Copernical Team
Newly discovered Earth-sized planet may lack an atmosphere
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Astronomers at MIT, the University of Liege, and elsewhere have discovered a new planet orbiting a small cold star, a mere 55 light years away. The nearby planet is similar to Earth in its size and rocky composition, though that's where the similarities end. Because this new world is likely missing an atmosphere.
In a paper appearing in Nature Astronomy, the researchers confirm the detecti Earth-sized planet discovered orbiting ultra-cool red dwarf star
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An international team of astronomers has detected a new Earth-sized planet orbiting an ultra-cool red dwarf star, located 55 light years away.
The planet, named SPECULOOS-3 b, is the second of its kind discovered around this type of star. It completes an orbit of the star in about 17 hours. The star is more than twice as cold as our sun and significantly less massive and luminous.
SP NASA's Juno captures detailed images of Europa's surface
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NASA's Juno spacecraft has provided high-definition images of Jupiter's moon Europa, supporting the theory that the icy crust at the poles has shifted. A new image shows signs of potential plume activity and ice shell disruption.
The findings were published in the Planetary Science Journal and JGR Planets.
On September 29, 2022, Juno flew within 220 miles of Europa's surface, capturi Boeing Starliner launch delayed to Tuesday due to helium leak
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Boeing's Starliner flight to the International Space Station was delayed again due to a helium leak.
NASA, Boeing and the United Launch Alliance said in a statemen Tuesday that the launch date will now come no earlier than Tuesday at 4:43 p.m. EDT.
"Starliner teams are working to resolve a small helium leak detected in the spacecraft's service module traced to a flange on a singl SpaceX plans to launch 90 rockets from Vandenberg Space Force Base by 2026: Could that harm the coast?
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SpaceX plans to launch 90 rockets into space from a Santa Barbara County military base by 2026, tripling the number of blasts rocking the coastal community—and raising concerns from neighbors and environmental groups about the effects on marine life.
Owned by billionaire Elon Musk, SpaceX has ramped up the number of rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in recent years, and it has made clear its desire to increase the frequency of blasts-offs. But during a California Coastal Commission hearing, U.S. Space Force officials outlined for the first time its own plans to multiply the number of launches from the base, from 37 in 2023 to more than 120 a year by 2026.
The overwhelming majority of those rocket blasts would be conducted by SpaceX, which has already done more launches from the base than the commission has approved.
Last year SpaceX breached an agreement with the commission that limited the number of launches to six, sending 28 rockets into space. It is currently seeking an agreement with the commission to do 36 launches a year, increasing to 90 in 2026.
Robotic 'superlimbs' could help moonwalkers recover from falls
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Need a moment of levity? Try watching videos of astronauts falling on the moon. NASA's outtakes of Apollo astronauts tripping and stumbling as they bounce in slow motion are delightfully relatable.
For MIT engineers, the lunar bloopers also highlight an opportunity to innovate.
New Director of CSC and Head of ECSAT
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Laurent Jaffart took up duty as Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications (D/CSC) and Head of ECSAT in Harwell, UK, on 15 May 2024.
Glitch on BepiColombo: work ongoing to restore spacecraft to full thrust
The eye of the crater
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The eye of the crater Ascent Solar Secures Order for Thin-Film PV from Satellite Manufacturer
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Ascent Solar Technologies, (Nasdaq: ASTI), a U.S. innovator in the design and manufacture of flexible, durable CIGS thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solutions, has received an order from a mega-constellation satellite manufacturer for initial delivery of PV modules for evaluation. The Ascent product will be evaluated for use in the manufacturer's next-generation hardware.
Following delivery and