Copernical Team
How marine heatwaves impact phytoplankton and ocean health
Marine heatwaves – periods of prolonged, unusually warm seawater – are increasingly threatening marine ecosystems around the world. A recent study, led by the Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ISMAR) as part of ESA’s CAREHeat project, specifically examined these effects in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea.
By combining satellite data from ESA’s Climate Change Initiative (ESA CCI), in situ robotic platforms called BioGeoChemical-Argo floats and Copernicus Marine’s biogeochemical models, the research highlights how these heatwaves significantly disrupt the spring phytoplankton bloom – a vital process for marine life.
Solid-fuel ICBM? What we know about Kim Jong Un's arsenal
North Korea said Thursday it had test-fired one of its newest and most powerful weapons to boost its nuclear deterrent, with Seoul warning it could be a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. AFP takes a look at what we know: What is a solid-fuel missile? Solid-fuel missiles are powered by a chemical mixture which is cast into the missile's airframe when it is built - like a
Happy Heraween!
Robots in disguise: our Hera asteroid detective plus her CubeSat buddies – Milani the rock decoder and Juventas the radar visionary – dressed up for Halloween!
To see them out of costume, watch our The Incredible Adventures of the Hera Mission series!
Valencia flood disaster
Europe says farewell to eclipse-making Proba-3
ESA’s solar eclipse-making Proba-3 mission is about to leave for its launch site in India. The mission’s two spacecraft – which will manoeuvre precisely in Earth orbit so that one casts a shadow onto the other – have departed the facilities of Redwire Space in Kruibeke, Belgium. The pair will be flown to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, near Chennai, for the launch campaign to begin.
Spooky Earths seen by Hera’s HyperScout
Gateway HALO unit to support vital space science on lunar missions
Stephanie Dudley, who leads mission integration and utilization for NASA's Gateway, is at the forefront of merging human space exploration and science aboard the upcoming lunar orbiting outpost. Set to serve as humanity's first space station orbiting the Moon, Gateway will offer a platform for astronauts to live, perform experiments, and prepare for extended missions, particularly targeting the
China progresses in full-scale efforts for manned Moon landing by 2030
China is accelerating its mission to place astronauts on the Moon by 2030, with substantial progress across development, testing, and infrastructure construction. In a recent press briefing, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) detailed the work underway to achieve this ambitious lunar objective, highlighting both technical advancements and testing milestones. CMSA's strategy involves depl
AXIS mission selected as NASA Astrophysics Probe competition finalist
The MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research (MKI) is a project lead for one of two finalist missions recently selected for NASA's new Probe Explorers program. Working with collaborators at the University of Maryland and Goddard Space Flight Research Center, the team will produce a one-year concept study to launch the Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) in 2032. Erin Kar
Axient secures contract for Resilient GPS Constellation under USSF Initiative
Axient, now operating under Astrion following its recent acquisition, has received a Performer Agreement through an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) established between the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) and Space Systems Command. This contract supports the U.S. Space Force's mission by advancing a next-generation Resilient GPS (R-GPS) satellite constellation, designed to enhance space infr