
Copernical Team
Sustainability is often an afterthought in space exploration—that needs to change as the industry grows, say researchers

Aotearoa New Zealand is the latest country to enter the expanding and competitive international space market.
In the aerospace strategy and national space policy, the government lays out how it intends to grow the domestic space sector by launching rockets and satellites and promoting Earth observation research.
The documents indicate the government's general priorities in "protecting New Zealand's national interests" and the "responsible use of space".
Sustainability is a focus in both strategy and policy but is used interchangeably in three different contexts:
- To "sustain" the economic development of the industry
- to describe the benefits of aerospace technology for sustainability efforts, like monitoring climate change
- to describe the environmental impacts of aerospace activities, largely focused on space debris, while reducing emissions (though the latter is largely a concern for the aviation industry, not space).
When a part from India's recent rocket launch landed on Australian shores last month, it captured people's attention—and delivered a reminder that Earth's orbits are teeming with the discards of human endeavors in space.
Penetrating radar aboard the Chang'E-4 rover reveals layers of the moon's history

A team of space scientists at the Planetary Science Institute, working with colleagues from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen University and the University of Aberdeen, has used data from China's Chang'E-4 rover to learn more about the history of the moon. In their study, reported in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, the group analyzed lunar-penetrating radar (LPR) data sent back from the rover.
China's Chang'E-4 rover has been wandering around on the far side of the moon since 2018. And during its meanderings, it has been sending radio signals downward using its LPR device.
Study explains how part of the nucleolus evolved

Approaching the Ridgetop - "Bermuda Triangle" Ahead: Sols 3923-3925

Local governments urged to boost remote sensing capabilities

Planet Labs secures deal with an Asian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

US Space Force boosts resilience with Capella Federal's satellite services contract

Land Surveyor 4A satellite enters preset orbit

Alternative models could clarify Universe's expansion debate

Getting ready for Huginn

Crew-7 has arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, in the run-up to the International Space Station launch.
Crew-7 consists of ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, taking the role of Dragon spacecraft pilot, NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli is commander, Satoshi Furukawa from JAXA and Konstantin Borisov from Roscomos are mission specialists.
This video shows scenes of Crew-7 arriving at the Kennedy Space Center, during launch rehearsal, and Andreas Mogensen training for his mission in space.
Andreas and Crew-7 will launch in the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft Endurance from launch pad 39A. This is the launch pad for all crewed