SwRI leads largest-ever Hubble survey of the Kuiper Belt, focusing on binary populations and testing planetesimal formation theories. The Solar System Origins Legacy Survey aims to understand solar system architecture and planetary evolution.
A Southwest Research Institute-led team discovered evidence of abundant water-bearing minerals on the surface of asteroid Bennu using OSIRIS-REx spectral data. The findings are consistent with meteorites found on Earth and provide clues to the distribution and abundance of water in the early solar system.
A Southwest Research Institute-led team has discovered that the surface geology on asteroid Bennu is older than expected, with large impact craters and fractured boulders indicating ages of hundreds of millions of years. The OSIRIS-REx mission revealed ancient features on Bennu's surface while also showing signs of recent resurfacing.
The study reveals that water molecules migrate over the course of a day, with higher concentrations at higher latitudes. This new understanding of lunar hydration has significant implications for future human missions to the Moon, where water could be used as a source of fuel or radiation shielding.
A Southwest Research Institute-led team of scientists have discovered a lack of very small Kuiper Belt objects with crater counts on Pluto's satellite Charon indicating fewer impactors smaller than 1 mile in diameter than predicted. This finding has deep implications for our understanding of the solar system's origin and evolution.
A new study suggests that the 'cooking' of ancient organic material created Titan's thick nitrogen atmosphere. The research, led by Dr. Kelly Miller, proposes that approximately half of the nitrogen atmosphere could result from this process.
Researchers calculated lunar crater ages using thermal data and found a rate of large impacts two to three times higher on both bodies over the last 290 million years. This discovery challenges the theory that Earth's craters were worn away through erosion, instead suggesting a lower impact rate prior to 290 million years ago.
Researchers developed a new technique to visualize historic solar data, providing context for understanding the Sun's past and future. The study suggests that changes in solar activity may impact Earth's surface, with possible connections to climate change.
A team led by SwRI has concluded that Ceres' surface is rich in organic matter, containing several times more carbon than primitive meteorites found on Earth. The surface's unique mineralogy and rock-water interactions suggest a cold environment formation process.
Researchers have found that the regions in the Earth's magnetosphere that energize the polar aurora are remarkably calm and nonturbulent. The study revealed intense electron jets associated with magnetic reconnection, which dump energy into Earth's atmosphere, exciting auroras.
Scott Bolton, associate vice president of SwRI's Space Science and Engineering Division, receives the 2018 American Ingenuity Award from Smithsonian Magazine for his work on NASA's Juno mission. The mission has revealed complex, turbulent structures around Jupiter, including iconic belts and zones, Earth-sized cyclones, and a lumpy mag...
Dr. Terry Alger, a Southwest Research Institute director, received the 2019 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award for his role in developing vehicle engine technologies that lower pollution levels and improve fuel economy. The award recognizes his innovative work on novel hybrid engines, connected and autonomous features, and abnormal combus...
The new magnetostrictive transducer from SwRI offers more precise inspections and reduces human error in structural health monitoring. It can withstand extreme temperatures and automatically adjusts frequencies, making it an extremely reliable sensor for detecting material flaws and corrosion.
The SwRI team developed a fuel-saving orbital tour for a future Pluto orbiter, allowing it to explore the Kuiper Belt after surveying Pluto. The study also demonstrates an electric propulsion system can power the orbiter to fly to other Kuiper Belt objects.
SwRI scientists used Cassini's final measurements to detect large influx of materials raining into Saturn's atmosphere, with water and organic compounds falling at rates of up to 10,000 kilograms per second. The discovery has implications for ring evolution and atmospheric chemistry.
Researchers at Southwest Research Institute studied the Patroclus-Menoetius binary asteroid pair and found that its existence indicates an earlier dynamical instability. This instability pushed Uranus and Neptune outwards, scattering small bodies into the Kuiper Belt, where they formed the Trojan asteroids.
SwRI engineers have created a small cooled turbine that can operate thousands of hours without repair, significantly improving drone efficiency. The new design uses a 3D printed impeller to cool the turbine, allowing it to maintain performance while increasing reliability.
Researchers at SwRI and UTSA are developing a biodegradable implant that can deliver personalized doses of medicine to treat various illnesses. The implant is designed to be drug agnostic and can work with any type of drug, potentially treating a wide range of diseases.
Researchers are using unique DNA-based tracers to characterize the recharge and flow patterns in the Edwards Aquifer, a vital source of drinking water for central and south Texas. The new method allows for rapid detection of contaminant sources and creation of a robust database to calibrate groundwater modeling.
Scientists at Southwest Research Institute found large, carbon-rich organic molecules emanating from Enceladus' subsurface ocean. The discovery indicates the moon's rocky core and warm water interact to form complex molecules, satisfying key requirements for life as we know it.
Researchers integrated NASA's New Horizons discoveries with ESA's Rosetta mission data to develop a new theory about Pluto's formation at the edge of our solar system. The 'giant comet' cosmochemical model suggests Pluto formed from agglomeration of comets or Kuiper Belt objects similar to 67P.
A new model predicts that the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos were formed from debris left over after a large impact between proto-Mars and a dwarf-planet-sized object. The model suggests that the moons' compositions will be similar to Mars, but they are expected to be dry due to lost water vapor.
The Juno mission has discovered that Jupiter's atmospheric bands extend thousands of miles into the planet's atmosphere, with winds speeds as great as 220 miles per hour. This finding challenges previous understanding of giant planets and reveals a complex structure beneath the cloud layer.
Dr. James L. Burch, SwRI VP, inducted into the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame for his leadership and research on space science and magnetosphere interaction. He has contributed significantly to NASA missions, including New Horizons and Juno.
