Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 25, 2023
Size matters when it comes to the formation of planets from cosmic dust, according to a team of astrophysicists from Tohoku University. The researchers' simulations found that the larger the dust aggregate, the less likely it is to stick together following a collision, an observation that may have significant implications for our understanding of planetary evolution. The formation of new p

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 25, 2023
The cosmic lineage of the second-generation carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu can be traced back to a distant past and a far-flung location in our solar system, according to recent studies on the space rock's anhydrous minerals. The infrared spectra of these grains provide a link between the initial reservoirs, from which Ryugu's progenitor arose, and those that birthed primitive asteroids and comets

London, UK (SPX) Jul 25, 2023
Following a close consultation with the space sector, the UK Space Agency recently unveiled the Space Exploration Technology Roadmap, a strategic guide that will shape the direction of research, development, and funding allocation for the next ten years. The plan anticipates working closely with key international partners, including NASA, the European Space Agency, and JAXA (Japan's space agency

Teams preparing Ariane 6 for its inaugural flight successfully completed for the first time a launcher preparation and countdown sequence, on 18 July at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Globally, more than 70% of the freshwater withdrawn from Earth’s surface or from underground is used to irrigate crops. The need to produce more food for a growing population against the backdrop of climate change is challenging enough, but satellites reveal that extracting water doesn’t just affect the local environment – there are knock-on consequences for many aspects of the Earth system.

Satellites will soon be used to keep an independent eye on airborne planes, under a deal agreed between ESA and Spire Global, a company that provides space-based data, analytics and space services.

Image: Rhodes wildfire forces thousands to flee

New measurements by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) has detected water vapour in the inner disc of the system PDS 70, located 370 light-years away. This is the first detection of water in the terrestrial region of a disc already known to host two or more protoplanets.

Launching soon on one of the next cargo missions to the International Space Station is the Multi-Needle Langmuir Probe that will measure the “weather” in the upper atmosphere. The experiment is part of ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen’s Huginn mission climate science.

A robotic arm – entirely developed and built in Europe – that enables a satellite to change and control its orbit fuel efficiently has passed its qualification review for launch into space on the OneSat range of satellites.