The 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly brought together over 3,000 participants to exchange the latest results in space research and strengthen international scientific collaboration. Key highlights included a Space Agency Leaders Roundtable, Humanity's Cross-Disciplinary Exploration panel, and the first-ever Dark and Quiet Skies event.
The panel discussed how advances in engineering are unlocking new scientific missions and driving breakthroughs. Emerging technologies, such as commercial capabilities and artificial intelligence, are reshaping the mission landscape.
Scientists are working to provide geodiversity data to researchers, helping close the gap in understanding ecosystems. By analyzing satellite data, they can capture more than just the mean environment, revealing microclimates that support specific species.
A $1 million gift from Roger Krone establishes the University's first space systems endowment and laboratory, enhancing real-world learning experiences for students. The commitment will fund scholarships, research, and experiential learning opportunities in space systems engineering.
Researchers have developed a novel double-shell host material that overcomes the notorious shuttle effect in lithium-sulfur batteries. The material's dynamic electrochemical microenvironment actively transports polysulfides away from the catalyst surface, preventing passivation and ensuring sustained high catalytic efficiency.
The Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellite (RSGS) payload successfully launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral U.S. Space Force Station. The mission aims to extend the life and resilience of satellites in geosynchronous orbit through on-orbit servicing.
A new UK-built instrument, MAGIC, will measure the Sun's magnetic field much farther upstream than current real-time space weather monitors. This mission aims to extend advance warning of severe solar storms from tens of minutes to several hours.
A research team developed an electron-injection-softened strategy to regulate the electronic structure of sulfur hosts, achieving a nearly barrier-free cascaded sulfur reduction reaction. This enables the formation of Li2S2/Li2S with high areal capacity and excellent stability.
Researchers at UCF's College of Medicine have identified molecular changes in the liver that occur when space travelers experience radiation and microgravity, leading to accelerated aging. The study suggests that these changes could be treated with antagomirs, providing a promising future for therapies to combat age-related diseases.
The iMETRO Dynamic Simulation is an open-source platform that enables researchers to develop and test robotic systems for future space missions. By leveraging a digital twin of the NASA iMETRO facility, scientists can remotely create and test new robotic software and validate its performance with various hardware configurations.
The U-Shift II project develops a vehicle that can transform into different types of vehicles, such as a shuttle or cargo van, using replaceable capsules. This concept enables flexible adaptation to various tasks, saving resources and promoting sustainable mobility.
Alain Berinstain leads the consortium uniting eight universities to accelerate space-related research, innovation, and workforce development. Researchers focus on practical technologies and using space for Earth's benefit, including studies of human health in space.
A research team has successfully designed a novel electrolyte for fluoride shuttle batteries, which boasts high electrochemical stability and reversibility. The KBF4-containing electrolyte effectively regulates the fluorination reaction, enabling reversible electrode reactions.
A Boston University researcher has designed a space-based system called StormWall to better protect against space weather. The system would fire chemical elements into the edge of Earth's magnetic field, temporarily fortifying defenses and deflecting potentially damaging storms.
Researchers develop a new material design to overcome kinetic and stability issues in sodium-sulfur batteries, enabling fast-charging capabilities. The innovative pisiform homojunction creates a p-n interface that accelerates polysulfide conversion and stabilizes battery performance.
Researchers developed a dual-site functional orchestration strategy using 2-imidazolidone to stabilize the zinc anode and eliminate the polyiodide shuttle effect. This approach enables synergistic modulation of both electrodes, resulting in improved durability and performance for large-scale energy storage applications.
Scientists have found that space debris loses altitude more quickly when the Sun is more active. This observation can help plan sustainable space operations and reduce the risk of collisions with satellites. The study used data from historic space junk objects launched in the 1960s to make this prediction.
Researchers at TUM develop NTVE, a process that uses virus-like particles to shuttle messenger RNA out of living cells, allowing for repeated sampling and analysis. This enables precise monitoring of stem cell development and potential applications in cell therapies and tumor research.
A team of researchers at Bielefeld University has developed a precise mathematical approach to plotting routes through space and time. The new method could help make space missions more efficient and also improve transportation systems on Earth.
The NRL launched three advanced experimental payloads aboard the STPSat-7 mission, including LARADO to detect orbital debris, GOSAS for improved navigation reliability, and GARI-1C to pave the way for future defense applications. This mission marks a significant step forward in advancing US space-based capabilities.
