Copernical Team
Paris Air Show 2023: a memorable edition that brought the future of space to Europe
The 54th edition of the Paris Air Show, held from 19 to 25 June, just came to an end. The week-long show, one of the oldest and largest aerospace events in the world, welcomed institutional and trade visitors on the first four days, while on the last three days it opened its doors to space and aviation enthusiasts, students and children with their families. With more than 20 000 people visiting the ESA/CNES pavilion in the last three public days, the Paris Air Show 2023 showcased the successes and ambitions of the European Space Agency
Euclid ready for Falcon 9
Image:
After being secured to the SpaceX Falcon 9 adaptor, on Friday 23 June, Euclid was mounted on top of the Payload Attach Fitting (PAF). Before launch, Euclid on the PAF will be encapsulated in the Falcon 9 rocket. ESA’s new cosmological mission Euclid is getting ready for lift-off with a target launch date of 1 July 2023 from Cape Canaveral in Florida (USA).
ESA's Euclid mission is designed to explore the dark Universe and uncover the great cosmic mystery of dark matter and dark energy. The space telescope will create the largest, most accurate 3D map of the Universe
Compact electric thruster cleared for space firing
An innovative compact electric propulsion system has recently completed its extended qualification firing test campaign in space-representative vacuum and temperature conditions, leaving it ready to be deployed aboard the ESA-supported µHETSat technology demonstration microsatellite mission, slated for launch by the end of this year.
Researchers develop a new source of quantum light
Using novel materials that have been widely studied as potential new solar photovoltaics, researchers at MIT have shown that nanoparticles of these materials can emit a stream of single, identical photons.
While the work is currently a fundamental discovery of these materials' capabilities, it might ultimately pave the way to new optically based quantum computers, as well as possible quant X-57 project creates paths toward electric aviation
NASA's X-57 Maxwell all-electric aircraft project will conclude aircraft operational activities by the end of September, with documentation and close-out activities continuing for several months afterwards. The research from the X-57 provides aviation researchers with hundreds of lessons learned, as well as revolutionary development in areas ranging from battery technology to cruise motor contro Fugro and GomSpace deliver world class position and timing accuracy onboard LEO satellites
Fugro and GomSpace announced a cooperation around the SpaceStarTM product in 2020. Since then, the first SpaceStar systems have gained flight heritage and proven a stunning performance: Real time, sub-decimetre absolute positioning on board a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite without additional ground-infrastructure for the satellite operator.
SpaceStar relies on GomSpace's Software Defined GMV to head up Galileo ground segment after securing a new contract
GMV was recently been awarded a major contract by the European Space Agency (ESA). The contract entails newly developing the ground control segment for the in-orbit validation (IOV) system of the Galileo Second Generation (G2G). Galileo, Europe's global navigation satellite system, is the proud flagship of the European Union's growing space activity.
The primary objectives of the Galileo S Will AI really destroy humanity?
The warnings are coming from all angles: artificial intelligence poses an existential risk to humanity and must be shackled before it is too late.
But what are these disaster scenarios and how are machines supposed to wipe out humanity?
- Paperclips of doom -
Most disaster scenarios start in the same place: machines will outstrip human capacities, escape human control and refuse to b Astroscale expands operations to France and secures contract with CNES
Astroscale, a leading player in orbital sustainability and on-orbit servicing, has announced the opening of Astroscale France SAS ("Astroscale France") and a significant contract win with the French national space agency, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES).
Astroscale's growth into France and its collaboration with CNES represent a pivotal stride in the quest for a safe and sustaina China's first low-Earth-orbit broadband network tested at sea
GalaxySpace, a private satellite maker in Beijing, has carried out sea-based tests to verify the capability of its Mini Spider Constellation, China's first low-orbit broadband internet network.
The company said in a news release sent to China Daily on Friday that the tests took place in mid-June aboard the CETC 1 comprehensive testing ship in the South China Sea and demonstrated the commun