Copernical Team
Thursday, 24 February 2022 11:35
Is Marscrete the answer to building on Mars?
How can we build on Mars? A casual chat with a geologist led a University of Canterbury (UC) engineering academic and his team to spend years researching how to build on Mars. It all started with Associate Professor Allan Scott and Geology Professor Chris Oze (Occidental College) pondering what materials were available on Mars to make concrete or "Marscrete."
Earthly concrete is made with Portland cement, which is produced by heating limestone to drive off the CO2. Cement, the main binder, is mixed with sand, stone, and water to create concrete.
But the pressing question is: What is available on Mars to bind the materials of Marscrete together?
"Unfortunately, on Mars there is not a lot of limestone so we are looking at alternative ways to find some sort of binder system," says Associate Professor Allan Scott.
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Thursday, 24 February 2022 05:16
New power sources
Boston MA (SPX) Feb 23, 2022
In the mid-1990s, a few energy activists in Massachusetts had a vision: What if citizens had choice about the energy they consumed? Instead of being force-fed electricity sources selected by a utility company, what if cities, towns, and groups of individuals could purchase power that was cleaner and cheaper?
The small group of activists - including a journalist, the head of a small nonprof
In the mid-1990s, a few energy activists in Massachusetts had a vision: What if citizens had choice about the energy they consumed? Instead of being force-fed electricity sources selected by a utility company, what if cities, towns, and groups of individuals could purchase power that was cleaner and cheaper?
The small group of activists - including a journalist, the head of a small nonprof
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Thursday, 24 February 2022 05:16
Northrop Grumman awarded US Space Force contract for deep-space advanced radar
Colorado Springs CO (SPX) Feb 24, 2022
Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a $341 million contract by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) to develop, test and deliver a Deep-Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) in support of its Space Domain Awareness mission.
"The DARC program will field a resilient ground-based radar providing our nation with significantly enhanced space domain awareness for ge
Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a $341 million contract by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) to develop, test and deliver a Deep-Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) in support of its Space Domain Awareness mission.
"The DARC program will field a resilient ground-based radar providing our nation with significantly enhanced space domain awareness for ge
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Thursday, 24 February 2022 05:16
Robotic cubes shapeshift in outer space
Boston MA (SPX) Feb 24, 2022
If faced with the choice of sending a swarm of full-sized, distinct robots to space, or a large crew of smaller robotic modules, you might want to enlist the latter. Modular robots, like those depicted in films such as "Big Hero 6," hold a special type of promise for their self-assembling and reconfiguring abilities. But for all of the ambitious desire for fast, reliable deployment in domains ex
If faced with the choice of sending a swarm of full-sized, distinct robots to space, or a large crew of smaller robotic modules, you might want to enlist the latter. Modular robots, like those depicted in films such as "Big Hero 6," hold a special type of promise for their self-assembling and reconfiguring abilities. But for all of the ambitious desire for fast, reliable deployment in domains ex
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Thursday, 24 February 2022 05:16
SpaceX to launch IoT tech demo satellites for Plan-S
Ankara, Turkey (SPX) Feb 24, 2022
Plan-S Satellite and Space Technologies, a Turkish provider of end-to-end satellite solutions for global IoT services, have signed a series of agreements to launch three IoT tech demo satellites onboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 via Exolaunch, a global leader in launch, in-space logistics and deployment services for small satellites. The satellites being built by Plan-S will be launched in the second ha
Plan-S Satellite and Space Technologies, a Turkish provider of end-to-end satellite solutions for global IoT services, have signed a series of agreements to launch three IoT tech demo satellites onboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 via Exolaunch, a global leader in launch, in-space logistics and deployment services for small satellites. The satellites being built by Plan-S will be launched in the second ha
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Thursday, 24 February 2022 05:16
Sol 3395: Last Chance for Contact
Pasadena CA (JPL) Feb 24, 2022
Before the science team says "OK TO GO!," today's plan involves getting one of the last looks at the rocks right below the Greenheugh Pediment, some observations at the contact between them, and some higher up on Gediz-Vallis Ridge.
The rover will collect two APXS measurements on "Galdenoch," one a brushed location and another offset from it, including some MAHLI images (see image) to docu
Before the science team says "OK TO GO!," today's plan involves getting one of the last looks at the rocks right below the Greenheugh Pediment, some observations at the contact between them, and some higher up on Gediz-Vallis Ridge.
The rover will collect two APXS measurements on "Galdenoch," one a brushed location and another offset from it, including some MAHLI images (see image) to docu
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Thursday, 24 February 2022 05:16
Thales Alenia Space wins study contract to develop payload to extract Oxygen on the Moon
Bristol UK (SPX) Feb 24, 2022
Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a study contract with the European Space Agency worth one million euros for a payload concept to extract oxygen from Moon rock.
For a sustainable habitation on the Moon, humans will need to utilise resources that they find on the Moon rather than transport these resources from Earth; one of these resou
Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a study contract with the European Space Agency worth one million euros for a payload concept to extract oxygen from Moon rock.
For a sustainable habitation on the Moon, humans will need to utilise resources that they find on the Moon rather than transport these resources from Earth; one of these resou
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Thursday, 24 February 2022 05:16
MIT Lunar Station Corp helps support safe lunar missions
Boston MA (SPX) Feb 24, 2022
This year NASA hopes to return astronauts to the Moon as early as March or April.
Strategically, the Moon has something essential for life in space: water. Lunar ice can supply oxygen for human life and hydrogen fuel for deep space travel. But, navigating the dangerous Lunar surface is not for the faint of heart.
You wouldn't build a home on sand. Would you? The Moon is no differen
This year NASA hopes to return astronauts to the Moon as early as March or April.
Strategically, the Moon has something essential for life in space: water. Lunar ice can supply oxygen for human life and hydrogen fuel for deep space travel. But, navigating the dangerous Lunar surface is not for the faint of heart.
You wouldn't build a home on sand. Would you? The Moon is no differen
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Thursday, 24 February 2022 05:16
NASA opens second phase of $5 Million Lunar Power Prize Competition
Huntsville AL (SPX) Feb 24, 2022
Under Artemis, NASA plans to return to the Moon using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. This will require lunar surface systems that can deliver continuous, reliable power to support mining and construction, research activities, and human habitation.
The newest phase of NASA's Watts on the Moon Challenge offers up to $4.5 million in prizes to de
Under Artemis, NASA plans to return to the Moon using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. This will require lunar surface systems that can deliver continuous, reliable power to support mining and construction, research activities, and human habitation.
The newest phase of NASA's Watts on the Moon Challenge offers up to $4.5 million in prizes to de
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Thursday, 24 February 2022 05:16
Clean driving technology enables cleaner rocket fuel
Riverside CA (SPX) Feb 24, 2022
A chemical used in electric vehicle batteries could also give us carbon-free fuel for space flight, according to new UC Riverside research.
In addition to emission reductions, this chemical also has several advantages over other types of rocket fuels: higher energy, lower costs, and no requirement for frozen storage.
The chemical, ammonia borane, is currently used for storing the hyd
A chemical used in electric vehicle batteries could also give us carbon-free fuel for space flight, according to new UC Riverside research.
In addition to emission reductions, this chemical also has several advantages over other types of rocket fuels: higher energy, lower costs, and no requirement for frozen storage.
The chemical, ammonia borane, is currently used for storing the hyd
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