Photo: NASA
A new space policy directive issued by the Trump administration last week calls on the space industry to develop cybersecurity measures to protect essential satellites in orbit.
Why it matters: GPS, communications and other satellites are integral to U.S. national security. As other nations continue to develop their space capabilities, experts are warning that key U.S. assets in orbit could be vulnerable to attacks.
Photo: NASA/JPL/Northwestern University
Researchers have found rust on the Moon, complicating our picture of how Earth's natural satellite has evolved over the course of billions of years.
Why it matters: Understanding the Moon and its composition is key not just for scientists working to learn more about how planetary systems form and change over time but for future explorers who hope to make use of lunar resources.
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
The hunt for dark matter — the mysterious substance that makes up the majority of matter in the universe but hasn't been directly observed — is turning to new places and looking for new candidates.
The big picture: Regular matter — the stuff that makes up you, me and everything we know and see out in the universe — is only 15% of the total matter in the universe.
The International Space Station over Earth. Photo: NASA via Getty Images
Genetically enhanced mice retained or increased muscle mass after spending a month on the International Space Station.
Why it matters: The findings of the study, published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that muscle and bone loss could be mitigated for astronauts on space flights as well as for people on Earth who experience muscle degeneration.
Artist's illustration of the strange star system (left), actual photo (R). Image: ESO/L. Calçada, Exeter/Kraus et al.
Three stars are ripping apart a potentially planet-forming disc of gas and dust 1,300 light-years from Earth.
Why it matters: The star system could help scientists learn more about how some of the strangest systems of planets and stars form in the galaxy.
Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios
Scientists announced Wednesday the first surefire evidence of a never-before-seen type of black hole in deep space.
Why it matters: Intermediate-mass black holes could be key to understanding how black holes and galaxies form.
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
The space industry has always accepted some level of risk and failure, but as the commercial space industry matures, companies are using failure to their advantage to try to help their businesses succeed.
Why it matters: By taking on more risk and pushing their systems to the limits, space companies may be able to reach ambitious goals — like building a city on Mars or mining the Moon for resources.
Two quasars. Credit: Silverman, et al.
Scientists have spotted pairs of quasars — supermassive black holes feeding on huge amounts of material — in merging galaxies light-years from our own.
Why it matters: By learning more about these types of rare mergers, scientists may be able to piece together details about how galaxies grow and evolve over billions of years.
Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: NASA
United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno believes humanity's push to explore the solar system could one day reduce poverty on Earth.
Why it matters: ULA is the workhorse of the space industry, with a high rate of success for the rockets it flies and big government and commercial contracts. It is well-positioned to one day act as the ride for companies and nations hoping to push farther into deep space.
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
SpaceX, the aerospace company led by Elon Musk, raised $1.9 billion in new equity funding, per an SEC filing.
Why it matters: This reflects the immense costs of space travel, particularly when the ultimate destination is Mars. No new investors were disclosed. Bloomberg previously reported that the round, which could still grow, would value SpaceX at around $44 billion.