Articles tagged with Space Technology
Satellite data can provide crucial information on renewable energy potential, land availability, and climate risks, enabling more strategic data center planning. The authors argue that governments and regulators should require satellite evidence in decision-making processes to support the clean energy transition.
A study on on-orbit autonomous assembly of deployable modules reveals the importance of real-time deformation control and motion control during assembly. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of a proposed control strategy, reducing geometric errors to below 0.013 mm.
A new study reveals that adding lunar satellites to China's BeiDou-3 navigation constellation can eliminate navigation constellations' drift. The team achieved stable orientation for 60 days and low user range error, demonstrating the effectiveness of lunar satellites as an anchor for the network.
Researchers developed a method to extract scintillation amplitude errors from amplitude streaks and retrieve ionospheric parameters using L-band SAR. The study reveals high-resolution observations of ionospheric scintillation and its relationship with ionospheric anomalies.
Researchers from the University of Surrey have found that silicon solar cells can reduce satellite power costs by up to 90% by improving efficiency and reducing material costs. The study also showed that silicon cells can be used to halve the weight of solar cells needed on spacecraft, freeing mass for fuel or instruments.
Cornell University's Space Systems Design Studio successfully deployed two free-flying light sails in orbit, achieving a major milestone in the ChipSat platform. The sails demonstrated successful deployment, spin-stabilization, and even holographic-image message plaques sent to space.
Researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo successfully demonstrated a deployable phased-array transceiver in orbit, enabling satellite constellation-based wireless communications. The technology corrects non-planar deformations in the deployable membrane antenna, paving the way for next-generation satellite-based networks.
Researchers have created a recipe for 3D printing houses on Mars using Martian rocks, gelatin, and yeast. The resulting living building material is strong and can be broken down, recycled, and reused, making it a promising solution for low-energy construction and a circular economy on the Red Planet.
Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have successfully converted salty whey, a by-product of cheese production, into bioethanol, a widely used fuel. The process has the potential to reduce costs associated with dairy waste management and create new value from a material often difficult to deal with.
Researchers use helium signals to determine the universe's primordial helium abundance, confirming decades of scientific understanding. The study strengthens theories about the early universe and its elements, including carbon and nitrogen.
Researchers directly detected faint radio signal from hydrogen gas billions of light years away, allowing for efficient mapping of the Universe's large-scale structure. The signal was detected using MeerKAT radio telescope and demonstrates the potential of a technique known as hydrogen intensity mapping.
The Europlanet Science Congress 2026 will cover various topics in planetary research, including the Solar System, exoplanets, and artificial intelligence. The conference will feature over 125 scientific sessions and keynote talks, with around 1200 planetary scientists attending from 40 countries.
A team from Tokyo Metropolitan University developed a system to test magnetohydrodynamic aerobraking for spacecraft reentry. They successfully generated strong magnetic fields using an electromagnet, exceeding previous results with permanent magnets.
Researchers investigated the influence of thermocapillary convection on phase-change material melting under varying gravity conditions. The study found that aspect ratio is a key factor in determining the dominant convective regime, with thermocapillary effects dominating in flat cavities and natural convection dominating in cavities w...
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.
The Apophis asteroid will make a rare 38,000 km flyby of Earth in 2029, offering a unique chance for planetary science and defense. The flyby will provide direct evidence for the structural evolution of rubble-pile asteroids and demonstrate the feasibility of various exploration modes.
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.
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.
A Southwest Research Institute-led study demonstrates PUNCH's potential to improve space weather forecasts by tracking fast coronal mass ejections and predicting their arrival times. The mission's high-fidelity data enables accurate forecasting, with retro-forecasts predicting arrival times within a 30-minute window.
Researchers developed a method to detect water ice on the moon using seismic waves, which can travel faster through frozen soil. This discovery is critical for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to send crewed landings to the moon's south polar region in 2028.
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.
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.
Scientists at UC Riverside developed a new method to help LIGO detect weaker gravitational-wave events by measuring heat-induced distortions in mirrors. The technique combines thermal imaging with existing wavefront measurements and computer models, enabling the observatory to improve its sensitivity and detect more distant events.
Lehigh University has joined an international research consortium to advance commercial space research and innovation, with a focus on low-Earth orbit technology and microgravity science applications. The partnership aims to develop foundational technologies for future commercial platforms, including the Starlab space station.
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.
Researchers have discovered fragments as small as 5cm in size in geosynchronous orbit, shedding light on their behavior and highlighting the need for more accurate surveys to mitigate damage to expensive satellites.
A University of Houston engineer developed a real-time safety system for quadrotor drones that can prevent accidents caused by unexpected events. The new technology uses a 'safety supervisor' module to monitor the drone's tilt and position in real time, ensuring it stays within safety limits.
University of Delaware researchers have successfully tested geopolymers in space, demonstrating higher strength than identical samples stored on Earth. The findings hold promise for long-term lunar construction, with regolith potentially used to produce construction materials without energy-intensive processing.
