News December 12, 2024

Spacecraft makes daring approach of metal object in Earths orbit

A Japanese spacecraft has successfully approached and captured a 36-foot-long rocket stage in Earth’s orbit. The mission, called Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J), is part of the company’s “Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration” project to remove problematic space junk from orbit. The rocket stage, weighing three tons, was captured using a daring approach and will be followed by a follow-up mission to bring it down to a lower orbit. This mission demonstrates the spacecraft’s ability to operate precisely in close range to the derelict rocket and paves the way for future missions to remove larger objects from orbit.

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NASA video shows its next Martian helicopter soaring over Mars

NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity has proven to be a success after over 70 flights, but its unexpected achievement has prompted the conceptual design and planning for a larger, more advanced chopper. The new chopper would have six main rotors compared with Ingenuity’s two, which could allow it to have more lift efficiency and travel greater distances. NASA is also investigating a Mars plane that could take off and land vertically like a helicopter, which would be a great boon for Martian exploration.

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NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 12, 2024

Connections is a daily word game that requires players to find common threads between words. The game features 16 words and each set of four words must share something in common. Players can rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier, and there are four categories: yellow (phonetic similarity to T), green (objects with teeth), blue (mild oaths), and purple (parts of a river). The game resets after midnight, and players can share their solutions on social media.

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NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 12, 2024

Connections Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans. The game requires players to group four words that share something in common, and each puzzle features 16 words. Players can rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier, and there are four categories: NFL teams in singular form, college conferences, famous Joneses, and __ Cup. The solution to today’s Connections Sports Edition #80 is NFL teams in singular form - RAM, RAVEN, SAINT, TITAN; college conferences - AMERICAN, IVY, PATRIOT, SEC; famous Joneses - CHIPPER, DANIEL, JONQUEL, MAC; and __ Cup - APPLE, DAVIS, STANLEY, WORLD.

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