Latest news with #EuropeanSpaceAgency
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Why does Mars look purple, yellow and orange in ESA's stunning new satellite image?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Despite being known as the Red Planet, Mars shows off its swirling yellows, oranges and browns in a new satellite photo from the European Space Agency (ESA). The Earth-toned surface also reveals an impact crater and four sneaky dust devils making their way across the region. The Rothko-like image was taken by a high-resolution camera on ESA's Mars Express orbiter and captures Arcadia Planitia, an area of Mars critical to research about the planet's past and its potential to house humans in the future. Northwest of the tallest volcanoes in the solar system, Arcadia Planitia is a region of intrigue. It's laden with solidified lava flows that are, at most, 3 billion years old. The area is also thought to host water ice close to the planet's surface, making it an area of interest when planning future missions to Mars, according to a statement from ESA. Arcadia Planitia is home to visiting "dust devils," short-lived columns of wind akin to small tornadoes. Dust devils form when the Martian surface warms the air just above it, leading the air to rise and pulling dust with it. The new image shows four dust devils as they snake their way across the plains of the region. Easy to overlook, you can spot them as whitish puffs of dust near the center of the image, straddling the boundary between the darker brown and lighter red parts of the plain. A large impact crater sits in the bottom right corner of the photo and measures 9 miles (15 kilometers) across, according to ESA. The formation of layered material around the crater is evidence that the ground encompassed notable amounts of water ice during impact, and lack of clear erosion of the crater dates it to relatively recently on the geological timeline. Related: Perseverance rover spots peculiar 'spider egg' rock on Mars — and scientists have no idea how it got there If you noticed that the image is blurry, you're discerning an effect of the wind on Mars. Gusts of air pick up and carry tiny particles of debris from the planet's surface, which creates a minor visual haze. RELATED STORIES —Mars rover captures first close-up photos of giant 'spiderwebs' on the Red Planet —Long, dark 'streaks' spotted on Mars aren't what scientists thought —NASA Mars satellite uncovers markings 'like paint dripping down a wall' on Martian surface The wind that causes the haze is also responsible for the reddish area at the top of the photo. The red region is covered in ridges called "yardangs," which are formed when wind erodes vulnerable rock and leaves the most resistant rock still standing. Below the red section is purplish-brown terrain, which has a high concentration of silicates and a low concentration of iron, the statement notes. The difference in colors also stems from properties of the sand, like density and size, which affect how the grains accumulate and travel across Mars.
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Five benefits Africa's new space agency can deliver
Africa's new space agency has an important role to play in coordinating satellite data and boosting connectivity. The African Space Agency was officially inaugurated in Cairo's Space City in April 2025. The event marked a milestone in a process that had been in the works since the early 2000s. Drawing inspiration from the European Space Agency, it unites African Union (AU) member states to harness space technology for development. This is in line with the AU's Agenda 2063, aimed at advancing Africa into a prosperous future. The agency's goal is to: coordinate and implement Africa's space ambitions by promoting collaboration among the AU's 55 member states harness space technologies for sustainable development, climate resilience and socio-economic growth oversee the African Space Policy and Strategy to enhance access to space-derived data foster partnerships with international space agencies like the European Space Agency and others Over 20 African countries operate space programmes and more than 65 African satellites have been launched. It is my view as a global space diplomacy expert that the agency can help ensure that Africa isn't a bystander in the space economy. This sector is projected to be worth US$1.8 trillion by 2035. The space agency positions Africa to address pressing challenges and take advantage of opportunities in the global space economy. These include using satellite data, boosting connectivity, driving economic growth, fostering global partnerships and training future leaders. Five benefits Valuable eyes in the sky Space assets, particularly Earth observation satellites, offer a number of advantages. The continent faces significant climate risks like droughts, fires and floods. This is particularly problematic as the agricultural sector is approximately 35% of Africa's GDP and employs about half of its people across over 1 billion hectares of arable land. Satellite data optimises crop yields, supports climate-resilient farming, and enhances sustainable fisheries and port modernisation. Nigeria's National Space Research and Deveopment Agency, for example, has used satellites like the NigSat-2 to monitor crop health and predict yields. Beyond agriculture, satellites assist in project planning in