News

A Spacecraft is set to smash into an asteroid

Published

3 years ago

September 26, 2022

A spacecraft is set to smash into an asteroid to test whether deflecting a space rock could one day protect Earth from a potentially catastrophic impact.

If all goes according to plan, the ESA’s 700-kilogram (1,543-pound) Hera spacecraft will slam into Didymos B, a small asteroid that orbits the much larger Didymos A, at a speed of 14,000 kilometers per hour (8,700 miles per hour). The high-speed impact is designed to create an artificial crater on the surface of Didymos B.

Over the next two years, Hera will study the artificial crater using its suite of cameras and sensors.

In particular, Hera will search for signs that the impact has altered Didymos B’s orbit around Didymos A. This information could help scientists better understand how to deflect an asteroid if it were on course to hit Earth.

“To successfully defend our planet from future asteroid impacts, we need to be able to change the motion of an asteroid in a controlled manner,” said ESA Director General Jan Wörner in a press release.

“Hera will pave the way for future missions by testing technologies required for resource utilization on an asteroid and demonstrating innovative methods for altering an asteroid’s path.”

Not on a collision course

While Didymo A is not on a collision course with Earth, it offers scientists an ideal target for testing out what could one day be used to save our planet from a devastating impact.

“This is exactly why we’re doing this mission,” said Paolo Martino, Hera project manager at ESA’s technical center in Noordwijk, Netherlands, in the press release.

“It’s the first step in demonstrating how we can protect our planet from future hazardous encounters.”

Hera isn’t going it alone on this journey—it’s being accompanied by two CubeSats that will act as eyewitnesses to the impact. One of these CubeSats is called LICIACube and was built by university students in Belgium.

The other CubeSat, called DART+LANCE+, was built by NASA. Both CubeSats will take pictures and collect data during Hera’s flyby of Didymos B following the impact.

“The beauty of using CubeSats for this kind of rendezvous mission is that they are considerably cheaper than traditional satellites.”

By better understanding how to deflect an incoming asteroid , we can protect our planet from disastrous consequences .

This experimental collision is just the first step in learning how we can change an asteroid ‘s path.

News

Epstein hearing explodes over redactions and hidden names

Lawmakers accuse AG Pam Bondi of hiding Epstein-linked names amid congressional hearing, questioning redactions related to billionaire Wexner.

Published

9 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Lawmakers accuse AG Pam Bondi of hiding Epstein-linked names amid congressional hearing, questioning redactions related to billionaire Wexner.

US lawmakers have accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of withholding key names linked to Jeffrey Epstein during a fiery congressional hearing. The confrontation centred on redactions within investigative files that critics argue should have been fully disclosed under federal law.

Representative Thomas Massie pressed the Justice Department over blacked-out sections, specifically questioning references to billionaire Leslie Wexner. Bondi maintained that Wexner’s name was released promptly once flagged, defending the department’s handling of the documents.

Frustration boiled over as lawmakers challenged the extent of the redactions, leading to an extraordinary moment in the hearing as Bondi pushed back and praised President Donald Trump while standing by the department’s review process.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

#EpsteinFiles #PamBondi #USPolitics #Congress #JeffreyEpstein #BreakingNews #PoliticalDrama #TickerNews

News

Angus Taylor moves to challenge Sussan Ley for party leadership

Angus Taylor resigns from Coalition frontbench to challenge Sussan Ley amid Liberal Party divisions and declining poll support.

Published

9 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Angus Taylor resigns from Coalition frontbench to challenge Sussan Ley amid Liberal Party divisions and declining poll support.

Angus Taylor has resigned from the Coalition frontbench to launch a leadership challenge against Sussan Ley, declaring he lacks confidence in her ability to rebuild support for the Liberal Party. His move sets up a high-stakes internal contest that could reshape the party’s direction.

Supporters of Mr Taylor are expected to push for a meeting by Friday to trigger a potential leadership spill, intensifying pressure on Ms Ley. Moderate MPs are calling on her to demand clear proof of numbers before any ballot takes place.

With the Liberals trailing in the polls and facing mounting questions over strategy, both camps are outlining starkly different visions for the party’s future as tensions rise in Canberra.

#AustralianPolitics #LiberalParty #AngusTaylor #SussanLey #LeadershipSpill #Canberra #AusPol #PoliticalNews

News

Iran buries nuclear site entrances amid rising tensions with the U.S.

Published

1 day ago

February 11, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Satellite images reveal that Iran has buried all three tunnel entrances at its Isfahan nuclear complex. Analysts say the move mirrors defensive preparations taken before U.S. airstrikes devastated the facility last year, with no vehicle or personnel activity visible around the entrances.

The burial appears aimed at limiting damage from potential airstrikes and complicating any ground raid targeting enriched uranium stored in the underground facility. Experts suggest equipment or materials may have been moved into the tunnels for protection, though this remains unconfirmed.

The fortification comes amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions. President Trump has demanded Iran curb its nuclear program, warning of military action, while Tehran insists halting uranium enrichment is unacceptable. Recent indirect talks in Oman showed little progress toward a new deal.