A Southwest Research Institute scientist contributed to a study indicating water and/or hydroxyl may be more prevalent on the Moon's surface than previously thought. The research used multiple instruments and investigations to better characterize the inferred measurements of water, suggesting it is present under wider ranging conditions.
Researchers simulated massive collisions after the Moon's formation, finding that moon-sized objects delivered significantly more mass to the young planet. This late accretion period lasted for hundreds of millions of years and had important consequences for the earliest evolution of Earth.
Researchers found organics on Ceres are likely native, contradicting earlier theories of delivery via comets or asteroids. The discovery suggests a complex chemical evolution and important astrobiological implications for the solar system.
A team of astronomers identified a relatively unpopulated region of the main asteroid belt containing pristine relics from early solar system history. They also discovered the oldest known asteroid family extending throughout the inner region of the main asteroid belt.
The Juno spacecraft has revealed stunning discoveries about Jupiter's core, composition, and magnetosphere, including a dynamo region in the planet's outer core. Scientists are surprised by similarities to Earth's auroras but also find significant differences, including the existence of heavy elements in the interior.
Researchers have found that radioactive decay in rocky cores of icy bodies can produce molecular hydrogen, a key ingredient for life. This process, known as radiolysis, has the potential to support microbial communities on planets like Enceladus and Europa.
A team led by Dr. Bill Bottke from Southwest Research Institute discovered a 400-million-year lull in Mars' giant impact history, closely paralleling the bombardment histories of the Moon, asteroid belt, and Mercury. This finding supports the Late Heavy Bombardment theory and highlights an important period in Martian evolution.
Scientists from Southwest Research Institute have discovered hydrogen gas in the plume of material erupting from Saturn's moon Enceladus, indicating ongoing hydrothermal activity. This finding suggests that Enceladus' ocean floor could support life similar to that found near hydrothermal vents on Earth.
Scientists conclude that the organics are most likely native to Ceres, originating from its interior. The discovery has broad implications for astrobiology and suggests that Ceres contains key ingredients for life.
The Lucy spacecraft will launch in 2021 and fly by six Trojan asteroids between 2025 and 2033, studying their geology, surface composition, and bulk properties. The mission aims to decipher the history of the solar system and provide critical knowledge about planetary origins.
Researchers at Southwest Research Institute successfully demonstrated a low-cost miniature solar observatory on a six-hour high-altitude balloon mission. The SwRI Solar Instrument Pointing Platform (SSIPP) collected data on solar soundwaves, which are undetectable by ground-based observatories due to their high frequency.
A SwRI-led study found that Ceres' surface lacks large impact craters, contrary to predictions. The team suggests a deep subsurface ice-rich layer or cryolava may have erased the craters over time.
Dr. John Spencer has received the AGU's Whipple Award for his outstanding contributions to planetary science, including deciphering Enceladus' internal ocean and discovering oxygen on Jupiter's moons.
Scientists have discovered a dark moon orbiting Makemake, one of the largest and brightest known Kuiper Belt Objects. The discovery provides insights into the origin and evolution of our solar system, suggesting that giant collisions are a near-universal fixture in the histories of these distant worlds.
A team from Southwest Research Institute suggests that asteroid impacts during the early days of Earth's history led to a massive greenhouse effect, stabilizing temperatures and delivering essential elements for life. This mechanism may have played a key role in sustaining liquid water on our planet.
Using radar data from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a team of researchers found evidence of an accelerated accumulation rate of ice in the Martian polar cap. The volume and thickness of ice match model predictions, providing insights into Mars' climate change history.
Scientists at SwRI discovered two geologically young craters, one 16 million and the other between 75-420 million years old, in the Moon's darkest regions. The discovery was made possible by a new technique using the Lyman-Alpha Mapping Project instrument aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
The MMS mission has detected the source of magnetic reconnection, a process converting stored magnetic energy into kinetic energy and heat. The spacecraft measured plasmas and observed evidence of reconnection, including accelerated electrons and a strong electrical current.
The SwRI-led team found evidence of crystalline clathrate ices in comet 67P's atmosphere, suggesting the cometary nucleus formed closer to the Sun. This discovery could help refine solar system formation models and provide insights into the early history of our solar system.
The Solar Wind Around Pluto (SWAP) instrument collected three years' worth of measurements before the July 15 Pluto flyby. Data showed that the solar wind's tumultuous flow becomes more uniform by the time it reaches Pluto's orbit.
A recent study by Southwest Research Institute reveals that rapid melting of ice and permafrost in the Arctic is reshaping the tundra landscape. This degradation has led to widespread draining and differential subsidence, having long-term effects on plant life and wildlife across the region.
The Southwest Research Institute\u2019s CuSP microsatellite will observe interplanetary magnetic fields and energetic particles in the solar wind. The mission aims to improve simulations of space weather, helping scientists understand its impact on power grids and space technology.
Dr. William Bottke will present on a relatively tranquil time between two violent bombardment phases in the early solar system, exploring evidence from various sources including planet formation models and ancient samples.
Lunar rocks are depleted in volatile elements like potassium, sodium, and zinc. The Moon formed from an Earth-orbiting disk of vapor and molten matter, with the inner disk melt being preferentially deposited onto the Earth rather than the growing Moon.
Researchers used a new process to model planetary formation, showing that rocky planets grow from pebbles, resulting in the massive differences between Earth and Mars. The VSPA model explains why Mars is smaller than expected by suggesting that aerodynamic drag prevents pebbles from colliding with objects near the Red Planet.
The IBEX spacecraft has provided the most definitive analyses of the local interstellar space, revealing its composition, properties, and processes at work. The mission's data has resolved inconsistencies in previous studies, confirming that the local interstellar flow is significantly hotter than previously thought.