Copernical Team
Probing the early Universe for clues about Reionization
Scientists are delving deep into the origins of the universe, focusing on the Epoch of Reionization (EoR) - a pivotal time when the first stars and galaxies formed and ionized the primordial hydrogen that filled the universe. This era, where ionized gas bubbles began to appear and coalesce, set the foundation for galaxy formation as we know it today. While we can't travel back to witness t
UTA physicists explore possibility of life beyond Earth
Are there planets beyond Earth where humans can live? The answer is maybe, according to a new study from University of Texas at Arlington physicists examining F-type star systems. Stars fall into seven lettered categories according to their surface temperature. They also differ in other factors including mass, luminosity, and radius. F-types are in the middle of the scale, hotter and more
SwRI team detects carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on Pluto's moon Charon
A research team led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has made the first detection of carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on the surface of Charon, Pluto's largest moon, using data from the James Webb Space Telescope. These findings build upon Charon's known surface composition, which includes water ice, ammonia-bearing materials, and organic compounds linked to its unique gray and red hue
The PI's Perspective: The Science Never Sleeps
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is healthy and speeding across the Kuiper Belt. Today, we crossed a distance marker of note, passing 60 times as far from the Sun as Earth is. Put in perspective, that means we're almost twice as far out as Pluto was when we explored it! This summer, we had three sets of groundbased astronomical observing dates, each three days long, on the giant Japanese Sub
Webb reveals unusual jets of volatile gas from icy Centaur 29P
Inspired by the half-human, half-horse creatures that are part of Ancient Greek mythology, the field of astronomy has its own kind of centaurs: distant objects orbiting the Sun between Jupiter and Neptune. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has mapped the gases spewing from one of these objects, suggesting a varied composition and providing new insights into the formation and evolution of the sol
Magnetized magma intrusions identified as sources of lunar magnetic anomalies
A team of researchers led by Professor Shuo Yao from China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and her doctoral student Hongyi Wang has revealed that magnetized magma intrusions are the source of two lunar magnetic anomalies. Using a 3D amplitude inversion technique originally developed at the University of British Columbia's Geophysical Inversion Facility (UBC-GIF), the team has made significan
NASA selects companies for lunar communication and network studies
NASA has chosen Intuitive Machines of Houston and Aalyria Technologies Inc. of Livermore, California, to conduct capability studies aimed at advancing space communication and exploration technologies. These studies are intended to provide NASA with insights into industry capabilities and innovations, laying the groundwork for partnerships with commercial communications and navigation providers.
NASA advances Lunar rover testing for Artemis Missions
As NASA's Artemis missions approach, astronauts returning to the Moon will be equipped with a human-rated Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) to enhance their exploration of the lunar surface. The unpressurized rover will play a key role in enabling diverse scientific research and discoveries. At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, engineers are developing a prototype for the rover, known as t
NASA's use of rover prototype on Earth will pave way for Artemis V lunar surface travel
When astronauts eventually traverse the moon's surface as part of the planned Artemis lunar missions, they'll have a prototype to thank. NASA engineers at the Johnson Space Center are designing a new lunar rover prototype called the Ground Test Unit. The space agency said Wednesday it plans to have the vehicle available for the Artemis V moon mission. "The Ground Test Unit will h
NASA seeks innovators for lunar waste competition
A new NASA competition, the LunaRecycle Challenge, is open and offering $3 million in prizes for innovations in recycling material waste on deep space missions. As NASA continues efforts toward long-duration human space travel, including building a sustained human presence on the Moon through its Artemis missions, the agency needs novel solutions for processing inorganic waste streams like