Introducing Ramses, ESA’s mission to asteroid Apophis
Tuesday, 16 July 2024 09:00
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30 years ago, on 16 July 1994, astronomers watched in awe as the first of many pieces of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet slammed into Jupiter with incredible force. The event sparked intense interest in the field of planetary defence as people asked: “Could we do anything to prevent this happening to Earth?”
Up close and personal: Ariane 6 liftoff from the launchpad
Tuesday, 16 July 2024 09:00 Write a comment
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While no person could get this close during Ariane 6’s inaugural flight on 9 July 2024, several small cameras bravely witnessed its take-off from the launchpad.
After years of preparations, the Vulcain main stage engine ignites, arms providing cryogenic fuels to the rocket until the very last moment retract and boosters fire – Ariane 6 is space-bound. As it lifts off, vast amounts of water are pumped at high speed to dampen vibrations at the launch site, which then come rushing towards one of these small cameras in a dramatic swirl, hiding the departing rocket from view.
Ariane 6 launched
Food aroma study may help explain why meals taste bad in space
Tuesday, 16 July 2024 08:00 Write a comment
Scientists from RMIT University have led a world-first study on common food aromas that may help explain why astronauts report that meals taste bland in space and struggle to eat their normal nutritional intake.
This research, which is published in the International Journal of Food Science and Technology, has broader implications for improving the diets of isolated people, including nursing home residents, by personalizing aromas to enhance the flavor of their food.
Previous research has shown that aroma plays a big role in the flavor of food.
The team in this study tested how people perceived vanilla and almond extracts, and how lemon essential oil changed from normal environments on Earth to the confined setting of the International Space Station (ISS), which was simulated for participants with virtual reality goggles.
XMM-Newton shows million-degree gas in Abell 2390
Tuesday, 16 July 2024 07:00 Write a comment
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XMM-Newton and Euclid image of galaxy cluster Abell 2390 China reschedules planetary defense mission for 2027 launch
Tuesday, 16 July 2024 06:42
The CubeCat-4, a new nanosatellite, is already orbiting the Earth
Monday, 15 July 2024 18:47 Write a comment
The CubeCat-4 nanosatellite, developed by the UPC's NanoSat Lab, is one of seven payloads that have traveled on the Ariane 6 maiden flight, which took off on the night of 9 to 10 July from French Guiana.
CubeCat-4 is the only Catalan instrument and one of two from Spain on board this ESA mission. Developed by students, the nanosatellite focuses on observing the Earth, studying weather and climatic phenomena from space, and locating and tracking vessels to prevent accidents. Some students were present at the launch site.
CubeCat-4 is the fifth nanosatellite created by the NanoSat Lab of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech (UPC). This laboratory is linked to the Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSETB), where an Advanced Engineering Project course is taught.
CubeCat-4 is a one-unit CubeSat-type nanosatellite and It was selected to be launched aboard the rocket along with a satellite from Galicia and other payloads from Germany, Slovakia, France and Portugal.
A hopping robot could explore Europa using locally harvested water
Monday, 15 July 2024 18:35 Write a comment
Various forms of hopping robots have crept into development for use in different space exploration missions. We've reported on their use on asteroids and even our own moon. But a study funded by NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) in 2018 planned a mission to a type of world where hopping may not be as noticeable an advantage—Europa.
The mission, developed by engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Purdue University, and Honeybee Robotics, is known as the Steam Propelled Autonomous Retrieval Robot for Ocean Worlds, or SPARROW. It's about the size and shape of a soccer ball, with the logic, power, and control systems inside a spherical outer hollow shell.
SPARROW wouldn't be able to operate on its own, however. It would require a lander to deposit it onto the surface and serve as a refueling and sample collection storage base.
Weather satellite passes bake and shake tests with flying colors
Monday, 15 July 2024 15:24 Write a comment
As climate change drives more frequent and severe weather events, the need for accurate and timely forecasting has never been more critical. And now, the next Meteosat Third Generation weather satellite has passed its environmental test campaign with flying colors, taking it a significant step closer to launch.
