
Copernical Team
IBCS connects the Joint Force, enabling effects across all domains

North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile into sea

Helping to make nuclear fusion a reality

Supernovae and life on Earth appears closely connected

Rogozin says Baikonur security strengthened amid Kazakhstan protests

Webb Secondary Mirror Deployment Confirmed

Earth isn't 'super' because the Sun had rings before planets

NASA releases autonomous flight termination unit software to industry

New Year’s science in space for a healthier life

Another year passes, and our muscles, bones, eyes and ears deteriorate as we age – even more so in space. Reactions in ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer’s body after barely two months on the International Space Station are giving European scientists clues on how to fight the downsides of growing old on Earth.
Webb telescope deploys flap that will keep it oriented during its mission

On December 25, 2021, astronomers and space exploration enthusiasts got the greatest Christmas present of all—after years of delays, cost overruns and additional testing, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) launched from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. In a real nail-biter, the Ariane 5 rocket and its precious payload reached orbit without a hitch. But as is so often the case, the deployment of the JWST was just the first in a series of "hurry-up-and-wait" episodes.
Typically, periods of waiting are accompanied by plenty of worry and doubt. Luckily, there have been several positive developments since the JWST launched that could alleviate these anxieties. The latest is that the telescope successfully deployed its aft momentum flap, an instrument that will keep the telescope oriented during its mission. The news was announced yesterday (December 30) via @NASAWebb, NASA's official Twitter account for the Webb telescope, and the JWST page at NASA Blogs.
According to NASA Blogs, the deployment of the aft momentum flap began at 09:00 AM EST (06:00 AM PST) and lasted about eight minutes. During this time, the mission team released the flap's hold-down devices while a spring brought the flap into its final position.