Latest news with #Eris
National Geographic
7 days ago
- Science
- National Geographic
Pluto
The world was introduced to dwarf planets in 2006, when petite Pluto was stripped of its planet status and reclassified as a dwarf planet. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) currently recognizes two other dwarf planets, Eris and Ceres. What differentiates a dwarf planet from a planet? For the most part, they are identical, but there's one key difference: A dwarf planet hasn't "cleared the neighborhood" around its orbit, which means it has not become gravitationally dominant and it shares its orbital space with other bodies of a similar size. (Astronomers and other experts are debating this definition.) Is Pluto a Dwarf Planet? Because it has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, Pluto is considered a dwarf planet. It orbits in a disc-like zone beyond the orbit of Neptune called the Kuiper belt, a distant region populated with frozen bodies left over from the solar system's formation. The dwarf planet is a whopping 3.7 billion miles (5.9 billion kilometers) from the sun, and its average temperature hovers around -356 degrees Fahrenheit (-215 degrees Celsius). Pluto's surface is composed of a mixture of frozen nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide ices. The dwarf planet also has polar caps and regions of frozen methane and nitrogen. Pluto has three known moons, Hydra, Nix, and Charon. With a diameter of about 737 miles (1,186 kilometers), Charon is the largest of Pluto's moons. The duo's gravity puts them in a synchronous orbit, which means they face each other with the same side all the time. In January 2006, NASA launched its New Horizons spacecraft. It swung past Jupiter for a gravity boost and scientific studies in February 2007, conducted a six-month-long reconnaissance flyby study of Pluto and its moons in summer 2015, and culminated with Pluto's closest approach on July 14, 2015. As part of an extended mission, the spacecraft is heading farther into the Kuiper Belt to examine another of the ancient, icy mini-worlds in that vast region, at least a billion miles beyond Neptune's orbit. New Horizons also found Pluto to have blue skies and water ice. Pluto nearly fills the frame in this black and white image from the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) aboard NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, taken on July 13, 2015 when the spacecraft was 476,000 miles (768,000 kilometers) from the surface. This is the last and most detailed image sent to Earth before the spacecraft's closest approach to Pluto on July 14. Photograph courtesy NASA/APL/SwRI Ceres Also considered by many to be an asteroid, Ceres, like Pluto, was also renamed as a dwarf planet in 2006. Ceres was discovered by Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi in 1801. Ceres's shape resembles a flattened sphere with a diameter of about 590 miles (950 kilometers). It is by far the largest and most massive known body in the asteroid belt, and it contains about one-third of the estimated total mass of all asteroids in the belt. Ceres is made up of a rocky inner core surrounded by a mantle of water-ice. A thin, dusty, outer crust covers the dwarf planet named after the Roman goddess of grain.
Economic Times
25-06-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
Australia set to make history with first-ever homegrown rocket launch after explosive delays
TIL Creatives After nose-cone failures, high-altitude winds, and months of delays, Australia's first entirely homegrown rocket is finally ready to blast off—carrying national pride, a jar of Vegemite, and the hopes of a rising space power The first Australian-made, Australian-launched rocket is set for takeoff in just a week. Gilmour Space Technologies, a privately-owned aerospace company based on Australia's Gold Coast, has confirmed it is targeting July 1–3 for the launch of the first entirely Australian-made and launched orbital rocket. The 25-metre tall, three-stage rocket called Eris will lift off from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport, about 150 kilometres southeast of Townsville. 'We have done a full test again of the vehicle just to be safe,' said CEO Adam Gilmour, who has personally led the project through years of challenges. 'I'm kind of almost sick of this rocket,' he admitted to 7News, reflecting the fatigue and emotional strain after repeated delays. This will be Gilmour's second attempt to reach orbit. The first launch was aborted in May after the rocket's nose cone, a part that protects the payload during flight, accidentally opened just 30 minutes before takeoff. Before that, other technical glitches had halted progress. Upper-level winds are the biggest environmental challenge now facing the 25-metre, three-stage Eris the team didn't give up. Engineers worked around the clock, retesting the rocket systems and addressing vulnerabilities. Now, all eyes are on the weather, particularly upper-level winds, which recently delayed a SpaceX rocket carrying a Gilmour-designed satellite.'That launch was delayed three days because of upper-level winds, and we're seeing the same high winds here as well,' Gilmour major international launches, this one isn't carrying a commercial payload. Instead, a small camera and a jar of Vegemite, Australia's iconic yeast spread, will ride into space as a lighthearted symbol of national this launch, Gilmour Space aims to become a reliable, sovereign launch provider, eventually sending satellites for environmental monitoring, communications, and even defense purposes. Founded in 2013 by Adam and his brother James Gilmour, the company has grown into one of the most promising players in the global space industry. The team behind Eris comprises more than 200 employees, supported by 300 local suppliers, investors, and the Australian Space Agency, which provided final launch approval in May. With this mission, Australia could join a small elite club of countries capable of launching rockets to orbit from their soil.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Australia set to make history with first-ever homegrown rocket launch after explosive delays
