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Copernical Team
Vega’s PRETTY CubeSat: unlocking satnav for Earth data
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![PRETTY is testing 'slant' reflectometry](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2023/10/pretty_is_testing_slant_reflectometry/25116044-1-eng-GB/PRETTY_is_testing_slant_reflectometry_card_full.png)
Our planet is being continuously bathed in radio signals from satnav satellites – which are useful for much more than just navigation. Dedicated space missions acquire these signal reflections to amass valuable environmental information. The shoebox-sized PRETTY CubeSat, flying on Europe’s next Vega launcher, will investigate a new frequency and novel observation angle to better measure the rate of climate change – at the same time as gathering radiation data on its surrounding space environment.
Amazon Gears Up for Inaugural Satellite Launch of Project Kuiper
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Younger trees champion carbon capture
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![Tropical forest around the Capim River, Brazil](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2023/10/tropical_forest_around_the_capim_river_brazil/25115261-1-eng-GB/Tropical_forest_around_the_Capim_River_Brazil_card_full.jpg)
Thanks to their ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, forests have long been recognised as a key tool in the fight against climate change – but not all forests are equal. New research based on data from ESA’s SMOS satellite mission has found that, surprisingly, young trees are champions at carbon capture.
Moon scouts
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![Moon scouts](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2023/10/moon_scouts/25119872-1-eng-GB/Moon_scouts_card_full.jpg)
Sunday’s ESA Open Day at ESTEC: updates
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![ESA's technical heart](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2021/05/esa_s_technical_heart/23301744-1-eng-GB/ESA_s_technical_heart_card_full.jpg)
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond his and our control, ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter has had to cancel his attendance at the ESA Open Day at ESTEC this Sunday. ESA astronaut André Kuipers and Reserve astronaut John McFall will still be attending.
US Army awards Comtech $48M for future EDIM SATCOM solutions
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DLA Energy supports space missions from coast to coast
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Vega's ESTCube-2 tether to the future
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NASA awards Outpost Phase 2 Ignite SBIR Contract for cargo return studies
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Momentus announces $4M direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules
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![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/momentus-team-vigoride-6-orbital-service-vehicle-ready-to-ship-bg.jpg)