Copernical Team
Ohio research project selected for International Space Station
Aresearch project designed by a group of Ohio University students will soon be traveling to the International Space Station (ISS). During the fall semester, Ohio students from across the University had the opportunity to design projects and write proposals for the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program's Mission 18 to the ISS. Under the leadership of Dr. Sarah Wyatt, professor of environme
Space Policy Official Details Approach to Maintaining U.S. Edge
The Defense Department is laser focused on deterring aggression through critical investments and sound decisions that will shape U.S. and allied space capabilities for years to come, the Pentagon's top space policy official said. John F. Plumb, assistant secretary of defense for space policy, underscored the critical role DOD's space enterprise will play in meeting the nation's top nationa
Iran's Qaem 100 launch vehicle deploys Sorayya satellite into orbit
In a significant advancement for Iran's space program, the country has successfully launched the Sorayya satellite into an orbit approximately 750 kilometers above the Earth's surface. This achievement was announced by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Isa Zarepour, who highlighted the launch as setting a new record for Iran in terms of the altitude reached by its space
Ax-3 Crew Joins Expedition 70 in Space Station for Dual Operations and Research
The International Space Station (ISS), a cornerstone of global space research and cooperation, is currently bustling with activity as it houses eleven astronauts and cosmonauts from across the globe. This unique congregation of space professionals is the result of the collaboration between the seven members of Expedition 70 and the four astronauts of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), who commenced their t
Intercontinental team to grow protein crystals in space
An interdisciplinary team including Alexandra Ros, professor in Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences and faculty member in the Biodesign Institute's Center for Applied Structural Discovery, is taking one giant leap into a new sector of the global aerospace industry. The team has received $9.87 million from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Endeavour Fun
ESA advances satellite testing capabilities at Europe's largest thermal vacuum facility
In the realm of space exploration, testing equipment under conditions that mimic the unforgiving environment of space is critical. At the forefront of this endeavor is the European Space Agency's (ESA) Large Space Simulator (LSS), located at the ESTEC Test Centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. This mammoth facility, known for its capability to simulate the vacuum, temperature, and solar radiatio
A Fractured Filled Plan: Sols 4073-4075
Earth planning date: Friday, January 19, 2024: This 3 sol weekend plan, like many of our recent plans (for example: here and here), focuses heavily on the fractures and cracks in this area. We are interested in cracks and fractures and the fracture fill (the material between cracks) as the chemistry and the physical features can tell us lots about conditions at the time of their formation, inclu
Japan says 'possibility' Moon lander power can be restored
Japan switched off its Moon lander almost three hours after a historic touchdown to allow for a possible recovery of the craft when the sun hits its solar panels, the space agency said Monday. With its unmanned Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission - dubbed "Moon Sniper" for the craft's precision landing capabilities - Japan became the fifth country to achieve a soft lunar lan
China hopes Chang'e 6 can return samples from Lunar Far Side
China is poised to take another significant step in lunar exploration with its upcoming Chang'e 6 mission, scheduled for later this year. This ambitious endeavor by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) aims to collect and return samples from the far side of the Moon, a feat not yet accomplished by any nation. The Chang'e 6 spacecraft, a complex assembly comprising an orbiter, lan
Aqualunar Challenge Launches: UK-Canada Initiative for Lunar Water Purification
The realm of space exploration is on the verge of a significant advancement with the introduction of the Aqualunar Challenge, a collaborative GBP1.2 million initiative between the UK and Canada, aimed at fostering the development of technologies for purifying water on the Moon. This challenge is a testament to the growing focus on making human habitation on the lunar surface a viable reality.