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Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson are competing fiercely to outwit each other and capture the huge commercial space tourism market. And their fellow billionaire Elon Musk appears to be siding with the British entrepreneur and his Virgin Galactic venture. Musk, the SpaceX CEO who aims to colonise Mars someday and make humans a multi-planetary species, seems to have had put his money on the success of Branson even before the latter had travelled to the edge of space. Musk reportedly has a ticket for one of the future flights of Virgin Galactic.

Branson flew in the inaugural flight to zero gravity for a few minutes and returned to Earth on Sunday. He hopes the successful flight will boost the demand for tickets on future flights when the company begins commercial operations sometime next year.

A Galactic spokesman told the Wall Street Journal that Musk had bought a ticket for his own space ride. It is, however, not clear when he would fly or whether there was a long waiting list. Branson’s company plans to launch two more symbolic flights this year and then open it for the public.

Musk and Branson are known to be friends, while Musk and Bezos share a frosty relationship.

In 2019, Musk linked a report on Amazon’s plans to launch a massive constellation of more than 3,000 internet satellites. He tagged Bezos, wrote “copy” and added the emoji of a cat, implying a “copycat”.

However, hours before Branson’s flight, Musk had said that he would be there to wish him the best and see him off.

Musk kept his word. As Branson was gearing up for his flight on Sunday, he tweeted a photograph that showed him and Musk at his home. “Big day ahead. Great to start the morning with a friend. Feeling good, feeling excited, feeling ready,” he said.

Bezos is set to fly in his New Shepard spaceship on July 20. His space tourism company, Blue Origin, meanwhile, has launched a marketing campaign to discredit Virgin Galactic’s space ambitions as an amateur effort.

Blue Origin said only its rocket was capable of taking tourists past the Karman line, which at 100 km is internationally believed to be the space frontier.

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NASA’s EZIE Satellites Begin Mission to Study Auroral Electrojets and Space Weather

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5 days ago

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March 21, 2025

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NASA’s EZIE Satellites Begin Mission to Study Auroral Electrojets and Space Weather

Under the night sky in California, NASA’s Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE) mission was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 11:43 p.m. PDT on March 14 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Three small satellites, designed to study Earth’s auroral electrojets, were carried into orbit. The deployment of these satellites was confirmed at approximately 2 a.m. PDT on March 15. Over the next ten days, signals will be transmitted to ensure they are functioning properly before commencing their 18-month mission.

Mission Objectives and Scientific Significance

According to the mission details shared by NASA, EZIE’s satellites will operate in a formation known as “pearls-on-a-string,” flying between 260 and 370 miles above Earth. These satellites will map the intense electrical currents that flow through the upper atmosphere in polar regions. These currents, linked to solar storms, influence auroras and Earth’s magnetic field. The study aims to improve understanding of space weather and its effects on technology, including satellite operations and communication systems.

Speaking to NASA, Jared Leisner, Program Executive for EZIE, stated that small-scale missions like EZIE are being prioritised for their scientific value despite their inherent risks. The data collected will contribute to research not only about Earth but also about magnetic interactions on other planets.

Unique Approach to Orbit Control

Instead of traditional propulsion methods, EZIE satellites will utilise atmospheric drag to adjust their positions. As reported by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Larry Kepko, EZIE’s mission scientist, explained that previous studies have focused on either large or small-scale observations of these currents. EZIE’s approach will provide new insights into their formation and evolution.

Public Engagement and Educational Outreach

To expand public participation, magnetometer kits known as EZIE-Mag are being distributed to students and science enthusiasts. Data collected from these kits will be integrated with EZIE’s space-based measurements to provide a more detailed understanding of Earth’s electrical currents.
The mission is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and funded by NASA’s Heliophysics Division. The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory leads the project, with CubeSats developed by Blue Canyon Technologies and magnetometers built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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Antarctic Ice Melt Weakens Strongest Ocean Current, Disrupting Global Circulation

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March 21, 2025

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Antarctic Ice Melt Weakens Strongest Ocean Current, Disrupting Global Circulation

Earth’s most powerful ocean current is losing strength, with potential consequences for global ocean circulation. Scientists have projected that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) could slow down by as much as 20 percent by 2050. The weakening of this current, which connects multiple oceans and regulates heat exchange, is being attributed to the increasing influx of cold meltwater from Antarctica. This shift in ocean dynamics could have far-reaching effects on sea levels, temperatures, and marine ecosystems worldwide.

Findings from Climate Modelling

According to a study published in Environmental Research Letters, a team led by Bishakhdatta Gayen, a fluid mechanist at the University of Melbourne, has analysed how Antarctic ice melt is affecting the ACC. Using one of Australia’s most advanced climate simulators, researchers modelled interactions between the ice sheet and ocean waters. The study indicates that the introduction of fresh, cold meltwater weakens the current by altering ocean density and reducing convection between surface and deep waters.

Consequences of a Slower Current

The slowdown of the ACC is expected to disrupt global ocean circulation. As convection weakens, warm water may travel further into Antarctic waters, accelerating ice melt and contributing to rising sea levels. The weakening current could also allow invasive species to reach the Antarctic coastline, affecting the region’s ecosystem.

Speaking to Live Science, Gayen compared the process to a “merry-go-round,” explaining that a slower current could lead to faster migration of marine organisms toward Antarctica. Long-term monitoring will be necessary to fully understand these changes, as scientists have only recently begun studying the ACC’s behaviour in detail. The impact of these shifts will not remain confined to Antarctica but will influence ocean circulation patterns across the planet.

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Wolf-Rayet 104’s Orbit Tilt Reduces Gamma-Ray Burst Threat, Study Finds

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6 days ago

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March 20, 2025

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Wolf-Rayet 104's Orbit Tilt Reduces Gamma-Ray Burst Threat, Study Finds

A new study has shed light on the orbital alignment of the well-known Wolf-Rayet 104 (WR 104) system, long considered a potential threat due to its speculated gamma-ray burst (GRB) risk. Observations conducted using multiple instruments at the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaiʻi have confirmed that the star system‘s orbit is tilted 30 to 40 degrees away from Earth. This discovery significantly reduces concerns that a supernova from WR 104 could direct a GRB toward the planet.

Study Confirms Orbital Tilt

According to research published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, WR 104 comprises two massive stars locked in an eight-month orbital cycle. The system features a Wolf-Rayet star emitting a strong carbon-rich wind and an OB star producing a hydrogen-dominated stellar wind. Their collision generates a distinctive dust spiral that glows in infrared light.

The structure was first observed in 1999 at the Keck Observatory, and early models suggested that the pinwheel-like dust formation was face-on from Earth’s perspective. This led to speculation that the rotational axis of the stars—and potentially a GRB—could be aimed directly at Earth. However, new spectroscopic data contradicts this assumption.

Unexpected Findings Challenge Previous Models

Reportedly, Grant Hill, Instrument Scientist and astronomer, stated, that their view of the pinwheel dust spiral from Earth absolutely looked face-on and it seemed like a pretty safe assumption that the two stars are orbiting the same way. However, his analysis revealed a surprising discrepancy, with the stellar orbit misaligned from the dust structure.

This unexpected finding raises new questions about how the dust plume forms and whether additional factors influence its shape. While the discovery brings relief regarding potential GRB risks, it also suggests there is still much to understand about WR 104’s unique characteristics

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