Gilmour Space Technologies is targeting July 1–3 for the launch of Eris, the first Australian-made orbital rocket, from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport. This second attempt follows a previous aborted launch and aims to make Australia one of the few countries capable of launching rockets to orbit from its own soil. After nose-cone failures, high-altitude winds, and months of delays, Australia's first entirely homegrown rocket is finally ready to blast off—carrying national pride, a jar of Vegemite, and the hopes of a rising space power Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Second chance Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What's on board? The first Australian-made, Australian-launched rocket is set for takeoff in just a week. Gilmour Space Technologies , a privately-owned aerospace company based on Australia's Gold Coast, has confirmed it is targeting July 1–3 for the launch of the first entirely Australian-made and launched orbital 25-metre tall, three-stage rocket called Eris will lift off from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport , about 150 kilometres southeast of Townsville.'We have done a full test again of the vehicle just to be safe,' said CEO Adam Gilmour , who has personally led the project through years of challenges. 'I'm kind of almost sick of this rocket,' he admitted to 7News, reflecting the fatigue and emotional strain after repeated will be Gilmour's second attempt to reach orbit. The first launch was aborted in May after the rocket's nose cone, a part that protects the payload during flight, accidentally opened just 30 minutes before takeoff. Before that, other technical glitches had halted winds are the biggest environmental challenge now facing the 25-metre, three-stage Eris the team didn't give up. Engineers worked around the clock, retesting the rocket systems and addressing vulnerabilities. Now, all eyes are on the weather, particularly upper-level winds, which recently delayed a SpaceX rocket carrying a Gilmour-designed satellite.'That launch was delayed three days because of upper-level winds, and we're seeing the same high winds here as well,' Gilmour major international launches, this one isn't carrying a commercial payload. Instead, a small camera and a jar of Vegemite, Australia's iconic yeast spread, will ride into space as a lighthearted symbol of national this launch, Gilmour Space aims to become a reliable, sovereign launch provider, eventually sending satellites for environmental monitoring, communications, and even defense in 2013 by Adam and his brother James Gilmour, the company has grown into one of the most promising players in the global space industry. The team behind Eris comprises more than 200 employees, supported by 300 local suppliers, investors, and the Australian Space Agency , which provided final launch approval in this mission, Australia could join a small elite club of countries capable of launching rockets to orbit from their soil.
Perth Now
25-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Historic Aussie rocket launch just days away
The first Australian-made, Australian-launched rocket is set for takeoff in just a week. Gilmour Space Technologies has confirmed it is targeting a launch window of July 1 to July 3 from launchpad in North Queensland. The launch has been delayed by previous technical issues, with Gilmour Space chief executive, Adam Gilmour, telling 7News: 'I'm kind of almost sick of this rocket'. The protective nose which shields the rocket from the atmospheric pressure was one issue for the engineers to fix at the last launch attempt, along with problems in the data-collecting sensors. 'We have done a full test again of the vehicle just to be safe,' Mr Gilmour said. Gilmour Technologies has announced the Eris launch window is July 1 to July 3. Gilmour Technologies Credit: Supplied Upper-level winds are the biggest environmental challenge now facing the 25-metre, three-stage Eris rocket. A Gilmour satellite was launched aback a SpaceX rocket this week - a launch which was pushed back by similar weather conditions. 'That launch was delayed three days because of upper-level winds, and we're seeing the same high winds here as well,' Mr Gilmour said. 'That was really good … We'd made a few prototypes, but we'd never taken them to space,' he said of his firm's satellite. The satellite will monitor algae in Queensland's rivers and lakes. The Gold Coast company hopes to finally launch its Eris rocket after months of delays. Gilmour Technologies Credit: Supplied Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space plans to launch its rocket from the only certified Australian launch facility, the Bowen Orbital Spaceport, 150km southeast of Townsville. In May, the Australian Space Agency notified Gilmour Space that the company could launch Eris. Technical issues scuppered two launch attempts, the second time the rocket's nose cone accidentally opened, half an hour before takeoff.
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Gilmour Technologies locks in second crack at historic Aussie rocket launch
The first Australian-made, Australian-launched rocket is set for takeoff in just a week. Gilmour Space Technologies has confirmed it is targeting a launch window of July 1 to July 3 from launchpad in North Queensland. The launch has been delayed by previous technical issues, with Gilmour Space chief executive, Adam Gilmour, telling 7News: 'I'm kind of almost sick of this rocket'. The protective nose which shields the rocket from the atmospheric pressure was one issue for the engineers to fix at the last launch attempt, along with problems in the data-collecting sensors. 'We have done a full test again of the vehicle just to be safe,' Mr Gilmour said. Upper-level winds are the biggest environmental challenge now facing the 25-metre, three-stage Eris rocket. A Gilmour satellite was launched aback a SpaceX rocket this week - a launch which was pushed back by similar weather conditions. 'That launch was delayed three days because of upper-level winds, and we're seeing the same high winds here as well,' Mr Gilmour said. 'That was really good … We'd made a few prototypes, but we'd never taken them to space,' he said of his firm's satellite. The satellite will monitor algae in Queensland's rivers and lakes. Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space plans to launch its rocket from the only certified Australian launch facility, the Bowen Orbital Spaceport, 150km southeast of Townsville. In May, the Australian Space Agency notified Gilmour Space that the company could launch Eris. Technical issues scuppered two launch attempts, the second time the rocket's nose cone accidentally opened, half an hour before takeoff.
