Copernical Team
NASA's mini BurstCube mission detects mega blast
The shoebox-sized BurstCube satellite has observed its first gamma-ray burst, the most powerful kind of explosion in the universe, according to a recent analysis of observations collected over the last several months. "We're excited to collect science data," said Sean Semper, BurstCube's lead engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "It's an important mileston
ALMA observations reveal gravitational instability in planet-forming disk
Planet formation has traditionally been described as a "bottom-up" process, where dust grains gradually clump together over millions of years, forming larger structures step by step. However, a competing theory suggests that planets can form much faster via a "top-down" process, where material in a protoplanetary disk fragments due to gravitational instability. An international team of ast
3 Questions: Evidence for planetary formation through gravitational instability
Exoplanets form in protoplanetary disks, a collection of space dust and gas orbiting a star. The leading theory of planetary formation, called core accretion, occurs when grains of dust in the disk collect and grow to form a planetary core, like a snowball rolling downhill. Once it has a strong enough gravitational pull, other material collapses around it to form the atmosphere. A secondar
Outer Solar System may hold far more objects than previously thought
New observations of the outer Solar System using the Subaru Telescope have revealed the presence of several unexpected objects, suggesting that the region may be home to a much larger population of celestial bodies than previously believed. These findings could significantly alter our understanding of the Solar System's formation and its similarities to other planetary systems, potentially influ
Scientists demonstrate producing fiber materials from simulated Martian soil
A study conducted by Chinese researchers has confirmed that it is possible to continuously produce fiber materials from Martian soil, suggesting that "in-situ resource utilization" could be achieved in the construction of future Mars bases. A research team from the Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), collaborated with various
China targets Mars sample-return mission by 2028
China is preparing to launch its Tianwen-3 mission with the aim of returning samples from Mars by 2028, a Chinese space expert revealed on Thursday. Liu Jizhong, the chief designer of the Mars sample-return mission, provided details during the 2nd International Deep Space Exploration Conference held in Tunxi, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, China. The mission's primary goal will be t
Why the Martian polar caps show significant differences
For centuries, observers have watched the bright poles of Mars change with the seasons. In the last 50 years, scientists have determined that these polar caps are primarily composed of carbon dioxide that cycles in and out of the atmosphere with the seasons. However, the underlying processes driving these changes are intricate and continue to be a focus of scientific study. In a recent pap
ICEYE and Aon broaden partnership with global flood and US wildfire data agreement
ICEYE, a leader in satellite-powered disaster management, has announced an expanded data licensing agreement with Aon, a global professional services firm. This partnership now includes ICEYE's Flood Insights data globally and Wildfire Insights data for the United States. Through this agreement, Aon will integrate ICEYE's near real-time flood and wildfire data into its event response capab
Floodbase's Enhanced Flood Mapping Technique surpasses NOAA's accuracy
A newly published study in 'Geophysical Research Letters' reveals that Floodbase's flood mapping technology achieves an 11% improvement in accuracy over leading methods, offering more precise flood monitoring and potentially lowering costs for parametric flood insurance. Floodbase, a key provider of flood intelligence and data for disaster management and re/insurance sectors, has developed
UK-US integration key to future of space security
U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. David N. Miller, Jr., commander of Space Operations Command, and Chief Master Sgt. Caleb Lloyd, SpOC senior enlisted leader, met with Airmen, Guardians and UK counterparts during a visit Aug. 27-30. The SpOC command team visited RAF Waddington, Feltwell and High Wycombe to engage with members of the Space Force on morale, readiness, and interoperability with host