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Copernical Team
NASA has simulated a tiny part of the moon here on Earth
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![Using the Lunar Lab and Regolith Testbeds at NASA’s Ames Research Center, a team created this simulated lunar environment to study lighting conditions experienced at the unexplored poles of the moon. Credit: NASA/Uland Wong NASA has simulated a tiny part of the moon here on Earth](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2023/nasa-has-simulated-a-t.jpg)
Before going to the moon, the Apollo astronauts trained at various sites on Earth that best approximated the lunar surface, such as the volcanic regions Iceland, Hawaii and the U.S. Southwest. To help prepare for upcoming robotic and human Artemis missions, a newly upgraded "mini-moon" lunar testbed will allow astronauts and robots to test out realistic conditions on the moon including rough terrain and unusual sunlight.
The Lunar Lab and Regolith Testbed at the Ames Research Center in California simulates conditions on the moon in a high-fidelity environment, allowing researchers to test hardware designs intended for the lunar surface.
Astronomers prepare to launch LuSEE night, a test observatory on the far side of the moon
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![Artist's impression of a radio telescope on the far side Moon. Credit: Vladimir Vustyansky Astronomers prepare to launch LuSEE night, a test observatory on the far side of the moon](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2023/astronomers-prepare-to.jpg)
Astronomers have not yet been able to map large portions of the radio emissions from our universe because of interference from the Earth itself. A team of astronomers hopes to change that, beginning with the LuSEE Night mission to the far side of the moon. It will launch in 2025 and chart a new pathway to Lunar observatories.
The Earth is really loud in the radio, especially at frequencies below 20 megahertz. The ionosphere of the planet itself crackles at those frequencies, obscuring radio emissions from more distant sources. Plus we use low frequency radio waves for communication and radar searches, swamping cosmic sources.
The only way to mitigate all that terrestrial contamination is to get up and away from it. The best place is the far side of the moon, so that the bulk of the moon's body blocks out radio emissions from the Earth.
First martian sample depot complete
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![First martian sample depot complete](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2023/01/first_martian_sample_depot_complete/24697709-1-eng-GB/First_martian_sample_depot_complete_card_full.jpg)
Investigations reveal more evidence that Mimas is a stealth ocean world
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![Mimas' heavily cratered surface (left) suggests a cold history, but its librations rule out a homogeneous interior. Rather, Mimas must have a rocky interior and outer hydrosphere, which could include a liquid ocean (Option A) or be fully frozen with an irregularly shaped core (Option B). An ocean provides a better fit to the phase of the libration but is difficult to reconcile with Mimas' geology. Credit: NASA/JPL/SSI/SwRI SwRI investigations reveal more evidence that Mimas is a stealth ocean world](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2023/swri-investigations-re.jpg)
Final martian drop
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![Final martian drop](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2023/01/final_martian_drop/24697709-1-eng-GB/Final_martian_drop_card_full.jpg)
New AFRL mission area targets Space Space Science and Technology needs
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A spiral amongst thousands
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![A crowded field of galaxies throngs this Picture of the Month from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, along with bright stars crowned with Webb’s signature six-pointed diffraction spikes.](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2023/01/a_spiral_amongst_thousands/24692034-1-eng-GB/A_Spiral_Amongst_Thousands_card_full.jpg)
Deep fractures and water-carved valleys
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![Nectaris Fossae and Protva Valles](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2023/01/featured_nectaris_fossae_and_protva_valles/24696686-1-eng-GB/Featured_Nectaris_Fossae_and_Protva_Valles_card_full.jpg)
Mars displays fascinating geology everywhere you look – and nowhere is this more true than in the fractured, wrinkled ground seen in this image from ESA’s Mars Express.
Advanced XCAM X-ray camera system ready for sub-orbital space launch
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China's Deep Space Exploration Lab eyes top global talents
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