Copernical Team
SpaceX launches 21 satellites from Florida; another one set Sunday
SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites into orbit from a Falcon 9 rocket Saturday morning in clear skies from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, one day after the mission was scrubbed because of poor booster recovery conditions. The 230-foot rocket lifted off at 8:50 a.m. from pad 40. It was Space X's 52nd launch this year from Florida. Eight minutes later, the booster landed on
Archaeologists conduct first 'space excavation' on ISS and discover surprising quirks of zero-G life
New results from the first archaeological fieldwork conducted in space show the International Space Station is a rich cultural landscape where crew create their own "gravity" to replace Earth's, and adapt module spaces to suit their needs.
Archaeology is usually thought of as the study of the distant past, but it's ideally suited for revealing how people adapt to long-duration spaceflight.
In the SQuARE experiment described in our new paper in PLOS ONE, we re-imagined a standard archaeological method for use in space, and got astronauts to carry it out for us.
Archaeology … in … spaaaaace!
The International Space Station is the first permanent human settlement in space. Close to 280 people have visited it in the past 23 years.
Our team has studied displays of photos, religious icons and artworks made by crew members from different countries, observed the cargo that is returned to Earth, and used NASA's historic photo archive to examine the relationships between crew members who serve together.
EQT in Exclusive Talks to Acquire Majority Stake in Eutelsat's Satellite Ground Station Business
EQT Infrastructure VI fund ("EQT") has initiated exclusive negotiations to acquire an 80% majority stake in Eutelsat Group's Ground Station Infrastructure Business. Eutelsat will retain a 20% share in the newly formed company, valued at an enterprise value of EUR 790 million. The Ground Station Business is a global infrastructure platform with an extensive footprint of satellite ground sta
US, Australia collaborate to enhance GPS resilience in contested environments
Members of the Australian Department of Defence recently joined forces with the Joint Navigation Warfare Center to put GPS devices to the test. The goal was to assess their performance under simulated jamming conditions and enhance their resilience in contested environments. The combined effort brought together experts from both nations. Personnel from the Australian Joint Positioning, Nav
A 'FURST' of its Kind: Sounding Rocket Mission to Study Sun as a Star
From Earth, one might be tempted to view the Sun as a unique celestial object like no other, as it's the star our home planet orbits and the one our planet relies on most for heat and light. But if you took a step back and compared the Sun to the other stars NASA has studied over the years, how would it compare? Would it still be so unique? The Full-sun Ultraviolet Rocket SpecTrograph (FUR
NASA Invites Proposals for Utilizing VIPER Moon Rover
As part of its commitment to advancing lunar exploration, NASA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify potential interest from American companies and institutions in deploying the VIPER Moon rover for a mission. The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) was developed to identify and map resources, such as lunar ice, at the Moon's South Pole. Despite NASA's
NASA near-Earth defense telescope retired after more than a decade
After more than a decade of tracking asteroids and comets that could pose a threat to Earth, NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer is now officially shut down. The space agency sent the final command to the NEOWISE craft Thursday from its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, ending its so-called planetary defense mission after more than 10 years
Prepare for the Perseids and a pretty planetary pairing
The year's long-awaited Perseid meteor shower will be accompanied by a graceful planetary conjunction. It's well worth staying up all night to watch. The Perseid meteor shower, a celestial event eagerly awaited by millions of skywatchers around the world, is about to make its annual return to the night sky. The shower is predicted to reach its peak the morning of Monday, August 12th, but v
New Coordination System Allows Satellite Internet and Radio Astronomy to Share the Sky
Astronomers rely on clear skies and undisturbed frequencies to explore the universe. But as satellite technology grows, so does the potential for interference with these sensitive observations. A new collaboration between the U.S. National Science Foundation's National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) and SpaceX demonstrates how radio astronomers and satellite internet providers can effect
ClearSpace and Plextek Strengthen Alliance for Enhanced In-Orbit Services
ClearSpace, a leader in space logistics and orbital servicing, has reaffirmed its partnership with Plextek, an engineering consultancy renowned for its technical expertise. Together, they are addressing critical challenges in space debris removal and satellite servicing. This collaboration combines the strengths of both companies to improve the reliability and accuracy of in-orbit operations.