Latest news with #Mundell
AllAfrica
22-07-2025
- Science
- AllAfrica
With China, European Space Agency leaves politics to governments
The European Space Agency (ESA) has a comprehensive internal system in place to ensure that its collaboration with China will not raise security concerns or be affected by geopolitical changes, according to a senior director interviewed by Asia Times. After the ESA said in January 2023 that it would not send astronauts to China's Tiangong space station, it continued to work with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on two scientific research programs. One of the two programs is the Einstein Probe (EP), a China-led X-ray space telescope mission. China launched the EP satellite to low Earth orbit (600 kilometers above the Earth) from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre on January 9 last year. Another mission is the Solar-wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), a 50-50 mission between the ESA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The SMILE satellite is scheduled to be launched from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, located in northeastern South America, in 2026. It will operate in a highly elliptical orbit similar to a Molniya orbit (40,000 kilometers above the Earth). With SMILE, scientists can understand the Sun–Earth connection by measuring the solar wind and its dynamic interaction with Earth's magnetosphere. Carole Mundell, Director of Science at the European Space Agency (ESA), stated that there is no immediate risk to the ESA-China programs. 'I don't believe there's an immediate risk of that, in the sense that ESA is governed by its member states, and those 23 countries guide me as director of science on how to run the program,' Mundell told Asia Times in an interview on the sidelines of the UK Space Conference in Manchester on July 17. The X-ray telescope of the Einstein Probe Photo: ESA 'I have permission from our member states to collaborate with China, and that's how we've worked on Einstein Probe,' she said. ' It's how we've worked on SMILE.' 'We have robust security processes, and apply them to each national country's government. If components are coming, say from the UK or Belgium, we go through their normal export license control processes, and that is how we satisfy the international regulations.' She said any political challenges between the United States and China are between their governments, which are not ESA member states. She said when collaborating with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the ESA also follows its processes and US rules and regulations. 'We are a technical agency and an international civil service. We are not political, and we don't make decisions on policy,' she said. Mundell took up her current position at the ESA in March 2023. She gained her PhD in astrophysics from the University of Manchester and postdoctoral research fellowships at Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK, and the University of Maryland in the US, specialising in the physics of accreting supermassive black holes and their role in galaxy evolution. She became the first woman Chief Scientific Adviser at the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2018 and first Chief International Science Envoy in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office until 2021. She was elected President of the UK Science Council in 2021. In March 2019, representing the UK government, she spent two weeks visiting scientific institutions and technology firms in Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing, as well as the China National Space Agency (CNSA) and the National Space Science Center (NSSC). At that time, Wang Chi, the Director General of NSSC, briefly introduced the SMILE mission to her. China and the ESA targeted launching the mission in 2023. However, the launch date was postponed to 2026 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past six years, the world's geopolitical environment has faced drastic changes, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the trade and chip wars between China and the US, and rising political tensions between China and the European Union (EU). On July 18, the EU approved the 18th round of sanctions against Russia, which targeted Russian energy and military firms, as well as two Chinese Banks. Beijing slammed the EU for its sanctions. Carole Mundell, Director of Science at the European Space Agency (ESA) Photo: Asia Times, Jeff Pao Mundell said the ESA can avoid falling foul of international politics due to its independent organizational structure. 'Twenty-three countries are contributing their funding to us this year. Their ministers will all come together and set our budgets in November,' she said. 