All posts tagged: Space Technology

DESI completes largest-ever map of the Universe

DESI completes largest-ever map of the Universe

Published by skeptic

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has reached a defining milestone in modern cosmology, completing its original five-year survey and delivering the most detailed map of the Universe ever constructed. Operating from the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, DESI has charted more than 47 million galaxies and quasars in three dimensions. The result is a high-resolution cosmic map that stretches across billions of years, offering scientists an unprecedented dataset to probe how the Universe has evolved. Originally scheduled to run through a five-year mission, the project exceeded expectations both in speed and scale. Its success has now secured an extension through 2028, with plans to expand and refine this already vast map of the Universe. How DESI mapped the cosmos On April 15, DESI quietly marked the completion of its primary survey. Its 5,000 fibre-optic “eyes” scanned a region near the Little Dipper, repeatedly locking onto distant sources of light. Each observation captured photons that had travelled for billions of years before reaching Earth. At the heart of DESI is a highly coordinated system. …

The science of getting there

The science of getting there

Published by skeptic

The idea of sending humans to Mars is often framed as a question of ambition or funding. In reality, future missions to Mars are a logistics problem shaped by physics. Distance, energy, time and mass define what is possible long before politics or budgets enter the equation. Mars sits, on average, about 225 million kilometres from Earth. That number alone doesn’t explain the difficulty. What matters is how you move people and equipment across that distance, how long it takes, and how much you have to carry to survive the journey. At the centre of it all is propulsion. Not just how you leave Earth, but how you travel through space, slow down at the other end, and potentially make the return journey. Every decision about a Mars mission – crew size, safety margins, cost – flows from that constraint. The six-month problem Using current technology, a journey to Mars typically takes between six and nine months. Orbital mechanics and the limits of chemical propulsion dictate that timeline. This duration creates a cascade of challenges. …

Worms sent to ISS to study effects of space on the human body

Worms sent to ISS to study effects of space on the human body

Published by skeptic

A new International Space Station (ISS) experiment aims to improve understanding of the risks of long-duration spaceflight ahead of future Moon missions. British researchers are preparing to send microscopic worms into orbit in a compact laboratory designed to examine the effects of space on the human body, as international efforts to return astronauts to the Moon accelerate. The experiment, developed by teams at the University of Exeter and the University of Leicester with backing from the UK Space Agency, will be launched today at 1:50 pm BST aboard a cargo spacecraft departing from Kennedy Space Center. Once deployed, it will expose living organisms to the combined stresses of microgravity, radiation and vacuum – conditions that continue to challenge human spaceflight. Space Minister Liz Lloyd highlighted the importance of the project: “It might sound surprising, but these tiny worms could play a big role in the future of human spaceflight. “This remarkable mission – backed by government funding – shows the ingenuity and ambition of UK space science, using a small experiment to tackle one of the biggest challenges …

Artemis II mission launches first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years

Artemis II mission launches first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years

Published by skeptic

The Artemis II mission has successfully launched, marking the first time in more than half a century that humans are en route to orbit the Moon. The milestone flight signals a critical step in NASA’s broader strategy to establish a sustained human presence beyond low Earth orbit. Lifting off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket carried four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft. The mission is designed as a full-scale test of systems required for future lunar landings under the Artemis programme. Commenting on the successful launch, NASA’s Administrator Jared Isaacman said: “This launch marks a defining moment for our nation and for all who believe in exploration, returning humanity to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years and opening the next chapter of lunar exploration beyond Apollo. “Aboard Orion are four remarkable explorers preparing for the first crewed flight of this rocket and spacecraft, a true test mission that will carry them farther and faster than any humans in …

NASA prepares for Moon mission

NASA prepares for Moon mission

Published by skeptic

The long-anticipated Artemis II launch is entering its final hours, with NASA teams pressing through a tightly choreographed sequence of checks and preparations ahead of liftoff, scheduled no earlier than 6:24 p.m. EDT Today. At Kennedy Space Center in Florida, engineers and mission specialists are working methodically to ensure both the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft are fully ready for humanity’s next step toward deep space exploration. Final preparations at Kennedy Space Center As the Artemis II launch window approaches, activity at Launch Complex 39B has intensified. Engineers began the day completing critical diagnostics on the rocket’s four RS-25 engines. These engines, essential for powering the spacecraft beyond Earth’s orbit, have passed a series of health checks confirming that sensors, connections, and performance systems are functioning as expected. Attention has also turned to the rocket’s upper stage, known as the interim cryogenic propulsion stage. After completing earlier system verifications, it has now been placed in a stable, safe standby mode, ready for the next phase of operations. Meanwhile, teams have focused on …

