Juice’s navigation camera gets first taste of space
Thursday, 22 August 2024 14:50
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.
Novel strategy proposed for massive water production on the moon
Thursday, 22 August 2024 14:42
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.
Scout Space, Dawn Aerospace partner for spaceplane surveillance demonstration
Thursday, 22 August 2024 13:45
Lessons from industry can inform satellite and spacecraft management in orbit
Thursday, 22 August 2024 13:32
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.
China to launch “Earth 2.0” exoplanet observatory in 2028
Thursday, 22 August 2024 11:50
SLS contract extension hints at additional Artemis delays
Thursday, 22 August 2024 10:46
Cluster mission set to end with reentry over South Pacific
Thursday, 22 August 2024 07:00
On 8 September 2024, the first of four satellites that make up ESA’s Cluster mission will reenter Earth’s atmosphere over the South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area.
This marks the end of the historic mission, over 24 years after it was sent into space to measure Earth’s magnetic environment. Though the remaining three satellites will also stop making scientific observations, discoveries using existing mission data are expected for years to come.
This ‘targeted reentry’ is the first of its kind. ESA’s efforts to ensure a clean end to the Cluster mission go beyond international standards, making the agency a world-leader in
Europe delivers for Artemis III
Thursday, 22 August 2024 06:02
The European Service Module that will power the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis III mission to the Moon is soon on its way to the United States.
Juice trajectory reset with historic Lunar-Earth flyby
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 21:17
ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) has achieved a significant milestone by completing the world's first lunar-Earth flyby. This maneuver utilized Earth's gravity to set Juice on a course toward Venus, facilitating its journey to Jupiter by navigating through the inner Solar System.
The spacecraft made its closest approach to the Moon at 23:15 CEST (21:15 UTC) on August 19, followed b New data on radiation show missions to Jupiter's moon Europa are possible
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 18:19
Scientists from NASA's Juno mission have developed the first complete 3D radiation map of the Jupiter system, including characterizing the intensity of the high-energy particles near the orbit of the icy moon Europa, and how the radiation environment is sculpted by the smaller Jovian moons orbiting near Jupiter's rings.
The work relies on data collected by Juno's star camera Advanced Stellar Compass (ASC) designed and built by Technical University of Denmark, and Stellar Reference Unit (SRU), which was built by Leonardo, S.p.A. in Florence, Italy. The two datasets complement one another, helping Juno scientists characterize the radiation environment at different energies.
Planets Hold More Water in Their Interiors Than Previously Believed
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:51
For years, scientists have modeled planets based on Earth's structure-an iron core, a silicate mantle, and surface water. This model has often been applied to exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system. However, "it is only in recent years that we have begun to realize that planets are more complex than we had thought," explains Caroline Dorn, Professor for Exoplanets at ETH Zurich.
E Engineers conduct first in-orbit test of swarm satellite autonomous navigation
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:51
In the future, teams of smaller satellites, referred to by scientists as a "swarm," may collaborate to offer enhanced accuracy, agility, and autonomy, replacing large, costly individual space satellites. Researchers at Stanford University's Space Rendezvous Lab are at the forefront of this development, having recently completed the inaugural in-orbit test of a prototype system that navigates a s NASA Awards $1.25 Million to Teams Innovating Space Food Production
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:51
NASA has granted $1.25 million to three U.S. teams during the final round of the Deep Space Food Challenge, recognizing their pioneering technologies designed to produce safe, nutritious, and flavorful food for long-term space missions.
These innovative food production systems aim to support the sustainability of food supplies for future space exploration, including NASA's Artemis missions