'We're a membership organization in the same way that CERN is.' (CERN stands for Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire, or the European Organization for Nuclear Research in English.) While the ESA and the EU are separate organisations, they work closely together in many programs, including: the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (Iris2) to promote digital autonomy and provide a strategic asset for the EU; the EU's Galileo system, with a 28-satellite constellation and global ground stations to provide a global positioning service; the EU's Copernicus Earth observation satellites to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security. Under the Financial Framework Partnership Agreement signed in 2021, the EU will provide the ESA with about €9 billion (US$10.52 billion) of funding from 2021 to 2027. Last year, the ESA's full-year budget was €7.79 billion. China has not officially announced its investment in space exploration. According to China's government expenditure on space programs totaled $19.89 billion in 2024, compared to the United States' $79.68 billion and the EU's $3.71 billion. Mundell said that, as a scientist, she would not mind if other places invested more in climate monitoring than the ESA. 'During the pandemic, sometimes political leaders asked me, 'Who's got the best vaccine?' My answer was always: The competition is not about my vaccine being better than yours. It's about the best vaccine to prevent death and illness,' she said. 'For climate monitoring, the Earth is a complex system. We all have limited budgets. If you want to compete to get the best data on Earth observation, it's not a bad competition. That's fine. Go for it,' she said. 'It's better than being blind to the changes on our planet.' She hopes that other organizations will share their data and contribute to climate monitoring, following the example set by the ESA's Copernicus program. The EU and the ESA sent Copernicus Earth observation satellites to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security. Photo: ESA 'The Copernicus program has set a gold standard for Earth observation,' she said. 'In terms of data transparency, we share our data. We also add value by helping people who might not know what to do with them to get extra information out of them.' 'When I was in the UK Government, it was very interesting visiting one of the NSSC's climate institutes, because there was some local data which was then fed back into some of the UK models, which then helped build the global climate models,' she said, highlighting the importance of boosting international collaboration. The Paris-based ESA, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year since its establishment on May 30, 1975, continues to explore new collaborations with Asian counterparts. In March this year, the ESA signed a letter of intent with Singapore's Office for Space Technology & Industry (OSTIn) to promote deeper collaboration. In May, the ESA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) signed a joint statement of intent on cooperation for human space exploration, focusing on low Earth orbit, and in a secondary stage on the Moon. In July, the ESA announced that it would sign a framework agreement to strengthen cooperation with South Korea's newly established Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA). Read: China's patience wears thin with EU over medical device row
The Herald Scotland
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Mundell: SNP is depriving pro-Union areas of funding
In March, Dumfries and Galloway councillors were forced to find £30 million in savings over three years, blaming what they described as an 'unprecedented funding gap' from the Scottish Government. READ MORE Meanwhile, NHS Dumfries and Galloway is currently trying to find more than £23m in savings. It has even cut down on lawn mowing across its entire estate as part of a 'wider effort to prioritise and protect patient care'. However, the challenges are not confined to the south of Scotland. A recent report by the Accounts Commission found that Scotland's councils are facing a near £1 billion budget gap over the next two years. The watchdog said for this year, the gap between the country's 32 local authorities stands at £647m – up £52m from 2024–25. This comes despite councils receiving £15.2bn from the Scottish Government in the 2025–26 budget – a real-terms increase of 6%. The report on local government budgets highlighted the 'recurring pressures' authorities face, from inflation, annual staff pay deals and the growing demand for services. One of the biggest impacts is the hike in employers' national insurance contributions brought in by the Chancellor at last year's budget. Cosla say this could cost £370m a year – more than double the £144m provided by the Scottish Government towards the rise. READ MORE Speaking during Scotland Questions, Mr Mundell said: 'Does the Secretary of State share my view that whatever the budget SNP Scottish Government have, they have cynically and systematically deprived funding from areas that do not support independence, leaving councils like Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders and their health boards struggling to provide basic services?' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray responded by accusing the SNP of neglecting the entire country. 'The whole of Scotland voted against independence in 2014,' he said. 'And it seems to me that the SNP government strategy is to starve all of Scotland's public services of the vital funding they require.' The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Spacecraft unveils 1st-ever images of sun's south pole: 'Beginning of a new era'
