Copernical Team
IHI AEROSPACE received its first commercial launch service order
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IHI Co., Ltd (IA) received order for launching the small SAR satellites(*1) owned by Institute for Q-Shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (hereinafter 'iQPS'). IA and iQPS signed the contract for launch service of QPS-SAR-3 and QPS-SAR-4 (*2) on April 18, 2022.
QPS-SAR-3 and QPS-SAR-4 are under manufacturing by iQPS with more than 25 partner companies in northern Kyushu and other parts of Japan. Tw NASA extends exploration for 8 planetary science missions
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Following a thorough evaluation, NASA has extended the planetary science missions of eight of its spacecraft due to their scientific productivity and potential to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the solar system and beyond.
The missions - Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity rover), InSight lander, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, OSIR Ax-1 splashes down off Florida coast, ending first private mission to ISS
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After nearly a week of delays, the first-ever all private astronaut mission to the International Space Station came to an end Monday, with the crew splashing down in the early afternoon off the coast of Florida.
"Dragon Endeavour has returned, bringing the Axiom-1 crew home," SpaceX officials announced on the livestream. "On behalf of the entire SpaceX team, welcome back to planet Earth Rich trio back on Earth after charter trip to space station
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Three rich businessmen returned from the International Space Station with their astronaut escort Monday, wrapping up a pricey trip that marked NASA's debut as a B&B host.
Crew-4 astronauts head to space station to conduct microgravity science
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NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 mission, originally scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on Saturday, April 23, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 27. This launch carries three NASA astronauts—Kjell Lindgren, Robert Hines, and Jessica Watkins—and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. This spaceflight is the first for Hines and Watkins and the second for Lindgren and Cristoforetti.
Here are details on some of the research riding with the crew aboard the SpaceX Dragon Freedom capsule into low-Earth orbit:
Replacement retinas
Artificial retinas could restore meaningful vision for the millions of people on Earth who suffer from retinal degenerative diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. The ISS National Lab-sponsored study Protein-Based Artificial Retina Manufacturing evaluates a manufacturing process to develop artificial human retinas using a light-activated protein called bacteriorhodopsin, which could replace the function of damaged light-sensing cells in the eye.
Planetary Decadal Survey says it's time for a mission to Uranus (and Enceladus too)
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Since 2002, the United States National Research Council (NRC) has released a publication that identifies objectives and makes recommendations for science missions for NASA, the National Science Foundation, and other government agencies for the next decade. These reports, appropriately named Planetary Science Decadal Surveys, help inform future NASA missions that address the mysteries that persist in astronomy, astrophysics, earth science, and heliophysics.
On Thursday, April 19th, in a briefing in Washington D.C., the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) shared the main findings of the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023–2032. The event was live-streamed and consisted of NASEM committee members discussing the key science questions, priority missions, and research strategies identified and recommended, followed by a Q&A session with the audience.
Hubble observations used to answer key exoplanet questions
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Hubble observations used to answer key exoplanet questions March in space science
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As the last days in space for ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer near and he prepares the European space laboratory Columbus for his colleague ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, European scientific endeavours on the International Space Station in March continued.
Crew of first private flight to ISS head back to Earth
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The crew of the first fully private mission to the International Space Station departed the orbiting laboratory on Monday to head back to Earth.
The three businessmen and a former NASA astronaut had spent more than two weeks on the station on a history-making mission organized by startup company Axiom Space.
The SpaceX capsule undocked from the ISS at 0110 GMT for the return trip and was Smiling Sam
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ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti is all smiles after arriving at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, last week with NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins.
Collectively known as Crew-4, the astronauts flew in from Houston, Texas, USA, and are spending the days ahead in quarantine before being launched this week to the International Space Station on the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom.
“This is getting real,” said Samantha. “It’s very emotional for me, that this final stretch to the launchpad has started with the landing here, on this runway.” Samantha recalled her childhood fascination watching the