Copernical Team
MAVEN observes the disappearing solar wind
In December 2022, NASA's MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) mission observed the dramatic and unexpected "disappearance" of a stream of charged particles constantly emanating off the Sun, known as the solar wind. This was caused by a special type of solar event that was so powerful, it created a void in its wake as it traveled through the solar system.
Due to this event, MAVEN' Study on Asteroid Ryugu samples highlights differences from primitive meteorites
In a recent scientific breakthrough, an international team of researchers has provided new insights into the nature and composition of the asteroid Ryugu, enhancing our understanding of water- and carbon-rich celestial bodies within the solar system. This study, pivotal in the field of planetary science, was made possible by analyzing samples returned to Earth by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, a miss AFRL's Oracle Developing Nation'S 1St Cislunar Space Situational Awareness Capabilities
Over the last several years, the Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, unveiled two programs, Defense Deep Space Sentinel, or D2S2, and Oracle, to develop cislunar space situational awareness, or SSA, capabilities. Both programs are now under a single umbrella known as the Oracle family of systems, with D2S2 renamed Oracle Mobility, or Oracle-M, and the original Oracle gaining the designation NASA Teams Prepare Moon Rocket-to-Spacecraft Connector for Assembly
The Space Launch System (SLS), NASA's super-heavy lift rocket designated for the Artemis II mission, is rapidly approaching a significant milestone. Teams at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, are finalizing preparations on a critical component of the SLS - the Orion stage adapter. This component serves as the crucial link between NASA's Orion spacecraft and the rocket's Neumann Space Achieves Milestone with First Molybdenum-Fueled Thruster Test in Space
Neumann Space, an Australian-based innovator in space technology, has recently made headlines with the successful completion of the first series of on-orbit tests of its Neumann Drive, a leading propulsion system designed for small spacecraft. This significant achievement marks Neumann Space as the first commercial entity to fire a thruster in space that utilizes Molybdenum, a solid metallic pro Next-generation methane rocket to be more powerful
Beijing-based private space company LandSpace has unveiled the ZQ-3 carrier rocket, a new addition to its lineup that promises significant advancements in rocket technology. The announcement, made by LandSpace's founder and CEO, Zhang Changwu, at a recent news conference at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, details the rocket's design and capabilities, indicating a fresh approach in rocket en Launch of secret Space Force orbital platform delayed again
SpaceX has announced further revisions to the schedule for the Falcon Heavy's launch of the USSF-52 mission. The launch, initially set for December 10 and then rescheduled for December 11, is now targeted for no earlier than Tuesday, December 12 at 8:14 p.m. ET. This latest delay stems from a 'ground side issue', marking a deviation from the earlier weather-related postponement. SpaceX has also Little Pictures winner announced at COP28
The winning entry to a Europe-wide data visualisation contest was announced and showcased last week at COP28. The ‘Little Pictures’ competition challenged the continent’s creative talent to design compelling illustrations using the range of global observation records available from ESA, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (Eumetsat) and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), to highlight the key changes taking place across the climate.
Inflight call with Nobel Prize laureates
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Live conversation between ESA astronaut and commander of the International Space Station (ISS) Andreas Mogensen and the 2023 Nobel Prize laureates Ferenc Krausz (in physics) and Moungi Bawendi (in chemistry). The event took place at the Nobel Prize Museum in Oslo which was connected to the ISS. Andreas showed a Nobel Prize he brought with him to the Space Station.
Researchers stunned by Webb's view of exploded star
Like a shiny, round ornament ready to be placed in the perfect spot on the holiday tree, supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A) gleams in a new image from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope. However, this scene is no proverbial silent night – all is not calm.