Copernical Team
SwRI investigates boiling processes in partial gravity
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Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is examining how liquids boil under partial gravity in a series of parabolic flights. This internally funded project, conducted with Texas A and M University, aims to understand boiling on different surfaces in partial gravity, which is crucial for future space missions to the Moon or Mars.
"We have so little data about how boiling works in reduced gravi A new process for the synthesis of rare nuclei in the universe
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A new nucleosynthesis process, called the r-Process, has been proposed by scientists from GSI, and the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics. This r-Process occurs when neutron-rich material is exposed to a high flux of neutrinos. The theoretical proposal, recently published in "Physical Review Letters," may solve the long-standing issue of the production of certain rare isotopes found in the so World's first high-definition lunar geologic atlas revealed
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The first high-definition geologic atlas of the entire Moon, scaled at 1:2.5 million, was unveiled on April 21.
The atlas, available in Chinese and English, consists of the Geologic Atlas of the Lunar Globe and the Map Quadrangles of the Geologic Atlas of the Moon (including explanatory manual). The Geologic Atlas of the Lunar Globe includes the Geologic Map of the Moon, the Lithologic Map Catalyzing a Lunar Economy: DARPA's Initial Findings from LunA-10 Study
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The expansion of commercial space capabilities has transformed how we deliver mass and services to the Moon. These capabilities could create a real off-Earth economy if they operate jointly. An underlying analytical framework emphasizing integrated models of economic activity is needed to bridge current approaches to lunar system development and an integrated future lunar economy. This framework Tracing organic matter origins in Martian sediments
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Scientists are investigating Martian sediments to understand early environmental conditions and potential signs of past life. Sediments collected by the Curiosity rover from Gale Crater, an ancient lake formed 3.8 billion years ago, revealed organic matter with a lower carbon-13 isotope content than Earth's, suggesting different formation processes on Mars.
A study in Nature Geoscience on SpaceX shows off its new extravehicular activity suit
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In February 2022, SpaceX and entrepreneur/philanthropist Jared Isaacman (commander of the Inspiration4 mission) announced they were launching a new program to "rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities" while supporting important charitable and humanitarian causes here on Earth. It's called the Polaris Program.
In a recent press release, SpaceX revealed the spacesuits its Polaris astronauts will be wearing and described the research that the crews will conduct during the program's three human spaceflight missions—the first of which is scheduled to launch this summer.
These missions will build on the company's experience with NASA's Commercial Crew Delivery (CCD) program, where NASA certified SpaceX's Crew Dragon vehicle to transport crews to the International Space Station (ISS). According to the company's press statement, the new suits are an evolution of the Intravehicular Activity (IVA) suit currently used by Dragon crews. This included the crew of the Demo-2 mission, which validated the flight system and was the first crewed mission to take off from U.S.
FAA initiates environmental impact study for SpaceX Starship launches from Kennedy Space Center
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SpaceX's plans to build a Starship launch complex at Kennedy Space Center are moving closer to reality even as it potentially takes over a launch site from neighboring Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it was beginning an Environmental Impact Statement for Starship launches from KSC's Launch Complex 39-A. SpaceX had already built the beginning of a Starship launch tower adjacent to its existing pad that supports Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches.
Noticeable work on that new launch tower stopped in late 2022 as SpaceX shifted focus to develop its Starship and Super Heavy rocket from its Texas test launch site where it has managed three flights with varying degrees of success. The powerful rocket produces more than 16 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, nearly double that of NASA's Space Launch System rocket for its Artemis program.
The most recent launch in March saw the Starship upper stage finally achieve orbit before it burned up on reentry over the Indian Ocean while the Super Heavy booster crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.
US to raise concerns at first China AI talks
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The United States and China will hold their first talks on artificial intelligence on Tuesday, with Washington set to raise concerns about Beijing's use of the fast-emerging technology, US officials said.
The inaugural dialogue - announced without a date during Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit last month to Beijing - will take place in Geneva involving senior officials.
US off Looking to the Stars: The Science Behind Different Solar Eclipses
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For the keen-eyed astronomers among us, it's rapidly approaching eclipse season. With a total lunar eclipse set to occur in North America on April 8, 2024, there's never been a better time to learn about the different types of solar eclipses.
Eclipses are a fascinating astronomical event - historically, many cultures assumed that they disrupted the natural order - in some instances, they w Third time could prove lucky for aurora viewers around the world
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Anyone who missed the dazzling auroras dancing across night skies earlier this weekend will get another chance Sunday evening, as the powerful geomagnetic storm hitting the Earth is expected to intensify yet again.
"Several intense Coronal Mass Ejections are still anticipated to reach the Earth's outer atmosphere by later today," the US National Weather Service said.
Those ejections - 
