Latest news with #CometInterceptor
DW
6 days ago
- Science
- DW
Why the panic about interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS? – DW – 07/04/2025
Sometimes, "the universe comes to us," writes the European Space Agency — the third time now since 2017. What is it and are we prepared? Beyond the fact that this is the third known interstellar object to have entered our solar system, "we don't know very much," said Larry Denneau, co-principle investigator at ATLAS, a telescope in Chile that spotted 3I/ATLAS on July 1, 2025. It's not exactly reassuring when scientists say "we don't know," but at least it's honest. Astronomers do know that 3I/ATLAS is a comet that's about 670 million kilometers (416 million miles) away from the sun. Based on current projections, it poses no danger to planet Earth. "Scientists are still determining the velocity and trajectory to a degree that will allow accurate predictions for the future," wrote Richard Moissl, who heads the European Space Agency's Planetary Defense office, in an email to DW. The closest it will get to our planet is about 240 million km away, when it will fly by in October. That is more than 1.5 times the distance between us and the sun, and about 624 times the distance between the Earth and our moon. It is also thought to be about 20 km (12.4 miles) wide and traveling at about 60 km per second (an impressive 134,000 miles per hour). But this is all relatively basic data — the very data that allowed astronomers at the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in Chile to spot it. When they saw the object on an unusual trajectory, they immediately began to track and measure it. Then, other astronomers based at telescopes in Hawaii and Australia, began monitoring the object's flight progress and confirm it as an interstellar comet. "We are seeing an onset of [normal] cometary activity," wrote Moissl. Comet 3I/ATLAS flew through the heliosphere to enter our solar system. The heliosphere is a barrier that protects us from interstellar winds and radiation. The heliosphere is, however, an imperfect barrier — some interstellar radiation gets through, and it clearly doesn't stop icy intergalactic wanderers, like 3I/ATLAS. Interstellar objects in our solar system are thought to be quite rare, though. The first known interstellar object was 1I/'Oumuamua, detected in 2017, and 2I/Borisov, detected in 2019. "This is only the third interstellar [object] ever to be detected, hence a precise forecast of the expected frequency is not possible at this point," wrote Moissl. But telescopes have got more technologically advanced and scientists do now scan the night sky continuously. So, we may begin to see more of them. "The Legacy Survey in Space and Time at the Vera Rubins telescope in Chile goes online this year. It is more efficient than existing surveys and expected to detect several new Interstellar Objects over the next 10 years," said Moissl's colleague at ESA, Michael Kueppers. Kueppers is a Comet Interceptor Project Scientist. Comet Interceptor is a spacecraft that will rest in a "parking orbit" and intercept distant comets and asteroids if they come too close to planet Earth. It's scheduled to launch in 2029. The short (and obvious) answer is that comets, like 3I/ATLAS, 1I/'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, come from other planetary systems. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Much like comets and asteroids within our solar system, interstellar objects are considered to be untouched specimens from elsewhere in our galaxy, the Milky Way — if not fragments from the very beginnings of the universe. Moissl said this new object "came roughly from the direction of the Galactic Center region," which, as the name suggests, is towards the center of the Milky Way. But astronomers do not know its precise origin or "home star". Based on its brightness, 3I/ATLAS appears to be bigger than the other two stray comets — 1I/'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov — which are thought to have entered our solar system from a different region of the Milky Way. Astronomers will want to continue monitoring 3I/ATLAS to assess its composition and behavior. ESA said that as an active comet, it may heat up as it gets closer to Earth, and "sublimate" — that's when frozen gases on a comet turn into vapor, creating a glowing coma and trail of dust and ice particles. You should be able to see it from Earth with a telescope by September. When it's closest to Earth, it will be hidden by the sun, but then reappear by early December.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Redwire Stock Triumphed on Tuesday
The company reported an important milestone in one of its projects. It delivered an onboard computer for a project that will target comets. 10 stocks we like better than Redwire › Space exploration equipment supplier Redwire's (NYSE: RDW) stock defied gravity in the best possible sense on Tuesday. Its shares seemed to be strapped to a rocket, as they closed the day nearly 21% higher on news of the company's latest delivery. With that gain, they were practically in a different orbit than the S&P 500 index, which bumped higher by 2% on the day. That morning, Redwire divulged it had delivered, to a business partner based in Italy, an onboard computer for one of the most important clients in the space exploration field. This is the European Space Agency (ESA), whose Comet Interceptor craft will use the device to assist it in its comet-analyzing endeavors. Redwire is not only the company securing delivery of the onboard computer; it is also its developer. In space, it will perform a variety of functions as the "brain" of Comet Interceptor, including communications and systems monitoring. The device is currently on the premises of that partner, OHB Italia. It is scheduled to undergo integration and final acceptance review before being deployed to Comet Interceptor. The craft is slated for launch in 2029. In its press release touting the computer's delivery, Redwire did not provide any financial details of the project. Space stocks remain rather speculative investments, as they often trade on potential and/or ambition rather than actual deliverables. So when a company in the field actually ships or deploys a product, investors get understandably excited about the news. Personally, I'd be a bit more cautious, preferring to wait for details of the financial impact of such work. Still, this news makes Redwire a stock to keep an eye on in the space space. Before you buy stock in Redwire, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Redwire wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $639,271!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $804,688!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 957% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 167% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Redwire Stock Triumphed on Tuesday was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
27-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Redwire Successfully Delivers Onboard Computer for ESA's Comet Interceptor Mission to Study Pristine Comet
