All posts tagged: ESA

ISRO and ESA sign agreement for Earth Observation missions

ISRO and ESA sign agreement for Earth Observation missions

Published by Parlour News

ISRO says that this event highlights the strength of the long-term cooperation in place since 1978 and subsequent renewal in 2002 between two globally significant space research organisations. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have jointly signed an agreement on ‘ESA-ISRO Arrangement concerning Joint Calibration and Validation Activities and Scientific Studies for Earth Observation Missions’. The agreement was signed on March 4 by M. Ganesh Pillai, scientific secretary, ISRO, and Simonetta Cheli, director, Earth Observation Programme, ESA, in a virtual meeting mode. ISRO said that this event highlights the strength of the long-term cooperation in place since 1978 and subsequent renewal in 2002 between two globally significant space research organisations. The signing ceremony was marked by spirited remarks from the dignitaries regarding the legacy as well as upcoming opportunities rendered possible by research and exploration platforms. Accomplishments in the field of Earth Observation, navigation, ground station support as well as human space flight were also referred to. Ms. Cheli emphasised the timeliness of the …

NASA’s Lunar Space Station Module Enters Final Phase Before Artemis Gateway Launch

NASA’s Lunar Space Station Module Enters Final Phase Before Artemis Gateway Launch

Published by Webster

NASA’s Artemis program has passed a significant milestone in the development of the agency’s “Gateway” in the orbit of the Moon with the delivery of the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module to Northrop Grumman’s facility in Gilbert, Arizona. Part of the moon-orbiting Gateway facility, HALO will serve as a habitat and office to astronauts and researchers travelling to and from the lunar surface under NASA’s Artemis moon program. Critical systems for power, data, life support, and temperature control are being attached to the module. Once finished, HALO will permit NASA and associates to conduct long-term missions and experiments in deep space as part of humanity’s lunar return. NASA’s HALO Module Begins Final Outfitting for Artemis Lunar Gateway As per the NASA report, the HALO module was shipped from Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, on April 1, and the spacecraft was greeted during an April 24 viewing milestone. The gathering included remarks from NASA’s Lori Glaze, Gateway Program Manager Jon Olansen, and astronaut Randy Bresnik. Attendees such as NASA Administrator Senior Advisor Todd Ericson and local …

Study Identifies Plasma Formation as a Pseudostreamer

Study Identifies Plasma Formation as a Pseudostreamer

Published by Webster

A towering spiral of plasma has been recorded extending millions of kilometres from the Sun. The video was taken by the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter during an eight-hour period on October 12, 2022. A coronal mass ejection caused the plasma to rise from the Sun’s surface. The footage captured something which was never observed before. It showed a swirling motion in the solar wind. As per the latest report, scientists also recorded bright streaks that were moving across the frame. Researchers also revealed that these streaks appeared as pixelated lines, which might also ressemble like UFOs. Scientists later confirmed they were distant stars visible due to the imaging process. Study Identifies Plasma Formation as a Pseudostreamer The study published in The Astrophysical Journal revealed that the massive structure that appeared in the photos was a large pseudostreamer. It was formed near the Sun’s north pole after a solar flare erupted. The report further highlighted that the plasma reached 1.5 times the Sun’s width and remained visible for three hours. Scientists believes the twisting movement …

Hubble Captures Stunning Tarantula Nebula Image, Revealing Cosmic Dust and Star Formation

Hubble Captures Stunning Tarantula Nebula Image, Revealing Cosmic Dust and Star Formation

Published by Webster

A striking image of the Tarantula Nebula has been captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, showcasing a vast cosmic landscape filled with swirling gas and dust. Situated around 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, this nebula is known as one of the most active star-forming regions in the universe. The image reveals intricate layers of dust clouds, with dark reddish formations that block light and dense clusters appearing nearly black. Wispy pale clouds stretch across the scene, resembling smoke curling through space, while countless stars shine in shades of blue, purple, and red, reflecting their varying depths within the nebula. Scientific Insights into Cosmic Dust According to reports, as part of an observing programme focused on cosmic dust properties in the Large Magellanic Cloud and nearby galaxies, the nebula’s vibrant structure is composed of gaseous clouds and dense dust formations. Unlike common household dust, cosmic dust consists of carbon-based molecules or silicates containing silicon and oxygen. These particles, though minuscule in size, play a crucial role in celestial processes. The Role of …

James Webb Telescope to Study Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 2024 YR4

James Webb Telescope to Study Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 2024 YR4

Published by Webster

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been allocated emergency observation time to study asteroid 2024 YR4, which has been classified as potentially hazardous. The space rock was identified in December 2024 and has been placed on the asteroid watch list due to its estimated 2.3% chance of colliding with Earth in December 2032. The emergency decision has been made to improve the accuracy of its size estimation, which is currently based on ground-based observations. Scientists believe that a more precise measurement of its dimensions will provide better insight into the potential risk it poses. Infrared Observations to Determine True Size According to reports, the European Space Agency (ESA), the asteroid has an estimated width of 55 metres, but this figure is uncertain due to limitations in ground-based telescopic observations. The asteroid’s brightness has been used to approximate its size, though its actual dimensions may vary significantly depending on surface reflectivity. If the surface is highly reflective, the asteroid could be as small as 40 metres. If it is less reflective, its true size could …

