Researchers propose a pre-rerouting strategy to minimize service disruption and resource overhead in LEO satellite networks. The strategy leverages an extended OSPF protocol to synchronize link state databases and redefine routing metrics, enabling seamless service switching before predictable link interruptions.
Southwest Research Institute's PaSTA technology stabilizes solar arrays for spacecraft docking, while ALTRIOS simulates locomotive energy technologies for efficient rail systems. Both innovations were recognized as two of the most important of 2026.
A new pre-rerouting strategy ensures seamless service continuity in LEO satellite networks by redefining routing metrics to account for link effective duration and available bandwidth. The strategy achieves a packet loss rate of 1% compared to 7% with conventional rerouting schemes.
The CosmoCube satellite will use the far side of the Moon as a 'shield' to block out Earth's noise and listen for the 21-centimetre line signal from hydrogen atoms in the early universe. This signal is extremely difficult to detect with Earth-based telescopes due to interference, but the Moon provides a natural shield.
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.
The 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly addressed the challenge of preserving dark and quiet skies for astronomical observations and satellite technology. The session considered scientific, technical, operational, and regulatory perspectives to balance benefits with environmental and societal concerns.
Research team led by University of Zurich found Arctic fires occurred 2.5 times more often in lit areas associated with human activity than in climatically similar unlit areas. Effective fire prevention and response can help reduce risks extending far beyond the Arctic.
A study proposes an operational framework combining machine learning models with Sentinel-2 data to estimate agricultural drought conditions in irrigated and non-irrigated maize fields. Deep Neural Network (DNN) achieved the best performance, showing higher prediction accuracy and lower error metrics for non-irrigated fields.
A team of international researchers has successfully demonstrated a breakthrough in detecting satellites and space debris in orbit using repurposed radio telescopes. This technology can increase sensitivity by more than tenfold, enabling the detection of smaller objects at greater distances.
A new study proposes a switching-based pervasive augmented reality framework that integrates location-based AR, deep learning, and context-awareness to improve landmark recognition. The framework significantly enhanced detection accuracy compared with conventional LBAR systems, while demonstrating high user satisfaction.
A new catalog centralizes publicly available soil moisture content datasets, streamlining data discovery and comparison. The UB-SMDC portal provides a unified platform for researchers to efficiently access and analyze global soil moisture data.
A new paper by MIT Professor Areg Danagoulian describes his idea for a satellite-based sensor system that can detect neutrons generated by high-energy protons colliding with radioactive material. The system could detect nuclear weapons with 99% accuracy, even in low-Earth orbit.
The collaboration aims to develop AI-powered ground systems that can assist operators with routine satellite operations, mission scheduling, and data analysis. The partnership seeks to automate routine tasks with human oversight, enabling more efficient management of larger satellite fleets.
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University propose a compact X-ray telescope for mapping the entire Moon surface, overcoming technical challenges that have hindered previous missions. The team's simulations demonstrate feasibility and show that it could be done in two years with five key elements.
MIT engineers have developed a new propulsion system that integrates chemical and electrical thrusters, allowing small satellites to perform both fast maneuvers and precise adjustments. The system uses a special propellant called ASCENT, which powers both types of thrusters, enabling smaller and more flexible spacecraft.
Researchers discovered the Zwan-Wolf effect in the Martian atmosphere, which helps move solar wind plasma around the planet and makes it less dense. This finding advances scientists' understanding of how the sun interacts with the solar system, particularly on unmagnetized bodies like Mars.
The study systematically evaluates popular Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) methods and metrics for AI/ML-based geospatial applications. It demonstrates that Deep Ensembles and Bayesian Neural Networks achieved the best performance, while highlighting framework-specific differences between TensorFlow and PyTorch.
The Juice and Europa Clipper spacecraft captured simultaneous images of both hemispheres of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. The observations revealed hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon emissions, providing insights into the comet's origin and composition.
A new study introduces a free, open-source Web Crop Phenology Metrics Service (WCPMS) for analyzing large Earth observation satellite time series, enabling efficient crop monitoring. The tool calculates phenological metrics from data cubes and validates its effectiveness using soybean sowing dates in Brazil.
