January 2, 2023

Snowball Earth: Was the Surface of Our Planet Ever Completely Frozen? (Source: The Debrief)
The standard solar model implies that the newly born Sun, 4.6 billion years ago, was a third fainter than it is today. Four billion years ago, the Sun was shining at three-quarters of its present-day luminosity. If Earth trapped the same fraction of sunlight 4 billion years ago as it does today, then its surface temperature would have been 20 degrees Kelvin colder.

The impact of reduced Solar irradiation on the Earth’s climate must have been larger though, as a result of the higher reflectivity of ice, further enhancing the cooling that occurred. Climate models show that this feedback results in runaway glaciation and completely ice-covered oceans, a state called “Snowball Earth”. The oceans would not have been frozen solid down to the ocean floor because of the flow of geothermal heat from the Earth’s interior. (12/30)

Supporting Scotland’s Space Ambitions (Source: Scottish Government)
Scotland’s ambition to become Europe’s leading space nation by 2030 is being given a boost under the guidance of a group of global experts from the space industry. The Scotland International Space Advisory Committee (SISAC) consists of members of the Scottish Government’s GlobalScot programme – a network of Scots in business around the world – who have come together voluntarily to provide advice and identify opportunities to achieve a £4 billion share of the global space market and 20,000 jobs in the sector over the next seven years.

Scotland is making huge advances in the space sector, with the first orbital launch from Scottish soil due in 2023. Both SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland and Space Hub Sutherland – working alongside Scottish-based launch manufacturers – are months away from lift off. Space Hub Sutherland will host launches by owners Orbex from next year. SaxaVord Spaceport will offer a multi-pad, multi-user, launch facility with multiple launch partners, including Scottish-based Skyrora which has developed its own eco-friendly fuel, Ecosene, made of waste plastics.

As well as its launch capabilities, Scotland is also world leading in small satellite manufacturing, with Glasgow building more satellites than any other place in Europe. Expertise in data gathering and analysis makes Scotland the data driven capital of Europe, hosting the largest centre for informatics and having more than 170 data sciences companies. And our world class research institutions have been demonstrated, as Scottish skills and innovation played an important role in the development of the instruments on board the James Webb Space Telescope. (1/2)

Scottish Spaceports Months From Sending Satellites to Orbit (Source: The Times)
Two spaceports being built in Scotland are months from their first orbital lift-offs, the Scottish government has said. An expert group — the Scotland International Space Advisory Committee (Sisac) — will advise ministers and companies on how to maximise opportunities for the sector. The group is made up of people with links to the space industry worldwide.

A company called Orbex plans to launch commercial satellites using its Prime rocket from the A’Mhoine peninsula in Sutherland. The SaxaVord spaceport on the Shetland Islands, meanwhile, will be used by several companies, including Skyrora of Edinburgh. The Scottish government said the first orbital launches from both sites were expected this year. (1/2)

Meeting of Space Agency Chiefs of India and Mexico (Source: ISRO)
Shri S. Somanath, Chairman, ISRO/ Secretary, Department of Space (DOS) and Dr. Salvador Landeros Ayala, Director General of Mexican Space Agency (AEM) had a virtual meeting on December 21, 2022. Dr. Pankaj Sharma, Ambassador of India to Mexico and Mr. Gustavo A. Cabrera Rodriguez, Ambassador of Mexico for the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) have also participated in the meeting.

Both heads of the agencies discussed the ongoing cooperation activities mainly in earth observation. While thanking ISRO for developing a mobile application for forest fire monitoring and sharing it with Mexican Forest Department, AEM Chief sought India’s support in building and launching a remote sensing satellite for Mexico. ISRO will work on this proposal with MEA’s support. India’s interest in expanding space cooperation in the Latin American and Caribbean region through ALCE was also discussed. (12/30)

NASA Chief Says China Could Claim the Moon as its Own Territory if it Beats the US to the Lunar Surface (Source: Business Insider)
The head of NASA has said that China could claim the moon as its own territory if beats the US in the race to the lunar surface. In an interview with Politico, published Sunday, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said Chinese military expansion in the South China Sea was an indicator of what might happen on the moon. Nelson said: "It is a fact: we're in a space race. And it is true that we better watch out that they don't get to a place on the moon under the guise of scientific research. And it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they say, 'Keep out, we're here, this is our territory.' (1/2)

NASA Is Pumped About 2023: Here's Why (Source: CNET)
It's going to be tough for NASA to top 2022, a year marked by the first James Webb Space Telescope images, the successful completion of the Artemis I moon mission and by smacking an asteroid. So what's next? A pumped-up NASA video released on Sunday gives a preview of all the space action to come in 2023. The video features commentary from NASA administrator Bill Nelson, who kicks it off saying, "We're never going to stop exploring the unknown in air and space." Click here. (1/2)

2023 in Space: What Giant Leaps in Exploration Will Mankind Make This Year? (Source: EuroNews)
With NASA's successful Orion test flight orbiting the Moon and uncrewed Boeing Starliner test flight to the International Space Station, 2022 was a busy year in space. And 2023 promises not to disappoint. In early 2023, two lunar landers, built by Pittsburgh's Astrobotic Technology and Houston's Intuitive Machines, are expected to land on the Moon's surface.

The lunar landers will carry a range of rovers and experiments to the lunar surface, some helping pave the way for the return of astronauts. In April, the European Space Agency (ESA) is expected to launch its Juice mission to observe Jupiter and its icy moons. The spacecraft will make detailed observations of the gas giant and its three large ocean-bearing moons - Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. Click here. (1/2)