Articles tagged with Artificial Satellites
Experts propose an 18th SDG to protect Earth's orbit from accumulating debris, citing the need for global consensus and mechanisms for enforcement. The proposal builds on earlier calls for a legally-binding treaty to safeguard the planet's orbital environment.
Scientists have discovered birth sites of gigantic elliptical galaxies, suggesting large gas flows and galaxy collisions created these ancient systems. The research, published in Nature, may finally unravel the enigma of how these giant galaxies formed.
A study using NASA satellite data found that cities in the Global South have significantly less green space and cooling capacity than those in the Global North, with an average of 70% less cooling capacity. This compounds existing problems, as cities in the South are predicted to see more heat extremes due to lower latitudes.
A new AI tool generates realistic satellite images of future flooding, which can help communities visualize and prepare for approaching storms. The method combines a generative artificial intelligence model with a physics-based flood model, producing more accurate and realistic images than an AI-only approach.
A team of researchers at UPV/EHU has created an algorithm to map burnt areas on a global scale, detecting fires as small as 250 meters. The method uses data from various satellites and achieves a higher resolution than existing systems.
A new study from the University of Vaasa explores advanced positioning technologies, including a patented LEO satellite-based method that outperforms traditional GNSS systems in addressing location vulnerability issues. The research demonstrates significant advancements in both indoor and outdoor positioning accuracy.
Researchers found that satellite altimetry missions with longer orbital repeats can provide a clearer understanding of regional and global hydrological cycles. This is because these missions sample lakes several times more frequently, revealing broader perspectives on lake variations across entire regions.
The SAGA Survey has found that the Milky Way Galaxy appears to be an outlier in terms of its satellite galaxies, having acquired only two large satellites recently compared to other systems. The survey also explores the mechanisms that would stop star formation in these small galaxies, finding that environmental factors play a role.
Researchers developed a system to effectively split transmissions from a single antenna array into multiple beams without additional hardware, allowing satellites to overcome the one-to-one user ratio. This enables significant reductions in cost and power consumption, potentially leading to fewer satellites, smaller satellites, or both.
A new course launched with funding from the UK Space Agency to address the growing skills gap in software, data, and AI for the UK space sector. The Securing the future of space: Space Software and Data/AI CPD programme will equip mid-career professionals with expertise in AI and data-science.
Researchers analyzed satellite data to understand solar irradiance variability in the Asia Pacific region, revealing optimal locations for solar power plants and distribution strategies to minimize fluctuations. The study's findings will help plan for sustainable energy technologies and combat climate change.
Researchers tested GNSS data for rapid landslide prediction and found near real-time prediction possible within 40 minutes, according to Chen and colleagues. The study highlighted the importance of continuous monitoring and improved prediction models for regions susceptible to landslides.
The BeiDou system's high-precision services have achieved decimeter-level accuracy within minutes, enhancing global coverage and convergence time for autonomous driving, robotic navigation, and smart city infrastructures. A proposed LEO constellation can improve positioning accuracy to better than 5 cm within one minute, overcoming cur...
Scientists have developed a machine learning program that can identify blobs of plasma in outer space known as plasmoids. The program will analyze data from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission to better understand magnetic reconnection and its effects on the electrical grid.
The launch of thousands of satellites may jeopardize the recovery of the ozone hole. Aluminum oxides, formed when old satellites burn up in Earth's atmosphere, destroy stratospheric ozone. A new study estimates that by 2027, every year will release around 912 metric tons of aluminum into space.
Australian scientists have developed an AI-powered system to detect bushfires from space, reducing detection time by 500 times compared to traditional methods. The system uses hyperspectral imagery and onboard AI to identify fire smoke before it takes hold, allowing for faster responses and preventing loss of life and property.
Astronomers at Macquarie University have successfully tested a new technique for observing celestial objects during the day using the Huntsman Telescope. The array of camera lenses can accurately measure stars, satellites, and other targets even when the Sun is high overhead, allowing continual monitoring of bright stars like Betelgeuse.
The University of Washington's STRIVE project aims to understand the troposphere and stratosphere, where the ozone layer resides, and their interface. This will help monitor changes in the ozone layer, air quality, and climate processes.
Asteroid Apophis is expected to come extremely close to Earth on April 13, 2029, offering a rare opportunity for research. The NEAlight project aims to investigate three concepts for German small satellite missions to study the asteroid's trajectory and structure.
Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science has been selected to work with NASA on the University Nanosatellite Program. The program provides systems engineering training for students and aims to prepare them to work in the space industry.
Drexel University researchers develop a lightweight alternative to metal components in satellites by coating 3D-printed polymers with MXene, a conductive nanomaterial. The MXene-coated waveguides weigh up to eight times less than traditional aluminum ones and maintain nearly 95% transmission efficiency.
Researchers have created a lightweight, portable antenna that can switch between two operating states to communicate with satellites or devices on the ground. The antenna's unique design allows it to be compact and foldable, making it ideal for disaster-struck areas or underdeveloped regions.
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences developed a 10-centimeter-diameter glass metalens that can image the sun, moon, and distant nebulae with high resolution.
Researchers propose a new method to track small pieces of space debris by detecting electric signals emitted when they collide. This approach could help protect satellites and spacecraft from damage, as tiny pieces of debris can cause significant harm at high orbital speeds.
A Northwestern University and University of Copenhagen study reveals that Greenland's thousands of peripheral glaciers have rapidly retreated over the past two decades. The research team combined satellite images with historical aerial photographs to document changes in over 1,000 glaciers over a century.
The University of Würzburg's SONATE-2 nanosatellite is designed to test novel artificial intelligence (AI) hardware and software technologies in near-Earth space. The satellite aims to automatically detect anomalies on planets or asteroids, with the goal of improving planetary exploration and research.
Scientists develop a novel deployment scheme for a 3-body chain-type tethered satellite system, utilizing sequential deployment and hierarchical sliding mode control to ensure accurate trajectory tracking. The proposed scheme simplifies the deployment process while guaranteeing positive tension and avoiding tether rupture.
A six-year study of a satellite found that low-cost solar panels can withstand harsh space conditions and generate power, opening the door to large-scale solar farms in orbit. The technology has been developed by researchers at the Universities of Surrey and Swansea.
NTU Singapore has expanded its research collaborations with French partners to push the boundaries of science. The university has inked six new partnerships and renewed existing collaborations across various fields, including quantum physics, nuclear energy, and sustainability.
Researchers at Nanjing University have developed a miniaturized FSO system achieving an astonishing 9.16 Gbps bandwidth over 1 km link using readily available commercial fiber transceiver modules. The system enables automatic tracking and precision acquisition, eliminating the need for optical amplification.
Researchers at Purdue University detect unprecedented levels of alloy aerosols in the atmosphere, likely from spacecraft and satellites. The team found that nearly 10% of large sulfuric acid particles contained aluminum and other spacecraft metals.
Recent satellite deployments have reached record-breaking brightness levels, posing a threat to ground-based astronomy. The addition of 400,000 satellites in the near future could completely alter the night sky.
A recent study published in Nature found that massive low-earth orbit communications satellites like BlueWalker 3 can outshine bright stars, disrupting astronomical observations. The satellite's large antenna system causes an abrupt increase in brightness, affecting not only visual observations but also radio astronomy.
Researchers demonstrate that perovskite solar cells damaged by proton radiation in low-earth orbit can recover up to 100% of their original efficiency via thermal vacuum annealing. The study used ultrathin sapphire substrates and found that fluorine diffusion from the dopant causes defects, which can be reversed by heat treatment.
A study by University of Malaga researchers estimates over 131M pieces of space waste orbiting the Earth, posing a lethal collision risk. The model determines optimal satellite launch rates to maximize benefits while minimizing space debris, warning of market failure and potential physical problems.
High-energy electrons pose significant radiation damage to satellites; a new study sets benchmark levels for extreme space weather events. Satellite operators must prepare against these risks as the global space economy relies on over 5,465 operational satellites.
Researchers developed a method to detect forest disturbance by combining strengths from time-series algorithms and 2-date detection methods. The new technique facilitates more effective forest management and policy.
The European Space Agency has commissioned an engineering study to test the reliability of meta-optical elements in space. The collaboration aims to advance remote sensing systems while overcoming size and weight constraints, enabling innovative applications for Earth observation data.
Researchers develop a new composite strategy to produce clean Landsat images with reduced cloud and shadow errors. The approach uses an algorithm to select pixels from multiple dates to create a virtual median-value point, detecting and replacing clouds and shadows in the process.
A team led by Virginia Tech's Manoochehr Shirzaei has developed high-resolution digital maps to monitor land subsidence and sea-level rise, revealing vulnerable areas along the Atlantic East Coast. The data supports flood risk management and informs climate change projections, helping to refine models for hurricanes and storms.
