Mountains of snow
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 13:20![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Heavy snowfall in the Alps has been recorded over the past weeks. The Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission captured this image of the snow-covered Alps on 14 December.](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2020/12/mountains_of_snow/22397805-1-eng-GB/Mountains_of_snow_card_full.jpg)
India launches CMS-01 communications satellite
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 11:38![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![The PSLV-C50 shortly after liftoff carrying the CMS-01 satellite.](https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/PSLV-50-launch-ISRO-1-300x200.jpg)
HELSINKI — India successfully sent the CMS-01 extended C-band communications satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit Thursday with the country’s second launch of 2020.
Moon rocks in hand, China prepares for future moon missions
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 11:10![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![A model of China's Chang'e 5 lunar orbiter and lander are displayed before a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. Following the successful return of moon rocks by its Chang'e 5 robotic probe, China is preparing for future missions that could set the stage for an eventual lunar base to host human explorers. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Moon rocks in hand, China prepares for future moon missions](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800/2020/8-moonrocksinh.jpg)
Dreaming of a red Christmas: Festive features spotted near Mars’ south pole
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 10:00![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Festive silhouettes near Mars’ south pole](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2020/12/festive_silhouettes_near_mars_south_pole/22392651-1-eng-GB/Festive_silhouettes_near_Mars_south_pole_card_full.jpg)
As the holiday season swiftly approaches, even our planetary neighbours are getting into the spirit – as shown by this perfect pair of festive silhouettes spotted by ESA’s Mars Express.
Chinese capsule returns to Earth carrying moon rocks
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 09:06![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, recovery crew members film the capsule of the Chang'e 5 probe after its successful landed in Siziwang district, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. A Chinese lunar capsule returned to Earth on Thursday with the first fresh samples of rock and debris from the moon in more than 40 years. (Ren Junchuan/Xinhua via AP) Chinese capsule returns to Earth carrying moon rocks](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800/2020/2-chinesecapsu.jpg)
Scientists use NASA data to predict appearance of December 14, 2020 eclipse
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 09:06![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Predictive Science Inc. refined their model to predict the corona's appearance during the Dec. 14, 2020 total solar eclipse. The model's prediction. The bubble-like remnants of a coronal mass ejection are visible in the bottom left of the corona. Credit: Left image: Predictive Science Inc.; © 2020. All rights reserved. Scientists use NASA data to predict appearance of December 14, 2020 eclipse](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800/2020/28-scientistsus.jpg)
On Dec. 14, 2020, the Moon's shadow raced across Chile and Argentina, casting a thin ribbon of land into brief, mid-day darkness.
Those in the path of this total solar eclipse glimpsed the solar system in motion.
ESA Council appoints Josef Aschbacher as next ESA Director General
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 08:56![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Josef Aschbacher](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2016/06/josef_aschbacher3/16033863-2-eng-GB/Josef_Aschbacher_card_full.jpg)
Today, the ESA Council appointed Dr Josef Aschbacher as the next Director General of ESA, for a period of four years. He will succeed Prof. Jan Wörner, whose term of office ends on 30 June 2021.
Cholera outbreaks predicted using climate data and AI
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 08:40![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Medical lab](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2020/12/medical_lab/22393483-1-eng-GB/Medical_lab_card_full.jpg)
Climate data taken from Earth orbiting satellites, combined with machine learning techniques, are helping to better predict outbreaks of cholera and potentially save lives.
Chinese craft returns to Earth with Moon rocks
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 08:29![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/inner-mongolia-chang-e-5-chinese-craft-carrying-moon-rocks-returns-to-earth-bg.jpg)
AFRL demonstrates critical new warhead technologies for high speed weapons
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 08:29![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/wind-tunnel-test-silent-eagle-conformal-weapons-bay-cwb-bg.jpg)
US Space Force May need a Battlestar
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 08:29![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/united-states-space-force-recruitment-video-bg.jpg)
IMDO and MDA complete intercept test of the David's Sling Weapon System
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 08:29![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/davids-sling-weapons-system-stunner-missile-interceptor-bg.jpg)
The farthest galaxy in the universe
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 08:29![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/most-distant-galaxy-in-the-universe-bg.jpg)
Amazon unveils flat-panel customer terminal for Kuiper constellation
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 02:12![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Kuiper antenna](https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/kuiper-antenna-300x169.jpg)
WASHINGTON — Amazon has tested what it describes as a low-cost flat-panel antenna for use with its Project Kuiper constellation, an innovation that could be essential to the long-term success of satellite broadband.
Amazon announced Dec. 16 that it developed a Ka-band phased-array antenna that is much smaller and less expensive that traditional antennas that operate at those frequencies.
AST & Science to go public via special purpose acquisition
Wednesday, 16 December 2020 01:09![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/rsz_ast_spmobile-300x187.png)
SAN FRANCISCO — AST & Science LLC announced plans Dec. 16 to become a publicly traded company through a special purpose acquisition company.
In what is becoming a trend in the industry, AST & Science is merging its business with New Providence Acquisition Corp.