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The are thosands of small pieces of junk orbiting Earth (as well as thousands of satellites)

Quantum sensors could detect space debris from its gravitational pull

30 May 2023

Devices based on quantum properties of very cold and very small crystals could be mounted on satellites and sense space debris that could collide with them

Tonga volcano eruption disrupted satellites halfway around the world

22 May 2023

A link between volcanic activity and rising bubbles of low pressure in the ionosphere has now been proven, which may be why the colossal Tonga volcano eruption in 2022 disrupted satellite communications

NEW CLOUDS ABOVE US The modern world relies on satellites for its communications and commerce. While mostly invisible to us as we go about out daily lives, our entire modern way of living ? both socially and professionally ? is intimately linked with the orbital space around the Earth. How we treat this extraterrestrial environment will determine how much we can rely on it in the future. ?In this view of Greenwich, London, you?ve got examples of what?s in space. I photographed about 300 artefacts ranging from satellites to rocket bodies, satellite parts, solar panels, all the way down to the screws and a glove to show what?s up there. The photography was done over a one year period, across North America, Europe and the UK. I wanted to show this from a human perspective ? from the ground looking up. I chose Greenwich because of its history of astronomy and because from there you can see the financial district of London to highlight the modern world?s connection to the satellites that circle Earth.? Max Alexander

Space debris problem highlighted in new series of photographs

3 May 2023

Our Fragile Space, an exhibition from photographer Max Alexander, focuses on the impact of the millions of pieces of cosmic waste circling Earth

A map of every tree in Africa will help monitor deforestation

2 May 2023

A technique based on high-resolution satelllite images could help researchers monitor tree cover loss, reforestation and the impact of climate change

Shooting stars and Starlink stellites leaving streaks in photographs of the night sky

SpaceX's efforts to make satellites less bright aren't working well

22 April 2023

Megaconstellations of satellites are a problem for astronomy, and while SpaceX has made several attempts to dim its Starlink satellites, they don't seem to be having the desired effect

Fishing vessels are catching squid at night.

Squid fishing is booming in unregulated parts of the ocean

10 March 2023

To lure squid to the surface, fishing vessels often use bright lights than can be seen by satellites. This has allowed researchers to track squid fishing that occurs away from oversight

China, UK and US are all boosting their spy balloon programs

13 February 2023

Military interest in balloon surveillance had been increasing even before a Chinese-launched balloon wandered across the continental US

First satellite launch from the UK failed due to an ‘anomaly’

10 January 2023

Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket and a group of nine satellites it was taking to low-Earth orbit may have burned up in the atmosphere as the launch failed

An adapted Boeing 747 called Cosmic Girl

First satellite launch from the UK set to go ahead in Cornwall

9 January 2023

Cosmic Girl, a modified Boeing 747 plane, is set to carry Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket and its payload of satellites up into the air so the rocket can release them into orbit

This photograph taken on September 25, 2022, shows an antenna of the Starlink satellite-based broadband system donated by the US tech billionaire Elon Musk in Izyum, Kharkiv region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP) (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images)

What's next if SpaceX won't fund Starlink in Ukraine?

14 October 2022

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said the company can no longer pay for the Starlink satellites providing internet for Ukraine’s government and military. What you need to know