cities across Africa. Kenya uses a satellite to track urban development trends and enhance municipal urban planning capacities. Satellites also keep an eye on Africa's resource-abundant territories while tackling problems like armed conflict, deforestation, and illegal migration and mining. The African Space Agency will help provide access to AI-enhanced satellite data. This will enable even nations with constrained resources to tackle local needs. For instance, Côte d'Ivoire's first locally made satellite, launched in 2024, shows how African nations are building their own capabilities. By making it easier to share data, the African Space Agency also positions the continent to generate revenue in the global space data market. That fuels innovation. Enhancing connectivity and enabling cutting-edge technology Africa's digital divide is stark. Only 38% of its population was online in 2024, compared to the global average of 68%. The African Space Agency aims to bridge this gap through satellite-based communications. This technology can deliver broadband to remote regions where cell towers and undersea cables are impractical. Connectivity enables education, e-commerce and telemedicine. Satellite services, like those provided by SpaceX's Starlink in 21 African countries, will drive digital inclusion. In turn this promises to reduce unemployment and help entrepreneurs. The African Space Agency is also positioning Africa to embrace new space technologies. Examples include Japan's 2025 demonstration of beaming solar power from space, following a US achievement in 2023. This could revolutionise energy access. Space-based solar power captures solar energy in orbit via satellite and transmits it as microwaves to Earth. This offers a solution to Africa's energy poverty. It could provide reliable power to remote areas without extensive grid infrastructure. The African Space Agency's role in coordinating satellite launches and data sharing will make these technologies more accessible and cost-effective. Driving economic growth and innovation Africa's space sector, now worth over US$20 billion, is growing rapidly. The industry has seen an increase of private companies and investor support, moving beyond sole dependence on government funding. Investment is being fuelled by 327 NewSpace firms, a term used for the new emerging commercial space industry in nations such as Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa. These firms often excel in satellite communication, Earth observation and component manufacturing. But many African nations lack resources. The agency will lower barriers by fostering collaboration, coordinating national space programmes, and reducing example, the African Space Agency's efforts to streamline satellite development and launches will spur local manufacturing and tech hubs. This means that smaller economies will be able to participate. Strengthening regional and global connections Africa's space sector relies on partnerships with space agencies and commercial space companies based in the 'space powers'. These include the US, Russia, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. These institutions provide launch services, satellite development and ground stations. An example is Senegal's GaindeSAT-1A, a CubeSat launched in 2024 via America's SpaceX with French collaboration. Meanwhile, countries like South Africa are exploring local rocket programmes to enhance the agency's self-reliance. Africa's space ground stations are already located across the continent, supporting the European Space Agency and commercial missions. They will soon host a deep space ground station for America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Funding remains a challenge. African nations allocated just US$426 million to space programmes in 2025. That's less than 1% of global spending. The European Space Agency has an US$8 billion budget. However, initiatives like the €100 million Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme (2025–2028) aim to boost Africa's space sovereignty and innovation. The agency's vision extends beyond Earth, with an eye on the Moon. Some members, notably Angola, Nigeria and Rwanda, have already signed the US-led Artemis Accords for lunar exploration. For their part Egypt and South Africa are collaborating with China and Russia on the International Lunar Research Station. Training the next generation A skilled workforce is critical to Africa's space industry. The African Space Agency Space City plans to host a training academy. It will build on Egypt's programmes in space project management, satellite design, and orbital simulation. Partnerships like the Africa-EU programme offer scholarships, while private initiatives, such as the Pathways to Space programme by Boeing and the Future African Space Explorers STEM Academy, engage students in 63 schools in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania. DM
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Rocket Lab USA Stock (RKLB) Soars 13% on ESA Launch Orders
Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) stock soared on Thursday after the aerospace company announced a launch deal with the European Space Agency. This will see it launch two small spacecraft to test a planned low Earth orbit positioning, navigation and timing (LEO-PNT) constellation. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Rocket Lab USA will launch the first of these satellites no earlier than December 2025. The two satellites also have different manufacturers, with one made by GMV and the other by Thales Alenia Space. These are two of a planned 10-satellite setup. The European Space Agency needs the satellites launched before Spring 2026 to comply with International Telecommunication Union regulations. That's why it chose Rocket Lab USA for the task, as the company offered a quick launch period to meet these requirements. What This Means for Rocket Lab USA Stock Investors were pleased with the news that Rocket Lab USA will handle the launch of the two satellites for the European Space Agency. This sent shares of RKLB stock 13.38% higher as of Thursday morning, extending their 43.66% rally year-to-date. Unfortunately, this may not lead to further launches for Rocket Lab USA. The European Space Agency would prefer to use rocket companies in its home territory. It's likely to do so for the launch of an estimated 300-satellite network after the LEO-PNT test is finished. Is Rocket Lab USA Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold? Turning to Wall Street, the analysts' consensus rating for Rocket Lab USA is Strong Buy, based on nine Buy and three Hold ratings over the past three months. With that comes an average RKLB stock price target of $30.20, representing a potential 17.89% downside for the shares.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
‘To be number 634 is a privilege': Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla says seeing Earth from space is humbling
A few minutes past 7pm Thursday, as the formal welcome ceremony for the Axiom-4 crew unfolded at the International Space Station , Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla received what he had been eagerly waiting for: his astronaut pin number 634. Axiom-4 mission commander Peggy Whitson formally handed astronaut pins to Shukla, aka Shux, and the other two space rookies on her team - Slawosz Uznanski (635) and Tibor Kapu (636). When Takuya Onishi, crew commander of Expedition 73, welcomed Peggy and said it was an honour to have a veteran like her back at ISS, she replied, "It's special to command a mission of all rookies - it lets me relive my own firsts through them. Watching them experience space for the first time is truly a gift." Clad in his flight suit, the Tricolour patch stitched to his shoulder, Shux received his astronaut pin and said, "To be number 634 is a privilege. It's humbling to be among the few who have seen Earth from this vantage point - it's been a wonderful ride. I was eager to get to space, but the moment I entered the ISS, I felt like I was being welcomed home." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Install the Perfect Pool at Home – Start Here Backyard Pool | Search Ads Learn More Undo Shukla said the experience so far had surpassed his expectations, more so because of the warmth of the crew he shares ISS with. "I am confident the next 14 days will be incredible as we work together to advance science. Thank you so much." Uznanski described the ISS as "the ultimate laboratory", saying he was honoured to represent both Poland and the European Space Agency. "We bring three new flags (Polish, Hungarian and Indian) to orbit. I can't wait to spend this time together," he said. Kapu was just as moved. "My heart is full - seeing Earth for the first time, flying over our countries. It's indescribable. Seven of the 11 astronauts aboard the ISS are on their first flight. That says a lot about where space exploration is heading," he said. For Shux, the moment was also deeply personal. In a video message to Indians back home, delivered in Hindi, he said: "Mere pyare deshvasiyo, with your love and blessings, I have safely reached the International Space Station. It looks very easy that I am standing here... but I am finding it a bit difficult. My head is a bit heavy. But these are all small things, and I will get used to them in a few days."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Rocket Lab Shares Are Jumping Today
June 26 - Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) shares jumped more than 7% Thursday morning after the company secured two launch contracts from the European Space Agency to deploy satellites for a test navigation constellation. The missions will carry a pair of small satellites designed to support the ESA's Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (LEO-PNT) system. The satellites are being developed by two separate manufacturers, GMV and Thales Alenia Space, and are part of a broader 10-satellite initiative. The first satellite is scheduled for launch no earlier than December 2025. Both launches are required to take place before spring 2026, in order to meet frequency and orbital slot deadlines imposed by the International Telecommunication Union. Rocket Lab was selected largely due to its ability to meet the ESA's tight timeline. However, future launches for the full constellation, expected to include up to 300 satellites, will likely be awarded to European launch providers. Shares of Rocket Lab surged following the news, extending the stock's year-to-date rally to over 43% as of Thursday morning. While this contract may not guarantee long-term work with the ESA, it reinforces Rocket Lab's position as a responsive partner for timely satellite deployment. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
