Copernical Team
Would astronauts' kidneys survive a roundtrip to Mars?
The structure and function of the kidneys is altered by space flight, with galactic radiation causing permanent damage that would jeopardize any mission to Mars, according to a new study led by researchers from UCL.
The study, published in Nature Communications, is the largest analysis of kidney health in space flight to date and includes the first health dataset for commercial astronauts. It is published as part of a Nature special collection of papers on space and health.
Researchers have known that space flight causes certain health issues since the 1970s, in the years after humans first traveled beyond Earth's magnetic field, most famously during the first moon landing in 1969. These issues include loss of bone mass, weakening of the heart and eyesight, and development of kidney stones.
It is thought that many of these issues stem from exposure to space radiation, such as solar winds from the sun and Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) from deep space, which the Earth's magnetic field protects us from on Earth. As most manned space flights take place in Low Earth orbit (LEO) and receive partial protection from Earth's magnetic field, only the 24 people who have traveled to the moon have been exposed to unmitigated GCR and only for a short time (six to 12 days).
China announces first astronaut candidates from Hong Kong, Macau
China on Tuesday announced the first astronaut candidates from its special administrative regions of Macau and Hong Kong, with the latter calling it a "glorious page" in the city's history.
Beijing has invested billions of dollars in its military-run space program as it pursues ambitious plans for a manned lunar landing by 2030.
The China Manned Space Agency said Tuesday that a payload specialist from Hong Kong and another from Macau were among 10 candidates for the country's fourth batch of astronauts.
Hong Kong leader John Lee called it "a glorious page in Hong Kong's history".
"This is... the first time that a Hong Kong citizen was selected as a payload specialist in China's manned space program, with a chance to become an astronaut to go to space in person, to participate in research and to contribute the country's space program," Lee said.
Sun Dong, Hong Kong's tech and innovation secretary, said the winning candidate was selected out of a pool of 120 applicants through a multi-round process that has been going on since 2022.
"We accepted a rather wide range of professional backgrounds including natural sciences, engineering, biology and medical science, because the space is a brand new area for scientific exploration," he told reporters, declining to name the Hong Konger selected.
Towards zero-debris CubeSats
In the past few years CubeSats revolutionised space applications in low Earth orbit, levelling the playfield and opening space to commercialisation, especially for smaller and medium companies. While their benefits are undeniable, a significant drawback is their potential to generate additional space debris. As the requirements for orbital lifetime and sustainability become more demanding, new challenges will arise for CubeSats. ESA is looking for innovative ideas to make the versatile satellites more sustainable.
AI on CubeSats Speeds Up Bushfire Detection
Australian scientists are advancing in detecting bushfires quickly, using cube satellites equipped with AI that can identify fires from space 500 times faster than traditional ground-based methods.
Researchers have improved the processing and compression of large hyperspectral imagery on cube satellites. This technology, using AI, allows earlier detection of bushfires from space, enabling NASA Scientists Take to the Seas to Study Air Quality
Satellites continuously peer down from orbit to take measurements of Earth, and this week a group of scientists set sail to verify some of those data points.
On June 2, the SCOAPE (Satellite Coastal and Oceanic Atmospheric Pollution Experiment) research team, in partnership with the U.S. Interior Department"s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, took to the seas in the Gulf of Mexico for its Sentinel-5 Air Quality Instrument Ready for Installation
Following months of testing, the Copernicus Sentinel-5 instrument has been delivered to Airbus in France for installation on the MetOp Second Generation weather satellite.
Sentinel-5, a Copernicus mission, will be carried on MetOp Second Generation A-type weather satellites, with the first launch expected in 2025.
The mission aims to measure atmospheric trace gases such as ozone, nit Earth and space share similar turbulence dynamics
In a paper published in Geophysical Research Letters, researchers have discovered that turbulence in the thermosphere follows the same physical laws as wind in the lower atmosphere. Additionally, wind in the thermosphere rotates cyclonically-counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
These findings reveal a new principle for Earth's environmental Redwire to Develop Solar Arrays for Thales Alenia Space's New GEO Satellites
Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) announced it will develop and deliver Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) wings for Thales Alenia Space's Space Inspire satellites, the newest product line of geostationary (GEO) telecommunications satellites.
A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space is a prime manufacturer providing space solutions for telecommunications, Earth o DOE Unveils Decadal Strategy for Fusion Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) marked the two-year anniversary of the Biden-Harris Administration's launch of the U.S. Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy by releasing the DOE Fusion Energy Strategy 2024 at an event co-hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
At the initial event, the DOE started a Department-wide initiative to develop a strategy Ten make the cut for China's fourth batch of astronauts
Ten candidates, including eight space pilots and two payload specialists, have been selected for China's fourth batch of astronauts, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Tuesday.
Of the two payload specialists, one is from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the other is from the Macao Special Administrative Region, said the CMSA. It added this is the first time it 
