Launched in May, ESA’s EarthCARE satellite has been making waves, with the first images from three of its scientific instruments already delivered. Now, the spotlight is firmly on the atmospheric lidar, the most advanced of the satellite’s four instruments.

This cutting-edge sensor has captured detailed 20 km-high vertical profiles of atmospheric aerosols – tiny particles and droplets from natural sources like wildfires, dust, and sea spray, and from human activities like industrial emissions or burning of wood – and clouds across various regions of the globe.

Paris, France (SPX) Aug 21, 2024
ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) has achieved a significant milestone by completing the world's first lunar-Earth flyby. This maneuver utilized Earth's gravity to set Juice on a course toward Venus, facilitating its journey to Jupiter by navigating through the inner Solar System. The spacecraft made its closest approach to the Moon at 23:15 CEST (21:15 UTC) on August 19, followed b

ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) has successfully completed a world-first lunar-Earth flyby, using the gravity of Earth to send it Venus-bound, on a shortcut to Jupiter through the inner Solar System.

London, UK (SPX) Aug 17, 2024
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has successfully launched TYCHE, the UK Ministry of Defence's (MOD) first sovereign Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) satellite. This milestone represents a significant achievement for UK Space Command, which oversees space operations and capabilities. TYCHE, weighing approximately 160 kg, was one of 116 satellites deployed into Low

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Aug 20, 2024
A recent study has highlighted the advancements in smartphone positioning technology, specifically examining the multi-frequency Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) capabilities of the Redmi K60 Ultra. The research underscores major improvements in positioning accuracy, speed, and reliability, representing a key development in the field of high-precision navigation for consumer devices.

Greenbelt MD (SPX) Aug 15, 2024
For thousands of years, humans have observed the Sun and stars, relying primarily on visual tools and recordings. However, recent developments are expanding this experience beyond just the visual realm, enabling a multisensory exploration of the cosmos. Students from the Alliance for Technology, Learning and Society (ATLAS) Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder have partnered wit

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Aug 21, 2024
The NASA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a detailed image of UGC 4879, a dwarf irregular galaxy also known as VV124. The high-resolution capabilities of Hubble allow astronomers to observe individual stars within the galaxy, even in its most densely populated regions. This detailed view aids in accurately determining the galaxy's distance and analyzing the composition and age of its stars.

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Aug 21, 2024
Researchers using the Solar Occultation in the Infrared (SOIR) instrument aboard the European Space Agency's Venus Express probe have observed a significant and unexpected increase in the deuterium to hydrogen ratio (HDO/H2O) in Venus' mesosphere. This discovery adds a new layer of complexity to our understanding of Venus' water history, raising questions about whether the planet may have once h

Washington DC (SPX) Aug 15, 2024
A new analysis of archival data reveals shocked gas in the protoplanetary disk surrounding the young star TW Hydrae. This discovery hints at the presence of a 4-Earth-mass planet and gives researchers a rare opportunity to study the earliest stages of planet formation. Baby planets form in disks surrounding young stars, but the details of this process remain unclear - especially because th

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 20, 2024
NASA has granted $1.25 million to three U.S. teams during the final round of the Deep Space Food Challenge, recognizing their pioneering technologies designed to produce safe, nutritious, and flavorful food for long-term space missions. These innovative food production systems aim to support the sustainability of food supplies for future space exploration, including NASA's Artemis missions