Latest news with #Earth-orbit
African Manager
11-07-2025
- Science
- African Manager
A Tunisian woman to take part in a space mission
Salsabil Houij, a young Tunisian who pursued her studies in Tunisia and later in Italy, has been selected to participate in an Earth-orbit mission scheduled for 2029, as part of a program for future astronauts. Invited on Thursday on Mosaïque FM, Salsabil explained that the flight will take place at an altitude of 300 kilometers above sea level, below the altitude of the International Space Station. The mission will last five hours, including three hours in zero gravity, aboard a hybrid spacecraft, a cross between a rocket and an airplane. She noted that over the next two years, she will undergo intensive preparation, including psychological, technical, and medical training. This will be followed by an initial selection test. If successful, she will receive an additional year of training focused on the tasks she will be assigned during the mission. 'I've worked tirelessly over the past few years to achieve this dream, and today it's becoming a reality,' Salsabil said emotionally.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
France joins European push for satellite internet on trains
By Gianluca Lo Nostro France's state-owned rail company SNCF will launch a tender soon to add satellite internet to its trains, becoming the latest European rail operator to explore space-based systems for onboard connectivity. In a statement to Reuters, SNCF said on Friday it was pursuing an "innovative approach to strengthen connectivity and resilience" by combining terrestrial networks with low Earth-orbit satellite solutions. The company said the strategy aims to ensure service continuity across its entire network, including isolated sites, and guarantee better internet access for train passengers. "The satellite plus 4G/5G combination would eliminate dead zones and offer stable, fast service adapted to new uses such as streaming or video conferencing," SNCF said. Elon Musk's Starlink and France's Eutelsat are among the companies being considered, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. SNCF would not discuss with Reuters whether it was in talks with specific providers. A Eutelsat spokesperson confirmed the company's interest in the deal as it is already in talks with SNCF about setting up a pilot project as they have already done in Britain and Kazakhstan. "As one of only two LEO (low Earth orbit) operators currently in service, and the only French player, we intend to bid for the contract with our French partners such as Orange business services," the spokesperson said. Starlink, which initially focused on consumer services, has expanded into enterprise markets, particularly in transportation and maritime sectors. Eutelsat, propped up by the French government in its push for LEO services, provides internet access through its OneWeb network of more than 600 LEO satellites. The move follows similar initiatives across Europe. Italy's state railway Ferrovie dello Stato ran a two-week trial in June with two providers, including Starlink, Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini said in May. Scotland's ScotRail also launched a six-week Starlink trial in May. Most European trains rely on cellular networks for internet access. However, connection quality varies with mobile network coverage, often dropping in rural areas or tunnels. The high speeds of trains also create technical challenges as systems must constantly switch between mobile towers, causing intermittent service. Satellites, on the other hand, offer consistent coverage everywhere, including remote areas where cellular towers are sparse or nonexistent.
Newsweek
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Millions Issued Geomagnetic Storm Warning
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A geomagnetic storm could impact millions of people "over New York to north Iowa to Washington state," weather authorities have warned. The National Weather Service extended a G3 warning on Monday, before downgrading it to a G2 warning on Tuesday, after weather data indicated that the storm would continue. Why It Matters Any extreme weather in these areas could have a huge impact on infrastructure and the environment, and geomagnetic storms in particular have the potential to affect power distribution networks and satellite signals. What To Know On Monday, the National Weather Service issued an extension to its geomagnetic weather warning. It was originally classified with a strength of G3, the third-highest level for a storm of this kind, before being downgraded to a G2 on Tuesday morning at time of writing, indicating the storm is "moderate." The service warned advised residents to be cautious of irregular behavior from electronic devices. "Some effects are possible to power grid, satellite ops, and GPS," the warning said. "Geomagnetic activity can vary considerably during storm progression with intermittent periods of escalation or weakening as the major disturbance in the solar wind continues. Monitor the SWPC webpage for additional information and Alerts for latest levels." The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are visible over the New York Skyline on October 11, 2024 in New York City. The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are visible over the New York Skyline on October 11, 2024 in New York City. Getty Images Geomagnetic storms, which are caused by bursts of solar wind that also create aurora borealis, can cause a variety of electrical and signal issues depending on how strong they are. At G2 strength, the National Weather Service predicts that the storm may damage transformers on electrical systems, and create "low-frequency radio navigation problems." The storm will also interfere with the flight paths of satellites in orbit by increasing drag. The same solar winds that create the storm also create the northern lights, which means over a dozen states might be able to see the phenomenon with the naked eye this week. What People Are Saying The National Weather Service's most recent warning update reads: "Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms. Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible. "Aurora may be visible at high latitudes in the northern tier of the U.S., such as northern Michigan and Maine." Astronomy professor Alex Gianninas of Connecticut College told Newsweek: "We are currently in the peak of the current solar cycle, Solar Cycle 25, and so increased activity at the surface of the Sun is normal. This includes geomagnetic storms that cause the Sun to expel large quantities of charged particles. "If those are directed towards the Earth, then once they get here, the Earth's magnetic field channels them down towards both the North and South poles and when they hit the nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere produce the beautiful Aurora that we see." What Happens Next The abnormal weather is expected to pass by the end of the week as the solar wind dies down.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Blue Ghost lander captures first Moon photos after stunning 'Blue Marble' Earth image
America's next Moon lander, Blue Ghost, is traveling through space after launching from Florida earlier this month and capturing breathtaking views. Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 15, carrying 10 Nasa payloads to the Moon. About a week after launch, the spacecraft looked back on Earth during its second Earth-orbit burn, capturing the "Blue Marble" from where it came from. In the next few years, NASA astronauts will have a similar view of Earth in the rearview mirror as they head toward the Moon on the space agency's Orion spacecraft. According to Firefly Aerospace, the image was taken about 4,163 miles above Earth. "Firefly captured the beauty of our home planet during another Earth orbit burn," the company said. Over the weekend, Blue Ghost got its first look at its final destination: the Moon. Firefly shared new images of Earth's only natural satellite in the distance. How To Watch Fox Weather After 45 days of spaceflight, Blue Ghost will attempt to land on the near side of the Moon near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium. The company is targeting a soft touchdown on March article source: Blue Ghost lander captures first Moon photos after stunning 'Blue Marble' Earth image
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Blue Ghost lander captures first Moon photos after stunning 'Blue Marble' Earth image
America's next Moon lander, Blue Ghost, is traveling through space after launching from Florida earlier this month and capturing breathtaking views. Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 15, carrying 10 Nasa payloads to the Moon. About a week after launch, the spacecraft looked back on Earth during its second Earth-orbit burn, capturing the "Blue Marble" from where it came from. In the next few years, NASA astronauts will have a similar view of Earth in the rearview mirror as they head toward the Moon on the space agency's Orion spacecraft. According to Firefly Aerospace, the image was taken about 4,163 miles above Earth. "Firefly captured the beauty of our home planet during another Earth orbit burn," the company said. Over the weekend, Blue Ghost got its first look at its final destination: the Moon. Firefly shared new images of Earth's only natural satellite in the distance. How To Watch Fox Weather After 45 days of spaceflight, Blue Ghost will attempt to land on the near side of the Moon near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium. The company is targeting a soft touchdown on March article source: Blue Ghost lander captures first Moon photos after stunning 'Blue Marble' Earth image