Astronomers discovered a giant planet orbiting a dead star, WD1856b, and used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to analyze its atmosphere. The study found the planet migrated toward its dead companion billions of years after the star died, surviving destruction through extreme heat.
A novel dynamic modeling approach for a net-membrane capture system accounts for combined deformations, enabling effective capture of stationary and spinning debris. The study identifies optimal shooting parameters, demonstrating excellent despinning capability during capture.
This study proposes a frequency-sweeping interferometry technique to measure intertelescope baselines with high precision and stability. Experimental results demonstrate improved stability by 33.47% and ranging accuracy of 44.30 μm over 10 m range.
A dynamic model of the release mechanism and interfacial adhesion effect is established to evaluate release performance and guide optimization. The improved genetic algorithm-based identification method significantly enhances model approximation, enabling accurate description of dynamic behavior during release.
A study published in Science Advances reveals that Earth's ionosphere contributed to the majority of ring current ions during a record-breaking super geomagnetic storm in May 2024. This finding highlights the importance of understanding how much Earth's ionosphere contributes to the ring current, as it may be essential for accurately p...
The SwRI-led Lucy mission has found that asteroid Donaldjohanson rotates on two axes, with a wobbling pattern observed every 10.5 and 26.5 Earth days.
Landsat 10 will process up to 1.8 gigabits of compressed data per second, capturing detailed images of the Earth's surface with unmatched radiometric precision. SwRI is developing control technology and operational simulators to regulate instrument temperature and position camera mirrors.
New study by University of Southampton confirms the universe's expansion is still accelerating as previously found, debunking 2025 claims that the cosmos was slowing. The team re-evaluated data using Type Ia supernovae to calculate vast cosmic distances and found no error in their methods.
A team of astronomers used JWST to detect the motion of stars near a galaxy's center affected by a dormant black hole's gravity. The findings suggest that densest galaxies were sites of rapid black hole growth early in cosmic history.
Researchers have discovered the fastest wind near a supermassive black hole at ultraviolet wavelengths, driven by the quasar's surrounding matter disc. The wind's velocity is up to 30% the speed of light, making it unlike any hurricane on Earth.
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 US Naval Research Laboratory has launched the Glowbug-2 instrument to identify and localize cataclysmic cosmic events known as short gamma-ray bursts (GRB). The mission provides essential data for multi-messenger astrophysics, serving as a critical electromagnetic counterpart to ground-based gravitational wave observatories.
The European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) will be the most powerful optical and infrared telescope ever built, enabling unprecedented observations of exoplanets and galaxies. Canadian astronomers will gain guaranteed access to the telescope through a $11.3M grant, supporting the development of the ANDES instrument.
Researchers at MIT and Europe create model predicting gravitational wave patterns from black holes in dark matter environments, detecting possible imprints on LVK data. The study offers a new way to screen gravitational-wave signals for hints of dark matter.
The report outlines risk scenarios on Earth, at sea, and in space, analyzing the fragility of interconnected digital systems. Experts call for coordinated action between countries to improve digital resilience and protect essential services.
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.
Researchers at Northumbria University have been awarded £4m to unlock the secrets of Earth's radiation belts. The project will combine extensive spacecraft data with advanced computer modelling to determine what controls energy transfer through the magnetosphere and into the radiation belts.
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.
New research uses SWOT satellite data to detect two-dimensional tsunami wave patterns near the earthquake's source, offering critical insight for coastal risk evaluation. The study found that trailing tsunami waves are linked to an earthquake rupture occurring less than 10 kilometers beneath the trench.
Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology, scientists deployed fibre-optic cables across the lunar surface to detect seismic waves generated by moonquakes, meteorites, and landings. The cables can record signals at a higher spatial resolution than traditional seismic networks.
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.
Rice University has been selected to lead the US Space Force Strategic Technology Institute 4 (SSTI) with a $8.1 million cooperative agreement. The Center for Advanced Space Sensing Technologies (CASST) will focus on developing advanced remote sensing and sensemaking technologies from space. The research team will integrate existing te...
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 at Ohio State University have developed a new laser 3D printing method that can create extremely durable structures using simulated lunar dirt. The study found that the material's properties depend on the surface onto which it is printed, and that environmental factors such as oxygen levels and temperature affect its stabil...
The launch of Mauve marks a new era for astronomical data and collaborations, enabling researchers to study stars in ultraviolet and visible light. The satellite will investigate magnetic activity, stellar flares, and exoplanet habitability.
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.
Researchers have developed a compact high-temperature superconducting magnetoplasmadynamic thruster, reducing power consumption by 96% and weight by 73%, enabling more efficient space propulsion. The thruster achieved an ultra-high specific impulse of 3,265 seconds, significantly reducing spacecraft fuel requirements and launch costs.
Researchers found that fungi can extract valuable metal palladium and platinum group elements from meteorite material in microgravity. The study suggests that microbial biomining could have terrestrial benefits for efficient resource extraction and create sustainable biotechnologies.