Copernical Team
The search for life beyond Earth
Mars may now be considered a barren, icy desert but did Earth's nearest neighbour once harbour life?
It is a question that has preoccupied scientists for centuries and fired up sci-fi imaginings.
After seven months in space, NASA's Perseverance rover is due to land on Mars on Thursday, in search of clues.
Why Mars?
Other planets or moons, could also harbour forms of life, so why pick Mars?
NASA says Mars is not just one of the more accessible places in the solar system and a potential future destination for humans, but exploring the planet could also help to answer "origin and evolution of life questions".
"Mars is unique across the entire solar system in that it is a terrestrial planet with an atmosphere and climate, its geology is known to be very diverse and complex (like Earth), and it appears that the climate of Mars has changed over its history (like Earth)," it adds on its Mars programme website.
An interactive map to explore Jezero crater
Explore the landing site of NASA’s Perseverance rover and travel to scenic panoramas with this new interactive tool based on ESA Mars Express and NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter data. View on your mobile phone, and the rotation of the scene will follow the movements of your device!
Ariane 6 upper stage installed for tests
Flying fire watch
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Flying fire watch Out with the old, in with the new and a stroll around the Station
A new year is traditionally a time to reflect and make some space for new beginnings. As many people on Earth have been making resolutions to finally eat healthier, exercise more, or pick up a book instead of turning on the television, however, there is little time for rest and reflection aboard the International Space Station.
Engineers earn NASA grant to enable flying taxis
Imagine fleets of small aircraft able to vertically take off and land from helipads in urban areas, transporting people to and from work; or shuttles with preset routes flying people to the airport or other major hubs.
This futuristic system of flying taxis and shuttles is one step closer to reality thanks to a team of engineers led by the University of California San Diego. They received Supercomputer turns back cosmic clock
Astronomers have tested a method for reconstructing the state of the early Universe by applying it to 4000 simulated universes using the ATERUI II supercomputer at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ).
They found that together with new observations the method can set better constraints on inflation, one of the most enigmatic events in the history of the Universe. The metho GMV-led consortium EUSTM is shaping the future of European Space Traffic Management
The technological multinational GMV , European leader in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST), has been chosen by the European Commission to lead a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) within the H2020 program to make proposals for a future European Space Traffic Management (STM) capability: EUSTM .
Space activity has increased exponentially in recen National Student Space Conference 2021
The 33rd annual UKSEDS National Student Space Conference, to be held online on the 6th and 7th of March 2021, will feature talks from Kathyrn Lueders - NASA's Human Spaceflight chief, Dr Timiebi Aganaba - international expert on space law, and Dr Yuichi Tsuda - the project manager for JAXA's record breaking Hayabusa2 mission.
The National Student Space Conference is the premier event for s Who Controls Space
It is well known that the Straits of Gibraltar provide access to the Mediterranean Sea. In terms of strategic importance, this geographic phenomenon provides a control point for all seagoing traffic between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Is there an analogous strategic structure for access to space?
For low-Earth orbit (LEO) traffic there is such a geographic phenomenon. Tha