Researchers highlight biochar's ability to outperform conventional materials in driving chemical reactions that break down pollutants and support energy-producing microbial processes. Biochar's intrinsic redox properties enable it to act as an electron shuttle, accelerating reactions.
Researchers at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics have identified a novel proton shuttle-assisted triplet energy transfer mechanism, enhancing the rate and efficiency of spin-triplet migration. The discovery has profound implications for modern molecular technologies involving spin-triplet excited states.
Researchers developed an undercoordinated chromium single-atom catalyst that enhances sulfur electrocatalytic activity and lithium-sulfur battery performance. The unique design regulates electronic states, increasing sulfur electrocatalytic activity and achieving outstanding cycling stability and rate capability.
Rice University has been selected to lead the US Space Force Strategic Technology Institute 4 (SSTI) with a $8.1 million cooperative agreement. The Center for Advanced Space Sensing Technologies (CASST) will focus on developing advanced remote sensing and sensemaking technologies from space. The research team will integrate existing te...
NYCST has selected projects for Round 2 funding, focusing on groundbreaking space-related technology development and supply-chain resilience. The consortium aims to address workforce shortages and mature critical technologies through partnerships between industry and top-tier research institutions.
The University of Portsmouth, in partnership with SARsatX and the Saudi Space Agency, is developing an Earth observation satellite mission concept aimed at supporting climate science and environmental resilience. The project combines academic and technical expertise to address shared environmental challenges.
The launch of Mauve marks a new era for astronomical data and collaborations, enabling researchers to study stars in ultraviolet and visible light. The satellite will investigate magnetic activity, stellar flares, and exoplanet habitability.
A pediatric investigation study reveals a two-way association between teen fitness and confidence, highlighting the importance of holistic youth health strategies. The study found that cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, and self-efficacy mutually reinforce each other during adolescence.
Researchers propose a new electrolyte additive strategy to solve three core challenges in zinc-iodine batteries: sluggish iodine reaction kinetics, polyiodide shuttle effect, and zinc dendrite growth. The study achieved ultra-long cycle stability and excellent performance with minimal capacity decay.
The University of Texas at Arlington has launched the Center for Space Physics and Data Science, expanding undergraduate and graduate degree programs in space physics and data science. The center will train students across six focus areas, preparing them for careers in the rapidly growing space industry.
The lack of widely accepted standards for managing reproductive health risks in space is a pressing concern. Limited reliable data from human studies shows that space can be hostile to human biology, with conditions like altered gravity, cosmic radiation, and circadian disruption affecting reproductive processes.
NTU Singapore is launching three new space projects under the Space Access Programme to accelerate the commercialization of space technologies. The projects include an AI-enabled satellite, a nanosatellite testing next-generation solar cells, and another nanosatellite with advanced propulsion systems.
A study aboard the International Space Station reveals how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and limits the efficiency of biological manufacturing processes. Microbes produce less melanin due to impaired transport and utilization of tyrosine, a molecular precursor required for melanin synthesis.
Researchers have discovered a new type of organic crystal that can repair itself after being damaged at extremely low temperatures. The material, which can function up to 150°C, has potential applications in outer space, deep-sea operations, and polar research due to its unique molecular structure.
SPARK Microgravity plans to build Europe's first dedicated commercial orbital cancer lab, allowing researchers to run experiments impossible on Earth. This will accelerate the path from discovery to therapy, with microgravity enabling 3D tumor growth and revealing new drug targets.
Researchers design a novel molecular machine that controls both rotational and shuttle motions in a single molecule. The system, composed of a sterically hindered olefin motor, H-type benzimidazole, and crown ether, demonstrates the tuning effect of two motion modes within a single machine.
Researchers at YOKOHAMA National University have designed a new class of mediators that more actively control electrocatalysis reactions, promoting efficient C-N bond formation. The mediators utilize redox-triggered halogen bonding to dynamically capture and organize substrates, leading to improved reaction efficiency and selectivity.
Researchers have developed a new approach to suppressing the shuttle effect in transition metal fluoride cathodes, leading to unprecedented discharge plateau voltage and high-performance thermal battery cathodes. The study focused on thermal batteries and utilized an ion-sieving concept to achieve selective confinement.
A new frontier in satellite technologies, Space Computing Power Networks (Space-CPN) integrates communication and computation capabilities across various satellites for efficient data processing and transmission. Key findings include the application of neuromorphic computing and robust optimization methods for energy-efficient resource...
Researchers propose a novel framework called space–ground fluid AI to integrate edge-AI with space–ground integrated networks (SGINs) for global AI services. The framework addresses challenges of high satellite mobility and limited communication rates, enabling efficient AI tasks, secure data transfer, and energy-efficient deployment.
