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In the early days of the Universe, approximately 12 billion years ago, the cosmic environment was significantly different from what we observe today. The primordial gas clouds from which stars formed were metal-poor – meaning they were depleted in heavy elements, often referred to as “metals” by astronomers. These metals are typically formed within the […]

Ariane 6 is the newest addition to Europe’s prestigious rocket family, a series that has been propelling the continent towards the stars for five decades. Building upon an impressive foundation of knowledge, expertise, and cutting-edge technology developed over the years, Ariane 6 promises to be a versatile, modular, and quintessentially European endeavor. Designed to guarantee […]

The latest SpaceX launch marked a significant milestone in the expansion of the Direct to Cell satellite constellation. With the addition of 13 new satellites equipped with Direct to Cell capability, the total number of such satellites in orbit now stands at an impressive 103. Direct to Cell technology represents a groundbreaking innovation in the […]

Ariane 6’s inaugural flight will be divided into three distinct phases, each designed to showcase the launcher’s capabilities. The first phase, spanning events 1 through 5, will propel the rocket from the ground into orbit. The powerful thrust of the Vulcain engine and the two P120C boosters will work in tandem to lift Ariane 6 […]

ESA’s newly approved Lunar Meteoroid Impact Observer, Lumio, is an exciting mission that will orbit an Earth-Moon Lagrange point to detect meteoroid flashes on the night-time lunar farside. This briefcase-sized 12-unit ‘CubeSat’ – a low-cost small spacecraft built up from standardized 10 cm boxes – will be placed in orbit around the Earth-Moon Lagrange Point […]

NASA’s Mars habitat simulator, Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA), has provided invaluable insights into the challenges of living and working on the Red Planet. The 3D-printed, 1,700 square-foot habitat, aptly named Mars Dune Alpha, has been home to a dedicated crew of four volunteers for over a year. Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, Ross […]

Over the past few weeks, China’s spaceflight program has witnessed both triumphs and setbacks. On the positive side, the Chang’e 6 mission successfully retrieved lunar samples from the far side of the Moon, marking a historic achievement. A total of 1,935.3 grams of lunar regolith was returned to Earth, surpassing the amount collected by the […]

The captivating image presents an optical illusion that challenges our perceptions of celestial distances. At first glance, the vibrant red nebula appears to reside far beyond the dark, winding dust lanes that snake through the Milky Way. However, this celestial trickery is nothing more than a matter of perspective. The crimson glow emanates from the […]

Moving into the second half of 2024, the first week of July has already begun with the third launch of the Japanese H3 rocket in the early hours of Monday morning UTC. The week ahead continues with two Starlink missions from SpaceX, pushing the number of Starlink satellites launched to over 6,700. Two more launches […]

Ariane 6 represents Europe’s aspirations for maintaining an independent access to space. After a series of setbacks and delays, the new rocket is being hailed as “Europe’s sovereignty launcher.” In the face of fierce competition from SpaceX’s reusable rockets, the Ariane 6 program aims to secure Europe’s position in the rapidly growing space industry. While […]