News ESA's Future: The News and Updates Thread

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http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/T...teractive_space_simulation_for_nanosatellites

19 February 2019
Pioneer partner Open Cosmos are taking mission development to a new dimension, using a virtual reality-like simulation that replicates life in orbit for space technologies.
Through an innovative combination of a plug-and-play test platform and software, the UK Harwell-based SME is slashing the time it takes for space missions to be designed and qualified for launch.
Their online ‘beeApp’ software helps define a full space mission from the ground up, including selection of launchers, ground stations and satellite size.
 

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29 April 2019
Data from ESA’s Integral high-energy observatory have helped shed light on the workings of a mysterious black hole found spitting out ‘bullets’ of plasma while rotating through space.
The black hole is part of a binary system known as V404 Cygni and is sucking in material from a companion star. It is located in our Milky Way, some 8000 light-years away from Earth, and was first identified in 1989, when it caused a huge outburst of high-energy radiation and material.
After 26 years of dormancy, it woke up again in 2015, becoming for a short period of time the brightest object in the sky observable in high-energy X-rays.
Astronomers from all over the world pointed their ground and space-based telescopes towards the celestial object, and discovered that the black hole was behaving somewhat strangely.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/S...ts_get_to_the_bottom_of_a_spitting_black_hole
 

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5 May 2019
As far as we know, Earth’s magnetic north has always wandered, but it has recently gained new momentum and is making a dash towards Siberia at a pace not seen before. While this has some practical implications, scientists believe that this sprint is being caused by tussling magnetic blobs deep below our feet.
Unlike our geographic North Pole, which is in a fixed location, magnetic north wanders. This has been known since it was first measured in 1831, and subsequently mapped drifting slowly from the Canadian Arctic towards Siberia.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/Tug-of-war_drives_magnetic_north_sprint


Between 1990 and 2005 magnetic north accelerated from its historic speed of 0–15 km a year, to its present speed of 50–60 km a year.

Good greif, you could nearly see it moving. Wonder what the South pole is doing?
 
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Oh, the magnetic pole, would think there is some interaction between them?

N.
 

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I was wondering why they don't mention the South. Maybe measurement is more difficult there? I see they are using the Swarm satellites, orbits not suitable?

N.
 

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I was wondering why they don't mention the South. Maybe measurement is more difficult there? I see they are using the Swarm satellites, orbits not suitable?

N.

Yes. While the geomagnetic south pole was at least near Vostok station some time ago, the magnetic south pole is already far offshore...
 

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Fascinating when you think of all that molten Iron sloshing around 1000's of miles below us.

G.
 

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Fascinating when you think of all that molten Iron sloshing around 1000's of miles below us.

G.

I find it already fascinating that there are the remains of previous continents moving below our feet...
 

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Had a look, but there is no obvious englis version?

N.
 

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Excellent! Many thanks. N.
 

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June 2019
Dramatic changes in the shape of the Antarctic ice sheet have become emblematic of the climate crisis. And, in deference to the critical role that satellites play in measuring and monitoring Antarctic glaciology, seven areas of fast-flowing ice on the Antarctic Peninsula have been named after Earth observation satellites.

Recognising the importance of observations from space, the UK Antarctic Place-names Committee has approved seven new names for international use.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/O...ate/Antarctic_glaciers_named_after_satellites
 
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