Thanks to the Mars InSight lander, for the first time, we can now detect in near real time earthquakes on another planet. Specifically, we can now detect "marsquakes." How cool is that?
Why it matters: The deployment of the InSight lander's first science instrument onto Martian soil since the spacecraft landed on Nov. 26 marks the beginning of studies that aim to learn more about Mars' interior, in the hopes that we will learn more about how the Red Planet formed.
The FCC has settled an unusual case in which Swarm Technologies Inc. was charged with the unauthorized launch of and operation of small satellites. The settlement includes a penalty of $900,000 and an extended period of FCC oversight.
Why it matters: As commercial space companies proliferate, and firms such as the Elon Musk-founded SpaceX seek permission to launch thousands of satellites to build a new broadband internet service, the FCC is asserting its role in overseeing communications satellites. This is occurring at the same time as other federal agencies, such as the FAA and NASA, are determining their own regulatory roles in the new space race.
