Copernical Team
Astroscale launches SPACE PROTECTOR simulator to educate on space debris
Astroscale has unveiled a new educational tool called "SPACE PROTECTOR by Astroscale" simulator game. SPACE PROTECTOR is a simulation game where players act as satellite operations engineers, using advanced robotics to capture inactive satellites in a realistic space setting. This game aims to educate players on the pressing issue of space debris. With over 130 million pieces of debris orb
Parker Solar Probe unlocks secrets of the Sun's surface dynamics
NASA's Parker Solar Probe has provided unprecedented insights into the dynamics of the Sun's surface, revolutionizing our understanding of solar activity. The spacecraft, which has made several close passes to the Sun, has collected critical data that reveal new details about solar winds and magnetic fields. "The Parker Solar Probe has allowed us to observe the Sun in ways that were not po
Organic macromolecules form quickly in star-forming regions
An international research team led by the Netherlands has utilized observation-based computer modeling to explain how macromolecules form rapidly in disks of gas and dust surrounding young stars. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Astronomy. Planetary scientists have long held that the organic macromolecules making Earth hospitable to life originate from chondrites, primiti
New insights into the formation of organic macromolecules in space
Astronomers from the University of Bern have revealed significant insights into how organic macromolecules form in space. These molecules, essential for life, have long intrigued scientists. The latest findings, published in Nature Astronomy, shed light on the processes behind their formation in the interstellar medium. The researchers employed advanced observational techniques and theoret
Rocket Lab prepares twin spacecraft for NASA Mars mission
Rocket Lab has successfully integrated and tested two spacecraft that will support NASA's upcoming Mars mission. This major milestone demonstrates Rocket Lab's capability in developing interplanetary spacecraft. The twin spacecraft, part of NASA's EscaPADE mission (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers), are designed to study the Martian magnetosphere. The mission aims to p
Has NASA found evidence of ancient life on Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover has discovered some intriguing signs that ancient Mars could have supported life. This news comes from the analysis of a new sample of mudstone, a type of sedimentary rock, which is believed to have formed in the presence of water. Perseverance's main mission is to search for signs of past life in Jezero crater, which was once home to an ancient river delta. The r
DART reveals insights on binary asteroid system
NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission has provided new data on the binary asteroid system it targeted. Launched with the goal of testing planetary defense techniques, DART's success in altering the trajectory of an asteroid has garnered significant scientific interest. The mission targeted a binary asteroid system consisting of Didymos and its moonlet, Dimorphos. DART's pr
Virtual engagement opportunities for Northrop Grumman's 21st Resupply Mission
NASA invites the public to join virtual activities and events leading up to the launch of Northrop Grumman's 21st commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. The launch is scheduled for 8:31 p.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 10, 2024, from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. The public can register to virtually attend the launch. NASA's virtual g
One year on 'Mars': Inside NASA's ultra-realistic isolation study
Sealed inside a habitat in Texas and cut off from the outside world for over a year, Kelly Haston was the commander of a first-of-its-kind simulation for NASA to prepare for a future mission to Mars.
From conducting mock "Marswalks" to tending to a vertical garden, and occasionally grappling with boredom— Haston expressed pride in advancing the cause of space exploration while admitting the experience made her reconsider the reality of life on the Red Planet.
"Going to space would be an amazing opportunity," the 53-year-old biologist told AFP.