Copernical Team
Dark Comets May Constitute a Major Portion of Near-Earth Objects
Up to 60% of near-Earth objects (NEOs) might be dark comets, according to new research from the University of Michigan. These dark comets, which likely contain or once contained ice, may have played a role in delivering water to Earth.
The study, led by Aster Taylor, a graduate student in astronomy at the University of Michigan, suggests that asteroids in the asteroid belt-located between Mars Likely Experienced Cold and Icy Conditions, Study Suggests
The question of whether Mars ever supported life has fascinated scientists and the public for decades. Central to this inquiry is understanding the planet's past climate: was it warm and wet, akin to Earth's climate, or was it cold and icy, making it less likely to support life as we know it? A recent study points to the latter, drawing parallels between Martian soils and those found in the suba Queqiao-2 Embarks on Scientific Missions for Future Lunar Exploration
The Queqiao-2 relay satellite, equipped with three scientific instruments, is set to perform a range of scientific missions in orbit, building on its previous role in the Chang'e-6 mission.
Launched on March 20 this year by a Long March-8 rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, China, Queqiao-2, also known as Magpie Bridge 2, is tasked with ensuring Earth-moon commun Innovative Method for Producing Lunar Construction Materials Using Microwaves
The Moon's recent discovery of resources like water ice has renewed interest in its potential as a sustainable hub for space exploration. NASA's Artemis mission, aiming for long-term human presence on the lunar surface, highlights the need for infrastructure such as lunar bases. However, the high cost of transporting construction materials from Earth, at about 1.2 million USD per kilogram, makes Gateway Prepares for Lunar Missions
An interplay of light and shadows cast the docking ports for Gateway, humanity's first space station around the Moon, into sharp relief.
Constructed by NASA's commercial partner Northrop Grumman, the HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) is one of four modules designed for international astronaut teams to live, conduct research, and prepare for missions to the lunar South Pole region. Th Rocket Lab Prepares for Capella Space Mission Launch from New Zealand
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, has scheduled its 51st Electron launch, a mission dedicated to American space tech company Capella Space ("Capella").
The mission, titled 'A Sky Full Of SARs,' will launch within a 14-day window opening on July 21 NZST / July 20 UTC from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula. T Astronauts stuck on ISS 'confident' Starliner will bring them home
A pair of US astronauts stuck waiting to leave the International Space Station said Wednesday they were confident that the problem-plagued Boeing Starliner they rode up on would soon bring them home, even as significant uncertainties remain.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams blasted off on June 5 aboard the brand new spaceship that NASA is hoping to certify to ferry crews to-and-from the orbit Astronauts confident Boeing space capsule can safely return them to Earth, despite failures
Two astronauts who should have been back on Earth weeks ago said Wednesday that they're confident that Boeing's space capsule can return them safely, despite a string of vexing breakdowns.
NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched aboard Boeing's new Starliner capsule early last month, the first people to ride it. Helium leaks and thruster failures almost derailed their arrival at the International Space Station, and have kept them there much longer than planned. Now the earliest they could return may be the end of July, officials said.
Using microwave sintering to produce 'space brick' for a future moon base
The recent discovery of energy resources on the moon, such as water ice, has refocused interest on its potential as a sustainable hub for space exploration. NASA has also announced the Artemis mission, aiming for long-term human presence on the lunar surface. However, infrastructure expansion, such as lunar base construction, plays a vital role.
Yet, transporting construction materials from Earth to the lunar surface via landers incurs a significant cost of 1.2 million USD per kilogram. Weight directly translates to cost, making the transportation of construction materials from Earth to the moon nearly impossible.
To address this problem, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, has developed technology for producing construction materials using in-situ resources from the moon.
Gateway: The first lunar space station
An interplay of light and shadows cast the docking ports for Gateway, humanity's first space station around the moon, into sharp relief.
Built by NASA commercial partner Northrup Grumman, HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost), is one of four modules where international teams of astronauts will live, conduct science, and prepare for missions to the lunar South Pole region. The module's main structure is currently undergoing testing in Turin, Italy.
One docking port inside HALO is where a cargo spacecraft and Gateway's Lunar View module, provided by ESA (European Space Agency), will dock. The docking port outside of HALO is where the SpaceX Starship and the Blue Origin Blue Moon Human Landing Systems will dock during the Artemis IV and V missions, respectively.
Gateway will launch to lunar orbit with the Power and Propulsion Element, provided by Maxar Space Systems, and later expand with ESA's Lunar I-Hab and Lunar View modules, the Crew and Science Airlock provided by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center, advanced external robotics provided by CSA (Canadian Space Agency), and critical hardware from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).