Copernical Team
Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission Prepares for Launch
Space Systems Command's (SSC) two Enhanced Polar System Recapitalization (EPS-R) payloads, integrated with Space Norway's Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) vehicles, have arrived at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The satellites are set for final integration with the launch vehicle, targeting a dual launch as early as July. The payloads and host vehicles received shipment
SpaceX launches U.S. spy satellites from Vandenberg
SpaceX launched spy satellites for the United States from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday night. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at the opening of a two-hour window, 8:14 p.m. PDT. The United States' National Reconnaissance Office described the classified mission as "the second launch of NRO's proliferated architecture, delivering critical sp
Ahead of Ariane 6 launch, what are the other big rockets?
Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket is due to blast off for the first time next week, but it will launch into a quickly changing market for heavy space launchers increasingly dominated by SpaceX. Here are some of the other big rockets competing for the lucrative job of hauling satellites and other missions into space. - Ariane 6 - The first flight of the European Space Agency's biggest roc
Japan succesfully launches H3 next-gen rocket with new observation satellite
In its third attempt in more than a year, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency successfully launched Monday its new H3 rocket carrying with it this time an observation satellite intended to monitor damage on Earth from natural disasters. "Today, the payload, Daichi-4, was deployed into its operational environment - space - and has commenced its mission," Hiroshi Yamakawa, JAXA's pre
Europe's Ariane 6 rocket finally ready for liftoff
Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket is set for its first-ever launch next week, carrying with it the continent's hopes of regaining independent access to space and fending off soaring competition from Elon Musk's SpaceX. After four years of delays, the European Space Agency's (ESA) most powerful rocket yet is finally due to blast off from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 3:00 pm (180
New satellite to show how AI advances Earth observation
Artificial intelligence technologies have achieved remarkable successes and continue to show their value as backbones in scientific research and real-world applications.
ESA’s new Φsat-2 mission, launching in the coming weeks, will push the boundaries of AI for Earth observation – demonstrating the transformative potential of AI for space technology.
ESA astronaut class of 2022: Astro Chat with Katherine Bennell-Pegg
Australian Space Agency astronaut candidate Katherine Bennell-Pegg joined ESA’s astronaut candidates from the class of 2022 for basic training through a cooperation agreement with ESA. Tune in as she shares her experiences in astronaut training, her favourite lessons, and what keeps her inspired on her journey to the stars!
This is episode 7 of our ESA Explores podcast series introducing the ESA astronaut class of 2022, recorded in March 2024.
Find out more about the ESA astronaut class of 2022.
Happy launch anniversary, Euclid!
Several team members wish Euclid a happy first launch anniversary in their own language. ESA’s Euclid satellite launched on 1 July 2023 on a SpaceX Falcon 9, and now resides in an orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2. During its mission, Euclid will observe billions of galaxies out to ten billion light-years over one third of the sky to study dark matter and dark energy.
The team members in order of appearance:
Prof. Carole Mundell – ESA Director of Science,
Dr. Valeria Pettorino – Euclid Project Scientist,
Iris Nijman – Euclid communication team,
Dr. René Laureijs – Euclid Project Scientist,
Dr.
Nanomedicine Promises Cure for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
One of most lethal forms of cancer, Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PADC), has been classed on wrong side of chemosensitivity scale- those varieties that are very resistant to chemotherapy. The prognosis for PADC diagnosed at a late stage is poor, with a 5-year survival of less than 10%. However, nanomedicine may actually help constitute a plausible avenue for improving effectiveness of PADC t
Samples from Lunar Far Side thicker and stickier
China's Chang'e 6 robotic probe has successfully retrieved 1,935.3 grams of lunar samples from the moon's far side, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday morning. These samples, now in the hands of scientists, are considered scientifically invaluable. The weight of the samples, eagerly anticipated by the scientific community, was disclosed during a handover ceremo