Copernical Team
New algorithms could enhance autonomous spacecraft safety
SpaceX delays Polaris Dawn launch again with no new date set
Billionaire Jared Isaacman's return trip to space on the Polaris Dawn mission is having to wait a little longer after a launch pad issue forced one delay and now the weather has taken the next two launch opportunities off the board.
First, a helium leak on the launch pad Monday night forced SpaceX to hold off a planned overnight launch attempt of Isaacman and three crewmates aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience atop a Falcon 9 rocket from KSC's Launch Pad 39-A. Then SpaceX said weather in the recovery area would take off both early Wednesday and early Thursday morning opportunities.
"Due to unfavorable weather forecast in Dragon's splashdown areas off the coast of Florida, we are now standing down from tonight and tomorrow's Falcon 9 launch opportunities of Polaris Dawn," SpaceX posted on X late Tuesday. "Teams will continue to monitor weather for favorable launch and return conditions."
It's uncertain if SpaceX would try for an early Friday morning launch opportunity.
"The ascent corridor is go, it's the splashdown locations day 5 that are not favorable," Isaacman posted late Tuesday to X.
How biofilms can help or hinder spaceflight
As humans spread into the cosmos, we will take a plethora of initially Earth-bound life with us for the ride. Some might be more beneficial or potentially harmful than others. And there is no lifeform more prevalent on Earth than bacteria. These tiny creatures and fungi, their long-lost cousins on the evolutionary tree, have a habit of clumping together to form a type of structure known as a biofilm.
Biofilms are ubiquitous in Earth-bound environments and have been noticed on space missions for decades. But what potential dangers do they pose? More interestingly, what possible problems can they solve?
A paper from a group of scientists focused on life support systems in the journal Biofilm provides a high-level overview of the state of the science of understanding how biofilms work in space and where it might need to go for us to establish a permanent human presence off-world.
The paper is divided into five sub-sections, each of which examines how biofilms might impact them.
Sentinel-2C encapsulated in Vega rocket for upcoming launch
As the countdown to the launch of the Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite on September 4th progresses, the team at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, has completed a crucial step by sealing the satellite within the Vega rocket's fairing.
Once deployed into orbit, Sentinel-2C will continue the mission of delivering high-resolution imagery for diverse applications in land, water, and UK Space Agency funds innovative satellite data projects to boost UK businesses
The UK Space Agency has awarded grants of up to GBP 400,000 each to several pilot projects aimed at exploring new ways to use satellite data and services in industries such as transport, logistics, and financial services. These projects will combine satellite data with terrestrial technologies like AI, quantum computing, machine learning, and geospatial data to deliver innovative solutions for U Groundwork begins for LISA space detector
In early 2024, the European Space Agency approved the launch of LISA, the first gravitational-wave observatory in space, set for 2034. Unlike ground-based detectors, LISA will observe a distinct part of the gravitational-wave spectrum, revealing new types of signals.
This advancement presents significant challenges for scientists, who must now develop theoretical frameworks and data-analys NASA funds Virginia Tech research to investigate space weather
Rain delays at a sporting event. Tornado damage to a rural town in the Great Plains. Icy roads during a morning work commute in the winter months. We've all experienced the impacts of inclement weather, but did you know weather conditions high in our atmosphere also can affect our everyday lives?
"While space weather can spark the beautiful auroras across our skies, it also has the potenti Chinese researchers unveil new method for generating water on the Moon
Chinese scientists have recently developed a novel technique to extract water from lunar soil, a breakthrough that could play a critical role in the future establishment of permanent human settlements on the moon. While some media outlets have sensationalized the discovery, the research itself is a significant step forward in the quest for sustainable lunar habitation.
Over the course of t NASA supports research to enhance astronaut health on extended space missions
NASA has committed funding to 11 new research projects aimed at improving the health and performance of astronauts during long-duration space missions. These studies will be conducted on Earth and do not require direct data or samples from astronauts in space.
The research will explore various physiological and psychological responses to the unique challenges of space travel, including tea Solar panels for Roman Space Telescope complete testing
The solar array sun shield for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has successfully passed a series of crucial tests, ensuring that the assembly remains on track for timely completion. These solar panels are essential for powering and shading the observatory, enabling mission-critical observations while maintaining optimal instrument temperatures.
The Roman team has developed two sets 
