Fossils, Spacewalks, and Rocket Launch Contracts: Current Science News Briefs

This summary highlights recent developments in the science world, including the discovery of a pterosaur fossil in Australia, the cancellation of a NASA spacewalk due to spacesuit discomfort, new Pentagon rocket launch contracts with Blue Origin, SpaceX, and ULA, and the upcoming return of the Boeing Starliner from the ISS.

Following is a summary of current science news briefs.

Fossils of 'sea phantom' flying reptile unearthed in Australia

Long ago in the skies above the shallow Eromanga Sea, which once covered what is now arid inland Australia, soared a formidable pterosaur - flying reptile - boasting a bony crest at the tip of its upper and lower jaws and a mouthful of spike-shaped teeth ideal for snaring fish and other marine prey.

Scientists have announced the discovery in the Australian state of Queensland of fossils of this creature, which lived alongside the dinosaurs and various marine reptiles during the Cretaceous Period. Called Haliskia peterseni, its remains are the most complete of any pterosaur ever unearthed in Australia.

NASA calls off astronauts' ISS spacewalk over 'spacesuit discomfort'

NASA said a "spacesuit discomfort issue" forced the cancellation of a planned spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) by two U.S. astronauts on Thursday, roughly an hour before their repair mission was poised to begin. NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick, two of the orbiting laboratory's six U.S. astronauts, donned their spacesuits early on Thursday morning in preparation for a roughly six-hour trek outside the ISS for routine repairs and a science mission, as shown on a NASA live stream.

Blue Origin, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance picked for Pentagon rocket launch contracts

The U.S. Department of Defense picked Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, Elon Musk's SpaceX and Boeing-Lockheed joint venture United Launch Alliance (ULA) to compete for national security space missions, making initial selections under a $5.6 billion award program. The Pentagon did not say which of the companies' rockets it selected, but noted seven companies bid for entry into the program, which seeks upcoming rockets that must be ready to fly their first missions to space by December.

Boeing Starliner set for June 22 undocking, return to Earth, NASA says

The Boeing Starliner spacecraft is now scheduled to undock from the International Space Station and return to Earth on June 22 with its inaugural astronaut crew, NASA said on Friday, giving more time to finalize planning for the complicated process. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were launched aboard Starliner June 5 and arrived at the ISS the next day, following a 24-hour flight in which the spacecraft encountered four helium leaks and five failures of its 28 maneuvering thrusters.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)