Copernical Team
Removing traces of life in lab helps NASA scientists study its origins
A specialized laboratory setup at JPL removes the chemical influence of modern organisms so scientists can study the chemistry that may have led to life's emergence.
In the Origins and Habitability Lab at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, you can find a world in a test tube - specifically, a simplified simulation of early Earth. By re-creating the conditions that would have been found on o To new worlds with quantitative spectroscopy
Astronomers from the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) and the Vatican Observatory (VO) teamed up to spectroscopically survey more than 1000 bright stars that potentially host exoplanets. The team presents precise values of 54 spectroscopic parameters per star in the first of a series of papers in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics and releases all its data to the scientific c Got Rock Sample: Sol 3755
I am pleased to report that the tactical operations team had a successful morning as we were able to acquire a sample of the Tapo Caparo bedrock. Despite the target rock slab fracturing during drilling, we were able to collect enough sample for analysis by the CheMin and SAM instruments. Our primary goal for Sol 3755 is to drop some of the drill sample into CheMin for analysis, but we have sever Rocket Lab establishes Australian Subsidiary to support rapidly growing Space Sector
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has established a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Rocket Lab Australia, to explore opportunities to support the expansion of Australia's national space capabilities. The Australian Government has set a goal to triple the size of the Australian space sector from an estimated AUD$4 billion in 2016 to AUD$12 billion and create an additional 20,000 jobs by 2030.
To help facil New insights from an ancient asteroid
In February 2023, Tohoku University researchers published their analysis of samples retrieved from asteroid Ryugu by Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft in the journal Nature Communications. They believe these samples contain the oldest solids from the solar system available for study. The researchers focused on chondrule-like objects and calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions (CAIs), which are key componen Successful flight acceptance hot test of CE-20 cryogenic engine
On February 24, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted a flight acceptance hot test for the CE-20 cryogenic engine, which is set to power the Cryogenic Upper Stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle for the upcoming Chandrayaan-3 Mission. The test was carried out at the ISRO Propulsion Complex, located in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, India.
The CE-20 cryogenic engi SwRI researching ARM, RISC-V processors for faster spaceflight computers
Southwest Research Institute is evaluating the next generation of fast and reliable microprocessors used in embedded spaceflight systems. During the IEEE Aerospace Conference March 4-11 in Big Sky, Montana, SwRI engineers will present a pair of research papers comparing legacy spaceflight computers to new technology that performs more complex tasks using less power.
"Conventional spaceflig Rocket Lab set for dual launch campaigns in Virginia and New Zealand
Rocket Lab USA is preparing to launch two dedicated missions in March from the Company's launch sites in the United States and New Zealand - within days of each other. One Electron rocket is ready and in position at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand to deploy satellites for Spaceflight Inc. customer BlackSky (NYSE: BKSY), a real-time geospatial intelligence company. Meanwhile, a second ESA recruits – and not only astronauts. Apply now!
In 2023, ESA will be recruiting over 200 new colleagues to join our teams and support our mission of the peaceful exploration and use of space for the benefit of everyone. More than 30 vacancies have recently been published and many more will be coming soon, so if you are ready to take the next step in your career, this is your chance! Explore our vacancies and apply today.
Liquid nitrogen spray could clean up stubborn moon dust
A liquid nitrogen spray developed by Washington State University researchers can remove almost all of the simulated moon dust from a space suit, potentially solving what is a significant challenge for future moon-landing astronauts.
The sprayer removed more than 98% of moon dust simulant in a vacuum environment with minimal damage to spacesuits, performing better than any techniques that have been investigated previously. The researchers report on their work in the journal, Acta Astronautica.
While people have managed to put men on the moon, they haven't figured out how to keep them clean there. Similar to the clingiest packaging peanuts, moon dust sticks to everything that it touches. Worse than the packing peanuts, the dust is composed of very fine particles that are the consistency of ground fiberglass.
"Moon dust is electrostatically charged, abrasive and gets everywhere, making it a very difficult substance to deal with," said Ian Wells, first author on the paper and a senior in WSU's School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.