Articles tagged with Space Flight
A new study examines the Instagram activity of three women astronauts and science influencers, finding that personal experiences, identity, and platform-specific tools contribute to shaping their messages. The researchers identified six broad topics, seven message frames, and five types of communication tactics, highlighting the strate...
A recent study found that simulated space radiation can lead to increased cardiac fibrosis, calcium dynamics, and immune function changes in rats. The researchers also discovered gene variants that may be linked to the damage
Researchers propose a transfer path design method from cislunar orbits to retrograde geosynchronous orbits, revealing four transfer types and optimizing fuel consumption. Simulation results show that three-impulse solutions can achieve low-energy transfers within 8 days, with minimum fuel consumption below 1.5 km/s.
AnalySwift, a Purdue University-affiliated company, has received a Phase II STTR award to develop a robotic welding technology that enables disassembly and reassembly of large truss structures in space. The technology will simulate advanced materials and structures needed for this activity, including the feasibility of repurposing full...
Engineers at Texas A&M University, NASA, and Purdue University create algorithms for managing spacecraft traffic around Gateway, a lunar spaceport. The system balances fuel efficiency and operational demands to reduce the risk of collisions during space missions.
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 study from the University of Copenhagen reveals that astronauts experience changes in their gut bacteria shortly after leaving Earth and gravity behind. The researchers found increased protein fermentation, which may contribute to constipation, and suggest potential interventions for future long-duration space missions.
Engineers at MIT have created an interactive platform that maps habitat design factors to behavioral health outcomes such as stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation in extreme environments. The study's findings can be applied to designing habitats in space, submarines, polar expeditions, and other isolated settings.
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.
Researchers successfully acquired diagnostic X-rays in space, expanding crew health capabilities and paving the way for mission-critical non-medical tasks. The study found that portable X-ray machines are feasible in space, with no significant differences in image quality between pre-flight and inflight images.
A recent study from the University of Cambridge predicts that space launch costs will plummet over the next few years, falling more than 90% by 2040. The cost of sending a kilogram of payload into low Earth orbit is expected to drop from $3,868 last year to as little as $273 per kilo by 2040.
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 at Texas A&M University are designing how humans will build and survive on the moon, focusing on sustainable construction using lunar regolith. The institution's efforts aim to reduce costs associated with shipping materials to the moon, making it possible to produce rocket propellant locally.
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 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.
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 subjected fruit flies to extreme gravitational forces and found they adapted and recovered, showing resilience in movement and energy use. The study suggests the brain makes energy trade-offs based on gravity levels, with moderate increases pushing for more movement and higher energy demands.
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.
The University of Michigan's new solar particle forecasting technology has been integrated into NASA's Artemis II mission to provide situational awareness of impending harmful radiation released during solar flares and eruptions. The machine-learning model uses satellite images of the sun and corona to forecast solar particle storms up...
Researchers have confirmed that giant planets like Saturn operate under a unique magnetospheric regime, with a shifted cusp location due to its rapid rotation. This discovery alters models of magnetic reconnection and high-energy particle acceleration, revealing new insights into Saturn's auroral activity.
GSI/FAIR's new Galactic Cosmic Ray simulator enables researchers to better understand radiation doses and control effects in human tissue and technical components. The simulator replicates the GCR exposure in a lightly shielded habitat, providing a crucial tool for space radiation research.
Researchers have successfully grown and harvested chickpeas using simulated moon dirt, demonstrating a key step towards establishing a sustainable food source on the lunar surface. The study found that mixtures of up to 75% moon dirt were suitable for producing harvestable chickpeas, with the addition of fungi enhancing plant health.
A global team of scientists, led by University of Houston microbiologist Madhan Tirumalai, has identified the critical role of biofilms in human space exploration. Biofilms could influence astronaut health, drug delivery and space agriculture, while also posing risks to astronaut health.
A study detected a sudden increase in lithium atoms in the lower thermosphere, attributing it to the uncontrolled re-entry of a Falcon 9 rocket stage. The researchers used lidar technology to measure the concentration of lithium atoms and found that natural atmospheric processes were highly unlikely to be the source.
West Virginia University scientists create digital twin models using AI technology to monitor astronaut movements and muscle activity, predicting potential health risks. The system can detect subtle early signs of trouble, providing personalized exercise routines and helping astronauts cope with balance issues upon return to Earth.
A new Perspective article explores the role of biofilms in health during long-duration spaceflight and how this research can reshape our understanding of microbial communities on Earth. The study highlights the importance of biofilms in enabling human and plant health, particularly in space-based environments.
A novel parameterization method for orbits near collinear libration points has been developed, allowing for systematic cataloging and robust identification of cislunar objects. The method enables the characterization of motion along two directions, providing critical insight into spacecraft maneuvers and transfer events.
In a new study, terrestrial bacteria-infecting viruses were able to infect their E. coli hosts in near-weightless conditions aboard the ISS, but with distinct mutations. The dynamics of virus-bacteria interactions differed from those observed on Earth, highlighting potential insights into microbial adaptation and human health.
Dr. Alan Stern, a renowned planetary scientist, has been recognized by the American Astronomical Society (AAS) for his pioneering contributions to space science and technology. His leadership on the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt is notable.
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.
The NASA VIPER rover has completed critical testing at Sandia National Laboratories' Large Centrifuge facility, which subjected the vehicle to extreme inertial forces and vibration conditions. The successful tests pave the way for the rover's mission to create a water concentration map of the moon's South Pole.
Researchers at Stanford University have successfully used machine-learning-based control to operate a robot on the International Space Station, allowing for faster and more efficient navigation while maintaining safety. The system, which includes a warm start feature, enables robots like Astrobee to move through complex environments wi...