Comet ATLAS Offers Stunning Display as It Nears the Sun

Comet ATLAS Offers Stunning Display as It Nears the Sun

Published by Webster

In mid-January 2025, comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) was observed as it approached within 8 million miles of the Sun, offering a stunning display recorded by the ESA and NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). The spacecraft captured images of the comet brightening and its tail extending dramatically as it passed through the Sun’s intense environment. This celestial event provided scientists with a valuable opportunity to study the interaction between the solar wind and the comet’s tail, revealing insights into solar activity. Details of the Observation According to reports from the SOHO mission, the comet was tracked from January 11 to January 2025, using the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) instrument. The Sun’s light was blocked by a disk in the images, allowing fainter details of the solar corona to be seen. The head of the comet became so luminous during its perihelion on 13 January that LASCO’s sensors were briefly overwhelmed, creating horizontal streaks known as “bleeding” in the imagery. Scientific Significance Karl Battams, the principal investigator of LASCO at the U.S. Naval Research …

Space Missions of 2025: Lunar Landings, Asteroid Sampling, and More

Space Missions of 2025: Lunar Landings, Asteroid Sampling, and More

Published by Webster

The year 2025 is set to witness significant milestones in space exploration as multiple countries prepare to launch missions aimed at deepening scientific understanding of the cosmos. A diverse range of objectives will be undertaken, from lunar exploration to asteroid sampling and planetary flybys. These missions are designed to enhance knowledge about the origins of the solar system, support technological innovation, and explore new possibilities for human and robotic spaceflight. As reported by The Conversation, here is a list of Space Missions scheduled for 2025. Lunar Missions by NASA and Japan NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative will continue its lunar exploration efforts through collaborations with private companies like Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and Firefly Aerospace. These missions will carry instruments to study lunar geology, test new technologies for human exploration, and collect environmental data.In January, Japan’s M2/Resilience mission will deploy a lander and micro-rover to the Moon. Research on lunar soil composition and water-splitting processes will be conducted to assess the potential for generating oxygen and hydrogen. Advanced navigation systems and autonomous operation technologies …

ISRO’s PSLV-C59 to Launch ESA’s Proba-3 Mission for Sun Corona Study

ISRO’s PSLV-C59 to Launch ESA’s Proba-3 Mission for Sun Corona Study

Published by Webster

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has scheduled the launch of the PSLV-C59 rocket carrying the Proba-3 spacecraft for December 4, 2024, at 4:08 PM IST, as per reports. The mission, a dedicated commercial venture of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), will take off from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. According to reports, this will mark the 61st mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the 21st use of its XL configuration. Mission Overview As per sources, Proba-3, a project developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), is an In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission aimed at showcasing precision formation flying. The spacecraft consists of two components: the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC). These satellites, launched in a stacked arrangement, will operate in tandem, maintaining a precise distance of 150 meters. The innovative configuration will enable the creation of artificial solar eclipses, allowing extended observation of the Sun’s corona. Scientific Objectives Reports indicate that the mission’s primary objective is to explore the Sun’s corona, the outermost layer …

ISRO PSLV to Launch ESA Proba-3 That Aims to Study the Sun’s Corona on December 4

ISRO PSLV to Launch ESA Proba-3 That Aims to Study the Sun’s Corona on December 4

Published by Webster

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will deploy the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission on December 4, 2024, using its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Sriharikota, as per multiple sources. The mission, designed to examine the Sun’s corona, marks a significant collaboration between India and Europe. Proba-3 will attempt precision formation flying, where two satellites will operate in tandem to create a solar coronagraph, enabling detailed studies of the Sun’s outer atmosphere. What Proba-3 Aims to Accomplish? Proba-3’s primary focus is the solar corona, the Sun’s outermost layer, known for its extreme temperatures reaching up to 2 million degrees Fahrenheit. This region is critical for understanding phenomena such as solar storms and winds that influence space weather and disrupt Earth-based technologies, including power grids and satellite communications. The mission is equipped with three instruments. The ASPIICS coronagraph will simulate solar eclipses, providing an unprecedented view of the Sun’s inner and outer corona. The Digital Absolute Radiometer (DARA) will measure total solar irradiance, while the 3D Energetic Electron Spectrometer (3DEES) will monitor electron fluxes …

Hubble Space Telescope Captures Rare Edge-On View of a Spiral Galaxy Located Millions of Light-Years Away

Hubble Space Telescope Captures Rare Edge-On View of a Spiral Galaxy Located Millions of Light-Years Away

Published by Webster

The Hubble Space Telescope, a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) has provided a unique look at the spiral galaxy UGC 10043, located approximately 150 million light-years away in the constellation Serpens. Unlike the typical top-down perspective of galaxies, this image presents UGC 10043 from an edge-on view, making its thin disk appear as a sharply defined line across space. Prominent dust lanes cover much of this disk, but regions of active star formation shine through the dark clouds, revealing the galaxy’s glowing structure. Distinctive Shape and Unusual Bulge Structure The image posted on the official website of NASA, highlights an almost egg-shaped “bulge” in the centre of UGC 10043, which rises significantly above and below the galactic disk. Bulges are common in spiral galaxies, containing stars orbiting around the galactic centre, but the bulge in UGC 10043 appears unusually large compared to its disk. This structure may have resulted from the galaxy’s interaction with a nearby dwarf galaxy, which could have altered its shape and contributed to its curved appearance …