...the who's who,
and the what's what 
of the space industry

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Copernical Team

Tuesday, 08 April 2014 09:03

Jefferson Laboratory

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Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is one of 17 national laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The lab also receives support from the City of Newport News and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The lab's primary mission is to conduct basic research of the atom's nucleus using the lab's unique particle accelerator, known as the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). Jefferson Lab also conducts a variety of research using its Free-Electron Laser, which is based on the same electron-accelerating technology used in CEBAF.

In addition to its science mission, the lab provides programs designed to help educate the next generation in science and technology, and to engage the public.

 

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Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) is a Japanese national research organization of astrophysics using rockets, astronomical satellites and interplanetary probes.

Since 2003, it is a division of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

In 2003, three national aerospace organizations including ISAS were merged to form Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The ISAS English name 'Institute of Space and Astronautical Science' is still used (as of April 2014).

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The GPS aided geo augmented navigation or GPS and geo-augmented navigation system (GAGAN) is an implementation of a regional satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) by the Indian government.

It is a system to improve the accuracy of a GNSS receiver by providing reference signals. The AAI's efforts towards implementation of operational SBAS can be viewed as the first step towards introduction of modern communication, navigation, surveillance/Air Traffic Management system over Indian airspace. 

The project has established 15 Indian Reference Stations, 3 Indian Navigation Land Uplink Stations, 3 Indian Mission Control Centers, and installation of all associated software and communication links.[4] It will be able to help pilots to navigate in the Indian airspace by an accuracy of 3 m. This will be helpful for landing aircraft in tough weather and terrain like Mangalore and Leh airports.

Monday, 31 March 2014 15:47

Flock 1 constellation (Dove satellites)

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Flock 1 is a fleet of 28 small satellites. Its deployment began on 11 Feb 2014 from the International Space Station. It was at that date the largest single constellation of Earth-imaging satellites ever to launch into space.

Built and operated by Planet Labs of San Francisco, the Flock 1 small satellites are individually referred to as Doves.

The Dove satellites are part of a class of miniature satellites often called CubeSats. These small satellites will capture imagery of Earth for use in humanitarian, environmental and commercial applications. Data collected by the Flock 1 constellation will be universally accessible to anyone who wishes to use it.

Monday, 31 March 2014 15:38

Barcelona Moon Team (BMT)

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The Barcelona Moon Team (BMT) is a multidisciplinary joint venture bringing together entrepreneurial, industrial and academic capabilities representing the only Spanish based team at the Google Lunar X PRIZE.

Among its objectives are:

(1) to take the leadership in an ambitious space project. This important project elevates the Spanish aerospace sector to a leadership position in all the aspects related with the management and execution of a highly complex space mission. Thanks to this leadership position the national industry can play a role as a main contractor using its demonstrated experience and capabilities, meaning a competitive advantage. It is foreseen that these capabilities will help win contracts for our companies in the future.

(2) to foster the scientific and technical vocations and to retain talent; thanks to an extensive communications program with the aim to stimulate the participation of the general public in the event. In one hand scientific and technical careers will be encouraged among the youth, developing specialized knowledge workers for the future. In the other hand the attraction of international talent will bring new professionals and researchers from abroad, stopping the exodus of professionals and young graduates and doctors to other countries.

Monday, 31 March 2014 15:19

Umbilical Design

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Umbilical Design was founded in 2001, and since its inception has worked with NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) on design for the space industry. Umbilical Design has also been successful in showing how design, technology and material from the space industry can be transferred to Swedish enterprise and society.

Umbilical Design is one of thirteen European companies that the ESA has designated as Space Brokers. Umbilical Design's assignment from the ESA is to oversee the transfer of technology from the space sector to Swedish industry with the overarching objective to stimulate business opportunities by exploiting the materials knowledge, methods and approaches of the space sector.

The term "umbilical" is used in astronautics to describe whatever links one object or system to another, such as the lifeline connecting an astronaut performing an EVA with her spacecraft.

Umbilical Design operates in three fields: space, extreme environments and household products.

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Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) is one of the 31 institutes and centers in Academia Sinica aspiring to be at the forefront of astronomical research.

Devoting our efforts in specific directions, we have built up core groups in theoretical and experimental astrophysics and instrumentation. Research topics carried out at ASIAA range from solar system, star formation, to extra-galactic science and cosmology. ASIAA also frequently hosts international workshops and conferences.

The goal of ASIAA is to become an international research institute engaged in frontier projects, competing and collaborating with the leading research groups worldwide.

Monday, 17 March 2014 00:00

GOSAT / IBUKI

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The Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), also known as Ibuki, is the world's first spacecraft to measure the concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane, the two major greenhouse gases, from space (Figure 1). The spacecraft was launched successfully on January 23, 2009, and has been operating properly since then (as of March 2014).

Through analyzing the GOSAT observational data, scientists will be able to ascertain the global distribution of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), and how the sources and sinks of these gases vary with seasons, years, and locations. These new findings will enhance scientific understanding on the causes of global warming. Also, they will serve as fundamental information for improving climate change prediction and establishing sound plans for mitigating global warming.

The GOSAT Project is a joint effort of the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Tuesday, 18 March 2014 10:06

2001 Mars Odissey (Mars orbiter)

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2001 Mars Odyssey is a robotic spacecraft orbiting the planet Mars. The project was developed by NASA, and contracted out to Lockheed Martin.

Its mission is to use spectrometers and electronic imagers to detect evidence of past or present water and volcanic activity on Mars. It is hoped that the data Odyssey obtains will help answer the question of whether life has ever existed on Mars. It also acts as a relay for communications between the Mars Exploration Rovers, Mars Science Laboratory, and the Phoenix lander to Earth. The mission was named as a tribute to Arthur C. Clarke, evoking the name of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Odyssey was launched April 7, 2001 on a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and reached Mars orbit on October 24, 2001, at 2:30 a.m. UTC (October 23, 7:30 p.m. PDT, 10:30 p.m. EDT). The spacecraft's main engine fired in order to brake the spacecraft's speed, which allowed it to be captured into orbit around Mars. Odyssey used a technique called "aerobraking" that gradually brought the spacecraft closer to Mars with each orbit. By using the atmosphere of Mars to slow down the spacecraft in its orbit, rather than firing its engine or thrusters, Odyssey was able to save more than 200 kilograms (440 lb) of propellant. Aerobraking ended in January, and Odyssey began its science mapping mission on February 19, 2002. It is currently in a polar orbit around Mars with an altitude of about 3,800 km or 2,400 miles.

By December 15, 2010 it broke the record for longest serving spacecraft at Mars, with 3,340 days of operation, claiming the title from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor. 

Tuesday, 18 March 2014 10:00

Lunar CATALYST

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The Lunar CATALYST is a NASA project for the development of commercial robotic lunar lander capabilities.

Such capabilities could support commercial activities on the moon while enabling new science and exploration missions of interest to the larger scientific and academic communities.
NASA's new Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown (Lunar CATALYST) initiative calls for proposals from the U.S. private sector that would lead to one or more no-funds exchanged Space Act Agreements (SAA). The purpose of these SAAs would be to encourage the development of robotic lunar landers that can be integrated with U.S. commercial launch capabilities to deliver small and medium class payloads to the lunar surface.

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