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Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 04, 2023
Scientists have for the first time observed the early universe running in extreme slow motion, unlocking one of the mysteries of Einstein's expanding universe. Einstein's general theory of relativity means that we should observe the distant - and hence ancient - universe running much slower than the present day. However, peering back that far in time has proven elusive. Scientists have now
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Adelaide, Australia (SPX) Jul 04, 2023
The three-year project, Spacecraft Autonomy and Onboard AI for Next Generation Space Systems, known as SCARLET-a, will bring together eight SmartSat partners: Airbus, Asension, Deakin University, Defence Science and Technology Group, Leonardo Australia, Saab Australia, Swinburne University of Technology, and University of South Australia (UniSA) in a collaborative research effort. SCARLET-
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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 04, 2023
Findings from a recent study underscore the potential for satellite-based early warning systems to bolster evacuation protocols in certain Asian communities. Published on April 27, 2023, in the Emergency Management Science and Technology journal, the study highlights the limitations of conventional ground-based telecommunication systems in regions such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Mongolia.
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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 04, 2023
In the vanguard of the rapidly evolving commercial space industry, Beijing-based private firm Space Pioneer plans the inaugural launch of its TL 3 carrier rocket in 2024. The launch will signify an ambitious stride toward fortifying China's presence in the commercial space launch market. As reported in an exclusive interview with China Daily, Kang Yonglai, founder and chairman of Space Pio
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weather
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The farewell flight of Europe's workhorse Ariane 5 rocket, scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed for 24 hours due to bad weather, operator Arianespace said.

 

The 117th and final flight of an Ariane 5 rocket, after 27 years of launches, had been due to take off between 2130 and 2305 GMT from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

"Due to unfavorable winds at high altitude above the Guiana Space Centre, Arianespace decided not to start the final phase of the launch preparation operations," the French firm said.

The nearest launch window was now between 2200 and 2305 GMT on Wednesday "if weather conditions are favorable", it added.

The final flight of an Ariane, whose launches have punctuated life in Kourou for nearly three decades, was originally scheduled for June 16.

It was postponed the day before because of problems with pyrotechnical lines in the rocket's booster. The lines have since been replaced.

The final payload on an Ariane 5 is a French military communications satellite and a German communications satellite.

The arrival in 1996 of the Ariane 5, which was able to carry a far bigger load than its predecessor Ariane 4, allowed Europe to establish itself in the communication satellite market.

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Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket is being prepared for its final launch, following the replacement of pyrotechnical transmission lines which delayed its earlier scheduled liftoff. Due to unfavourable weather Flight VA261 will now lift off no earlier than 5 July at 23:00 BST/00:00 CEST, pending suitable conditions for launch. You can follow live on ESA Web TV; transmission starts 30 minutes before earliest liftoff time.

   

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NASA's Parker Solar Probe completes 16th close approach to the Sun
Parker Solar Probe enters the solar atmosphere. Credit: NASA

NASA's Parker Solar Probe accomplished a milestone on June 27, 2023—its 16th orbit of the sun. This included a close approach to the sun (known as perihelion) on June 22, 2023, where the spacecraft came within 5.3 million miles of the solar surface while moving at 364,610 miles per hour. The spacecraft emerged from the solar flyby healthy and operating normally.

 

On Aug. 21, 2023, Parker Solar Probe will swing past Venus for its sixth flyby of the planet. To prepare for a smooth course, the mission team at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) applied a small trajectory correction maneuver on June 7, 2023, the first course correction since March 2022.

This flyby will be the sixth of seven planned flybys of Venus during Parker's primary mission. Parker uses Venus's gravity to tighten its orbit around the sun and set up a future perihelion at just 4.5 million miles from the sun's surface.

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NASA Locks Four Volunteers Into a One-Year Mission in a Simulated Mars Habitat
The simulated Martian exterior the CHAPEA crew will explore during ‘EVA’. Credit: NASA.

On June 25, 2023, a crew of four volunteers entered a simulated Martian habitat, from which they will not emerge for over a year. Their mission: to learn more about the logistics—and the human psychology—of living long-term on another planet, without ever leaving the ground.

The is called CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) and is the first of three planned simulations between now and 2026, each of which will teach scientists progressively more about what it takes for long-duration to succeed.

CHAPEA is based at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The habitat, called Mars Dune Alpha, is a 1,700 square-foot 3D-printed living space, in which the crew will live, work, exercise, sleep, and perform experiments.

Through the magic of virtual reality, the mission will also involve extra vehicular activities (EVAs), in which will briefly leave their habitat to enter an adjacent enclosure complete with red sand.

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Alone in a dark cave: what can we learn from extreme survival experiments?
Credit: Noah Silliman/Unsplash

Why do humans undertake journeys of personal exploration, or subject themselves to challenging conditions for long periods of time? What might we learn from their experiences?

British mountaineer George Mallory undertook his fatal attempt to summit Mount Everest in 1924 simply "because it's there". While such quests may have deeply personal motivations, research carried out during expeditions in extreme conditions can contribute to our understanding of how humans respond to .

The research outcomes can potentially be applied to a variety of settings, including here on Earth and even .

Searching for extreme environments

Many explorers seek out "extreme environments." This term describes harsh and unusual environmental conditions where it is difficult for like humans to survive and thrive.

Examples include places that experience extremes of temperature, pressure, altitude, rainfall, breathable air, natural light, or hazardous chemical concentrations.

In recent years, humans have undertaken many extreme experiments, either alone or in groups.

In June 2023, Joseph Dituri, a biomedical engineer at the University of South Florida, completed a record-breaking 100 days living 9.15 meters underwater in a special habitat.

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Hawai'i Observatories Add Color, Depth to Space Mission
The three observatories in Hawai`i collaborating with the Euclid mission. (left to right) the Canada-France-Hawai`i Telescope (CFHT), the Subaru Telescope, and the University of Hawai`i Institute for Astronomy Pan-STARRS (PS1). Credit: CFHT, NAOJ, IfA

Launched on July 1, 2023, the European Euclid mission will observe billions of galaxies over one-third of the sky to create a map of the Universe. But Euclid's map will be in black and white; telescopes in Hawai'i, including the Subaru Telescope, are needed to determine the colors of the galaxies. The color data will be used to deduce the distance, thus creating a 3D map, uncovering the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.

The European Space Agency (ESA) Euclid space telescope mission will explore the mysteries of dark matter, dark energy, and cosmic evolution.

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Video: 00:04:49

Discover the first results from Europe’s first Lightning Imager onboard the Meteosat Third Generation. The Lightning Imager can continuously detect rapid flashes of lighting in Earth’s atmosphere whether day or night from a distance of 36 000 km.

This is the first time a geostationary weather satellite has the capability to detect lightning across Europe, Africa and the surrounding waters. Each camera can capture up to 1000 images per second and will continuously observe lightning activity from space. The data will give weather forecasters greater confidence in their predictions of severe storms.

More information on the Lightning Imager

European satellite strikes lightning

Monday, 03 July 2023 10:50
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Lightning over Europe

The first ever satellite instrument capable of continuously detecting lightning across Europe and Africa has now been switched on. New animations from the innovative ‘Lighting Imager’ confirm the instrument will revolutionise the detection and prediction of severe storms.

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Watch live

Watch live: First data from Europe’s first Lightning Imager

Tune in at 14:00 CEST for the first results from MTG’s lightning detector

Commanding role for Andreas in space

Monday, 03 July 2023 06:00
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ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen will be commander of the International Space Station (ISS) during his Huginn mission, becoming the sixth European astronaut to fulfil this role.

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