Copernical Team
Juice’s navigation camera gets first taste of space
During this week’s lunar-Earth flyby, the Navigation Camera (NavCam) of ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) was tested out in space for the first time.
Lessons from industry can inform satellite and spacecraft management in orbit
Most space mission systems historically have used one spacecraft designed to complete an entire mission independently. Whether it was a weather satellite or a human-crewed module like Apollo, nearly every spacecraft was deployed and performed its one-off mission completely on its own.
But today, space industry organizations are exploring missions with many satellites working together. For example, SpaceX's Starlink constellations include thousands of satellites. And new spacecraft could soon have the capability to link up or engage with other satellites in orbit for repairs or refueling.
Some of these spacecraft are already operating and serving customers, such as Northrop Grumman's mission extension vehicle. This orbiting craft has extended the lives of multiple communications satellites.
Novel strategy proposed for massive water production on the moon
Water plays a crucial role in human survival on the lunar surface, thus attracting extensive research attention. Prof. Wang Junqiang's team at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has recently developed a new method of massive water production through a reaction between lunar regolith and endogenous hydrogen.
Research results of previous lunar explorations, like the Apollo and Chang'E-5 missions, have revealed the widespread presence of water on the moon. However, the water content in lunar minerals is extremely low, ranging from 0.0001% to 0.02%. It remains challenging to extract and utilize water in situ on the moon.
"We used lunar regolith samples brought back by the Chang'E-5 mission in our study, trying to find a way to produce water on the moon," said Wang.
Sentinel-2 website
Copernicus Sentinel-2
Marlink launches customizable Starlink LEO data plans for hybrid networks
Marlink, a prominent provider of managed business-critical ICT services, has introduced new customizable Starlink LEO internet plans as part of its hybrid network offerings. These plans cater to a wide range of industries, including maritime, onshore and offshore energy, enterprise, and leisure boating, with data packages ranging from 10GB to unlimited. Customers can now tailor their Starl
Scientists investigate cosmic chemistry for clues to life's origins
Researchers are exploring the chemical processes in space that could have led to the formation of prebiotic molecules, which are crucial to the development of life on Earth and potentially elsewhere. A study led by undergraduate students Kennedy Barnes and Rong Wu at Wellesley College, under the guidance of professors Christopher Arumainayagam and James Battat, focuses on the impact of low-energ
Juice captures striking image of Moon during flyby
In a pivotal moment during the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) mission, the spacecraft captured an impressive image of the Moon while performing the first-ever lunar-Earth flyby. This image was taken by Juice's monitoring camera 1 (JMC1) at 23:25 CEST on 19 August 2024, shortly after the spacecraft made its closest pass by the Moon. This maneuver successfully altered Juice's trajectory,
The means for mapping Martian meteorites
Researchers have identified the specific locations from which most of the approximately 200 Martian meteorites originate. They've traced the meteorites to five impact craters within two volcanic regions on the red planet called Tharsis and Elysium. Their study was published recently in the journal Science Advances. Martian meteorites find their way to Earth when something hits the surface
Latin America utilizes satellite data and AI for governmental and environmental watch
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a prominent provider of Earth observation data, recently highlighted key partnerships across Central and South America at its "Planet On The Road" event in Bogota, Colombia. The conference featured discussions led by data specialists, AI experts, and government representatives from Brazil, Colombia, and Bolivia on the integration of satellite data into various sectors
UK to build military test site to combat GPS jamming
The UK is to build a new facility to help protect military equipment against foreign GPS jamming, the defence ministry announced on Wednesday amid a rise in hostile threats. The so-called silent hangar site will aim to protect equipment from "attempts to jam GPS devices" and develop kit that can "perform in the harshest electromagnetic environment on operations", the MoD said. The facili