Copernical Team
Potential seen for US-China space relations
China's recent retrieval of the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon has renewed talks about the possibilities of the United States and China joining in space-based research programs aimed at addressing global challenges, particularly climate change. "The US and China each have very innovative space programs, and one area, for example, where the US and China could work together
HySpex Payloads Successfully Complete Key Diurnal Stratospheric Flight
Sceye, an aerospace company known for its expertise in material science and High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), has announced the successful completion of a diurnal stratospheric flight, marking an important milestone toward achieving long-duration solar-powered flights. The HAPS, launched from Sceye's New Mexico facility on August 15th at 7:36 AM MST, landed the next day at 12:21 PM MS
Sentinel-2C sealed in the Vega rocket fairing
As preparations continue to launch the Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite on 4 September, the team at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, has bid farewell to their precious satellite as it was sealed from view within the Vega rocket fairing.
NASA will decide Saturday if Boeing's new capsule is safe enough to fly 2 astronauts back from space
NASA said Thursday it will decide this weekend whether Boeing's new capsule is safe enough to return two astronauts from the International Space Station, where they've been waiting since June.
Physicians work to help prevent vision loss associated with space travel
Physicians at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University are working with Polaris Dawn, the first of the Polaris Program's three human spaceflight missions, to better understand the eye changes many astronauts experience during spaceflight that can leave them with a wide range of symptoms once they return to Earth—from a new need for glasses to significant loss of vision.
The Polaris Program is a first-of-its-kind effort to rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities while continuing to raise funds and awareness for important causes on Earth.
More than 70% of astronauts experience a phenomenon known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome, or SANS, according to NASA. The syndrome can have "a constellation of symptoms, including these changes in vision," said Matt Lyon, MD, director of the MCG Center for Telehealth.
Astronauts can experience other maladies as well when body fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, shift, which can lead to structural changes in the brain.
"The changes start happening on day one," said Lyon, who is also the J. Harold Harrison M.D. Distinguished Chair in Telehealth.
Juice’s navigation camera gets first taste of space
During this week’s lunar-Earth flyby, the Navigation Camera (NavCam) of ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) was tested out in space for the first time.
Lessons from industry can inform satellite and spacecraft management in orbit
Most space mission systems historically have used one spacecraft designed to complete an entire mission independently. Whether it was a weather satellite or a human-crewed module like Apollo, nearly every spacecraft was deployed and performed its one-off mission completely on its own.
But today, space industry organizations are exploring missions with many satellites working together. For example, SpaceX's Starlink constellations include thousands of satellites. And new spacecraft could soon have the capability to link up or engage with other satellites in orbit for repairs or refueling.
Some of these spacecraft are already operating and serving customers, such as Northrop Grumman's mission extension vehicle. This orbiting craft has extended the lives of multiple communications satellites.
Novel strategy proposed for massive water production on the moon
Water plays a crucial role in human survival on the lunar surface, thus attracting extensive research attention. Prof. Wang Junqiang's team at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has recently developed a new method of massive water production through a reaction between lunar regolith and endogenous hydrogen.
Research results of previous lunar explorations, like the Apollo and Chang'E-5 missions, have revealed the widespread presence of water on the moon. However, the water content in lunar minerals is extremely low, ranging from 0.0001% to 0.02%. It remains challenging to extract and utilize water in situ on the moon.
"We used lunar regolith samples brought back by the Chang'E-5 mission in our study, trying to find a way to produce water on the moon," said Wang.
Sentinel-2 website
Copernicus Sentinel-2
Marlink launches customizable Starlink LEO data plans for hybrid networks
Marlink, a prominent provider of managed business-critical ICT services, has introduced new customizable Starlink LEO internet plans as part of its hybrid network offerings. These plans cater to a wide range of industries, including maritime, onshore and offshore energy, enterprise, and leisure boating, with data packages ranging from 10GB to unlimited. Customers can now tailor their Starl