European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts have completed a helicopter training course to prepare them for upcoming lunar landings. The astronauts in question include Alexander Gerst, Matthias Maurer, Samantha Cristoforetti, and Thomas Pesquet. The course consisted of one week of simulator instruction followed by two weeks of practical flying in Airbus EC135 helicopters. ESA said: "Helicopter training offers a realistic analogue for the dynamics of planetary landings, requiring capabilities such as vertical take-off and landing, terrain-based decision-making, and high levels of coordination and situational awareness."
While a miss this close might sound alarming, the European Space Agency (ESA) claims there was never any serious danger. Based on its estimated size, 2025 TF would have most likely burned up or exploded in the atmosphere rather than slamming into the surface. ESA said in a statement: 'Objects of this size pose no significant danger. 'They can produce fireballs if they strike Earth's atmosphere, and may result in the discovery of small meteorites on the ground.'
The European Space Agency's Biomass satellite, launched recently, employs advanced radar technologies to analyze forests and ecosystems, showcasing capabilities to assess Earth's woody biomass and track ecological changes.