Today marks the release of the very first images taken by ESA’s Solar Orbiter. Having performed its first close approach to the Sun, Solar Orbiter has become the closest spacecraft to take images of the Sun. These stunning new images are already exciting scientists, showing the Sun at higher resolutions than we’ve ever seen before. …
ESA’s Solar Orbiter approaches the Sun
On June 15th, ESA reached a milestone as Solar Orbiter approaches the Sun. It managed to get 77 million kilometres away from it! That might sound like a lot, but in reality it is about half the distance from the Earth to the Sun. It’s very difficult to get spacecraft close to the Sun, because …
Laser Powered Rover will Explore Dark Lunar Craters
One of the darkest places in the universe could be explored for the first time. The craters at high latitudes on the Moon! In permanent shadow, these craters don’t allow for traditional solar powered rovers. But a new design to use lasers instead could pave the way for new discoveries from this region. The laser-powered …