Lightweight but robust, aluminium is the single most versatile space material. A new ESA project extends this versatility still further, by investigating the production of big aluminium mirrors for space-based astronomy. Applying a novel technique, the team joined together multiple aluminium segments to form a single mirror. The resulting surface had to be optically perfect however, with no trace left of joins in the combined metal.

Gottingen, Germany (SPX) Dec 06, 2023
Nestled just north of the Danube in southern Germany, the Nordlinger Ries presents a striking geological feature: a large, circular depression surrounded by hills, created by an asteroid impact nearly 15 million years ago. This site has become a critical reference point for understanding similar craters on early Mars, particularly since NASA's exploration of Martian craters began in earnest.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 04, 2023
PathFinder Digital has recently been awarded U.S. Patent # 11,831,346 for a novel satellite communication antenna system, termed MONDO (Multi Orbit Network, Dual Operation terminal), signifying a significant advancement in military communication technology. This newly patented design is set to reshape the landscape of satellite communications, particularly in military contexts. MONDO is sp

London, UK (SPX) Dec 06, 2023
The UK Space Agency, via its participation in the European Space Agency (ESA), has sanctioned significant contracts to two major aerospace entities - Airbus UK and Teledyne e2v. Airbus UK has secured nearly 95 million pounds, while Teledyne e2v has been granted 9 million pounds for their roles in the pivotal TRUTHS mission. Airbus UK's substantial funding is earmarked for the meticulous de

London UK (SPX) Dec 06, 2023
Eutelsat OneWeb, part of the Eutelsat Group and a pioneer as the world's first GEO-LEO satellite operator, has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Imperial College London. This partnership aims to leverage the power of its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to enable comprehensive global space weather monitoring. Such monitoring is essential to safeguard satellite operations

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 06, 2023
A groundbreaking study, led by Prof. Li and his team, has leveraged high-resolution satellite data to investigate the local temperature responses to actual land cover changes (LCCs) across various latitudes. Traditionally, research in this area was hindered by the coarse resolution of available data, which often necessitated the use of a space-for-time substitution to hypothesize potential effec

Sydney, Australiaq (SPX) Dec 07, 2023
Cultivate Space, a Beijing-based private satellite company, has commenced the construction of a meteorological satellite network, as announced by a company executive. The inaugural satellite in this ambitious network, named Tianyan 16, was successfully launched on Tuesday using a Ceres 1 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China's Gobi Desert. Tian

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

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