Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 07, 2023
In February 2023, leading researchers convened at a NASA-sponsored workshop at the California Institute of Technology to discuss a transformative mission concept: deploying a cryobot to penetrate the icy crusts of Europa and Enceladus in the search for extraterrestrial life. This ambitious initiative is part of NASA's ongoing efforts to explore the potential habitability of these distant ocean w

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 07, 2023
In a historic event that marked a significant milestone in space exploration, the South China Sea became the backdrop for its very first space launch mission. The early morning of Wednesday witnessed the awe-inspiring spectacle of a Smart Dragon 3 carrier rocket lifting off the coast of Yangjiang in Guangdong province. The clock read 3:24 am as the rocket, a creation of the China Academy o

Washington DC (UPI) Dec 6, 2023
Iran took a step closer to sending humans into space on Wednesday as its space agency said it successfully launched a biological capsule into space with animals on board. Officials said the capsule was sent 80 miles into space using an Iranian-built Salman rocket meant to test its launch, recovery and speed control system technologies, along with the capsule's impact shields, aerodynami

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 07, 2023
In a significant move towards fostering a robust lunar economy, DARPA has announced the selection of 14 companies for the 10-Year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) Capability Study. This groundbreaking initiative is set to redefine the approach to lunar infrastructure, transitioning from isolated, self-sufficient systems to an integrated, commercially viable framework. Dr. Michael "Orbit" Nayak

To make the future of Galileo a reality, ESA and European industry are hard at work developing ultra-precise atomic clocks, system testbeds, ground mission and ground control segments and, of course, the satellites. Airbus Defence and Space, who is building six of the Galileo Second Generation constellation satellites, presented their first flight model structure to the programme’s stakeholders last week.

As the planet warms, many parts of the Earth system are undergoing large-scale changes. Ice sheets are shrinking, sea levels are rising and coral reefs are dying off.

While climate records are being continuously broken, the cumulative impact of these changes could also cause fundamental parts of the Earth system to change dramatically. These ‘tipping points’ of climate change are critical thresholds in that, if exceeded, can lead to irreversible consequences.  

Video: 00:11:52

The Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring (CO2M) mission will be the first satellite mission to measure how much carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere through human activity.

CO2M isn't just a mission; it's a crucial step in our commitment to understanding and mitigating climate change. It will offer unprecedented precision in monitoring carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of fossil fuel at national and regional scales.

Its data will provide the EU with a unique and independent source of information to assess the effectiveness of policy measures and to track their impact towards decarbonising Europe ahead of the

Image: Themis ground and flight models

Image: All-in-one YPSat, Ariane 6 bound

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 05, 2023
The Space Development Agency (SDA), a key player in the United States Department of Defense's strategic initiatives, recently announced a significant milestone in space communication technology. In a series of demonstrations held from November 21-27, 2023, the SDA successfully executed the first-ever network entry using the Link 16 system from low Earth orbit (LEO) to a series of terrestrial rec