Copernical Team
SpaceX Launches Planet Lab's Pelican-1 and SuperDoves
In a significant advancement for Earth observation technology, Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL) achieved a major milestone with the successful launch and commissioning of Pelican-1, its first technology demonstration satellite for the upcoming high-resolution Pelican fleet. This historic event, conducted in collaboration with space industry leader SpaceX on their Transporter-9 mission, took place from NASA's Mars Missions Persist Through Solar Conjunction
As Earth and Mars find themselves on opposite sides of the Sun - a biennial astronomical event known as the Mars solar conjunction - NASA's intrepid Mars fleet braces for a two-week communication hiatus, from November 11 to 25. This period, marked by the potential for solar interference, necessitates a pause in sending commands to the fleet, but it's far from a standstill for the Martian explore Hypergolic rocket engine with advanced throttling tested by Sierra Space
Sierra Space, a leader in the commercial space sector, has achieved a significant milestone with the successful testing of its new VRM5500-H hypergolic rocket engine, promising to revolutionize the current propulsion systems in space. This engine, with its high thrust and exceptional throttling abilities, is poised to set new standards in space propulsion technology.
The VRM5500-H engine, For All Mankind: Space drama's alternate history constructs a better vision of NASA
Great art is often difficult to quantify. Apple TV's series For All Mankind is a case in point, running the risk of being too sci-fi for drama fans (rockets, moon bases, Mars) and having too much naturalistic drama for sci-fi aficionados (jealousy, divorce, institutional politics).
Nonetheless, the show consistently rewards both sets of viewers by brilliantly blurring the line between real First release of images demonstrates Euclid space telescope's potential
SpaceX Dragon docks with International Space Station carrying new gear
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station on Saturday carrying equipment for the station's crew.
The Dragon docked with the ISS's Harmony module at 5:07 a.m., according to NASA.
The Dragon was launched Thursday from Launch Complex 39A at Florida's Kennedy Space Center atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
The spacecraft carried 6,500 pounds of s SpaceX hopes for second Starship flight test next week
SpaceX is hoping to re-launch Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, next week, the company said, after an attempt in April ended in a spectacular explosion.
"Starship preparing to launch as early as November 17, pending final regulatory approval," SpaceX said on X Friday evening.
SpaceX foresees Starship as a next-generation, fully reusable spaceship that will eventually carry b SpaceX Achieves On-Time Launch for Ambitious Transporter-9 Mission
In a textbook launch, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket flawlessly lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking yet another successful step in the company's journey to revolutionize space travel. The launch, which occurred precisely within the planned 55-minute window at 10:49 a.m. PT, marks the ninth dedicated smallsat rideshare mission under the A close-up, on-the-ground view of Europe's next-generation satellites
On Nov. 10, journalists were given an up-close view of two very special spacecraft that will soon empower weather services in Europe with more and higher quality data for weather forecasting.
Metop Second Generation A1 and B1 (Metop-SGA1 and Metop-SGB1) are the first pair of a total of six satellites in the EUMETSAT Polar System—Second Generation (EPS-SG) system.
The first two satellites are undergoing testing and integration of their instruments at the Airbus Defense and Space cleanroom in Toulouse, France. It is anticipated they will be launched in 2025–2026 into their low-Earth, polar orbit, at about 835km altitude.
"The multi-billion euro EPS-SG system will be the main source of data for complex computer modeling used for advanced weather forecasting from 12 hours to 10 days ahead," EUMETSAT's EPS-SG Program Manager Fran Martinez Fadrique said.
Hera asteroid mission completes acoustic testing
ESA's Hera asteroid mission has completed acoustic testing, confirming the spacecraft can withstand the sound of its own lift-off into orbit. Testing took place within the Agency's Large European Acoustic Facility at the ESTEC Test Center in the Netherlands. This is Europe's largest and most powerful sound system, fitted with a quartet of noise horns that can generate more than 154 decibels of extreme noise.
Diego Escorial Olmos, Hera system engineer comments, "Launch will be the single most stressful day of Hera's life, so we have worked hard to simulate it during our mechanical test phase, first by vibrating the spacecraft on the ESTEC Test Center's shaker tables, and now by blasting it with a noise profile sourced from our launch provider, to be as true to life as possible."
The LEAF chamber stands 11 m wide by 9 m deep and 16.4 m high. One of its walls is embedded with a set of enormous sound horns. Nitrogen shot through the horns can produce a range of noise up to more than 154 decibels, like standing close to multiple jets taking off at once.
