GITAI launches autonomous robotic arms for ISS external operations
Thursday, 22 February 2024 19:37In a groundbreaking move poised to redefine the dynamics of space station robotics, California's innovative startup, GITAI, has embarked on a mission to test its cutting-edge autonomous robotic arm system, dubbed S2, on the International Space Station (ISS). This technological marvel, consisting of a 1.5-meter long pair of mechanical arms, was transported to the orbiting lab aboard Northrop Grum
Rocket Lab Launches Mission Designed to Investigate Removing Space Junk from Orbit
Thursday, 22 February 2024 19:37In an ambitious stride towards mitigating the escalating issue of orbital debris, Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: RKLB) has successfully launched its 44th Electron rocket, carrying a satellite designed to pioneer methods of space junk removal. The mission, aptly named "On Closer Inspection," saw the deployment of the Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) satellite from Rocket L
Starnote extension by Blues and Skylo promises seamless satellite connectivity for IoT Devices
Thursday, 22 February 2024 19:37In a landmark collaboration, Blues, renowned for its prowess in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology, has teamed up with Skylo Technologies, a prominent Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) service operator, to unveil Starnote. This innovative extension to Blues' flagship product, Notecard, is set to redefine satellite data connectivity, offering an efficient and cost-effective solution for
Webb finds clues of neutron star at heart of supernova remnant
Thursday, 22 February 2024 18:00The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has found the best evidence yet for emission from a neutron star at the site of a recently observed supernova. The supernova, known as SN 1987A, occurred 160 000 light-years from Earth in the Large Magellanic Cloud. SN 1987A was observed on Earth in 1987, the first supernova that was visible to the naked eye since 1604 — before the advent of telescopes.
Ariane 6 transport ship docking
Thursday, 22 February 2024 15:00The upper stage and main stage for the first Ariane 6 launch arrived at the port of Pariacabo in Kourou, French Guiana on the novel ship, Canopée (canopy in French) on 22 February 2024. It is the first custom-built transporter to use sails, reducing emissions and saving on fuel by up to 30%, and on this trip, it has travelled for 10 days covering over 7000 km.
The hybrid-propulsion vessel is 121 m long and has 37 m tall sails. Canopée rotates continuously between stop-offs to load each Ariane 6 stage and other parts and ship them across
New mission to track changes in the cryosphere
Thursday, 22 February 2024 14:00Tracking ice lost from the world’s glaciers, ice sheets and frozen land shows that Earth is losing ice at an accelerating rate. Monitoring the cryosphere is crucial for assessing, predicting and adapting to climate change.
The Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter (CRISTAL) mission will provide a full picture of the changes taking place in some of the most inhospitable regions of the world. It will carry – for the first time – a dual-frequency radar altimeter, and microwave radiometer, that will measure and monitor sea-ice thickness, overlying snow depth and ice-sheet elevations.
These data will support maritime
Satellites increasingly critical to monitor ocean health
Thursday, 22 February 2024 09:45Playing a huge role in moderating the climate, oceans are fundamental to the functioning of our planet. Understanding more about how seawater temperatures are rising and how oceans are absorbing excess atmospheric carbon dioxide, as well as knock-on issues such as ocean acidification, is key for understanding climate change and for taking effective action.
A recent scientific paper highlights just how satellites are becoming increasingly important in providing unique information on ocean health to guide climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
The mystery from Zanzibar
Thursday, 22 February 2024 09:04Ariane 6 ready for unloading
Thursday, 22 February 2024 05:20ERS-2 reenters Earth’s atmosphere over Pacific Ocean
Wednesday, 21 February 2024 19:31Ariane 6 arrives at Europe’s Spaceport via Canopée
Wednesday, 21 February 2024 19:12Commercial spaceship set for lunar touchdown, in test for US industry
Wednesday, 21 February 2024 19:05A company from Texas is poised to attempt a feat that until now has only been accomplished by a handful of national space agencies, but could soon become commonplace for the private sector: landing on the Moon. If all goes to plan, Houston-based Intuitive Machines will guide its spaceship named Odysseus to a gentle touchdown near the lunar south pole on Thursday at 2249 GMT, then run experim
What to know about the NASA-funded commercial Moon fleet
Wednesday, 21 February 2024 19:05The year 2024 promises to be a busy one for American Moon landings, all under a new partnership between NASA and the space industry. A first attempt under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative ended in disappointing failure last month, but a second, led by Houston-based Intuitive Machines, will attempt on Thursday to return the United States to Moon for the first time in fi
NanoMagSat and Tango Scout missions get go-ahead
Wednesday, 21 February 2024 06:00Further embracing the New Space era, ESA is to develop two new Scout satellites: NanoMagSat and Tango. NanoMagSat will measure Earth’s magnetic field to help assess space weather hazards and continue on from ESA’s current Swarm mission. Tango will measure greenhouse-gas emissions from human activity and complements the upcoming Copernicus Carbon Dioxide Monitoring mission and the Sentinel-5 mission, as well as the current Sentinel-5P mission.