NewsSpace

China on track to launch Mars sample-return mission in 2028: 'If accurate, this represents a Sputnik moment'

September 10, 2026
China is making progress on its Tianwen 3 Mars sample return mission, which aims to bring back to Earth roughly 500 grams (17.6 ounces) of Red Planet collectibles in 2031. According to the China National Space Administration, the Tianwen 3 mission will have a lander, an ascender, a service capsule, an orbiter and an Earth reentry module. If all goes to plan, Tianwen 3 will launch in 2028 on two…
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AI & RoboticsNews

Besxar is building an orbital semiconductor factory, one SpaceX rocket at a time

September 10, 2026
If you want to manufacture in space – and bring the products back again – there’s a limited set of options: Wait to go to the International Space Station, or partner with a handful of startups launching spacecraft that spend time in orbit before they return to Earth. But the vehicle that goes to space and comes back to Earth more often than any other is a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket…
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NewsPhotography

Photo of tiny seahorses gathered around their 'father' after being released into the world wins prestigious award. "We spent countless hours searching in difficult conditions, with no guarantee of finding a single seahorse," says photographer

September 10, 2026
A powerful and incredibly detailed black-and-white image of an adult seahorse releasing newly born juveniles into the wide world has won the top prize of this year’s Ocean Photographer of the Year competition. The seahorse’s posture, combined with the…
NewsPhotography

This haunting photo shows what a seal would see in their last moments – just before the polar bear launches a deadly attack

September 10, 2026
What’s the most work you’ve ever put in to getting the shot you desire? For Arctic photographer Audun Rikardsen, it took three years of planning, one motion sensor and a hole drilled through ice to get within touching distance of this dramatic, award-winning wildlife image. A Seal’s Last Sight has won the Grand Prize at the California Academy of Sciences’ 13th annual…
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Cleantech & EV'sNews

XPeng starts IRON humanoid robot production as Tesla Optimus stalls

September 10, 2026
XPeng has switched on what it calls the world’s first automated production line for advanced humanoid robots, and its IRON robot walked off that line under its own power. The Chinese automaker says the line runs with more than 80% of its core processes automated. It’s the clearest signal yet that IRON is headed for real manufacturing and not just stage demos. XPeng is targeting mass production…
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