Researchers at Tsinghua University Press propose integrating AI technology into launch vehicles to address challenges of high-frequency launches and reliable flights. The system aims to achieve hour-level test, inspection, and decision-making times for large launch vehicles.
Space: Science & Technology has been officially indexed in the Web of Science: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) since December 8, 2025. The journal aims to promote innovation and breakthroughs in space science and technology.
The NRL TREx service provides secure access to government and commercial antenna networks, enabling satellites to operate more effectively by downlinking more data. This has been seen in NRL's satellite missions and now missions across the USSF can onboard to the service.
The US Naval Research Laboratory received the Best Paper Award in Orbital Robotics at the 2025 International Conference on Space Robotics. The award recognizes the team's work on the APIARY experiment, which demonstrated reinforcement learning control on a free-flying robotic system on board the International Space Station.
A study by Francisco Polidoro Jr. found that NASA's space shuttle design process used a meandering knowledge-building approach, combining oscillation and accumulation to create breakthroughs. This process can be applied to other fields, such as pharmaceuticals, where temporary setbacks can lead to new discoveries.
A new study analyzed three scenarios for cleaning up space junk, including controlled reentry and recycling in space. The uncontrolled reentry method is the cheapest, but poses unknown risks of debris landing on Earth. Recycling in space can save energy by reusing aluminum from spacecraft.
The University of Leicester, in partnership with TWI Ltd, has secured £560k to develop a robot-mounted arc-welding system for in-space repair and manufacturing. The project aims to overcome the challenges of welding in space by developing a new, space-qualified robotic welding capability.
The article proposes a circular economy approach to reduce waste, increase durability, and repurpose spacecraft and satellites. Data analysis and digital technologies will be essential for developing sustainable practices.
Researchers at Empa successfully X-rayed the entire satellite EURECA, revealing cracks in composite struts and deformations in scientific instruments. The study highlights the potential of high-energy X-ray imaging for non-destructive analysis of satellites.
The COSPAR 2025 Symposium released global guidelines on space weather, creating a unified language for scientists to share data and coordinate observations. The symposium also announced groundbreaking scientific discoveries, including AI-driven bioinformatics breakthroughs and insights into space hazards.
Researchers sent moss spores to space and found that over 80% survived for 9 months, reproducing upon return. The structure surrounding the spore protected it from UV radiation, allowing it to thrive in extreme conditions.
Scientists aim to understand the impact of microgravity on human physiology and develop strategies for safe space travel. The Fluorescent Deep Space Petri-Pod experiment will deploy nematode worms in space to study their behavior and health.
Researchers developed an anionically-reinforced nanocellulose separator to tackle zinc dendrite growth and polyiodide shuttle effects in Zn-I2 batteries. The new separator enables long-cycle stability, addressing major barriers to safe and sustainable energy storage.
The SQUIRE project deploys quantum spin sensors on the China Space Station to search for pseudomagnetic fields induced by exotic interactions. These interactions can induce energy shifts in atomic energy levels, which can be detected as pseudomagnetic fields by quantum spin sensors.
A multidisciplinary team of undergraduate students designed and built a mini satellite to study the solar wind and improve space weather forecasting. The 3UCubed satellite launched into space, providing valuable hands-on experience and opening doors to future opportunities in space-related careers.
Researchers developed a drone-aided mobile blood collection system to transport donated blood in cities. The model uses drones to shuttle between bloodmobiles and a central blood centre, eliminating traffic delays and ensuring fresh blood reaches the lab quickly.
Researchers develop Te-modulated Fe single-atom catalyst to overcome polysulfide shuttle effect and sluggish redox kinetics in Li-S batteries. The catalyst significantly improves both rate performance and cycling stability, making it a promising solution for high-energy, low-cost energy storage.
Researchers discovered that nano-biochar acts as an electron shuttle, transforming silver ions into metallic nanoparticles in rice roots. The process reduces the toxicity of silver ions while promoting their formation and accumulation inside plant cells.
Researchers have developed a CoWO4/WO2 heterojunction catalyst that leverages intercalation-mediated catalysis to accelerate polysulfide conversion and suppress the shuttle effect, enabling long-life lithium-sulfur batteries.
CCOR-2 is designed to provide high-fidelity coronal imaging and detect Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) closer to the solar disk. This will enable accurate measurements of coronal density and velocity, ultimately improving space weather forecasting capabilities.