Sunday Snippet

I've decided to start posting little Sunday snippets of inspiration every now and then. Sunday to me, is reflective of the week ahead. If you have a productive and positive Sunday, you're all set for the week. I think that working in any industry, not only in the field of space and science, requires constant self-improvement and self-awareness — something that I think is made easier by thought-provoking quotes such as the one above. Stepping outside of my comfort zone is how I find that I grow as a person and I enjoy reading the occasional inspiring quote or two to remind myself of my goals and ambitions both professionally and personally.

This quote in particular really does apply to space too, especially with the bittersweet last few weeks we have had. The challenges and achievements of the Rosetta Mission, the unfortunate Virgin Galactic test flight and the Antares rocket failure demonstrates our need as humans to attempt what we have not attempted before. Making changes and triggering innovation really does take  big, courageous leaps of faith in order to reach what lies beyond our shores.

- Nikita

Catching a Comet - Rosetta Mission Landing Success!

Today, history has been made as the European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta Mission becomes the first spacecraft to land on the surface of a comet. After separating from its comet-chasing companion, Rosetta, lander Philae touched down on the mysterious surface after a nail-biting 7 hour descent. Philae has boldy gone where no human-built spacecraft has ever gone before. 

Dotted with large cliffs, boulders and jets of gas and dust, landing on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was no easy feat and was the most critical milestone in the decade long mission. Now that Philae is safely on the surface, it will use its instruments to conduct science and provide experts on Earth with clues into not only the comet's history and origins but also our own. Humanity may well have begun with the help of comet seeding - the notion that a comet carrying water through the solar system collided into our planet, triggering life. We may soon be able to know the answer to this and many other secrets hidden in the treasure chest of knowledge that is comet 67P.

The possibilities are endless, and this mission marks the first of hopefully many momentous missions that really challenge us as a species and encourage us to work together as one to unlock the many mysteries of our Universe and protect our precious planet whilst we do so. Today I feel proud to not only be a part of this space-faring generation and a European, but most importantly to be human.

Now, that is one small step for Philae and one giant leap for mankind :)

-Nikita

Fairytale Science

"Once upon a time, a spacecraft named Rosetta was launched into the night sky and had a long journey ahead of her to uncover the mysteries of our solar system. "

The ESA Rosetta team have created this cute video that explains Rosetta's mission and the magic of space travel whilst personifying the spacecraft perfectly.

After 31 months of deep-space hibernation, on 20th January 2014 the comet-chaser will be waking up at 10am, 673 kilometres from the warmth of the sun. Without coffee.

If you would like to wake up Rosetta, record your video shout out and submit it in the #WakeUpRosetta contest here. Wake up sleeping beauty! 

-Nikita