Copernical Team
Tread lightly: 'Eggshell planets' possible around other stars
Strange 'eggshell planets' are among the rich variety of exoplanets possible, according to a study from Washington University in St. Louis. These rocky worlds have an ultra-thin outer brittle layer and little to no topography. Such worlds are unlikely to have plate tectonics, raising questions as to their habitability.
Only a small subset of extrasolar planets are likely eggshell planets. Meet VMS - the briefcase-sized chemistry lab headed to Venus
Short for Venus Mass Spectrometer, VMS is one of five instruments aboard the DAVINCI descent probe. Launching in 2029, DAVINCI will be the first US probe mission to enter Venus' atmosphere in over 40 years. The goal of the mission is to explore Venus to determine if it was habitable, and to understand how it ended up as inhospitable as it did.
The probe will descend for around one hour thr Sols 3292-3293: Celebrating Zechstein with a Science Feast
We did it! Yet another successful hole has been drilled in Mars! Welcome to the family, "Zechstein!"
Tosol, Curiosity is planning for a TON of cool science including a ChemCam vertical raster in our new drill hole (more about this below), CheMin analysis of the mineralogy of this drill sample, and several image mosaics!
Mosaics are a common activity with our mission, and we have SO m Rocket Lab appoints Andrew Bunker as VP Government Operations and Business Strategy
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has announced the appointment of Andrew Bunker to the role of Vice President of Government Operations and Business Strategy, effective November 8, 2021. Mr. Bunker will be primarily responsible for the development and execution of company's federal, state, and local government strategy.
Mr. Bunker will also play a leading role in strengthening Rocket Lab's engagement w China to share its Beidou expertise
China and Africa will strengthen their communication and cooperation in promoting and using the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, according to participants at an international forum that was held in Beijing on Friday.
Officials, industry leaders and researchers from China, several African nations and the African Union shared their thoughts at the First China-Africa Beidou System Cooperat Arianespace Vega to launch 3 EO sats for French military
The 12th launch by Arianespace in 2021, the Vega light launcher will lift off, for the third time this year, from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, on November 16, 2021. It will carry on board three CERES satellites for the French Ministry of the Armed Forces.
The CERES program comprises three satellites flying in formation in low Earth orbit (LEO). Equipped with high-perfo Orbital Assembly Corporation promote space hotels in LEO for investment
Orbital Assembly Corporation (OAC) a company focused on becoming the leading large-scale space construction company enabling humanity to work, play and thrive in the space ecosystem announces its crowdfunding equity offering (Regulation CF). OAC plans to use the funding to advance its design and construction teams, marketing initiatives and revenue generating goals around space habitation and co Watch live: Crew-3 arrive at International Space Station
Coverage of ESA astronaut Matthias’s Maurer’s journey to the International Space Station continues, with docking scheduled for 00:10 GMT/ 01:10 CET Friday 12 November and streaming live on ESA Web TV 2.
Matthias and his NASA astronaut crew mates Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron were launched in a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft called Endurance from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, at 02:03 GMT/03:03 CET Thursday 11 November.
SpaceX crew launch marks 600 space travelers in 60 years
A SpaceX rocket carried four astronauts into orbit Wednesday night, including the 600th person to reach space in 60 years.
The repeatedly delayed flight occurred just two days after SpaceX brought four other astronauts home from the International Space Station. They should have been up there to welcome the newcomers, but NASA and SpaceX decided to switch the order based on Monday's ideal recovery weather in the Gulf of Mexico and pulled it off.
"It was a great ride, better than we imagined," mission commander Raja Chari said shortly after the spacecraft reached orbit.
Crew-3 launch to the Space Station
Image:
ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer and NASA astronaut Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron liftoff to the International Space Station in the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft “Endurance”.
Collectively known as “Crew-3”, the astronauts were launched from launchpad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. They will spend around six months living and working aboard the orbital outpost before returning to Earth.
It is the first space mission for Matthias, who is the 600th human to fly to space. He chose the name “Cosmic Kiss” for his mission as a declaration of love for space.
Matthias has a background in materials