Plenty of spacecraft and telescopes have throughout the years been able to observe the sun up close – with plenty more missions on the way. In late-December 2024, NASA's Parker Solar Probe got closer to the sun than any spacecraft before it. Earlier that same month, the European Space Agency sent a pair of satellites toward the sun to create "solar eclipses on demand." And in March, NASA sent four small satellites on its PUNCH mission to study how the sun's outer atmosphere becomes solar wind. But no spacecraft has ever gotten a good look at either of the sun's poles. Until now. In March, a spacecraft captured the first-ever clear images of the sun's south pole, which the European Space Agency released Wednesday, June 11. 'We reveal humankind's first-ever views of the sun's pole,' Carole Mundell, director of science for the European Space Agency, said in a statement. 'These new unique views from our Solar Orbiter mission are the beginning of a new era of solar science.' Here's a look at what the Solar Orbiter captured, and why ESA officials believe it will help scientists better understand our life-giving host star. Solar Orbiter: Newly-released photos capture the sun in highest resolution ever Before you saw the picture above, any image you have ever seen of the sun was taken from around its equator. Why? Because Earth, like all the planets in our solar system, orbits the sun along a line across a flat, disc-shaped plane in the sky known as the ecliptic. That means all the spacecraft we launch into orbit tend to do so as well. But by tilting the Solar Orbiter's orbit out of that plane, the ESA was able to reveal the sun from a brand new angle. The process began in February 2025 when the Solar Orbiter passed closely by Venus for a gravitational boost that allowed the spacecraft to push itself out of the orbital plane to see the sun at a higher angle. Then on March 23, the Solar Orbiter whizzed by the sun at an angle of 17 degrees, as compared to the 7 degree-orbit of all the planets and other sun-observing spacecraft, to get some historic snapshots of the south pole. A few days prior, the Solar Orbiter was also able to view the sun from an angle of 15 degrees below the equator while using its fleet of on-board instruments to observe the sun in different wavelengths – including visible light and ultraviolet light. The images were taken as the sun's peak activity, known as its solar maximum, begins to wind down. ESA scientists believe that studying the sun's polar regions could be key to unlocking secrets about the sun's 11-year solar cycle, which can cause space weather that disrupts satellites and even causes northern lights to flourish. "The sun is our nearest star, giver of life and potential disruptor of modern space and ground power systems, so it is imperative that we understand how it works and learn to predict its behavior," Mundell said. The Solar Orbiter launched February 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida with 10 scientific instruments to study the sun. Its mission? Gather images of the sun from closer than any spacecraft before it and study the hot star's polar regions to understand things like the sun's atmosphere, its solar cycle and how solar wind forms. In November, the ESA released images the Solar Orbiter obtained in March 2023 that the agency said are the highest-resolution views of the sun's surface, known as the photosphere, to date. According to the ESA, the best views from the Solar Orbiter are yet to come. In the coming years, the Solar Orbiter will continue to orbit around the sun at even higher angles, reaching as much as 33 degrees in July 2029. Scientists at the ESA also expect to receive images of the north solar pole by October that the Solar Orbiter has already taken. 'This is just the first step," Daniel Müller, Solar Orbiter project scientist for the ESA, said in a statement. "In the coming years, the spacecraft will climb further out of the ecliptic plane for ever better views of the sun's polar regions." Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spacecraft captures 1st-ever images of sun's south pole: See photos
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Sun's south pole unveiled by ESA for the first time; here's why it matters
On Wednesday, the European Space Agency (ESA) released stunning images that were captured by three instruments aboard the Solar Orbiter. These images are taken from about 40 million miles which is around 65 million kilometers away and these photos provide an unprecedented detailed view of the Sun's south pole. The Solar Orbiter mission is a joint effort between ESA and NASA. Historic first images of the Sun's south Pole revealed Until now, all observations of the Sun have been made from a single perspective which is directly facing its equator from the same plane in which Earth and most other planets orbit that is known as the ecliptic plane. However, in February, the Solar Orbiter used a gravity assist flyby around Venus to shift its position out of this plane by allowing it to view the Sun from about 17 degrees below the solar equator. Future flybys are planned to increase this angle to over 30 degrees. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold 2021 Cars Now Almost Free - Prices May Surprise You Unsold Cars | Search Ads Learn More Undo On Wednesday, the European Space Agency released images that were captured in March by three instruments aboard the Solar Orbiter. These photos reveal the Sun's south pole from roughly 40 million miles measuring around 65 million kilometers away, taken during a period of high solar activity. Images of the north pole are still being transmitted. Professor Carole Mundell, ESA's Director of Science said, 'Today we present humanity's first-ever images of the Sun's pole. As our closest star, the Sun sustains life but also has the potential to disrupt space and ground-based power systems. Understanding its behavior and learning to predict it is crucial. These new, unparalleled images from the Solar Orbiter mark the dawn of a new chapter in solar research.' According to Prof. Mundell, these are the closest and most detailed images ever taken of the Sun, and they will help researchers better understand how our star functions. Source: Sky News Why do these Sun's south pole images matter? The Sun is enormous as it measures about 865,000 miles in diameter which is more than 100 times wider than Earth. Hamish Reid, a solar physicist at University College London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory and the UK co-lead for the Solar Orbiter's Extreme Ultraviolet Imager explained to Reuters that unlike Earth which has distinct north and south poles, the Solar Orbiter has detected both magnetic polarities currently present at the Sun's south pole. 'The data collected by Solar Orbiter over the coming years will assist scientists in predicting the solar cycle,' he said. 'This is crucial for life on Earth because solar activity, including flares and coronal mass ejections, can disrupt radio communications, destabilize power grids, and create spectacular auroras.' During this calmer period, the Sun is less prone to violent eruptions. However, as the magnetic poles flip approximately every 11 years, the fields become more tangled and unstable. This chaotic phase prompts the Sun to restore order, causing solar storms that hurl solar material toward Earth. These storms can disrupt satellites and electrical systems but also produce breathtaking auroras. The Solar Orbiter has captured some images of the Sun's north pole as well, though the European Space Agency is still awaiting the data to be transmitted back to Earth. New insights into the Sun's poles Professor Carole Mundell, who is the ESA's Director of Science noted that these are the closest and most detailed images of the Sun that have ever been taken in history. Scientists believe that these images will significantly advance our understanding of the Sun's processes. The new images will help scientists understand how the Sun transitions between periods of intense solar storms and calmer phases. This knowledge is crucial because strong solar activity can disrupt satellite communications and cause power outages on Earth. The photos reveal a glowing and bright atmosphere with temperatures reaching up to a million degrees Celsius in some areas. Among these are cooler and darker gas clouds that are still scorching at around one hundred thousand degrees. Also read: 10 strange facts about Earth that sound like sci-fi stories
Newsweek
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
How to Watch BKFC 75 Albuquerque Mundell vs. Sanchez: Live Stream BKFC, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship returns to Albuquerque, featuring a main event between reigning BKFC Middleweight World Champion David "The Redneck" Mundell and local favorite Donald Sanchez. David Mundell squares up during the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event at the Orange County Convention Center on November 3, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. David Mundell squares up during the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event at the Orange County Convention Center on November 3, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. Photo byHow to Watch BKFC 75 Albuquerque Mundell vs. Sanchez: When: Friday, June 6, 2025 Time: 9:00 PM ET Where: Tingley Coliseum TV Channel: Fubo Sports Live Stream: Fubo (Try for free!) Mundell (9-1), widely regarded as the pound-for-pound king of BKFC, has been dominant over his last three title defenses. The Florida native has notched seven consecutive wins, with his last three title defenses all ending in emphatic second-round finishes. Known for his power, volume, and iron chin, Mundell's aggressive yet calculated style has made him a must-watch champion. He's faced and beaten top contenders, including Francesco Ricchi, Mike Richman, and Danny Christie, and now looks to further cement his legacy in hostile territory. Challenging him is Albuquerque's own Donald Sanchez (4-1 BKFC), a veteran of nearly two decades in combat sports and a former MMA champion. Sanchez has been on a tear since joining BKFC, winning his last four bouts and earning this long-awaited title shot in front of a hometown crowd. With a reputation for grit and finishing ability, Sanchez aims to make history by dethroning Mundell and claiming the middleweight crown on his biggest stage yet. Live stream BKFC 75 Albuquerque: Mundell vs. Sanchez on Fubo: Start your subscription now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