A new camera-only visual odometry system uses prebuilt colored point cloud maps to deliver accurate and robust localization in GNSS-challenged environments. The system reduced absolute trajectory error by up to 95% compared to existing methods, while maintaining near real-time efficiency.
Researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo developed a 5.8 GHz foldable antenna designed to provide high antenna gain while remaining compact enough for small satellites. The system aims to improve communication capabilities of small satellites used in applications such as space-based internet services and disaster monitoring.
The SWIFTT platform uses Copernicus Sentinel satellite data and machine learning models to identify tree health changes, detect anomalies, and predict threats like spruce bark beetle outbreaks and wildfires. Foresters can access timely alerts, prioritize inspections, and coordinate clearing of dead wood to protect forests.
The CA-MTransU-Net architecture achieves superior mIoU of 87.00% and faster inference speeds compared to benchmark algorithms, providing a scalable solution for post-fire damage assessment in cloud-prone landscapes.
Researchers propose using swarms of pico-satellites to form a single large antenna for reliable, high-quality data transmission. This innovative solution could lead to cheaper and more reliable network coverage worldwide, especially in remote areas.
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.
Researchers using ESA's Cheops satellite find a small rocky planet in LHS 1903 system, which defies conventional understanding of planetary order and formation. The discovery sparks renewed interest in exploring alternative explanations for this unusual system.
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.
Researchers have developed a passive, solar-powered orbital data center that can scale AI computing and reduce environmental impact. The system leverages decades of research on 'tethers' and could host thousands of computing nodes to replicate terrestrial data centers.
A team of scientists used Solar Orbiter's instruments to capture a large solar flare in unprecedented detail. The observations revealed that the flare was triggered by initially weak disturbances that quickly became more violent, creating a 'sky' of raining plasma blobs.
A new observation framework captures rapid and fine-scale ionospheric variations by directly measuring spatial and temporal gradients of total electron content. This enables the detection of ionospheric structures across multiple scales, offering a more precise view of ionospheric behavior.
NICT successfully demonstrated 2 Tbit/s free-space optical communication between two types of small portable optical terminals separated by 7.4 km in an urban environment with atmospheric turbulence, marking a major step forward in the practical application of Non-Terrestrial Networks for Beyond 5G/6G.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has announced that the next World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) will take place in Shanghai, China, from October 11 to November 12, 2027. This conference will review and revise the Radio Regulations, governing the use of radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.
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.
The Austrian satellite mission PRETTY will continue to provide valuable services after being extended by the European Space Agency and Austrian Research Promotion Agency. The mission, originally planned for one year, has proven reliable and successful in monitoring climate changes and space radiation effects.
The University of Michigan's three-year project, ORACLE, harnesses laser links for power and momentum transfer, enabling satellites to move without fuel. This innovation aims to transform constellations into dynamic, interconnected systems, improving sustainability and resilience.
Researchers have successfully demonstrated next-generation error correction codes to mitigate the impact of atmospheric turbulence on ground-to-satellite laser communications. The new codes significantly improved communication quality compared to conventional schemes, enabling practical implementation of ground-to-satellite laser links.
A study of 744 bridges worldwide reveals that North American and African bridges are most at risk, with spaceborne monitoring able to detect problems before they become disasters. The proposed solution integrates satellite data into risk frameworks to significantly lower the number of high-risk bridges.
Scientists have tracked 1039 dust devils to reveal how they lift dust into the air and sweep around Mars' surface. The study found wind speeds of up to 44 m/s, faster than previously measured with rovers on the ground, and improved our understanding of Martian weather patterns.
A new AI-powered satellite survey reveals a significant shortfall in estimated Serengeti wildebeest numbers, challenging traditional aerial surveys. The study's findings suggest at least 700,000 fewer wildebeest than previously estimated, highlighting the need for accurate data to inform conservation efforts.
The European Space Agency-led Solar Orbiter mission has split energetic particles into two groups, tracing them back to distinct solar outbursts. Researchers found that one type of particle is connected to intense solar flares and the other to larger coronal mass ejections.
The GOSAT-GW satellite has successfully launched with the TANSO-3 sensor, confirming its proper operation. The first observation by TANSO-3 provided spectral absorption data for carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen dioxide, enabling the calculation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
Researchers at Penn State and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory analyzed human deep space communications to determine the most likely places to detect signals from an extraterrestrial intelligence. They found that transmissions to deep space, including spacecraft near Mars, are more detectable than those intended for low-Earth orbit.
