Copernical Team
Roman Space Telescope predicted to find 100,000 transiting planets
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will create enormous cosmic panoramas, helping us answer questions about the evolution of our universe. Astronomers also expect the mission to find thousands of planets using two different techniques as it surveys a wide range of stars in the Milky Way. Roman will locate these potential new worlds, or exoplanets, by tracking the amount of light comi
First X-rays from Uranus Discovered
Astronomers have detected X-rays from Uranus for the first time, using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. This result may help scientists learn more about this enigmatic ice giant planet in our solar system. Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and has two sets of rings around its equator. The planet, which has four times the diameter of Earth, rotates on its side, making it different
New study discovers ancient meteoritic impact over Antarctica 430,000 years ago
A research team of international space scientists, led by Dr Matthias van Ginneken from the University of Kent's School of Physical Sciences, has found new evidence of a low-altitude meteoritic touchdown event reaching the Antarctic ice sheet 430,000 years ago. Extra-terrestrial particles (condensation spherules) recovered on the summit of Walnumfjellet (WN) within the Sor Rondane Mountain
New study sews doubt about the composition of 70 percent of our universe
Until now, researchers have believed that dark energy accounted for nearly 70 percent of the ever-accelerating, expanding universe. For many years, this mechanism has been associated with the so-called cosmological constant, developed by Einstein in 1917, that refers to an unknown repellant cosmic power. But because the cosmological constant - known as dark energy - cannot be measure
Sparkwing solar panels selected to power Aerospacelab's first Very High Resolution satellite
By selecting Sparkwing for their first Very High Resolution (VHR) mission, the Belgian space company Aerospacelab is the launching customer for the novel off-the-shelf solar panels. The satellite is a first step towards Aerospacelab's VHR constellation and will be equipped with two standardised and readily available Sparkwing solar arrays to perform its Earth Observation task in space. Spa
Florida rocket company rebrands, plans bigger rocket
A Florida rocket company, Rocket Crafters, has rebranded as Vaya Space and plans a new, larger rocket than it had been pursuing, now named Dauntless, according to company president Rob Fabian. Rocket Crafters - now called Vaya - is one of many new companies pursuing new rockets considered small or medium, and far less powerful than SpaceX's Falcon 9. The plan for Dauntless is to lift
Nevada company plans space station with inflatable pods
Nevada-based Sierra Nevada Corp. plans to launch a commercial space station with inflatable human habitats within seven years, the company announced in a press conference Wednesday. Sierra Nevada already has seven NASA contracts to launch its Dream Chaser spaceplane, which is being developed to fly cargo to the International Space Station starting in 2022. Now, the firm said it aims
Venus plots a comeback
In terms of space exploration, Mars is all the rage these days. This has left our closest neighbor, Venus—previously the most attractive planet to study because of its proximity and similar atmosphere to Earth—in the lurch. A new article in Chemical & Engineering News, the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, highlights how scientists and space agencies are turning their eyes back toward Venus to learn more about its atmosphere and geology.
US, China consulted on safety as their crafts headed to Mars
As their respective spacecrafts headed to Mars, China and the U.S.