Copernical Team
International astronomy group joins calls for a lunar clock to keep time on the moon
Time moves a tad faster on the moon. Now an international group of astronomers has joined calls to give the moon its own clock so that future space missions can keep track of minutes on the celestial body.
The International Astronomical Union voted Thursday encouraging space organizations across the globe to collaborate on a timekeeping standard for the moon, where one day lasts 29.5 Earth days.
"That's the crux of our resolution: to work together to establish this standard time," U.S. Naval Observatory's Susan Stewart said this week at the group's conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
Satellites are making the night sky brighter—as a launch site, NZ has a duty to combat light pollution
New Zealand's space sector has been developing rapidly since the first rocket lifted off in 2017. It now contributes about NZ$1.7 billion in revenue, with plans to grow to $10 billion by 2030.
Last year, New Zealand hosted seven rocket launches, all by the US-listed but local company Rocket Lab. It was in response to Rocket Lab's initial proposal for a launch site that New Zealand developed a regulatory system from scratch in less than two years to meet obligations under international law.
All launch nations have to register every object they send into space, and continue to supervise those objects to ensure no damage or loss occurs to another country's objects or activities. They also have a responsibility to compensate for any harm.
As well, countries must prevent contamination of outer space and Earth's environment, and ensure space activity does not interfere with other countries' rights to free access and participation.
Innovative Sound-Based System Enhances Wind Measurement on Mars
Mars presents a challenging environment for measuring wind speeds due to its extreme temperatures, thin atmosphere, and dusty terrain. Traditional methods, such as gauging the cooling rate of heated materials or using cameras to observe "tell-tales" swayed by the wind, have provided valuable data on Martian weather. However, as plans to send astronauts to the red planet progress, there is a grow Evidence of Hydration Found on Asteroid Psyche by SwRI-Led Team
A team led by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has identified hydroxyl molecules on the surface of the metallic asteroid Psyche using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The discovery of these hydrated minerals suggests that Psyche has a more complex history than previously understood, providing key insights as NASA's Psyche spacecraft makes its way to the asteroid, currently orb NASA Opens Submissions for 2025 Human Lander Challenge Targeting Cryogenic Solutions
NASA's Human Lander Challenge (HuLC) is now accepting submissions for its second year. As part of NASA's Artemis campaign, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and prepare for future Mars missions, the agency is seeking innovative ideas from college and university students. This year, the focus is on developing cryogenic propellant technologies for human landing systems.
For the 202 Maritime Launch Services Partners with Global Launch Vehicle Developer for Orbital Launches at Spaceport Nova Scotia
Maritime Launch Services Inc. (Cboe CA: MAXQ, OTCQB: MAXQF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a leading international launch vehicle operator to initiate the deployment of a small-class orbital vehicle from Spaceport Nova Scotia.
This MOU is a pivotal development for Canada's growing role in global space activities, enhancing Spaceport Nova Scotia's position as a premier New Interactive TEMPO Data Story Offers Public Access to Air Quality Information
NASA and the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard and Smithsonian have announced the public availability of "high-quality, near real-time air quality data" from NASA's TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution) mission. Launched on May 30, 2024, this data release is part of an ongoing effort to enhance public understanding of air quality. The NASA Science Activation program's Cosmic Da Viasat Enhances L-TAC Satellite Service with On-Demand Features
Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, has introduced the next phase of its L-band tactical satellite service, L-TAC, offering new capabilities that allow users to access the service on-demand when and where needed. The L-TAC service, facilitated through Viasat's extensive L-band network, connects radio users and command centers across the globe by utilizing ta Cosmic Ray Data from AMS Reveals Unexpected Deuteron Surplus
Scientists analyzing data from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station have encountered an unexpected abundance of cosmic rays composed of deuterons - atomic nuclei containing a proton and a neutron. This surprising discovery adds to the growing list of unanticipated findings from AMS, which has been operational since 2011 and has detected over 238 billion co Researchers Develop Advanced Silicon Photonic Chip for GPS-Free Navigation
Inside devices like smartphones, fitness trackers, and virtual reality headsets, small motion sensors track movement. Larger, more sophisticated versions of these sensors, about the size of a grapefruit and significantly more accurate, are used to help navigate ships, airplanes, and other vehicles with GPS assistance.
Scientists are now working to create a motion sensor so precise that it 
