Space & Earth Science

1. The impact of inter-satellite links on the ECOM model performance for BDS‑3 MEO satellites

   Inter-satellite link (ISL) plays an essential role in current and future Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). A recent study, conducted by Wuhan University's GNSS Research Center and published in Satellite Navigation in May 2024, explored the significant effect of ISL data on the orbital characteristics of the BDS-3 MEO satellites.

2. New photos show Jupiter's tiny moon Amalthea

   It's tiny, but it's there. By now, we're all used to seeing amazing photos of Jupiter courtesy of NASA's Juno mission on a routine basis. Many of these are processed by volunteer "citizen scientists," and they show the swirling cloud-tops of Jove courtesy of the spacecraft's JunoCam in stunning detail.

3. Glitch on BepiColombo: Work ongoing to restore spacecraft to full thrust

   BepiColombo, the joint ESA/JAXA mission to Mercury, has experienced an issue that is preventing the spacecraft's thrusters from operating at full power.

4. Q&A: Stellar insights—the Mauve mission's journey into the cosmos

   In a quest to study the variety of stars in our galaxy, the Mauve mission has emerged to provide a stronger understanding of the characteristics of stars—including their magnetic activity, flare evolution, and influence on the habitability of neighboring exoplanets. Chuanfei Dong, an assistant professor of astronomy within Boston University's College of Arts and Sciences, is the lead Principal Investigator (PI) at BU for the Mauve mission.