Copernical Team
Efficient satellite downlink with a Ka band dual circular polarization transmitter
Low earth orbit (LEO) satellites are being increasingly used for environmental monitoring of the earth, as well for logistic purposes, such as the navigation of maritime vessels. The data transmitted from the satellite terminals to the receivers on Earth, known as "downlink," is steadily increasing and, as a result, requires new frequency domains. In this regard, the Ka band for satellite
Multiple Lab Analyses of Antarctic Minerals Offer a Better Understanding of Mars
Results of multiple and complementary lab analyses of minerals found in samples of material from Antarctica could give scientists a better understanding of the surface and subsurface environment of Mars, and indicate locations of potentially habitable subsurface locations, says a new paper by Planetary Science Institute Research Scientist Elizabeth C. Sklute. Samples of intermittent brine
Curiosity latest drilling attempt a success - Sols 3514-3516
The MSL team is very happy this week, because our first drill attempt since last November was successful! This Front Hazcam image shows the drill being extracted from the new drill hole, which is surrounded by drill tailings as expected. This is one of several times in MSL's mission that drilling had to be re-designed to overcome an anomaly, again requiring lots of careful planning and tes
NASA EXPRESS Racks achieve 1 million hours of service on ISS
NASA science research on the International Space Station reached an extraordinary milestone June 14. The vital, versatile EXPRESS Racks - properly known as "EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to the Space Station" multipurpose payload shelving units - logged 1 million hours of combined powered duty on station. That's the equivalent of nearly 115 years' worth of scientific research comp
Arecibo Observatory scientists help unravel surprise asteroid mystery
When asteroid 2019 OK suddenly appeared barreling toward Earth on July 25, 2019, Luisa Fernanda Zambrano-Marin and the team at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico jumped into action. After getting an alert, the radar scientists zoned in on the asteroid, which was coming from Earth's blind spot - solar opposition. Zambrano-Marin and the team had 30 minutes to get as many radar readings a
NASA Announces Launch Delay for Its Psyche Asteroid Mission
An independent assessment team will review possible options for next steps, including estimated costs. NASA announced Friday the Psyche asteroid mission, the agency's first mission designed to study a metal-rich asteroid, will not make its planned 2022 launch attempt. Due to the late delivery of the spacecraft's flight software and testing equipment, NASA does not have sufficient time to c
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spots rocket impact site on Moon
Astronomers discovered a rocket body heading toward a lunar collision late last year. Impact occurred March 4, with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter later spotting the resulting crater. Surprisingly the crater is actually two craters, an eastern crater (18-meter diameter, about 19.5 yards) superimposed on a western crater (16-meter diameter, about 17.5 yards). The double crater was unex
NASA asteroid mission on hold due to late software delivery
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spots rocket impact site on moon
Astronomers discovered a rocket body heading toward a lunar collision late last year. Impact occurred March 4, with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter later spotting the resulting crater. Surprisingly the crater is actually two craters, an eastern crater (18-meter diameter, about 19.5 yards) superimposed on a western crater (16-meter diameter, about 17.5 yards).
The double crater was unexpected and may indicate that the rocket body had large masses at each end. Typically a spent rocket has mass concentrated at the motor end; the rest of the rocket stage mainly consists of an empty fuel tank.