Last week, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) astronaut class of 2022 had the exciting opportunity to visit NASA’s Johnson Space Centre (JSC) in Houston, Texas. This trip marked an important milestone for the astronaut candidates, as they got to experience the environment where they will undergo a significant part of their training for future space […]

Firefly Aerospace, fresh off their successful launch for the Space Force, is gearing up for another mission in 2023. This time, they will be flying a dedicated flight for Lockheed Martin as part of the Alpha FLTA004 mission. The mission, codenamed “Fly the Lightning,” aims to deploy an Electronically Steerable Antenna (ESA) demonstrator payload developed […]

A revolutionary propulsion system for small satellites is being developed in Europe, offering an efficient and cost-effective solution for future space missions. The technology, known as electrospray propulsion, uses micro and nano-technology to create tiny ion emitters that spray out ions at high speeds, enabling the satellite to move through space. The electrospray system, called […]

The past week has been a busy one in the world of space launches, with several missions being launched and others experiencing delays. Let’s take a closer look at some of the highlights. SpaceX, the well-known private aerospace manufacturer, had a challenging week with two of its missions being scrubbed due to various reasons. The […]

A Bolivian all-female research team is using ESA’s Large Diameter Centrifuge to investigate the impact of high gravity levels on astronauts’ health. The team, sponsored by the United Nations and ESA, aims to determine whether the hypergravity experienced during rocket launches contributes to anemia in space. Located at ESA’s ESTEC technical center in the Netherlands, […]

In 2023, the European Space Agency (ESA) made significant strides in space exploration and technology development. The year was marked by the highly anticipated launch of Juice, Europe’s Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer, and the successful deployment of the Euclid space telescope. Additionally, ESA retired its Aeolus wind mission after five years in space, introduced the […]

Blue Origin’s New Shepard Rocket Set to Return to Flight After experiencing a failure during its last mission, Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket is scheduled to return to flight on December 18, 2023. The rocket will take off from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas, with a launch window opening at 8:30 AM […]

China is ramping up its space activities with a series of high-profile launches and developments in reusable rocket technology. One notable event is the launch of the Chinese Reusable Experimental Spaceplane, also known as CSSHQ, on a Chang Zheng 2F/T rocket. The details of this mission remain unclear, but it is said to involve verifications […]

Laser communication: the future of communicating in space Space exploration has always relied on effective communication systems to transmit data and information between spacecraft and ground stations. However, as the number of missions and the amount of data being transferred increases, traditional radio wave communication systems are reaching their limits. To overcome these challenges, scientists […]

As the holiday season approaches, our thoughts often turn to the idea of a white Christmas, with frosty landscapes evoking a magical atmosphere. However, a fascinating image captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite over the Antarctica Peninsula offers a different perspective. This image allows us to delve into the beauty and dynamics of this icy […]