Scottish companies pioneer satellite communications with SpaceX launch

Scottish companies pioneer satellite communications with SpaceX launch

Published by skeptic

Three new satellites built in Scotland have launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-16 mission. The launch marks a significant step forward for UK leadership in laser communications, spacecraft manufacturing, and satellite communications operations. The satellites, developed by Spire Global and AAC Clyde Space in Glasgow, are backed by UK Space Agency funding delivered through the European Space Agency’s Pioneer Programme, which helps emerging UK space companies become new mission providers. The Pioneer Programme falls under the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme. The importance of satellite communications in critical industries The UK Government has identified satellite communications as a priority area for further support, due to its increasingly important role in both civil and defence applications, from delivering broadband services to remote areas to providing secure connectivity for military operations. As part of this commitment, the UK Space Agency will invest more than £600m in satellite communications research & development over the coming years. Optical inter-satellite links tested by Spire Global UK One of the satellites was launched by Spire Global UK to test an innovative …

How standardised geospatial schemas revolutionise global risk management

How standardised geospatial schemas revolutionise global risk management

Published by skeptic

RSS-Hydro’s new ‘Pin’ Earth observation concept has the potential to transform emergency response and global risk management. The Earth observation (EO) industry is undergoing a fundamental shift: we are moving away from the era of ‘pretty maps’ and toward the era of ‘actionable impact’. At the forefront of this evolution is RSS-Hydro, whose ‘Pin’ concept is effectively rewriting the playbook for how geospatial data is consumed by the sectors that need it most — emergency responders and financial institutions. The ‘Pin’ concept: From pixels to points of interest For decades, the hurdle in satellite intelligence hasn’t been a lack of data; it’s been a lack of relevance. Traditional geospatial providers sell ‘swaths’ – vast raster images covering thousands of square kilometres. For a city manager or an insurance adjuster, a 50-gigabyte image of a flooded province is a bottleneck, not a solution. They don’t need the whole map; they need to know if the water is going to reach the electrical substation on 5th Street. RSS-Hydro’s Pin approach addresses this ‘last mile’ problem. Instead of …

NASA outlines phased Moon base strategy

NASA outlines phased Moon base strategy

Published by skeptic

A new NASA roadmap links lunar infrastructure, commercial partnerships, and nuclear propulsion to long-term exploration goals. A sweeping set of policy and programme updates from NASA signals a structural shift in how the United States plans to operate in space over the coming decade. Announced during a recent agency-wide briefing, the changes align with the current administration’s National Space Policy and place the development of a sustained Moon base at the centre of future exploration strategy. The plan reconfigures existing lunar missions, expands the role of private industry, and introduces new approaches to maintaining a continuous human presence both in orbit and on the Moon. It also advances long-discussed ambitions around nuclear propulsion and deep space infrastructure. Artemis programme refocused toward sustained lunar operations NASA’s updated roadmap builds on prior adjustments to its Artemis programme, the flagship initiative for returning astronauts to the Moon. The agency has standardised its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket configuration and added an additional mission ahead of a planned crewed lunar landing later this decade. Under the revised sequencing, Artemis …

ESA funding call targets space-tech to combat European wildfires

ESA funding call targets space-tech to combat European wildfires

Published by skeptic

The European Space Agency (ESA) is seeking new technologies to detect and track fires in near real time as wildfire activity intensifies across parts of Europe. European wildfires are growing larger and more frequent, and ESA is now asking industry to help respond by building tools that rely heavily on satellite data to detect, monitor and predict fires as they unfold. A sharp rise in fire activity Wildfires across Europe are becoming more frequent and destructive, particularly in southern Mediterranean countries and parts of Central and Eastern Europe. Recent data indicate a sharp escalation: the total area burned in 2025 across EU member states was more than double the long-term average recorded between 2006 and 2024. While fire has long played a natural role in maintaining ecosystems, the current trajectory reflects a shift. Human activity, combined with environmental conditions such as prolonged drought and rising temperatures, is increasing both ignition risk and fire spread. One critical factor is the expansion of urban forest boundaries, where residential areas meet flammable vegetation, amplifying both exposure and damage. …

£14M funding accelerates UK space technology commercialisation

£14M funding accelerates UK space technology commercialisation

Published by skeptic

UK businesses can now apply for a share of up to £14.7 million in funding from the UK Space Agency. This will unlock new opportunities to develop cutting-edge space technology and strengthen the UK’s industrial capability. The funding is available through the European Space Agency’s (ESA) General Support Technology Programme (GSTP), its flagship programme for maturing new space technologies from early-stage research to flight-ready demonstration. Lord David Willetts, Chair of the UK Space Agency, stated: “We are very pleased to be providing this further funding for new technologies across the space sector. “The evidence shows this programme provides a real boost to individual companies and the wider economy.” Funding brings significant economic and technological benefits This call follows strong industry demand and new evidence that UK participation in the General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) is delivering significant economic and technological benefits. The UK has been involved in the programme for more than 30 years and committed £46m at ESA’s 2025 Ministerial Council, helping organisations develop critical home-grown space technologies, compete internationally, and secure future work …