Articles tagged with Spacecraft
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will perform a final flyover of asteroid Bennu, capturing high-resolution images and collecting data from the asteroid's surface and science instruments. The mission aims to understand the extent of the disturbance caused by the sample collection event.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe captured stunning views of Venus during its close flyby in July 2020. The onboard Wide-field Imager for Parker Solar Probe detected a bright rim around the edge of the planet that may be nightglow.
Scientists have imaged a rare bolide, an extremely bright meteoroid explosion, in Jupiter's upper atmosphere using the Ultraviolet Spectrograph on board the Juno spacecraft. The event was observed for just 17 milliseconds and had distinct spectral characteristics different from the planet's auroras.
The University of Central Florida is helping NASA develop thin-ply composites that are as thin as measuring tape but strong enough to support satellite payloads. These materials offer significant gains in performance over traditional metallic materials and can be rolled up, compacted and stored for long periods.
NASA engineers developed Fast Maneuvering (FastMan) algorithm to enable LRO to keep exploring the Moon, allowing for nearly 200 additional slews that couldn't be performed otherwise. The algorithm improves performance by using star-tracker measurements and other information available from LRO's flight computer.
Researchers at George Mason University are developing Python tools to facilitate the exploration of heliophysics data in 3D. The project aims to create a suite of functions that can read in measurements and simulation output, produce 3D renderings, and perform basic data reduction and manipulation.
Astronomers confirm that a recent burst of high-energy light was triggered by a magnetar located in a neighboring galaxy. The finding confirms long-held suspicions about the connection between gamma-ray bursts and magnetar activity.
Researchers found that asteroid Ryugu's water content is lower than expected, suggesting its parent body dried out before formation. The study suggests that a heating event altered the parent asteroid, leaving Ryugu drier.
The five-layer sunshield of the James Webb Space Telescope has completed a final series of large-scale deployment and tensioning tests, putting the observatory one step closer to its launch. The sunshield protects the telescope from heat and light, maintaining an extremely cold temperature for groundbreaking science in infrared light.
Researchers at the University of Huddersfield and Montanuniversitaet Leoben in Austria have developed a new aluminium alloy that resists radiation damage, making it suitable for use in spacecraft. The alloy's T-phase has a complex crystal structure that prevents hardening precipitates from dissolving under high radiation doses.
Scientists have detected new types of solar electron bursts accelerated by shock waves from coronal mass ejections. The Voyager spacecraft, over 14 billion miles from the sun, recorded these bursts, which were linked to cosmic rays and provided valuable insights into interstellar physics.
A RUDN University professor suggested using a spacecraft-collector to remove space debris from lower orbits, which requires more complex equipment. For geostationary orbits, a tow-based approach is proposed, where the collector transports debris objects into the disposal orbit.
The study uses data-driven techniques and machine-learning architectures to improve the accuracy and efficiency of modeling processes. The researchers found that convolutional neural networks (CNN) and physics-informed neural networks (PINN) have potential in optimizing modeling processes for specific aspects of the solution process.
Asteroid Bennu's surface boulders hold secrets to its 1.75 million-year history, which scientists studied through impact crater analysis. The findings provide crucial context for the returned sample, allowing researchers to understand the asteroid's geology and composition.
Researchers studied impact marks on asteroid Bennu to reconstruct its history, revealing it formed hundreds of millions of years ago but wandered into Earth's neighborhood recently. The study provides a new benchmark for understanding asteroids and offers insights into hazardous space debris.
The OSIRIS-REx mission successfully collected samples from the surface of asteroid Bennu, with the sampling head touching down within three feet of the targeted location. The majority of sample collection occurred within the first 3 seconds, and the spacecraft spent approximately 5 of the 6 seconds of contact collecting surface material.
Researchers from MIPT have developed a prototype detector of high-energy particles capable of picking up protons and electrons with energies between 10-100 MeV. The device improves radiation protection for astronauts and advances our understanding of solar flares.
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has provided detailed insights into the composition and structure of asteroid Bennu, a 'rubble pile' of carbon-rich material. Researchers have discovered that Bennu's surface has undergone complex evolution due to space weathering processes and that carbonate minerals are widespread across most of its surface.
The OSIRIS-REx mission has published findings on asteroid Bennu's surface, including widespread carbon-bearing materials, bright carbonate veins, weak boulders, and a heterogeneous mass distribution. These discoveries suggest that asteroids like Bennu may have brought organic molecules to Earth billions of years ago.
