Copernical Team
Marcus and Muninn are flying
ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt took off on 18 January 2024 as part of the Axiom-3 crew for a 14-day mission to the International Space Station. After 36 hours catching up to the Space Station, the Dragon docked to the Space Station, the seal between the two tested and finally Marcus started his Muninn mission as he entered the International Space Station. ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen along with the rest of the crew of Expedition 70 was waiting to welcome them to space!
Watch live: Marcus Wandt docks to the Space Station
UPDATE: Tune in on Saturday 20 January from 07:30 GMT (08:30 CET) to see ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt dock to the International Space Station for his first mission, Muninn. Watch the action live on ESA Web TV 2 and ESA YouTube.
Peregrine spectrometer, over and out
Yesterday, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander returned to Earth, burning up upon its reentry through the atmosphere. Although the spacecraft was not able to land on the lunar surface, ESA’s Exospheric Mass Spectrometer, the heart of a joint NASA and ESA instrument onboard destined to sniff the Moon’s surface, was able to demonstrate full functionality in space.
Webb reveals that galaxy mergers are the solution to early Universe mystery
One of the key missions of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope is to probe the early Universe. Now, the unmatched resolution and sensitivity of Webb's NIRCam instrument have revealed, for the first time, what lies in the local environment of galaxies in the very early Universe. This has solved one of the most puzzling mysteries in astronomy - why astronomers detect light from hydrogen at
Failed Peregrine Lunar mission concludes with a Free Return to Earth for disposal
NASA's collaborative mission with Astrobotic, featuring the Peregrine lunar lander, has concluded with the spacecraft reentering Earth's atmosphere. This event marks the end of a mission that, while not achieving a lunar landing, provided some scientific data and insights. The Peregrine lander, carrying a suite of NASA science and technology instruments, safely reentered Earth's atmosphere
NASA, Partners to welcome private crew aboard Space Station
As part of NASA's efforts to enable more access to space, four private astronauts are in orbit following the successful launch of the third all private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Axiom Space astronauts lifted off at 4:49 p.m. EST on Thursday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the company's Dragon
First European takes off on commercial flight to Space Station
ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt from Sweden blasted into space tonight from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, at 21:49 GMT (22:49 CET, 16:49 local time). A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew of four astronauts from launch pad 39A. Marcus is sharing the ride on the Dragon capsule to the International Space Station with Walter Villadei from Italy, A
NASA's STTR Program Funds Innovative Small Business and Research Partnerships
NASA, in its continuous effort to turn groundbreaking research into tangible technology, has announced a significant boost for small businesses through its Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. This initiative plays a pivotal role in supporting small enterprises and their research partners, particularly during the critical early stages of technological development. In a recent
NASA's Transition to Commercial Space Networks: A Leap in Wideband Communication
As NASA's venerable Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) constellation nears retirement, a fresh era of space communication is on the horizon. The Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program, a cornerstone of NASA's communication strategy, is spearheading efforts to transition NASA missions towards utilizing commercial space-based relay services for their near-Earth communications nee
SDA awards contracts for 54 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellites in missile defense push
The Space Development Agency (SDA), in a significant move to enhance the United States' missile defense capabilities, has announced the award of three prototype agreements for the construction of 54 satellites. These satellites will form the Tranche 2 (T2) Tracking Layer, a key component of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), designed to improve missile warning, tracking, and