This new generation of satellites is set to transform weather forecasting, particularly in Europe.
Following the spectacular launch of the first MTG-Imager satellite in 2022, which marked the debut of this advanced family of six satellites, all eyes are now on the first MTG-Sounder (MTG-S1) satellite.
Juice's lunar-Earth flyby: All you need to know
Monday, 15 July 2024 15:23 Write a comment
ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) will return to Earth on 19–20 August, with flight controllers guiding the spacecraft first past the moon and then past Earth itself. This "braking" maneuver will take Juice on a shortcut to Jupiter via Venus.
What is happening?
It's a double world first. The first-ever lunar-Earth flyby, and the first-ever double gravity assist maneuver. It will change Juice's speed and direction to alter its course through space, but it's a daring feat; the slightest mistake could take Juice off course and spell the end of the mission.
Following Juice's launch in April 2023, this lunar-Earth flyby is the first step in the spacecraft's waltz through the solar system on its journey to Jupiter.
During the flyby, Earth will bend Juice's trajectory through space, "braking" it and redirecting it on course for a flyby of Venus in August 2025.
Could resources on Mars support human explorers?
Monday, 15 July 2024 14:50 Write a comment
In the coming decades, multiple space agencies and private companies plan to establish outposts on the moon and Mars. These outposts will allow for long-duration stays, astrobiological research, and facilitate future solar system exploration. However, having crews operating far from Earth for extended periods will also present some serious logistical challenges.
Given the distances and costs involved, sending resupply missions will be both impractical and expensive. For this reason, relying on local resources to meet mission needs—aka. In-situ resource utilization (ISRU)—is the name of the game.
The need for ISRU is especially important on Mars as resupply missions could take six to nine months to get there. Luckily, Mars has abundant resources that can be harvested and used to provide everything from oxygen, propellant, water, soil for growing food, and building materials.
ESA astronaut class of 2022: Astro Chat with Alexander Gerst
Monday, 15 July 2024 14:30 Write a comment
Video:
00:38:42
ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst, an experienced spaceflyer, spacewalker, and former ISS commander, shares insights into his role as head of astronaut operations at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre. Tune in as he talks with us about guiding the next generation of astronauts through training and preparing them for their future in space exploration.
This is Episode 8 of our ESA Explores podcast series, delving into everything you want to know about the ESA astronaut class of 2022. Recorded in April 2024.
Find out more about Alexander.
Existence of lunar lava tube cave demonstrated
Monday, 15 July 2024 14:00 Write a comment
The presence of conduits below the lunar surface has been theorized and extensively debated for at least 50 years. Now, an analysis of NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter radar data reveals what lies below the Mare Tranquillitatis.
For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the existence of a tunnel in the lunar subsurface. It seems to be an empty lava tube. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, is the result of an international collaboration.
"These caves have been theorized for over 50 years, but it is the first time ever that we have demonstrated their existence," explains Lorenzo Bruzzone, professor at the University of Trento.
Bruzzone explains, "In 2010, as part of the ongoing LRO NASA mission, the Miniature Radio-Frequency (Mini-RF) instrument acquired data that included a pit in Mare Tranquilitatis.
"Years later, we have reanalyzed these data with complex signal processing techniques we have recently developed, and have discovered radar reflections from the area of the pit that are best explained by an underground cave conduit. This discovery provides the first direct evidence of an accessible lava tube under the surface of the moon.
U.S. nuclear command satellites need hardening against attacks, report warns
Monday, 15 July 2024 13:21
NASA’s CAPSTONE is testing “Autopilot” software suite for cislunar operations
Monday, 15 July 2024 12:00
Juice’s lunar-Earth flyby: all you need to know LINK
Monday, 15 July 2024 09:15 Write a comment
Juice’s lunar-Earth flyby: all you need to know