NASA's Lucy mission snaps its first views of Trojan asteroid targets
Friday, 14 April 2023 15:47
Some of the asteroids NASA's Lucy mission will visit are still more than 330 million miles (530 million kilometers) away from the spacecraft, which is more than three times the average distance between Earth and the sun. But despite the great distance and the comparatively small sizes of these asteroids, Lucy caught views of four of them recently.
From March 25 to 27, 2023, Lucy used its highest resolution imager, L'LORRI, to capture its first views of four Jupiter Trojan asteroids. From left to right in the above image: Eurybates, Polymele, Leucus, and Orus.
Although the four images are all at the same scale, the orientation of each is different, reflecting the different orientations of the L'LORRI camera as it turned to capture each target.
The targets were also observed for different time periods based on their rotation periods:
- Eurybates images were taken over a span of 6.5 hours.
- Polymele, about 2.5 hours.
- Leucus, 2 hours.
- Orus, 10 hours.
These images are the first in a series of planned observations designed to measure how the Trojan asteroids reflect light at higher angles than is observable from Earth.
New reports explain why security in space is fragile
Friday, 14 April 2023 14:37
As more nations seek to explore the vast expanse of space, there is increasing competition and congestion in orbit, according to two new reports released April 14.
Juice post-launch briefing replay
Friday, 14 April 2023 14:00
Video:
00:28:00
Watch a replay of the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) post-launch briefing, live from ESA’s European Spacecraft Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany.
ESA’s Juice mission was launched into space on an Ariane 5 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 13 April 2023, on an eight-year cruise to Jupiter. It will make detailed observations of gas giant Jupiter and its three large ocean-bearing moons – Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.
ESA’s Juice lifts off on quest to discover secrets of Jupiter’s icy moons
Friday, 14 April 2023 13:00
ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) lifted off on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana at 14:14 CEST on 14 April. The successful launch marks the beginning of an ambitious voyage to uncover the secrets of the ocean worlds around giant planet Jupiter.
The next battle for U.S. military launch contracts is about to begin
Friday, 14 April 2023 13:00
In the fiercely competitive space launch industry, United Launch Alliance and SpaceX have established themselves as the reigning providers of U.S.
Juice launch broadcast replay
Friday, 14 April 2023 13:00
Video:
02:22:14
Watch a replay of the launch broadcast for ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, Juice.
Juice was launched into space on an Ariane 5 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 14 April 2023, on an eight-year cruise to Jupiter. It will make detailed observations of gas giant Jupiter and its three large ocean-bearing moons – Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.
The programme includes live segments from the Spaceport and ESA’s European Spacecraft Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany.
European spacecraft on way to Jupiter and its icy moons
Friday, 14 April 2023 12:52
Week in images: 10-14 April 2023
Friday, 14 April 2023 12:05
Week in images: 10-14 April 2023
Discover our week through the lens
Time to designate space systems as critical infrastructure
Friday, 14 April 2023 12:04
Space systems are fundamental to U.S. national and economic security. Despite the fact that an array of critical infrastructure and national critical functions rely on space systems, they are not one of our designated critical infrastructure sectors.
Europe's Jupiter probe launched
Friday, 14 April 2023 11:38
The European Space Agency's JUICE mission to explore Jupiter's icy, ocean-bearing moons has blasted off, a day after the first launch attempt was called off due to the threat of lightning. More to comerana at 1214 GMT, 30 seconds earlier than Thursday's aborted effort. If successful, the uncrewed, six-tonne spacecraft will leave Earth orbit for on an eight-year journey through the Solar System aimi SpaceLogistics to service Intelsat satellite after Optus life-extending mission
Friday, 14 April 2023 11:22
Intelsat has ordered one of three fuel pods Northrop Grumman’s in-orbit servicing subsidiary is launching in late 2024 to extend the life of one of its geostationary satellites by at least six years, the operator announced April 13.
Juice liftoff
Friday, 14 April 2023 11:20
Video:
00:01:38
ESA’s latest interplanetary mission, Juice, lifted off on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, at 14:14 CEST on 14 April 2023 to begin its eight-year journey to Jupiter, where it will study in detail the gas giant planet’s three large ocean-bearing moons: Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.
Juice – JUpiter ICy moons Explorer – is humankind’s next bold mission to the outer Solar System. This ambitious mission will characterise Ganymede, Callisto and Europa with a powerful suite of remote sensing, geophysical and in situ instruments to discover more about these compelling destinations as potential habitats for past or present
In Navy experiment, commercial satellites serve as key weapons against drug traffickers
Friday, 14 April 2023 11:18
First ispace mission ready for lunar landing as company stock starts trading
Friday, 14 April 2023 10:58
As Japanese company ispace prepares to land on the moon for the first time, its stock is taking off on a Japanese exchange.
Europe's Jupiter probe set for new launch attempt
Friday, 14 April 2023 10:46
The European Space Agency's JUICE mission to explore Jupiter's icy, ocean-bearing moons will again try to blast off on Friday, a day after the first launch attempt was called off due to the threat of lightning.
The spacecraft is scheduled to launch on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 1214 GMT, 30 seconds earlier than Thursday's aborted effort.
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