A recent study found that food processing facilities and high-rise apartments with 10 stories or higher are major contributors to nitrogen dioxide emissions in California. The research, published in Science of the Total Environment, used satellite remote sensing data to analyze NO2 emissions from various property types.
Researchers at West Virginia University are exploring iodine-based thrusters as an alternative to traditional fuel sources, aiming to reduce dependence on rare noble gases. They plan to develop diagnostic technology to measure the performance of these thrusters, paving the way for widespread use in space exploration.
A recent study found that while social factors were hypothesized to influence UFO reports, no association was found with the COVID-19 pandemic's stress and anxiety measures. An alternative explanation was proposed: regular Starlink satellite launches may have led to increased sightings.
Experts call for a legally-binding treaty to govern Earth's orbit, citing the growing threat of satellite debris. With an expected 60,000 satellites in orbit by 2030, scientists warn that large parts of space could become unusable if action is not taken immediately.
A groundbreaking study used AI and high spatial resolution imagery to analyze over 300,000 satellite images and identify nearly 10 billion trees in sub-Saharan Africa. The research reveals that tree density and carbon stocks in the arid zone are underestimated, with a total carbon stock of 0.84 billion tonnes.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a new phased array receiver strategy to reduce radiation degradation and power consumption in small satellites. The approach uses on-chip distributed radiation sensors and current-sharing techniques, achieving less than 10% gain variation and lowest reported power consumption.
A team of researchers has successfully modeled the complex fluctuations in soft X-ray signals detected by satellites using numerical methods. They were able to capture how the signal varied with the orbital motion of the satellite and reproduce it up to a factor of two, an impressive feat in the field.
University of Illinois scientists developed a way to accurately map tilled land in real-time using ground, airborne, and satellite imagery. The method increased mapping accuracy by 67% compared to upscaling directly from the ground to the satellite.
A new study by Globe at Night reveals that artificial lighting is dulling the night sky more rapidly than satellite measurements indicate. The loss of visible stars has alarming implications for human health and wildlife.
Students from the WüSpace association are working on a project to develop intelligent sensors and algorithms for small satellites, aiming to detect dangerous approaches and prevent collisions. The project is funded by the German Space Agency and allows students to gain hands-on experience in space technology development.
Researchers have observed long, web-like plasma structures in the Sun's middle corona, which discharge particles into space through interactions within the structures. This innovative observation method could lead to a better understanding of the solar wind's origins and its interactions with the rest of the solar system.
Scientists have successfully tracked CO2 emissions from the Bełchatów power plant in Poland using existing satellites. The study demonstrates that tracking-at-the-source is already possible for 'super-emitters' like this facility, and its success is an important achievement. The results indicate that the EU's planned CO2M mission will ...
The SATEX project aims to investigate the feasibility of scientific missions with nanosatellites in extraterrestrial space, focusing on technical possibilities and user needs. The research will prioritize activities and develop concrete proposals for possible national missions.
A new study by Eurac Research confirms negative global trends in mountain areas, with an average decline of 15 days of snow on the ground over 38 years. Snow cover has decreased by 4% globally, with peaks of 20 or more fewer days in Canada's western provinces.
The development of LEO mega constellations has significantly impacted human scientific progress in communication, navigation, and remote sensing. However, unrestrained deployment poses a threat to spacecraft safety and space environment stability, requiring rational surveillance and governance mechanisms.
University of Arizona students developed a comprehensive study to track and characterize the brightness of satellites. The team's work could help astronomers adapt by closing their telescopes' shutters during incoming bright satellites.
MIT scientists have developed 3D-printed plasma sensors that can be produced for tens of dollars in a matter of days, ideal for CubeSats. The sensors use a glass-ceramic material and can withstand wide temperature swings, measuring energy and conducting chemical analyses to predict weather or monitor climate change.
The university's latest satellite, SCOOB-I, orbits the Earth with advanced payloads, including a small Earth imaging camera and a solar spectrum sensor. The mission provides valuable insights into the Sun-Earth connection and its impact on climate, marking NTU Singapore's leadership in the growing space industry.
Researchers found that speeding can decrease fuel economy by 7% and result in an extra 28 cents per gallon at current US fuel prices. They also studied human behavior during the early days of COVID-19 and simulated cosmic collisions to better understand X-ray emissions.
The microsatellite will fly at a Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), collecting data for commercial VLEO satellites with multiple applications. The satellite is designed to be sustainable, de-orbiting within days of its operational life.