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As Earth’s orbit grows cluttered, scientists are finding smart ways to recycle satellites and debris. © Dotted Yeti, Shutterstock.com
Space
Rethinking space junk in an age of satellite overload

From recycling old satellites in space to turning rocket parts into fuel or beaming debris back to Earth, researchers are exploring new ways to tackle ...

New satellite links promise clear, real‑time connections for safer and smoother flights over the ocean. © supamotion.co, Shutterstock.com
Space  |  Transport  |  Public–Private Partnerships
Researchers turn ocean dead zones into talking skies for pilots

Researchers are developing satellite links that bring clear, real time radio and data connections to flights over oceans, helping air traffic ...

Artist’s rendition of two dark matter stars, or bosons, colliding in deep space. © Nicolás Sanchis-Gual y Rocío García Souto, University of Valencia, Spain, 2021
Space
Scientists hunt dark matter ‘stars’ that mimic black holes

Hypothetical dark matter stars known as ‘boson stars’ could leave telltale ripples across the cosmos, offering researchers a new way to probe the ...

he sentinel programme will provide real-time data on the earth. © European Space Agency
Space  |  Environment  |  Policy
Keeping a watchful eye over earth

Europe’s new fleet of observation satellites will monitor the earth in real time, giving vital data on things like sea ice, pollution and crop maturity as part of the EU's earth monitoring programme that also includes sensors on the ground, at sea and in the air.

When stood on its end, Alphasat is 7.1 metres high. From tip to tip, its solar panels are 40 metres across. © Stephane Corvaja/ESA
Space  |  ICT
Europe launches biggest telecoms satellite

Europe has launched its biggest-ever telecoms satellite, and it includes some of the most sophisticated technology ever used for civilian purposes.

About 1 500 galaxies are visible in this deep view of the Universe, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. The image covers an area of sky only about the size of a 10 cents coin viewed from 25 metres away. Thanks to the ‘Galaxy Zoo’ initiative, specialists can rely on passionate citizens to help them classify these galaxies. Since it was set up in 2007, hundreds of thousands of people have helped make such classifications. © Hubblesite.org
Space
Towards a galaxy of citizen researchers

Citizen science is helping out where specialist researchers can't cope with the flood of data – and where computers can't match the human brain.

The sun rises over Antarctica. © ESA
Environment  |  Space
Dawn breaks in Antarctica

Scientists at Concordia, Europe’s only permanent research station on continental Antarctica, saw their first dawn on Saturday after three months of continuous night.

The large spiral galaxy NGC 1232 as seen though the Very Large Telescope. © ESO
Space
Happy birthday VLT

The European Very Large Telescope (VLT), one of the most powerful and productive ground-based astronomical facilities in existence, has just turned 15 years old.

It is a technological breakthrough. The two satellites of the Proba-3 mission are expected to maintain their respective positions with a precision of one millimetre. This system of satellites flying in formation and forming an artificial eclipse will act as a giant coronagraph, able to study the Sun’s corona with unprecedented precision. © ESA
Space
Millimetric precision for flying satellites

European scientists are preparing to notch up a world first in satellite formation flying. Two spacecraft will soon be flying side-by-side with extreme precision.

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