An extremely detailed map of ocean currents on the Blue Planet has been created through the collaborative effort of the Gravity Field and the Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer observatory. The orbiting observatory is under the European Space Station’s management, the agency which also developed the best and most accurate maps showing gravitational fields on our planet. The satellite … [Read more...]
ESA in for 7 Hours of Terror During Risky Comet Landing
The European Space Agency (ESA) will be attempting one of its most difficult missions to date as it will try to land a probe on the surface of a comet whizzing through space. If successful, the mission will be the first of its kind. The robotic Philae probe will be landing on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko’s surface on Wednesday, the 12th of November. 69P/C-G is approximately 2.5 miles wide … [Read more...]
ESA’s Philae lander wakes up after deep slumber
European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully reawakened its fridge-sized robot Philae lander from a deep-space slumber and has a comet in its sight. ESA’s Philae lander and Rosetta space probe were launched almost 10 years ago into the space atop an Ariane 5 rocket to rendezvous with Comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko. According to the ESA officials, the lander re-established contact with the … [Read more...]
ESA’s Venus Express orbiter captures Glory for first time
The Venus Express orbiter of European Space Agency (ESA) has for the first time caught a rainbow like feature in the atmosphere of our neighbouring planet Venus. The captured rainbow like feature is 1200 km wide. It was captured on 24 July 2011. Astronauts say, this is for the first time that a complete image of 'glory' (rainbow like feature) has been captured in the atmosphere of another … [Read more...]
ESA develops PLATO telescope to explore Earth-like planets
The European Space Agency (ESA) is on a lookout for Earth like planets outside our solar system and for the mission it is developing a unique telescope. According to the ESA officials, it would be a three-year mission which will commence in 2024. The mission has been named PLATO and it is expected to cost more than 800 million euros. The mission will use Planetary Transits and Oscillations … [Read more...]