Science

    • Egypt unveils 3000-year old coffins in latest archaeological discovery
      Reuters

      Egypt unveils 3000-year old coffins in latest archaeological discovery

      Egypt has unveiled a significant new archaeological discovery at the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, including 54 wooden coffins, many of which can be traced back 3000 years to the New Kingdom period. The funerary temple of Queen Neit was also discovered near the pyramid of her husband, King Teti of Egypt's 6th dynasty which dates back 4200 years, said famed archaeologist Zahi Hawass, who headed the archaeological mission. The coffins, or sarcophagi, include the first dating back to the New Kingdom to be found at Saqqara, a UNESCO world heritage site that is home to the Step Pyramid, the tourism and antiquities ministry said in a statement.

    • Branson's Virgin Orbit seeks to reach space with mid-air rocket launch
      Reuters

      Branson's Virgin Orbit seeks to reach space with mid-air rocket launch

      Billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit aims to reach space for the first time on Sunday by launching a rocket from mid-air, a key attempt after aborting the rocket’s first test launch last year. The Long Beach, California-based company loaded its LauncherOne rocket with fuel under clear skies Sunday morning at the Mojave Air and Space Port in southern California before aiming to take flight at 10:50 a.m. PT under the wing of a modified Boeing Co 747 nicknamed CosmicGirl. The rocket, a 70-foot launcher tailored for sending small satellites to orbit, will be dropped once its CosmicGirl carrier craft reaches peak altitude of around 40,000 feet over the Pacific ocean.

    • SLS: Nasa's 'megarocket' engine test ends early
      BBC

      SLS: Nasa's 'megarocket' engine test ends early

      A critical engine test for Nasa's new "megarocket" - the Space Launch System (SLS) - ends early.

    • Virgin Orbit sends 10 satellites to orbit, building on Paul Allen’s air-launch legacy
      GeekWire

      Virgin Orbit sends 10 satellites to orbit, building on Paul Allen’s air-launch legacy

      Eight months after an unsuccessful first attempt, Virgin Orbit finally lived up to its name today and used an innovative air-launch system to put 10 satellites in orbit. With backing from British billionaire Richard Branson, Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne system capitalizes on a concept that Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen funded 17 years ago. The air-launch concept won SpaceShipOne a $10 million prize back in 2004. Today, it plays an essential role not only for LauncherOne, but also for Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo system and the Stratolaunch venture that Allen founded in 2011. Virgin Orbit’s modified Boeing 747 jet, nicknamed Cosmic Girl, serves… Read More