Copernical Team
Axelspace Unveils AxelLiner Laboratory for In-orbit Space Component Demonstrations
Axelspace Corporation has introduced AxelLiner Laboratory (AL Lab), an expansion of its AxelLiner service initiated in 2022. AL Lab is designed for the in-orbit demonstration of space components, with sales launching soon. A new memorandum was also signed between Axelspace and ASPINA Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd., a partner since 2020 in developing a reaction wheel for microsatellites. The comp
University of Freiburg Launches Major Initiative in Earth and Planetary Geodynamics
The University of Freiburg has announced the establishment of a new tenure track professorship in Earth and Planetary Geodynamics within the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources. This development is supported by a 1.71 million euro grant from the Volkswagen Foundation. This tenure track professorship is part of a broader initiative to integrate Earth system sciences with planetary scienc
Max Planck develops key components for Roman Space Telescope
Engineers and scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA), under the leadership of Oliver Krause, have successfully developed and delivered critical optical elements for the Coronagraph Instrument (CGI) of the Roman Space Telescope to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the USA. The fully assembled CGI has now reached NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre (GSFC), where it will
Astronomers spot a "highly eccentric" planet on its way to becoming a hot Jupiter
Hot Jupiters are some of the most extreme planets in the galaxy. These scorching worlds are as massive as Jupiter, and they swing wildly close to their star, whirling around in a few days compared to our own gas giant's leisurely 4,000-day orbit around the sun. Scientists suspect, though, that hot Jupiters weren't always so hot and in fact may have formed as "cold Jupiters," in more frigid
NASA Halts VIPER Project to Refocus Lunar Exploration Efforts
NASA has decided to discontinue the VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) project after a thorough internal review. The decision was made due to escalating costs, launch delays, and potential future financial risks. Initially slated for a late 2023 launch, the VIPER project was postponed to late 2024 to allow for additional preflight testing of the Astrobotic lander. Howe
A bird? A plane? Meteor grazes skies above New York City: NASA
New York has been the backdrop to countless "end of the world" storylines in film and TV. But on Tuesday an actual meteor shot over the city's iconic Statue of Liberty before disintegrating high above Manhattan, NASA's Meteor Watch said in a post on Facebook. Residents flooded the internet with reports of a fireball in the sky, with some describing the sensation of an earthquake, and oth
NASA Ships SLS Core Stage to Florida for Artemis II
NASA has transported the core stage of its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from New Orleans to Florida, marking a significant milestone in preparation for the Artemis II mission, the agency's first crewed lunar flight under the Artemis program. The massive core stage was carefully moved from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to NASA's Pegasus barge, which will carry it over 900
Lunar Navigation Enhanced with GNSS for Earth-Moon Spacecraft
A new study has advanced the navigation of spacecraft between Earth and the Moon using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). By utilizing an adaptive Kalman filter, the research addresses issues such as weak signals and poor observation conditions near the Moon, significantly enhancing the accuracy and reliability of future space missions. As lunar exploration accelerates, there i
NASA cans lunar rover after spending $450mn building it
Following a comprehensive internal review, NASA announced Wednesday its intent to discontinue development of its VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) project. NASA cited rising costs, delays in the launch schedule, and the risks of further cost growth as reasons for halting the mission. The rover was initially set to launch in late 2023, but in 2022, NASA requested a del