Copernical Team
Pixxel lands iDEX funding for miniaturized satellites development
In a remarkable development in the Indian space industry, Pixxel, a prominent name in the realm of hyperspectral earth-imaging technology, has been awarded a substantial grant by iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence). The grant, furnished under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence, is part of the Mission DefSpace Challenge under iDEX Prime (Space). It will facilitate the production of miniat Frosty the ChemCam: Sols 3902-3904
Earth planning date: Friday, July 28, 2023: Our Thursday drive on sol 3901 was successful and put us ~30 meters further from Bradbury Landing! That's a pretty typical-length drive for us, with the longest I've seen in my 3 years on this mission being ~100 meters or so. We've had a good luck streak recently - being able to get arm, remote sensing, and drives in all week! The only tight constraint Science enabling heat and air conditioning for long-term space habitats is almost fully available
To live on the moon or Mars, humans will need heat and air conditioning that can operate long term in reduced gravity and temperatures hundreds of degrees above or below what we experience on Earth.
Building these systems requires knowing how reduced gravity affects boiling and condensation, which all heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems use to operate in Earth's gravity. Airbus partners with Voyager Space to build ISS replacement
Airbus and US space exploration firm Voyager Space announced Wednesday a joint venture to develop Starlab, a commercial alternative to replace the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of the decade.
The US-led venture with footing in Germany, where a number of Airbus Defence and Space sites are located, will "reliably meet the known demand from global space agencies while opening ne NASA Mars Ascent Vehicle continues progress toward Mars sample return
The first rocket launch from the surface of another planet will be accomplished using two solid rocket motors.
NASA's Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) recently reached some major milestones in support of the Mars Sample Return program.
Could aging wine become the first major space manufacturing business?
In capitalist societies, resources are primarily directed at solving problems, and one of the biggest hurdles facing space development is its ability to directly solve the problems of the majority of humanity back on Earth. So far, we've taken some cautious commercial steps, primarily through satellite monitoring and communication technologies.
Some think that space tourism is the "killer app" that will kickstart the commercialization of space. But to really have a sustainable business model, humans need to make something in space that they are unable to make on Earth. This article is the first in a series where we will look at what those possible first manufactured goods are. And in this case, the good isn't something that might immediately be thought of as high-tech.
Wine is one of humanity's oldest products. We have been drinking it for thousands of years and likely will continue to do so for thousands more.
Optimizing heat exchange flow in microgravity
NASA listens for Voyager 2 spacecraft after wrong command cuts contact
NASA is listening for any peep from Voyager 2 after losing contact with the spacecraft billions of miles away.
Hurtling ever deeper into interstellar space, Voyager 2 has been out of touch ever since flight controllers accidentally sent a wrong command more than a week ago that tilted its antenna away from Earth. The spacecraft's antenna shifted a mere 2%, but it was enough to cut communications.
Although it's considered a long shot, NASA said Monday that its huge dish antenna in Canberra, Australia, is on the lookout for any stray signals from Voyager 2, currently more than 12 billion miles (19 billion kilometers) distant. It takes more than 18 hours for a signal to reach Earth from so far away.
In the coming week, the Canberra antenna—part of NASA's Deep Space Network—also will bombard Voyager 2's vicinity with the correct command, in hopes it hits its mark, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which manages the Voyager missions.
Otherwise, NASA will have to wait until October for an automatic spacecraft reset that should restore communication, according to officials.
Euclid test images tease of riches to come
Euclid’s two instruments have captured their first test images. The mesmerising results indicate that the space telescope will achieve the scientific goals that it has been designed for – and possibly much more.
Elements: FIRE
Video:
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The summer fire season is well under way in Europe – countries all around the Mediterranean are experiencing record temperatures coupled with huge wildfires that have led to mass evacuations. In this enthralling new ESA documentary, explore how people on the frontline are using space to better monitor and fight the flames.
Follow the incredible stories of the firefighters who dealt with unprecedented fires in Gironde, France, and the forest officers using satellite data to plan for the forests’ recovery. Journey into the heart of Earth's elemental might and discover how space is changing the game for monitoring