Astronomy
Satellite megaconstellations threaten ozone layer recovery, study confirms
Tornadoes Have Been Unusually Common This Year. Here’s Why
Wind shear and atmospheric instability have combined to create a brutal tornado season this year
The Young Professional Satellite - Dream Big, Start Small (episode 1)
In this first episode of our docu-series, we embark on the exciting journey of the YPSat (Young Professional Satellite), a satellite flying on-board the inaugural flight of Ariane 6, Europe’s new heavy launcher. Two years ago, a team of Young Professionals at ESA, with diverse backgrounds, nationalities and expertise, have come together around one passion and with one ambition; design, manufacture and send their own satellite to space.
Starting with some trivial ideas, the team matured their mission objectives and won the approval and support of ESA management to kick start the project. YPSat will be ‘the witness’ of Ariane 6: it will record the fairing separation, document the CubeSats deployment and send back beautiful in-orbit images of Earth and space.
This scaled-down mission has all the ingredients of a large flagship mission; engineering, verification, testing and production assurance; project management, tight schedule, team coordination and communication; failures, crisis situations and successes.
YPSat is a blueprint for the future of European space exploration. It has been a life changing opportunity for young professionals at ESA to get hands-on experience and experience the process of developing a space mission. But it has also been an eye-opening occasion for the European Space Agency to get inspired by the young generations, bringing in new ideas and technologies.
This is just the beginning of the adventure for the YPSat team. The next episode will unravel the creativity, ingenuity and determination that the young professionals brought in to achieve the mission’s objectives. What powers the satellite? Who activates the cameras? How is the data transmitted back on Earth?
Credits:
Directed and produced by Chilled Winston: https://chilledwinston.com/ and Emma de Cocker
Powered by ESA - European Space Agency
Music from Epidemic Sound
Footage from Chilled Winston (Chilled Winston – Where Stories Come to Life)
New Observatory Opens in the Young Country of Kosovo
Europe's youngest country has inaugurated its new observatory and planetarium, and folks far and away joined the festivities.
The post New Observatory Opens in the Young Country of Kosovo appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Could paying people to lose weight help tackle obesity?
Could paying people to lose weight help tackle obesity?
SpaceX unveils new Starlink Mini antenna for internet users on the go
This mind-blowing map shows Earth’s position within the vast universe
This mind-blowing map shows Earth’s position within the vast universe
NASA's oldest active astronaut Don Pettit to make 4th trip to ISS on Sept. 11
Mars Sample Return Will Change How We See Life on Earth
Despite an eye-watering price tag, bringing pieces of Mars back to Earth promises to revolutionize our understanding of life’s place in the early solar system
Whales Are Dying but Not from Offshore Wind
Politicians and nonprofit groups have blamed offshore wind turbines for whale deaths, but the science doesn’t support those claims—at all
The space bricks have landed!
ESA scientists have been exploring how a future Moon base might be built from materials on the lunar surface. Inspired by LEGO building, they have used dust from a meteorite to 3D-print 'space bricks' to test the idea. ESA's space bricks are on display in selected LEGO Stores from 20 June to 20 September, helping to inspire the next generation of space engineers.
Why is mystery object Cygnus X-3 so bright? Astronomers may now have the answer
AI reads brain activity to reveal what part of a movie you're watching
AI reads brain activity to reveal what part of a movie you're watching
How to Stay Cool in the Summer Heat
Heat waves are getting hotter, more frequent and longer. But there are ways to keep yourself and your community cool.
Time to build zero-debris satellites
ESA is committed to deliver on the promise of Zero Debris by 2030. To ensure compliant satellites can be designed and built in time, ESA is supporting industry during this technologically challenging transition.
On 25 June 2024, three major European space industry players each signed a contract with ESA to develop large low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite platforms that conform to Zero Debris standards.