Copernical Team
Small wooden satellite heads to International Space Station
The first wood-panel satellite is on a SpaceX flight to the International Space Station, where it will test the durability of wood in space. Japanese researchers built a small satellite weighing about two pounds. The satellite, LignoSat, will arrive at the space station on a SpaceX flight and then be released into orbit. Officials said the panels were made from a type of magnolia
Health research on the ISS aims to uncover impacts of spaceflight on blood
The International Space Station (ISS) showcases remarkable engineering that sustains human life in the extreme environment of space. However, it cannot fully counter the health risks posed by zero gravity and increased cosmic radiation, which may significantly impact astronauts' well-being. A collaborative team of ground-based scientists and NASA crew members is extending health research i
NASA, Bhutan Conclude Five Years of Teamwork on STEM, Sustainability
NASA and the Kingdom of Bhutan have been actively learning from each other and growing together since 2019. The seeds planted over those years have ripened into improved environmental conservation, community-based natural resource management, and new remote sensing tools. Known for its governing philosophy of "gross national happiness," [Bhutan] has a constitutional mandate to maintain at
Russia launches record 55 satellites, including 2 Iranian-made
Russia launched 55 satellites into orbit on Tuesday, including two privately built Iranian devices, amid deepening ties between Moscow and Tehran. A Soyuz rocket blasted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East at 02:18 Moscow time (2318 GMT on Monday) carrying the satellites, Russia's Roscosmos space agency said. In total, Roscosmos said 51 Russian satellites, one Russian-
Japan launches H3 rocket with defense satellite to boost secure communications
Japan successfully launched its H3 rocket on Monday, carrying a defense communications satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. This launch is part of Japan's strategy to strengthen its secure communications network, specifically enhancing information-sharing capabilities among the nation's Self-Defense Forces. The H3 rocket, developed by the Japan Aerospace Exp
Curtin and NASA unlock ocean secrets from space
Curtin University has joined forces with NASA, University of Miami, San Jose State University and the National Institute of Standards and Technology on a new-generation satellite mission to study the colour of the ocean from space, providing vital information about ocean health and its role in climate regulation. Researchers recently deployed a 15-metre-tall buoy off the coast of Perth, We
Voyager 1 nearly 'one light day' out from Earth
NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has recently resumed communication with Earth following a brief pause that drew attention to the mission's ongoing challenges and remarkable resilience. On Oct. 24, engineers re-established contact after the spacecraft unexpectedly switched off one of its two radio transmitters, an issue likely prompted by Voyager's fault protection system. This system autonomously ma
Centaur Upper Stage Exhibit Honors Longstanding Contributions to Space Program
An exhibit spotlighting the essential role of the Centaur upper stage in U.S. space operations was introduced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 18 at Los Angeles Air Force Base, the home of Space Systems Command (SSC). Designed to inspire and inform future Space Force Guardians, the exhibit features the Centaur III upper stage and its RL10 rocket engine, both of which have been instrumen
From Contract Signing to Orbit in Just Ten Weeks Rocket Lab Marks 54th Electron Mission with Speedy Deployment
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) achieved a new milestone with the successful deployment of a satellite into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for a confidential commercial client. This mission, titled "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes," was launched from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 11:54 p.m. on November 5, 2024. Notably, this mission marked Rocket Lab's 12th
NEOWISE concludes mission with re-entry but data continues to fuel discovery
NASA's NEOWISE (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) mission concluded as planned on Friday night when the spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere, burning up after nearly 15 years in orbit. Originally launched in 2009 as the WISE mission, this resilient spacecraft dedicated itself to capturing infrared images of the sky and revealing unseen aspects of the cosmos. Throug