Tag: ESA
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ESA astronauts complete helicopter training for lunar missions
ESA astronauts complete helicopter training as a step toward lunar surface operations Four European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts have completed an intensive three-week helicopter training course with the German Bundeswehr, marking a significant milestone in Europe’s preparations for future missions to the Moon and operations on its surface. The hands-on programme, conducted at the International…
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Breaking Barriers: How John McFall Redefined Who Gets to Space
Introduction: A New Frontier for Space Candidates In a landmark shift for space exploration, the European Space Agency (ESA) asked a provocative question: who gets to go to space? The answer it pursued was not about heritage, wealth, or spectacle, but about capability. The result is the story of John McFall, a lower-limb amputee who…
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Parastronaut John McFall: Redefining who can go to space
Redefining the Astronaut: A bold experiment begins The question was simple in its audacity: who gets to go to space, and who gets left behind by conventional ideas of capability? The European Space Agency (ESA) set out to answer it in a way no one had tried before. Their para-astronaut feasibility project aimed to test…
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Could Early Martian Volcanism Have Put Ice Near the Equator?
New Clues About Mars’ Hidden Ice A recent modeling study published in Nature Communications proposes a surprising mechanism for how water ice could exist near Mars’ equator today: explosive volcanic eruptions in the planet’s distant past may have transported and deposited ice in equatorial regions. If confirmed, this scenario would significantly expand our understanding of…
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3I/ATLAS: Tracking the Interstellar Visitor—Path, Potential, and What Comes Next
Introduction: A rare visitor from beyond the solar system The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS has captured global attention since its discovery on July 1. As only the third confirmed interstellar visitor to pass through our solar system, it offers a unique chance to study material from another star. Latest updates show 3I/ATLAS has already crossed Mars…
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3I/ATLAS: The Interstellar Visitor’s Trajectory, Risks, and What to Expect Next
Overview: 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar visitor The object designated 3I/ATLAS, discovered July 1, has captured global attention as the third known interstellar visitor to traverse our solar system. Unlike typical comets or asteroids, 3I/ATLAS hails from beyond our Sun, prompting scientists to study its trajectory, composition, and potential implications for planetary science. Recent observations from space…
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3I/ATLAS: The Interstellar Comet’s Trajectory and What’s Next
Overview: A visitor from beyond the solar system Discovered on July 1, 2024, the interstellar object known as 3I/ATLAS has captivated scientists and the public alike. As only the third confirmed interstellar visitor to pass through our solar system, it offers a rare chance to study material from another star system. After a pass by…
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Ireland Bids Adieu to EIRSAT-1: Ireland’s First Satellite Marks a Milestone for the Nation’s Space Ambitions
Ireland’s space ambitions reach a milestone as EIRSAT-1 concludes its mission After two years in low-Earth orbit, Ireland’s first satellite, EIRSAT-1, has completed its mission and de-orbited, burning up in the atmosphere. Developed by University College Dublin (UCD) and supported by the European Space Agency’s Fly Your Satellite programme, this tiny cuboid became a symbol…
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Swarm Reveals Weak Spot in Earth’s Magnetic Field
Overview: A Growing Magnetic Weak Spot The European Space Agency’s Swarm mission has delivered a striking finding: the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), a region where Earth’s magnetic field is unusually weak, has expanded by nearly half the size of continental Europe since 2014. Using 11 years of magnetic field measurements from the Swarm satellite trio,…
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UCD Bids Adieu to EIRSAT-1: Ireland’s First Satellite Completes Its Mission
Ireland’s Space Milestone Reaches a Milestone End After two years orbiting Earth, EIRSAT-1, Ireland’s first educational and research satellite, has de-orbited and burned up in the atmosphere. The project, led by University College Dublin (UCD) and backed by the European Space Agency’s Fly Your Satellite programme, marked a significant turning point for Ireland’s space ambitions.…