OEC allows satellites to process data directly, reducing latency and bandwidth constraints. However, research faces challenges due to limited energy storage, heat dissipation, and launch costs.
Astronomers detect first-ever evidence of a 'planet with a death wish' as HIP 67522 b orbits extremely close to its host star, triggering flares that erode the planet's atmosphere. The radiation is so intense it causes the planet to shrink and lose mass at an alarming rate.
The UC Davis-designed payload is a dynamic digital twin that models the current condition and predicts the future condition of the spacecraft's power system. The satellite will monitor its own health in space using sensors to assess voltage and measurements of the batteries it is running on.
A new hybrid Gravitational Search-Simulated Annealing algorithm optimizes helicopter main transmission systems, reducing vibration and achieving global optimal solutions. The approach balances multiple load cases, subjective and objective evaluation, and solving speed, showing promise for revolutionizing helicopter design.
The PUNCH mission has successfully imaged a huge solar eruption, providing unprecedented views of coronal mass ejections and the solar wind. The spacecraft constellation is enabling scientists to better understand and predict space weather events that can disrupt communications and endanger satellites.
The SWIFTT project will explore practical and technical challenges of using AI and satellite data to monitor bark beetle outbreaks. Forest professionals, researchers, and remote sensing experts will discuss the interplay between remote sensing, machine learning, and traditional forestry knowledge.
The CLOVE project aims to investigate Venus's atmospheric temporal variabilities and climate evolution with a series of CubeSats launched every three years over a 15-year period. The mission will provide valuable insight into volcanic activity, solar-atmosphere interactions, and planetary climate shifts.
Researchers propose a configuration design method for mega constellations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using basic and accompanying satellites. The method considers satellite imaging width, formation flying of subgroup satellites, and global uniform coverage by payloads to optimize constellation configuration. By solving nonlinear optimiza...
Researchers used satellite data to verify that global warming is causing earlier spring leaf flush in Japan. The study found that high temperatures in 2023 and 2024 led to a 3-7 day shift in the start of season, with some regions experiencing an 9-day earlier onset.
A team of UVA engineering students is testing a novel, low-cost design for hypersonic research using a miniature spacecraft technology. If successful, the project could save millions of dollars per test flight and pave the way for future academic research in hypersonic flight.
The PUNCH mission has successfully collected its first images of the solar corona using four small spacecraft that act as a single virtual instrument. The images show the outer atmosphere of the Sun in stunning detail, with scientists aiming to remove background light and preserve the faint signal of the solar wind.
PERSEI Space's technology uses electrodynamic tethers to de-orbit satellites without fuel, increasing efficiency and reducing space debris. The company is leading a demonstration mission for 2026 to test its equipment.
A recent study by Chris O'Meara from the University of Exeter Law School argues that existing laws can be used to limit when and how states may lawfully target satellites using ASAT technologies. This could help address pressing international concerns regarding space militarization and the fear of wars between states.
Scientists can now utilize communication signals from mega-constellations to track changes in the Earth's gravitational field and observe weather phenomena like heavy rain or sea level changes in real time. The accuracy of this method is currently limited to 54 meters, but researchers aim to improve it to just a few meters.
The EZIE mission will use a new measurement technique to study the electrojets, which can create large magnetic disturbances and power outages. By mapping the electrojets' structure and evolution, scientists hope to improve predictions of hazardous space weather.
The MAMUT project aims to deliver a compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient terminal designed for use in static, mobile, and autonomous applications. The terminal will connect with multi-orbit satellites to provide high-speed internet access, enhancing global configurability and reducing costs.
The University of Michigan Department of Astronomy will launch its first space mission in 2029 with a $10 million NASA grant. The STARI mission aims to demonstrate a new technique for studying exoplanets, which could help search for life beyond our solar system.
MIT engineers have developed a fully 3D-printed electrospray engine that can be produced rapidly and at a lower cost than traditional thrusters. The device generates stable and uniform flow of propellant, producing as much or more thrust than existing droplet-emitting electrospray engines.