Copernical Team
China prepares to launch Lunar exploration satellites Tiandu 1 and Tiandu 2
With China's ambitious strides in space exploration, the upcoming launch of two experimental satellites, Tiandu 1 and Tiandu 2, marks a significant step forward in the country's lunar exploration and technological advancements in communication and navigation. These satellites are scheduled for launch in the first half of the year, alongside Queqiao 2, or Magpie Bridge 2, a relay satellite integr
Xichang Space Launch Site Celebrates 200th Mission with Geely-02 Satellite Deployment
China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center, located in the southwestern province of Sichuan, marked a significant milestone on Saturday by successfully completing its 200th launch mission. This achievement cements the Xichang space launch site's position as the fastest of China's inland launch sites to reach this number of missions. The landmark 200th mission was carried out at 7:37 am (Beiji
GRAPES-3 experiment unveils unexpected twist in cosmic ray spectrum
The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research's GRAPES-3 experiment, based in Ooty, India, has made a pivotal discovery in the field of cosmic ray physics. Researchers have identified a new characteristic in the cosmic-ray proton spectrum at an energy level of around 166 tera-electron-volt (TeV), a finding that spans a measurement range from 50 TeV to just over one peta-electron-volt (PeV). This ob
Ice and fire: Antarctic volcano may hold clues to life on Mars
On Deception Island in Antarctica, steam rises from the beaches, and glaciers dot the black slopes of what is actually an active volcano - a rare clash of ice and fire that provides clues to scientists about what life could look like on Mars. The horseshoe-shaped isle in the South Shetland Islands is the only place in the world where ships can sail into the caldera of an active volcano.
China to launch Queqiao 2 Relay Satellite to boost lunar communication capabilities
China is poised to take another significant step in its ambitious lunar exploration endeavors with the scheduled launch of the Queqiao 2 relay satellite in the first half of 2024. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) recently announced that the satellite has been transported to the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province, signaling the approach of a mission that will enhance
'Potentially hazardous' asteroid makes closest pass to Earth in more than century
A football field-sized asteroid whizzed by the Earth Friday, making its closest pass in more than a century. The Virtual Telescope Project captured a live stream of the historic astronomical event at about 1 p.m. EST Friday. While the asteroid passed by the Earth from 1.7 million miles away - about seven times the distance from Earth to the moon - it is still a close shave from a cosm
mu Space and ispace forge partnership for Lunar exploration and satellite services
In a significant step forward for lunar exploration and satellite services, mu Space and Advanced Technology Co., Ltd. (mu Space), a leading aerospace manufacturer and satellite internet service provider in Southeast Asia, has entered into a strategic partnership with ispace inc., a pioneering private lunar robotic exploration company based in Japan. The two entities have signed memorandums of u
NASA's xEVAS contract with RTX moves forward with successful spacesuit test
Collins Aerospace, a business segment of Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE: RTX), in collaboration with ILC Dover and Oceaneering, has announced a significant advancement in the development of its next-generation spacesuit designed for use on the International Space Station (ISS). This development comes as part of NASA's Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contract, markin
China's Smart Dragon 3 launches satellites from South China Sea
China's growing prowess in the arena of space exploration and satellite deployment was once again on display as the nation successfully launched the Smart Dragon 3 carrier rocket on Saturday morning. Taking off from a launch service ship off the coast of Yangjiang in Guangdong province, this mission marked a significant milestone by placing nine satellites into their designated orbits in space.
Watch live – Marcus Wandt returns to Earth
After 16 days in space, ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt is coming home this weekend. Watch all the action, from undocking to splashdown, live on ESA Web TV 2 and ESA YouTube channels.