Copernical Team
Artificial Intelligence and NASA's First Robotic Lunar Rover: Part 2
In our last post, we described how VIPER, NASA's first robotic Moon rover, is using artificial intelligence to create several options for the VIPER team to plan the rover's path during its mission to the lunar South Pole.
Today, we'll share more about how AI also is used to help human operators drive VIPER and create highly accurate maps of the rover's mission area on the Moon.
Like NASA: Let's Ketchup on International Space Station Tomato Research
Growing food aboard the International Space Station is one of the many research investigations ripe for long duration spaceflight missions to the Moon and Mars.
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio recently shared the saucy story of two rogue tomatoes, which he had accidentally lost track of while harvesting for the eXposed Root On-Orbit Test System (XROOTS) experiment he conducted aboard the space Planet Labs Integrates Planetary Variables into Sentinel Hub for Enhanced Earth Observation
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a trailblazer in daily Earth data and insights, has recently announced the integration of its Planetary Variables into Sentinel Hub. This integration marks a significant advancement in the field of Earth observation (EO), bolstering the capabilities of Sentinel Hub following Planet's acquisition of Sinergise in August 2023.
Planetary Variables are a set of pre-p China's Shenlong space plane embarks on another secretive mission in space
In a significant advancement for China's space technology, the successful launch of a Long March 2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's vast Gobi Desert has marked a new chapter. This event is particularly noteworthy as it is believed to have placed the Shenlong (Divine Dragon) space plane into orbit.
The Shenlong project, enveloped in mystery and t Apex new factory aiming to produce 50 spacecraft annually
Los Angeles-based spacecraft manufacturing company Apex recently announced the opening of its new headquarters, Factory One, in the Playa Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles. Factory One, a blend of office, warehouse, and light manufacturing spaces spanning 46,000 square feet, is not just a corporate hub but a significant step towards amplifying the company's spacecraft production capabilities. SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch on hold for now, weather delays Falcon 9 attempt too
SpaceX is standing down from attempting to launch its powerhouse Falcon Heavy for now citing the need for "systems checkouts" while weather would have been an issue the next couple of days, and has already delayed a Falcon 9 launch as well.
After already delaying a Sunday attempt to launch Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A because of weather and then scrubbing a Monday night attempt less than an hour before its planned liftoff because of a "ground side issue," SpaceX had announced it would try again Wednesday.
But late Tuesday, it called off those plans.
"We are standing down from tomorrow's Falcon Heavy launch of USSF-52 to perform additional system checkouts," the company posted to X. "The payload remains healthy while teams work toward the next best launch opportunity. We're also keeping an eye on the weather and will announce a new launch date once confirmed with the Range."
USSF-52 is a mission to send up the Space Force's secretive mini shuttle, the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle built by Boeing, on what would be the spacecraft's seventh trip to orbit.
NASA's NEOWISE celebrates 10 years, plans end of mission
The asteroid and comet-hunting infrared space telescope has gathered an impressive haul of observations, but it's now at the mercy of the sun, which is accelerating its demise.
NASA's NEOWISE has had a busy decade.
US launch of new Vulcan Centaur rocket delayed until January
The maiden liftoff of a new American rocket called Vulcan Centaur has been delayed from Christmas Eve to January 8, United Launch Alliance, the company developing it, said Thursday.
The postponement stems from last-minute technical snags but ULA's CEO Tory Bruno said on X, formerly Twitter, that a recent dress rehearsal on the launch pad went well.
The rocket will be carrying a private lunar lander, developed by the startup Astrobotic, which could become the first such private craft to touch down on the moon and the first American robot to land on the surface since the Apollo program ended in 1972.
"This is sort of, in a way, the first giant step in the campaign for the US, and for all of our friends, to go back to the moon, eventually with people," Bruno told AFP in an interview last week.
"It's a pretty big deal to have a payload at all, let alone one that goes to the surface of the moon," he added.
"We wanted to do something really important and we have a lot of confidence, obviously, in the design of our rocket," Bruno said.
ESA forges ahead with Destination Earth
The second phase of the European Union’s Destination Earth initiative has been approved at ESA Council. Destination Earth, also known as DestinE, will build digital models of Earth allowing greater insight into weather and climate dynamics and their impacts on society.
Media information session from ESA’s 322nd Council in Paris
Video:
00:45:51
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and Swiss ESA Council Chair Renato Krpoun give an update on the roll-out of decisions taken at the Space Summit in Seville, including the implications for space transportation and progress towards enabling a European commercial provider to deliver supplies to the International Space Station by 2028 and return cargo to Earth. The evolution of the European Spaceport in Kourou is also covered.
Furthermore, the briefing addresses upcoming, high-level political meetings on space and international cooperation projects that ESA runs with partners around the globe, as well as ESA’s contribution to Poland’s Earth observation