27 November 2019
China is catching up with the United States in research contributions and activity in frontier sciences, and it currently leads the world in 33 out of 137 research topics in cutting-edge and new natural and social science fields, according to the 'Research Front 2019' report. The report suggests that the gap between China and the US in research contributions and activity in frontier sciences is narrowing. The 137 research topics are divided into 10 broad research areas, of those the US leads in seven, while China leads in three. China also has a substantial gap with the US in physics, biology, earth sciences and social sciences such as economics and psychology.
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25 November 2019
China is developing robotic arms to help further its advances in space and operate smoothly alongside humans. The technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) with cutting-edge sensors to help the “robot”, essentially a giant arm, grip and lift heavy objects, according to scientists with China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the state-owned main contractor for the country’s space programme.
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14 November 2019
A team led by Daniel Estévez estimated that the small spacecraft impacted somewhere within Van Gent crater (16.69°N, 159.52°E). The LROC team used these coordinates to image the area on 5 October 2019 from an altitude of 122 kilometers (M1324916226L). Through a careful comparison of pre-existing NAC images, the LROC team was able to locate a new impact crater (16.6956°N, 159.5170°E, ±10 meters), a distance of only 328 meters from the estimated site! The crater is 4 meters by 5 meters in diameter, with the long axis oriented southwest to northeast. Based on proximity to estimated crash coordinates and the crater size, we are fairly confident that this new crater formed as a result of the Longjiang-2 impact.
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26 November 2019
Falling rocket debris are a problem for launches from China's inland rocket launch sites. CNBC got hold of the official warning note, authorities released to all affected villages in the rocket stage dropping zone for the launch of the two Beidou satellites from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre on 23 November. The note states when the launch is to be expected and how to shelter. Most importantly, it does instruct the villagers not to touch any rocket parts which have fallen from the sky.
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