Copernical Team
Solar Wind effects on Mars' nightside magnetic field revealed
A new study led by Postdoctoral Researcher Jiawei Gao from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGGCAS), reveals how Mars' magnetic field responds to the influence of solar winds. Unlike Earth, Mars lacks a global dipolar magnetic field but possesses localized crustal magnetic fields. The planet's interaction with the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) carried b
Elon Musk's Starlink internet launches in war-scarred Yemen
Tech billionaire Elon Musk's satellite internet service Starlink has launched in Yemen, provoking the anger of Iran-backed Huthi rebels in the country shattered by civil war. The company - run by the world's richest person - announced its arrival in Yemen, one of the world's least developed countries, in a post on social media platform X which is also owned by the US-based tycoon. Star
Station crew showcases AI Assistant and 12K ultra-high-resolution camera
On Thursday, the Expedition 71 crew aboard the International Space Station demonstrated several advanced technologies, including an artificial intelligence assistant and a cutting-edge ultra-high-resolution camera. Along with these tech advancements, the crew conducted medical scans, prepped a spacecraft for departure, and worked on life support maintenance. NASA Flight Engineers Mike Barr
Sierra Space advances lunar oxygen extraction technology for long-term habitation
Sierra Space, a prominent player in commercial space ventures and defense technologies, has announced the successful testing of its Carbothermal Oxygen Production Reactor. This proprietary system, tested in NASA's Johnson Space Center thermal vacuum chamber, marks the first instance of oxygen being extracted from simulated lunar soil in a lunar-like environment using a standalone automated syste
Organic molecules on Mars linked to atmospheric formaldehyde
Mars, now a cold and dry planet, once had liquid water, which raises the possibility of ancient life. In pursuit of this idea, researchers at Tohoku University developed a model showing how organic matter could have formed in Mars' ancient atmosphere. Organic matter, which can originate from living organisms or chemical processes, contains carbon isotopes that give clues about its formatio
NASA develops process to create very accurate eclipse maps
New NASA research reveals a process to generate extremely accurate eclipse maps, which plot the predicted path of the Moon's shadow as it crosses the face of Earth. Traditionally, eclipse calculations assume that all observers are at sea level on Earth and that the Moon is a smooth sphere that is perfectly symmetrical around its center of mass. As such, these calculations do not take into accoun
Iridium approves $500M stock buyback, total program reaches $1.5B
Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM), a leader in global satellite communications, has announced that its Board of Directors has authorized an additional $500 million share repurchase program, extending through December 31, 2027. This new authorization is the fourth of its kind in four years, bringing the total share buyback program to $1.5 billion. The latest authorization is the largest
Earth's temperature changes mapped over 485 million years
A collaborative study by the Smithsonian and the University of Arizona provides the most detailed analysis yet of Earth's global temperature fluctuations over the last 485 million years. The research, published in 'Science' on Sept. 19, reveals a more significant variation in Earth's temperature over time than previously understood. These changes closely align with levels of carbon dioxide in th
Artemis I mission data show astronauts sent to the moon aboard Orion will be protected from radiation
According to a large team of technical and health specialists, astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft will be well protected from radiation when the Artemis II mission travels to the moon and back next year.
In their study published in the journal Nature, the group analyzed data collected from sensors inside and outside the Orion spacecraft as it made two moon flybys in 2022. They also studied data from sensors on the spacesuits worn by two dummies that went along for the ride.
NASA plans to send four astronauts to the moon next year as part of the Artemis II mission. The astronauts will be carried to the moon in the Orion spacecraft, where they will conduct a flyby before returning to Earth.
For this new study, the research team studied data from the Artemis I mission, which conducted a similar trip with dummies instead of human astronauts.
Greek CubeSats ready for assembly
It's been just over one year since ESA placed contracts for seven Greek CubeSat missions, which aim to enhance Greece's space capabilities while providing practical benefits to citizens. These CubeSats, developed by small and medium-sized companies and universities across Greece, underscore the nation's expanding space industry and its commitment to advancing space applications, such as secure optical and radio frequency (RF) connectivity, IoT communications, earth observation and RF spectrum monitoring. The missions are a collaboration of scientists, engineers and space industry partners from across Greece.