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.
Optic disc edema progression in spaceflight predicted using optical coherence tomography imaging, suggesting crew members without ODE on day 30 unlikely to develop concern on day 150. This technology offers opportunity for predicting ODE magnitude during longer missions.
A novel method enhances deep reinforcement learning for autonomous UAV navigation by regulating exploration noise on a global level and considering specific situations during navigation tasks. The approach achieves superior decision-making in complex environments and balances danger, smoothness, and efficiency.
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.
A new study published in PLOS One found that team diversity in personality traits can contribute to greater resilience under extended isolation and operational load. The researchers used agent-based modeling to simulate the impact of team composition on stress, health, performance, and cohesion over a 500-day Mars mission.
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.
Researchers propose a lightweight solution to detect GPS spoofing attacks on drones using trajectory anomaly detection. The MSSTP-OAD system achieves high accuracy and reduces false positives, enabling efficient navigation and improved safety.
A survey of covert UAV communications explores emerging methods and technologies for secure transmission in UAV-assisted networks. Uncertainties can enhance covertness, and techniques like multiple antennas and artificial intelligence improve communication performance.
A new autonomous shipboard landing control system for UAVs has been developed using a ship motion predictor, achieving reliable UAV landing on a maneuvering ship. The system balances precise landing position and safe landing attitude while ensuring steady-state performance and transient behavior.
Astronomers have discovered that the 1998 KY26 asteroid, targeted by Japan's Hayabusa2 mission, is only 11 meters wide and spins twice as fast as previously thought. This smaller size will make a touchdown manoeuvre more challenging for the spacecraft.
A comprehensive review of recent advances in panel aeroelasticity in shock-dominated flow highlights the complex interplay between fluid-structure interactions and shock-boundary layer interactions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for preventing catastrophic structural failures and improving supersonic vehicle design.
Researchers analyzed aeroelastic coupling characteristics of TEF/NTBT rotor in forward flight and proposed a functional control strategy to suppress hub vibration intensity. The study revealed the influence mechanisms on aeroelastic characteristics and demonstrated a 45.72% reduction in vibratory hub loads using optimal TEF control.
Researchers will evaluate a patent-pending electrolyzer in simulated partial gravity environments aboard parabolic flights. The technology is designed to produce fuel, oxygen, and other life support compounds on the Moon or Mars for long-term human habitation.
Researchers at Ohio State University are developing a new nuclear thermal propulsion system, called the centrifugal nuclear thermal rocket (CNTR), which could potentially double an engine's efficiency. The CNTR concept aims to improve rocket performance while minimizing risk and enabling faster travel times to distant destinations.
A Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) study proposes a mission to fly by an interstellar comet, providing insights into its properties. The mission aims to determine the comet's physical and compositional properties, as well as its nature of coma.
The Artemis II crew will conduct scientific investigations that will inform future deep space missions, including lunar science activities. They will analyze geologic features, collect rock samples, and gather data on the effects of the space environment on their health and performance.
A novel numerical prediction method for radiative heat transfer of reusable methalox rocket exhaust plumes has been developed, offering unprecedented engineering value. The method achieves remarkable accuracy with maximum relative errors below 6.0% at less than 20% computational cost.
Researchers explore ADRC-based servo control for aviation EMA servo drives, highlighting its potential to suppress disturbances comprehensively. The study also identifies challenges and development trends in aviation electro-mechanical servo control.
A team of researchers at Kyoto University successfully cryopreserved mouse stem cells and sent them to the International Space Station, where they returned healthy offspring after thawing. The study suggests that cryopreservation can maintain fertility for at least six months, paving the way for future human spaceflight.
A Houston Methodist research study reveals that 85% of astronauts on the International Space Station experienced at least one nasal or sinus issue, with 75% reporting nasal congestion. The study highlights the need for preventative measures and treatments tailored to space travel.
The "HippoBox" project aims to investigate neuroplastic changes in the hippocampus using brain organoids in real weightlessness. The research could provide new insights into cognitive health of space travelers and potential treatments for depression and dementia.
Researchers found that ground acceleration from moonquakes can shift lunar landscapes and threaten stability of future missions. The study assesses damage risk using new models of quakes and finds a one in 20 million chance of a potentially damaging moonquake occurring near an active fault.
A team of UCF researchers is pioneering a new nanocoating to passively mitigate the effects of lunar dust, protect equipment and extend future lunar missions. The goal is to understand how lunar dust interacts with surfaces and design surface properties that repel the dust.
Scientists have developed a technology that can extract water from lunar soil and convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, fuel, and chemicals for human exploration. This innovation has the potential to mitigate the need for transporting essential resources like water and fuel from Earth.
A new method for rapid generation of aircraft concept solutions based on generative artificial intelligence has been proposed, demonstrating the application potential of large language models in aircraft conceptual design. The method improved efficiency and innovation in the conceptual stage.
Researchers developed a high-fidelity FSI model to predict impact loads under wave conditions, revealing pivotal mechanisms for airbag-cushioned reentry capsule design. The study provides a scientific foundation for optimizing spacecraft recovery and establishing technical cornerstones for future crewed missions.
Researchers develop a new framework that optimizes urban drone logistics networks for cost, safety, and noise. The method uses a dual-population co-evolutionary algorithm to balance competing objectives and reduce noise exposure in sensitive areas.
A team of researchers at Harvard University has demonstrated the growth of green algae inside shelters made from bioplastics in Mars-like conditions. The experiments show a closed-loop system that can sustain itself and grow over time, offering a potential solution for sustainable habitats in space.