the debut of ULA’s first new…

On Monday, January 8, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur could finally perform its first flight. ULA has been a rock in the spaceflight industry since its founding in 2006, and with this pending launch, the company is ready to take its next bold step into space. Here’s what you should know about America’s latest powerhouse rocket and and how it could disrupt the sector and compete with the ever-dominant SpaceX.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewThe 202-foot-tall (61.6-meter)…

During a test firing in late June, a Blue Origin rocket engine exploded at the company’s West Texas facility in what could be another major setback for the launch of the Vulcan Centaur rocket.William Shatner on Jeff BezosBlue Origin’s BE-4 engine exploded about 10 seconds into the test on June 30, destroying the engine and heavily damaging the test stand infrastructure, CNBC reported based on anonymous sources familiar with the matter. “No personnel were injured and we are currently assessing root cause,” a Blue Origin…

The anticipated first launch of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur may have to wait a little bit longer as the company tries to address an anomaly in the rocket’s upper stage.Taking out the Trash (in Space)The heavy-lift rocket completed a flight readiness review test on June 7, bringing it one step closer to its inaugural flight. There is still one unresolved issue with the rocket, however, that could delay its debut liftoff until late 2023, anonymous sources told Ars Technica. It’s been a bumpy ride for ULA in…

After weeks of anticipation, United Launch Alliance (ULA) fired up the two engines of its Vulcan Centaur rocket to prepare for its inaugural flight.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewThe Colorado-based company completed the final flight readiness test of its heavy-lift rocket on Wednesday at 9:05 p.m. ET at Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 41. The entire test lasted for about six seconds, with the rocket’s two BE-4 engines, which run on a mixture of liquid methane and liquid…

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is ready for another attempt at firing up the engines of its heavy-lift Vulcan Centaur rocket for a flight readiness test before it launches for the first time. Taking out the Trash (in Space)Vulcan Centaur’s Flight Readiness Firing is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. ET at the Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The test is designed to give the rocket the final go-ahead for launch on its first mission, which was delayed after a fireball erupted at its…

After recovering from an explosion at the launch facility last month, United Launch Alliance (ULA) is getting ready to fire up its heavy-lift rocket for a flight readiness test before it can fly for the first time.Taking out the Trash (in Space)ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket is scheduled for its static fire test on Thursday, May 25 at 6:00 p.m. ET to make sure all systems are go for launch. The test firing will take place at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, and will be broadcast live…

It’s been a tough year for rockets trying to fly for the first time. Two of the newest additions to the medium to heavy-lift launch vehicles, Ariane 6 and Vulcan Centaur, have been struggling to make their debuts, suffering multiple delays over the past three years. There is some hope, however, that their inaugural launches may be getting back on track.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewAfter missing its debut flight on May 4 due to an explosion at the test stand, things were…