SwRI scientists studied the color, reflectivity, age, composition, origin and distribution of materials on asteroid Bennu's surface. The mission discovered carbon-bearing compounds and minerals containing or formed by water, which will help determine the scenarios that best explain Bennu's surface composition.
The University of Texas at Austin has been selected by the Department of Energy to establish a Multidisciplinary Simulation Center, focusing on developing next-generation exascale predictive simulation capabilities. Researchers will combine computational simulations and physical experiments to improve predictive power.
Researchers using SwRI instruments aboard the ESA's Rosetta spacecraft discovered a unique aurora at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, revealing the comet's interaction with solar particles. The detection was made possible by integrating multi-instrument data, providing new insights into cometary auroras.
The OSIRIS-REx mission reveals that asteroid Bennu sheds material periodically, with particles ejecting from the surface and orbiting or falling back onto it. The spacecraft's observations provide insight into the processes likely causing this activity, shedding new light on dynamic asteroids.
The USGS has created precise maps of the Mars 2020 landing site in Jezero crater, which will help the Perseverance rover steer itself to a safe landing. These high-resolution maps are essential for unlocking the mysteries of the red planet's past and searching for evidence of past life.
Research by University of Liverpool reveals strange magnetic behaviour in South Atlantic region dated back eight to 11 million years ago. The study suggests that today's South Atlantic Anomaly is not a new phenomenon and may be linked to features of the Earth's interior.
The amount of space debris has increased exponentially over the decades, posing a significant challenge for safely operating spacecrafts in lower Earth orbit. WVU engineer Piyush Mehta is working on improving drag prediction accuracy with the help of a $125,000 NASA award.
Using data from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, scientists at Durham University measured the rates at which neutron particles leaked out from Venus and Mercury. The findings suggest a neutron lifetime of 13 minutes, with implications for our understanding of the Standard Model of particle physics.
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have created an Ice Favorability Index to aid in the detection of water ice deposits on the moon. The study provides valuable insights into the geological processes that form these deposits, enabling companies to better understand the risks and rewards of lunar mining.
High-resolution images capture Ryugu's asteroid surface in exceptional detail, revealing its geological history and color variations. The touchdown operation also disturbed a dark coating that corresponds to the surface's reddish materials, suggesting rapid solar heating during a temporary orbital excursion.
Dione will collect energy input and ionospheric-thermospheric data, providing insights into atmospheric drag and improving space weather forecasts. The mission complements the Geospace Dynamics Constellation and marks a new era for CubeSats in gathering similar data.
Researchers developed an onboard algorithm to estimate air density, providing critical real-time data for steering during entry, descent, and landing stages. The algorithm uses data from sensors and prior knowledge to improve accuracy and certainty of landings.
Researchers developed a theoretical framework to estimate metal ultimate strength without fit parameters. The new model was able to accurately predict the strengths of nearly 20 different metals.
Researchers have devised a new three-dimensional model of the heliosphere, breaking down charged particles into two groups to understand its shape. The 'croissant' with a long tail and the beach ball models are now reconciled, revealing a unique shape that splits the difference between them.
The Hayabusa2 spacecraft impacted asteroid Ryugu, creating an artificial crater that provided insights into the asteroid's age and surface cohesion. The results suggest a younger age estimate for Ryugu, with implications for surface age estimations of other rubble-pile asteroids.
Researchers developed polyarylene ether ketone-based copolymer (co-PAEK) films that can withstand electrostatic discharges caused by ionizing radiation. The films' high conductivity and low switching thresholds make them promising candidates for space electronics protection.
The study revealed that the subsurface at the Chang'E-4 landing site is made of highly porous granular materials embedding boulders of different sizes. The findings suggest a turbulent early galaxy and frequent meteor impacts on the Moon's surface.
The UC3M and SENER aeroespacial team has developed a helicon plasma thruster prototype with the European Space Agency. The project, HIPATIA, aims to test the technology in small space platforms, potentially offering an affordable thruster solution for non-geostationary satellites.
Researchers analyze Cassini data to study Saturn's ultraviolet auroras and their dynamic processes. The new observations provide unique views of the small-scale structures behind these auroras, revealing similarities with Jupiter's magnetosphere.
Researchers have developed a multi-layered nano-barrier that bonds with carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRPs) to eliminate moisture absorption and expansion issues. This innovation enables the creation of high-precision instrument structures for future space missions.
The Parker Solar Probe has mapped the source of the slow solar wind to coronal holes on the sun's surface, which are cooler and less dense than surrounding corona. The probe also detected switchbacks in the magnetic field that may accelerate particles toward Earth, posing potential damage to electrical grids and orbiting satellites.
