2023.04.19 | Revolution Space: Europe’s Mission for Space Exploration

On The Space Show for Wednesday, 19 April 2023:

• Update on the imminent SpaceX fully integrated Starship and Super Heavy orbital flight test from Starbase, Texas.

• The launch of JUICE - the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer.

• No Phosphine on Venus, according to SOFIA (the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy).

• Study using three decades old Magellan data finds Venus’ ‘squishy’ outer shell may be resurfacing the planet.

• NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter has completed it’s 50th flight above the surface of the Red Planet.

• Plans for future investigations of the Perseverance Mars rover.

• In Europe, an independent advisory group has reported to the European Space Agency calling for the Agency to significantly increase its autonomy in human and robotic space exploration. In the report, “Revolution Space: Europe’s Mission for Space Exploration”, the group argues that human space exploration is undergoing a revolution, which Europe cannot afford to miss.

• Rocket Lab set to launch NASA’s TROPICS constellation to study cyclone/hurricane formation, evolution and dissipation.

• A description of the Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution, or TEMPO instrument and its mission.