Copernical Team
Privatised Moon landings: A new era of commercial lunar exploration
Two commercial spacecraft are scheduled to launch to the Moon early in 2024 under a Nasa initiative called the Commercial Lunar Payload Service CLPS. This programme is intended to kickstart a commercial transportation service that can deliver Nasa experiments and other payloads to the lunar surface. If successful, these missions will represent the first landings on the Moon by spacecraft d
30 Doradus B: NASA Telescopes Start the Year With a Double Bang
A colorful, festive image shows different types of light containing the remains of not one, but at least two, exploded stars. This supernova remnant is known as 30 Doradus B (30 Dor B for short) and is part of a larger region of space where stars have been continuously forming for the past 8 to 10 million years. It is a complex landscape of dark clouds of gas, young stars, high-energy shocks, an
Mapping the Unseen: How AI and Satellite Technology Reveal Offshore Activities
Humans are racing to harness the ocean's vast potential to power global economic growth. Worldwide, ocean-based industries such as fishing, shipping and energy production generate at least US$1.5 trillion in economic activity each year and support 31 million jobs. This value has been increasing exponentially over the past 50 years and is expected to double by 2030. Transparency in monitori
Hubble observes a changing exoplanet atmosphere
An international team of astronomers has assembled and reprocessed observations of the exoplanet WASP-121 b that were collected with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope in the years 2016, 2018 and 2019. This provided them with a unique dataset that allowed them not only to analyse the atmosphere of WASP-121 b, but also to compare the state of the exoplanet’s atmosphere across several years.
The team found clear evidence that the observations of WASP-121 b were varying in time. Using sophisticated modelling techniques, they demonstrated that these temporal variations could be explained by weather patterns in the exoplanet's atmosphere.
Huginn - leading the Space Station
Huginn - leading the Space Station
Huginn
Is oxygen the cosmic key to alien technology?
In the quest to understand the potential for life beyond Earth, researchers are widening their search to encompass not only biological markers, but also technological ones. While astrobiologists have long recognized the importance of oxygen for life as we know it, oxygen could also be a key to unlocking advanced technology on a planetary scale. In a new study published in Nature Astronomy,
AST SpaceMobile nears funding milestone for cellular broadband in space
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) has recently shared an interim update regarding its ongoing fundraising efforts. Known for their ambitious initiative to establish the first and only space-based cellular broadband network directly accessible by conventional smartphones, AST SpaceMobile is currently in a strategic investment process involving multiple parties. As the company moves forwa
L-SAR 01 Satellite Group Begins Operations, Enhancing China's Disaster Response
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has announced the official commencement of operations for the L-SAR 01 satellite group, following the successful completion of in-orbit tests. This significant development marks a major step forward in China's capabilities in earth observation and environmental monitoring. Comprising two satellites, L-SAR 01A and L-SAR 01B, the L-SAR 01 group
Terran Orbital Reports Key Payment from Rivada and Strong Year-End Cash Position
Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP) has recently announced a significant financial update, confirming the receipt of a payment from Rivada Space Networks ("Rivada"). This payment, as per the company's disclosure, is tied to a milestone completion under the existing contract between Terran Orbital and Rivada, known as the "Rivada Contract." This development is particularly noteworthy as
Viasat Secures Major U.S. Air Force Contract for Advanced Tech Integration
Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, has announced a significant collaboration with the U.S. Air Force's Life Cycle Management Center (USAF LCMC). This partnership comes in the form of a $900 million ceiling, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, termed LCMC XA IDIQ, under which Viasat will integrate innovative technologies and capabilities for the Air