NASA has awarded a new $179 million contract to Texas-based Firefly Aerospace as part of the Artemis lunar missions. The mission, set to launch in 2028, will utilize the Blue Ghost cargo lander to deliver six scientific experiments to an area on the Moon called Gruithuisen Domes.
Firefly’s first Moon mission for NASA is currently scheduled to launch in mid-January 2025 on top of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission aims to study surface conditions and help prepare for future crewed missions to the Moon.
Meanwhile, researchers at South Korea have developed tiny magnetic robots that can work together in swarms, similar to ants. These cube-shaped robots are capable of performing tasks like throwing things, lifting objects, and pushing down obstacles.
Additionally, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore’s six-month-long mission on the International Space Station has been delayed until late March due to ongoing work on a new Dragon spacecraft.
Firefly Aerospace is also set to play a role in advancing human reproduction technology with its IVF technology. The company recently announced the first successful birth of a baby facilitated by its technology, which enables extracted eggs to mature in synthetic ovaries.
Other notable science and tech developments include Iran’s black market for Starlink terminals, a new type of sunscreen that both protects skin from UV rays and cools it down, and researchers at the University of Florida discovering that runners who wear shoes with thick heels are more likely to suffer injuries.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2024/12/20