Carnival of Space 525

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The Carnival of Space 525 is up at Everyday Spacer

Universe Today – Exoplanet-Hunters Detect Two New “Warm Jupiters”

As of August 1st, 2017, a total of 3,639 exoplanets have been discovered in 2,729 planetary systems and 612 multiple planetary systems. Many of these discoveries have challenged conventional thinking about planets, especially where their sizes and distances from their suns are concerned.

According to a study by an international team of astronomers, the latest exoplanet discoveries are in keeping with this trend. Known as EPIC 211418729b and EPIC 211442297b, these two gas giants orbit stars that are located about 1569 and 1360 light-years from Earth (respectively) and are similar in size to Jupiter. Combined with their relatively close orbit to their stars, the team has designated them as “Warm Jupiters”.

Universe Today – Second Hyperloop Pod Design Competition A Success

Universe Today – Watch Asteroid 3122 Florence Zip Past Earth This Weekend

The Evolving Planet – Jellyfish galaxies: How they feed supermassive black holes

Nextbigfuture – Spacex will have decades of commercial launch dominance, In 2018, Spacex could fully master reusable rockets that require no refurbishment for relaunch after landing. Spacex is already the low cost launch leader. Fully reusable (all stages) generation one capability will already reduce Spacex costs in half even while maintaining margins.

No future launch capability is a threat to Spacex dominance of commercial space launch. Blue Origin is working on reusability but they are still suborbital. Blue Origin is targeting about 2020 for having an low earth orbit capable reusable rocket. They would still have to scale up production even after proving this capability. Spacex will have absorbed and consolidated a dominant market share.

Nextbigfuture – AI analyzes gravitational lenses 10 million times faster

Nextbigfuture – 3U Cubesat launch will be months instead of years and only $250,000 starting in 2019