Copernical Team
ESA taps NanoAvionics to build large cubesat for EU IOD IOV mission
ESA, acting through ESTEC, has chosen Lithuania-based Kongsberg NanoAvionics to deliver a large cubesat platform for the European Union's in-orbit demonstration and validation program. Under the IHE1-5 Cubesat project, the company will provide a 12-16U spacecraft to host multiple European payloads for flight testing.
NanoAvionics will handle end-to-end delivery, including spacecraft design Beyond Gravity boosts Swiss production of solar array mechanisms
Beyond Gravity has expanded its Swiss production capacity for solar array drive mechanisms (SADMs) by doubling its manufacturing floor area, enabling a fivefold increase in annual output from 36 to 200 units. The expansion underscores the company's growing role in supplying critical satellite hardware to the global space industry.
"These mechanisms allow satellites to continuously align th Ancient Heavy Water Found in Planet-Forming Disk Reveals Solar Origins of Earth's Oceans
Astronomers have detected "heavy water" in a planet-forming disk for the first time, uncovering compelling evidence that much of the water in our Solar System predates the Sun itself. The discovery provides new insight into how ancient interstellar ice survived the violent birth of stars and planetary systems.
Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), researchers ident AI model sharpens solar forecasts to support satellite network stability
Accurate solar radiation forecasting is crucial for the stability of photovoltaic power systems, yet current models often blur as prediction time increases. Addressing this challenge, researchers led by Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology have unveiled an AI-based solution called GAN-Solar, designed to generate sharper, more reliable forecasts for solar energy management. Foldable solar sails could help with aerobraking and atmospheric reentry
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SpaceX veteran lays out impulse space's roadmap for making deliveries to the moon
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ESA Open Day 2025: An Unforgettable Journey Through Space Science at ESAC
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English ESA Open Day 2025: An Unforgettable Journey Through Space Science at ESAC
On 4 October 2025, the European Space Agency opened the doors of ESAC – the European Space Astronomy Centre near Madrid – for an inspiring day of discovery. Visitors had the opportunity to explore ESA’s window to the Universe, where missions studying our Solar System, the Milky Way and the distant Universe are operated and analysed.
Throughout the day, guests met ESA scientists and engineers, learned about missions such as Gaia, XMM-Newton, and JUICE, and experienced hands-on activities that brought the wonders of astrophysics and planetary
Flying through the biggest solar storm ever recorded
No communication or navigation, faulty electronics and collision risk. At ESA’s mission control in Darmstadt, teams faced a scenario unlike any before: a solar storm of extreme magnitude. Fortunately, this nightmare unfolded not in reality, but as part of the simulation campaign for Sentinel-1D, pushing the boundaries of spacecraft operations and space weather preparedness.
Printable aluminum alloy sets strength records, may enable lighter aircraft parts
MIT engineers have developed a printable aluminum alloy that can withstand high temperatures and is five times stronger than traditionally manufactured aluminum.
The new printable metal is made from a mix of aluminum and other elements that the team identified using a combination of simulations and machine learning, which significantly pruned the number of possible combinations of material Composite metal foam endures repeated heavy loads at 400C and 600C
New research led at NC State shows composite metal foam, or CMF, retains exceptional performance under high temperature cyclic loading. The team reports the lightweight material withstood repeated heavy compressive loads at 400C and 600C without failure, highlighting potential uses from automobile engines and aircraft components to nuclear power technologies.
"CMF has many attractive prope