Researchers are developing robotic networks that can work independently but collaboratively to accomplish complex tasks. By using genetic fuzzy logic, they were able to get three robots and then five robots to move a token to a designated spot on a table.
A new coating technology being tested on the International Space Station has shown promise in reducing electrical charges that can damage spacecraft electronics. The coating, developed using atomic layer deposition, could also help make spacesuits more conductive and reduce lunar dust's electrostatic charge.
Researchers confirm Voyager 2's entry into interstellar space with a plasma density jump detected by an Iowa-led instrument. The spacecraft crossed into the ISM at a distance of over 11 billion miles from the sun, providing valuable clues to the structure of the heliosphere.
Structured diffuse auroras track Van Allen belts' shape and size changes, enveloping satellites in unexpected radiation. The discovery helps track the edges of the belts, crucial for mitigating effects on space exploration.
Researchers used computer modeling and laboratory tests to investigate how changing gas flow rates and magnetic field sizes affect Hall thruster performance. They found that maintaining optimal ionization and acceleration regions can prolong the life of these systems, making them suitable for even longer space missions.
The University of Toledo has been awarded a $7.4 million contract to develop solar technology that is lightweight, flexible, highly efficient and durable in space. The goal is to provide power for space vehicles using sunlight, reducing the need for liquid fuels and battery storage.
The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission has made the first high-resolution measurements of an interplanetary shock. The shock was triggered by a fast stream of solar wind overtaking a slower stream, creating a wave that spread across the solar system. By analyzing the data from this event, scientists gained evidence to support a theory o...
Researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory reproduced the process behind astrophysical shocks, bridging the gap between laboratory and spacecraft observations. The experiments showed how plasma interactions can cause sudden jumps in pressure and magnetic field strength, accelerating particles to near light speed.
The James Webb Space Telescope is the result of a nationwide collaboration, with components manufactured across 29 US states. The telescope will explore cosmic history, solve mysteries in our solar system, and probe the origins of the universe.
A team of international experts agrees that Oumuamua, the first recorded interstellar visitor, has natural origins. The research team reviewed available evidence and found properties consistent with objects in our own solar system. Oumuamua's orbit and path match predictions made by Jedicke and his colleagues before its discovery.
A new study co-led by University of Maryland astronomer Matthew Knight suggests that the first known interstellar object, 'Oumuamua, has a purely natural origin. The research team analyzed existing data and found that 'Oumuamua's characteristics are more consistent with a comet or asteroid than an alien spacecraft.
Research finds that common types of mold spores on the International Space Station can survive high doses of ionizing radiation, raising concerns about contamination and planetary protection protocols. The findings also suggest that fungi could be used to produce important compounds like antibiotics and vitamins in space.
The James Webb Space Telescope successfully completed its final thermal vacuum test, with the spacecraft element exposed to extreme temperatures and conditions. The test paves the way for the integration of the telescope and spacecraft elements, a crucial step towards launch.
University of Washington researchers create a novel solution to reduce impact forces using origami-inspired metamaterials. The team's design softens impact forces by promoting relaxation stresses in the chain, reducing stress on rocket legs during landing.
The New Horizons spacecraft has revealed a distant Kuiper Belt Object (MU69) as an ancient, untouched relic from the early solar system. The object's flattened bi-lobate shape and discrete geological units indicate a history of gentle collisions.
Researchers have discovered that graphene flakes can selectively and reversibly affect specific neurons in the brain, offering a promising approach for treating conditions like epilepsy. The study's findings suggest that the particles' size is key to their selectivity, with effects observed only at specific synapse sites.
RIT Professor Grover Swartzlander is receiving a Phase II award from NASA's NIAC program to explore the feasibility of diffractive solar sails. Diffractive solar sails could be more efficient and withstand the heat of the sun better than traditional reflective sails.
A research team at Toyohashi University of Technology has developed a novel fire extinguisher concept called Vacuum Extinguish Method (VEM), which uses vacuum to suck in flames and combustion products. This method is suitable for enclosed spaces like spacecraft or submarines, where traditional extinguishers can spread harmful gases.
Scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center discovered a large, solid iron core in Mercury's center, approximately 1,260 miles wide. This finding sheds light on the planet's interior structure and its cooling rate, potentially helping predict Earth's magnetic field changes.
Researchers discovered massive blobs of solar wind in archival data from NASA's Helios spacecraft, which could shed light on the solar wind's beginnings. The study used advanced modeling and analysis to connect the blob patterns to specific regions on the Sun.