
Copernical Team
Colossal Collisions Linked to Solar System Science

CIRCE space weather suite announced for first UK satellite launch

NRL CIRCE spacecraft to be part of historic UK launch

Dragon Mission on Hold as Astronauts Conduct Eye Exams, Spacesuit Work

UK and US to launch Joint Mission Aboard UK's first Virgin Orbit orbital flight

Keeping Our Sense of Direction: Dealing With a Dead Sensor

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity needs a patch to keep flying after sensor failure

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity has suffered a sensor failure, according to Håvard Grip, the chief helicopter pilot on the project. In a recent blog post on the NASA Science page, he described some of the challenges the tiny robot is experiencing in the harsh environment and also noted that a sensor failure is going to require a computer patch.
Perseverance has a pet rock

How do you choose a rock on Mars? Sometimes you don't—it chooses you.
For the past four months, Perseverance has had an unexpected traveling companion. Back on sol 341—that's over 100 sols ago, in early February—a rock found its way into the rover's front left wheel, and since hitching a ride, it's been transported more than 5.3 miles (8.5 km). This rock isn't doing any damage to the wheel, but throughout its (no doubt bumpy!) journey, it has clung on and made periodic appearances in our left Hazcam images.
This is not the first time a rock has hitched a ride on a Mars rover mission.
Comet Interceptor approved for construction

ESA’s Comet Interceptor mission to visit a pristine comet or other interstellar object just starting its journey into the inner Solar System has been ‘adopted’ this week; the study phase is complete and, following selection of the spacecraft prime contractor, work will soon begin to build the mission.
Charting sea level from space

Satellite images of our planet have become essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world. With rising seas being one of the biggest threats to society, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.
Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage. Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the