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, announced today that it has successfully delivered the onboard computer for the European Space Agency's (ESA) Comet Interceptor mission. Redwire developed and delivered the onboard computer through a contract with OHB Italia S.p.A. (OHB Italy). ESA's Comet Interceptor will be the first spacecraft to visit a comet coming directly from the outer reaches of the Sun, carrying material untouched since the dawn of the Solar System. Redwire's wholly owned Belgian subsidiary, Redwire Space NV, developed the onboard computer, which is the 'brain' of Comet Interceptor. It is designed to monitor and control other spacecraft components, including transmitting critical data to operators on the ground. The onboard computer is part of Redwire's third generation Advanced Data and Power Management System (ADPMS-3). 'We are proud to have accomplished this exciting milestone alongside our partners OHB Italy and ESA, which brings the first-of-its-kind Comet Interceptor mission one step closer to launch,' said Mike Gold, Redwire President of Civil and International Space Business. 'With 25 years of flight heritage, a strong track record of success, and the Redwire team's unparalleled avionics expertise, Redwire's ADPMS-3 is a critical, enabling technology for today's most ambitious European and multinational space missions.' The recent delivery follows an acceptance testing campaign, which included vibration, thermal vacuum, and electromagnetic compatibility testing. The onboard computer is currently at OHB Italia headquarters, where it will undergo integration and final acceptance review. Comet Interceptor is scheduled to launch in 2029. The onboard computer is also supporting ESA's Hera mission, Europe's first planetary defense mission and part of a multinational planetary defense effort supporting ESA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission. Redwire's European facility in Belgium has more than 40 years of spaceflight heritage developing spacecraft platforms and success delivering innovative technology for game-changing ESA programs. Redwire was the prime contractor for ESA's Proba-1, Proba-2, and Proba-V missions, which have a combined flight time of 50 years without failure. Redwire continues to support other ESA programs, including Skimsat, a technology demonstrator for a small satellite platform designed to operate in very low Earth orbit; the International Berthing and Docking Mechanism for the lunar Gateway; and the Proba-3 mission, the first precision formation flying mission that will investigate the Sun's corona. About Redwire Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW) is a global space infrastructure and innovation company enabling civil, commercial, and national security programs. Redwire's proven and reliable capabilities include avionics, sensors, power solutions, critical structures, mechanisms, radio frequency systems, platforms, missions, and microgravity payloads. Redwire combines decades of flight heritage and proven experience with an agile and innovative culture. Redwire's approximately 750 employees working from 17 facilities located throughout the United States and Europe are committed to building a bold future in space for humanity, pushing the envelope of discovery and science while creating a better world on Earth. For more information, please visit Disclaimer: The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Redwire Successfully Delivers Onboard Computer for ESA's Comet Interceptor Mission to Study Pristine Comet
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, announced today that it has successfully delivered the onboard computer for the European Space Agency's (ESA) Comet Interceptor mission. Redwire developed and delivered the onboard computer through a contract with OHB Italia S.p.A. (OHB Italy). ESA's Comet Interceptor will be the first spacecraft to visit a comet coming directly from the outer reaches of the Sun, carrying material untouched since the dawn of the Solar System. Redwire's wholly owned Belgian subsidiary, Redwire Space NV, developed the onboard computer, which is the "brain" of Comet Interceptor. It is designed to monitor and control other spacecraft components, including transmitting critical data to operators on the ground. The onboard computer is part of Redwire's third generation Advanced Data and Power Management System (ADPMS-3). "We are proud to have accomplished this exciting milestone alongside our partners OHB Italy and ESA, which brings the first-of-its-kind Comet Interceptor mission one step closer to launch," said Mike Gold, Redwire President of Civil and International Space Business. "With 25 years of flight heritage, a strong track record of success, and the Redwire team's unparalleled avionics expertise, Redwire's ADPMS-3 is a critical, enabling technology for today's most ambitious European and multinational space missions." The recent delivery follows an acceptance testing campaign, which included vibration, thermal vacuum, and electromagnetic compatibility testing. The onboard computer is currently at OHB Italia headquarters, where it will undergo integration and final acceptance review. Comet Interceptor is scheduled to launch in 2029. The onboard computer is also supporting ESA's Hera mission, Europe's first planetary defense mission and part of a multinational planetary defense effort supporting ESA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission. Redwire's European facility in Belgium has more than 40 years of spaceflight heritage developing spacecraft platforms and success delivering innovative technology for game-changing ESA programs. Redwire was the prime contractor for ESA's Proba-1, Proba-2, and Proba-V missions, which have a combined flight time of 50 years without failure. Redwire continues to support other ESA programs, including Skimsat, a technology demonstrator for a small satellite platform designed to operate in very low Earth orbit; the International Berthing and Docking Mechanism for the lunar Gateway; and the Proba-3 mission, the first precision formation flying mission that will investigate the Sun's corona. About Redwire Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW) is a global space infrastructure and innovation company enabling civil, commercial, and national security programs. Redwire's proven and reliable capabilities include avionics, sensors, power solutions, critical structures, mechanisms, radio frequency systems, platforms, missions, and microgravity payloads. Redwire combines decades of flight heritage and proven experience with an agile and innovative culture. Redwire's approximately 750 employees working from 17 facilities located throughout the United States and Europe are committed to building a bold future in space for humanity, pushing the envelope of discovery and science while creating a better world on Earth. For more information, please visit Disclaimer: The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Emily 305-632-9137 OR Media Contact (Redwire Space Europe): Marta 3 250 14 50 Investors: investorrelations@ 904-425-1431 Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data
