Copernical Team
Blinky Rejoins Pinky, Inky, and Clyde in NASA's Starling CubeSat Swarm Configuration
NASA's innovative Starling spacecraft, comprising four CubeSats named Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde, have successfully maneuvered into a swarm configuration, marking a significant milestone in the mission. The Starling team at NASA has devoted the past two months to resolving technical issues and commissioning these spacecraft, ensuring they are operationally ready for their groundbreaking swar
Investor Coalition demands leadership overhaul at Terran Orbital amid CEO controversy
In a recent development that has stirred the aerospace industry, a group of investors in Terran Orbital Corp. (NYSE: LLAP), collectively known as the "Concerned Investor Group," has called for immediate and significant changes in the company's leadership. This group, comprising Sophis Investments LLC, Roark's Drift LLC, and co-founders of Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems-Jordi Puig-Suari, Roland Coe
Plasma instability study unveils cosmic ray dynamics, altering perceptions of galaxy evolution
Scientists at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) have discovered a new plasma instability that could dramatically reshape our understanding of cosmic rays and their influence on galaxy dynamics. This novel finding builds upon the foundational work of Victor Hess, who, in the early 20th century, first identified cosmic rays as extraterrestrial in origin, challenging the then-pre
14-inch spacecraft delivers new details about 'hot Jupiters'
A spacecraft the size of a cereal box has collected precise measurements of the atmospheres of large and puffy planets called "hot Jupiters." The findings, led by a team from the University of Colorado Boulder, could help reveal how the atmospheres around these and a host of other worlds are escaping into space. The observations are the first results to come from a hard-working NASA spacec
Seeing and Believing: 15 Years of Exoplanet Images
First there was a gloriously dusty disk. Then the traceable tracks of "exocomets." But 15 years ago this fall, the star system Beta Pictoris yielded one of the most iconic pictures in astrophysics: a direct image of a planet orbiting another star. The young, bright star, some 63 light-years distant and visible to the naked eye, all but overwhelmed the faint light of the planet. When astron
Unlocking Lunar Mysteries: Chang'e-5 Mission Sheds Light on Moon's Surface Weathering
In a groundbreaking development, scientists from the China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, in collaboration with researchers from Brown University and the University of Hawaii, have successfully measured the maturity index of lunar soil brought back by China's Chang'e-5 mission. This achievement marks a significant milestone in lunar research, shedding light on the space weathering processes o
NASA's Perseverance Rover Deciphers Ancient History of Martian Lake
Now at 1,000 days on Mars, the mission has traversed an ancient river and lake system, collecting valuable samples along the way. Marking its 1,000th Martian day on the Red Planet, NASA's Perseverance rover recently completed its exploration of the ancient river delta that holds evidence of a lake that filled Jezero Crater billions of years ago. The six-wheeled scientist has to date collec
A Rinse and Repeat Kind of Plan: Sols 4035-4036
Earth planning date: Monday, December 11, 2023: Today's 2-sol plan was a "Touch and Go" plan, where we do some short science activities (ChemCam and/or MAHLI and APXS) in our workspace early in the morning and then drive to a new workspace. Unfortunately, due to a minor issue with the arm, the weekend plan only partially executed. As Susane reported on Friday, we had planned to DRT the dark tone
France 2030 boosts HyPrSpace and Partners with 35M Euro for Micro-Launcher Development
HyPrSpace, in collaboration with Telespazio France and CT Ingenierie, has recently secured a significant funding boost of euro 35 million for the Agile Space Access Development Project #1 (PADA1). This project, part of the France 2030 initiative, focuses on the development of innovative space access solutions, marking a significant step in the nation's space industry. The PADA1 consortium,
NASA's Commercial Partners Continue Progress on New Space Stations
Three NASA-funded commercial space station partners are on track for the design and development of their orbital destinations and the transition of agency's low Earth orbit needs from the International Space Station. "We are ending the year on a high note with multiple important milestones being completed by our partners," said Angela Hart, manager of the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Develop