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Satellite proliferation imperils astronomical observations, study finds <br> &nbsp;As thousands more satellites enter orbit, astronomers may face mounting difficulties in observing the cosmos, according to a study by the European Southern ​Observatory, which operates telescopes in northern Chile. The ESO study found that &zwnj;existing proposals to launch more than 1.7 million satellites into orbit, including some very bright ones, would substantially degrade astronomical observations. There currently are roughly 15,000 satellites in orbit. Bright ​streaks of light left by satellites can interfere with observatories and ​the quality of night-sky photography. &quot;Each of these satellites, when it crosses ⁠a telescope&#39;s field of view, leaves a bright line,&quot; said ESO astronomer ​Olivier Hainaut, author of the study published in the journal&nbsp;Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics, opens new tab. A single streak ​of light may be a minor nuisan...

PTA, Google sign agreement to make digital platforms safer for children <br> The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Google on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen child online safety and promote safer use of digital platforms, according to a press release issued by PTA. The MoU comes days after Google opened its first office in Pakistan, with the company saying the move reflected its confidence in the country&rsquo;s digital future and talent. Google has also partnered with the government on digital-skilling programmes and other initiatives supporting developers, startups, gaming, hardware manufacturing and online safety. Under the agreement, the two organisations agreed to collaborate on a child safety programme focused on &ldquo;awareness, education and capacity-building&rdquo;, the PTA said in a press release. The programme would equip parents and teachers with practical tools and resources to help children navigate ...

China lands reusable rocket breakthrough <br> China&rsquo;s commercial space industry took another important step towards making rocket launches cheaper, more frequent and more commercially viable after the successful recovery of the first stage of a Zhuque-3 reusable rocket on land. The Zhuque-3 Y2, developed by Beijing-based private aerospace company LandSpace, lifted off from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone in northwest China on Wednesday morning. It successfully deployed the Honghu-03 satellite into its designated orbit before its first stage returned to Earth and made a controlled landing at a designated recovery site in Gansu province. The landing, completed less than 10 minutes after liftoff, marked China&rsquo;s first successful land-based controlled recovery of an orbital-class launch vehicle&rsquo;s first stage using deployable landing legs. The achievement represents a major advance in the country&rsquo;s effort to move reusab...

China readies robotic lunar mission in search for water ice <br> China is preparing to launch its next lunar exploration mission, Chang&rsquo;e 7, aimed at investigating the Moon&rsquo;s south polar region for traces of water ice, state-run China Daily reported Wednesday. The Chang&rsquo;e 7 spacecraft and its Long March-5 Y14 carrier rocket were vertically transferred to the launch area at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in southern Hainan province early Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). Over the coming days, space engineers at the coastal spaceport will conduct final functional checks, joint testing and propellant filling ahead of the launch. Chang&rsquo;e 7 represents China&rsquo;s most complex robotic lunar mission to date. The four-part spacecraft consists of an orbiter, a lander, a surface rover and a specialised hopping mini-probe. The mission aims to achieve technological breakthroughs in high-precision soft lan...

As Europe rearms, Italy's fragmented space sector faces a scale test <br> Italy&#39;s&nbsp;fragmented&nbsp;space&nbsp;industry is facing growing pressure to consolidate as defence and government customers increasingly favour larger suppliers capable of handling complex programmes. The shift reflects a broader push across&nbsp;Europe&nbsp;to build strategic autonomy in defence and critical technologies, as governments respond to Russia&#39;s invasion of Ukraine, tensions with China and uncertainty over future United States&nbsp;security commitments. For Italy, whose&nbsp;space&nbsp;sector&nbsp;is known for niche engineering expertise but remains dominated by small and medium-sized companies, the challenge is whether firms can build the&nbsp;scale&nbsp;and financial strength needed to compete for large contracts without losing the flexibility that made them successful. Industry executives say limited access to capital ...

Why US states fought to present a united case against Meta over youth social media harms <br> As opening statements got underway in a landmark trial over claims that Meta Platforms misled the public about the safety of Instagram and Facebook for young users and violated child privacy laws, one of the biggest fights in the case had already been resolved: whether a bipartisan group of ​US states would present their claims together. The states pushed for a single trial covering state consumer protection and federal privacy claims brought &zwnj;by 29 attorneys general, while Meta argued for a series of smaller trials grouping states that have similar laws. The fight was about more than courtroom logistics. The states argued that the case centres on company-wide decisions affecting young users across the country and seeks nationwide changes to Meta&#39;s platforms, and that jurors should hear a single story about Meta&#39;s actions. Meta countered that ​jurors shoul...