A bit light for this blog, but… ESA has posted an explainer video for the RAMSES mission: www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2025/10/Ramses_ESA_s_mission_to_rendezvous_with_asteroid_ApophisRamses: ESA’s mission to rendezvous with asteroid Apophis 13/10/2025 This week marks three and a half years until the Apophis flyby of Earth;… Read More »See RAMSES Teaser
In Advances in Space Research, 1 Nov (vol. 76, #9): Chai, J. Mei, J. Gong, Y. et al. Analysis of a conceptual multi-node flexible small body lander: Bounce suppression and active control Pgs 5471 .2025.08.008 Again, landing on an asteroid is,… Read More »Note, Paper: Philae Astray, No Way
The “issues” of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS) for October are up: volume 542, #4 – volume 543, #1Li, Z. Qiao, D. Li, X. Spatial temporary capture in the Sun–planet three-body system Pgs 625 staf1430 volume 543,… Read More »Note, Paper: Planetary Particles Aplenty
The in-depth journal Space Science Reviews (hence, “Review”) scores a hat trick: Cox, M. Cuddy, C. Schneider, J. et al. The Lucy Spacecraft Art 94 s11214-025-01190-6Polanskey, C. A. Elkins-Tanton, L. T. Bell, J. F. et al. Psyche Mission Description and… Read More »Space Sci Review Tri-Flew
The issue of Earth and Planetary Science Letters for November (vol 669) contains: Amano, K. Viennet, J-C. Beck, P. et al. Updating the Urey-Craig diagram: The iron redox states of the building blocks of the outer solar system Art 119587… Read More »Note, Paper: CC Fe3 Read
Briefly: the PUNCH mission to monitor the Sun states that they are still tracking interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, even though the small body has passed “behind” the Sun (as seen from Earth). In other words, ‘solar conjunction’: bsky.app/profile/kwalsh4a.bsky.social/post/3m2rnxlgigs2v “While 3I Atlas… Read More »PUNCH Sun Conjunction Mention
In the Acta Astronautica issue for Nov (vol. 236): Acciarini, G. Izzo, D. Biscani, F. EclipseNETs: Learning irregular small celestial body silhouettes p. 514 .2025.06.002Chen, Z. Shen, S. Cui, H. et al. Robust adaptive guidance for autonomous asteroid landing via… Read More »Note, Paper: Potato Exploration Papers
Still time to apply for the Schweickart Prize. For early-career workers in planetary defense, there’s a nice award, with money: UPCOMING SCHWEICKART PRIZE STUDENT WEBINARS ON OCTOBER 15 & 16 “The winner will receive a $10,000 USD cash award, a… Read More »Schweickart Prize Online Guide Next Week
Geochemical Perspectives Letters is giving MAPS/GeCoA competition. In vol. 37: Siciliano Rego, E. Dauphas, N. Hopp, T. Consolidating the isotope trichotomy of planetary materials with new evidence P. 7 geochemlet.2538 What did the early Solar System look like? We can look… Read More »Note, Paper: Old-Time Nuclide Signs
USA Today is hardly cutting-edge as journalism goes, but publicity is publicity: www.usatoday.com/story/studiog/life/2025/10/07/asteroid-mining-brings-private-companies-into-the-space-race/85710633007/Hope Hodge Seck Oct 7 Asteroid Mining, a Gold Rush in Space Note that the URL ‘title’ is horrendous. Private companies defy traditional notions of a “Space Race”.… Read More »“Asteroid Mining” Lines