ISS: The Inhabited Artificial Satellite
The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest artificial satellite in Earth’s orbit (and in space that we know of). It was constructed as a collaboration between NASA, Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA, ESA, and CSA (Canada). The first component was launched into Earth’s orbit in 1998. Recent additions to the ISS include the Bigelow Expandable Activity […]
SolO: Studying the Heliosphere
The Solar Orbiter (SolO) is a satellite that was launched in February 2020 by the European Space Agency. It will reach its operational orbit in around three years time, after completing gravity assist manoeuvres with the help of Earth and Venus. In its operational orbit, SolO will reach distances as close as 26 million miles […]
BepiColombo en route to Mercury
BepiColombo is a two-satellite cooperation between the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on a seven-year journey to Mercury. It was launched in October 2018 and is expected to arrive at Mercury in the year of 2025. There are two satellites involved in the BepiColombo mission: The Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) […]
NOAA: Earth and Space Weather
The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellites are involved in monitoring the global (and space) climate to provide warnings of dangerous weather. There are a variety of NOAA satellites currently operating that provide surveillance of the oceans, atmosphere and space environment. The NOAA Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) system comprised several satellites with contributions […]
The Hubble Space Telescope
Happy World Space Week! Today we talk about the Hubble telescope. 4-10 October every year we celebrate space. In 2020, the theme is ‘Satellites Improve Life’.
Sputnik 1 and the Space Age
Happy World Space Week 2020. Today’s post is about mankind’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1.
The Moon: Earth’s Natural Satellite
Happy World Space Week 2020. This year’s theme is about satellites. Our first stop, the Moon.