We are all aware that the summer of 2022 has been one of the hottest on record, causing drought and raging wildfires in many parts of Europe. Satellite data have been used to report the baking temperatures of the land surface and map fires, but the Copernicus Sentinel-1 radar mission has also been used to zoom in and provide very high-resolution measurements of the actual moisture content of the surface soils. Maps of northern Italy, for example, show how dry this summer has been compared to two years ago.

During missions on the International Space Station, astronauts’ bodies go through a wide array of changes due to lack of gravity - everything from vision to cardiovascular health to bone density is affected.

Though astronauts exercise and take supplements to mitigate some of these effects, understanding more about deconditioning in microgravity could allow physicians to design better treatments. This wouldn’t just be useful for spacefarers; it could also improve treatment strategies for common health conditions here on Earth. 

Image: ESA's Estrack network tracks DART in the vital moments before asteroid impact

Washington (AFP) Sept 20, 2022
SpaceX will apply for an exemption from US sanctions against Iran in a bid to offer its satellite internet service to the country, owner Elon Musk said on Monday. "Starlink will apply for an exemption from sanctions against Iran," Musk said in response to a tweet from a science reporter. Musk had initially announced that the Starlink satellite internet service had been made available on

Washington DC (UPI) Sep 19, 2021
Three well-known space archaeologists have opened a new consultancy firm, offering advice to builders and designers of any future space stations or other off-planet living arrangements. The goal of Brick Moon is to help clients "create orbital or planetary habitats that improve productivity, reduce costs, and support crew well-being," according to its mission statement. The compa

Vandenberg SFB CA (SPX) Sep 18, 2022
A new, exciting age in Space has begun, with established companies such as NASA, SpaceX, and the United Launch Alliance staking their claim in the space launch industry. And in this new age, comes competition, with companies emerging through the woodworks to throw their hat into the ring. On September 15 and 16, Vandenberg Space Force Base held the second annual Assured Access to Space (AA

San Francisco CA (SPX) Sep 15, 2022
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a leading provider of daily data and insights about Earth, has announced that they have entered into a multi-year contract with Saint Louis University in support of the Taylor Geospatial Institute (TGI), a leading geospatial research collaborative. Bringing together eight midwestern universities and research centers, TGI aims to harness innovation in geospatial

Pasadena CA (SPX) Sep 16, 2022
Non-profit CTrees is launching the first ever digital platform for calculating the carbon in every tree on the planet, with complete accuracy. Launching at COP27, the new platform offers high-accuracy, AI-enabled satellite data products that allow countries, jurisdictions, the private sector, and civil society to measure, report, and verify (MRV) both carbon emissions and removals from all types