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The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday barred Virgin Galactic from flying its SpaceShipTwo until the agency approves its final mishap investigation report from its July flight or determines the issues do not affect public safety.

The FAA confirmed on Wednesday it was investigating a deviation in the descent of the flight of the Virgin Galactic rocket plane that carried British billionaire Richard Branson to the edge of space on July 11.

The FAA, responsible for protecting the public during commercial space transportation launch and reentry, said “SpaceShipTwo deviated from its Air Traffic Control clearance as it returned to Spaceport America” in New Mexico.

“Virgin Galactic may not return the SpaceShipTwo vehicle to flight until the FAA approves the final mishap investigation report or determines the issues related to the mishap do not affect public safety,” the agency said.

In response to the FAA statement, Virgin Galactic said it was “addressing the causes of the issue and determining how to prevent this from occurring on future missions.”

The company added the deviation in the July flight known as Unity 22 was “a controlled and intentional flight path that allowed Unity 22 to successfully reach space and land safely at our Spaceport in New Mexico. At no time were passengers and crew put in any danger.”

It added it has “been working closely with the FAA to support a thorough review and timely resolution of this issue.”

Earlier, Virgin Galactic said “the flight did drop below the altitude of the airspace … for a short distance and time (1 minute and 41 seconds).”

On Wednesday, Virgin Galactic said it was planning another SpaceShipTwo flight from New Mexico and targeting a flight window in late September or early October, pending technical checks and weather. That flight is to carry three crew from the Italian Air Force and National Research Council, it added.

Branson was among six Virgin Galactic employees who took part in the July flight, soaring more than 50 miles (80 km) above the New Mexico desert. He had touted the mission as a precursor to a new era of space tourism and said the company he founded in 2004 was poised to begin commercial operations next year.

© Thomson Reuters 2021

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This Is Why This Supermassive Black Hole Flashed Twice Causing a Rare Event

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January 14, 2025

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This Is Why This Supermassive Black Hole Flashed Twice Causing a Rare Event

Astronomers recently observed a rare cosmic event where a supermassive black hole, located approximately 408 million light-years away, consumed one star from a binary system while the other narrowly escaped. This unusual phenomenon, known as a double-flash tidal disruption event (TDE), occurred in the galaxy WISEA J122045.05+493304.7. These powerful events, visible from billions of light-years away, typically involve a single flare, but the designated event ASASSN-22ci is notable for producing two flares, sparking interest in its origins and implications for black hole research.

A Unique Event Observed

According to a study published in the pre-print journal arXiv, ASASSN-22ci was first detected in February 2022, appearing as a typical TDE. However, a second flare was observed 720 days later, making it one of the few documented instances of repeated TDEs.

Researchers theorise this might have resulted from a process called Hills capture, where a supermassive black hole disrupts a binary star system. In such cases, one star is ejected at high velocity, while the other remains bound in an elongated orbit around the black hole, undergoing repeated tidal disruptions.

Investigating the Black Hole’s Activity

Data from ultraviolet and X-ray observations revealed the black hole responsible for ASASSN-22ci has an estimated mass of about three million times that of the sun. While the star involved in these flares likely has a mass similar to the Sun, it remains uncertain if it had a companion that escaped. Scientists believe the similarity between the two flares indicates that the same star might have been disrupted twice during its orbit.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Researchers predict a third flare could occur in early 2026 if the star survives another close encounter with the black hole. This anticipated event would provide astronomers with a rare opportunity to observe and study the earliest phases of a TDE in unprecedented detail, shedding light on the mechanics of black hole interactions with stars

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Satellite Images Reveal the Widespread Destruction of Los Angeles Fires from Space

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January 14, 2025

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Satellite Images Reveal the Widespread Destruction of Los Angeles Fires from Space

The ongoing wildfires in Southern California have caused extensive destruction, with over 34,000 acres burned and significant damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure reported. At least 10 fatalities have been confirmed, and numerous individuals have been injured since the fires ignited earlier this week. The largest of these fires, the Palisades Fire, has ravaged nearly 20,000 acres, becoming the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history. Fire containment efforts are ongoing, with only a small percentage of the affected areas brought under control.

Massive Scale Captured by Satellite Images

According to satellite data provided by Maxar Technologies, the extent of damage caused by the fires has been captured in vivid detail. Infrared imaging has revealed active fire hotspots and burning buildings despite the dense smoke covering affected regions. The Palisades Fire has left vast portions of the Pacific Coast Highway and nearby Malibu neighbourhoods charred, with entire homes reduced to ash. A false-colour satellite image shared by Planet Labs highlights vegetation loss, with smoke plumes towering above the devastated areas.

Efforts to Protect Key Infrastructure

As reported by space.com, reports from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have confirmed that the Eaton Fire, which scorched approximately 10,600 acres, reached the base of Mount Wilson. The area houses transmitters and antennas critical to communication systems and the historic Mount Wilson Observatory. Reports indicate that firefighters successfully prevented significant damage to the observatory and restored power to the facility.

Similarly, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, was safeguarded by emergency responders. In a statement shared via social media, JPL Director Laurie Leshin acknowledged the bravery of firefighters who shielded the facility while expressing concern for over 150 JPL employees who lost their homes in the disaster.

Emergency services remain deployed across the region to contain the fires and support affected communities.

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Researchers Study Dark Matter Conversion Signals in Earth’s Ionosphere

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January 14, 2025

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Researchers Study Dark Matter Conversion Signals in Earth's Ionosphere

Efforts to unravel the mysteries of dark matter have gained momentum with a new approach exploring its potential conversion into detectable signals within Earth’s ionosphere. Dark matter, believed to constitute most of the universe’s mass, has remained undetectable despite extensive searches. Recent research proposes that particles like axions or dark photons could convert into low-frequency radio waves in the ionosphere, offering a novel and cost-effective method to detect dark matter through ground-based experiments.

Predicted Mechanism and Experimental Feasibility

According to the study published in Physical Review Letters, this method builds on the resonant conversion principle. Carl Beadle, a researcher at the University of Geneva and lead author of the study, explained to phys.org, that such conversions have been previously considered in astrophysical environments, including neutron stars and planetary systems. Beadle and his colleagues focused on the ionosphere, a well-studied plasma layer surrounding Earth, for its potential to generate signals under specific conditions.

In these models, the mass of dark matter particles aligns with the plasma frequency—a characteristic tied to electron density in the ionosphere. This resonance could produce detectable photons, allowing researchers to test the theory using small dipole antennas. The team’s calculations accounted for signal attenuation factors, demonstrating the viability of detecting dark matter axions or dark photons.

Collaborative Efforts to Validate Findings

Plans for experimental validation are underway. Beadle emphasized the cost-effective nature of the proposed method and its ability to explore previously unexamined parameters of dark matter. The research group is working with experimental physicists to analyze existing data and construct suitable detection systems.

The study offers a new direction in dark matter exploration, leveraging the Earth’s natural plasma environment. By using accessible technology, the approach could provide critical insights into dark matter’s elusive properties, potentially reshaping future searches.

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