NASA ranks top civil space technology challenges for 2024
Wednesday, 24 July 2024 22:17
This spring, NASA published a comprehensive document identifying nearly 200 technology areas requiring further development to meet future exploration, science, and other mission needs. The aerospace community was invited to rate the importance of these areas to help integrate the community's technical challenges and guide NASA's space technology development and investments.
Today, NASA's S Key technologies driving NASA's Mars exploration discussed at conference
Wednesday, 24 July 2024 22:17
NASA continues to advance the frontiers of space exploration with its Mars mission. At a recent Mars conference, ten groundbreaking technologies were highlighted, each playing a crucial role in the future of Mars exploration.
One of the standout innovations is the Mars Helicopter, named Ingenuity. Weighing just 1.8 kg, Ingenuity has completed over 50 successful flights on Mars. These fligh UK Space Agency selects finalists for Lunar Water Purification technologies
Wednesday, 24 July 2024 22:17
Ten teams of engineers and scientists have been chosen as finalists in the Aqualunar Challenge, aimed at developing technologies to provide sustainable water supplies for a permanent Moon base.
The Aqualunar Challenge is part of a Pounds 1.2m prize funded by the UK Space Agency's International Bilateral Fund and managed by Challenge Works. In collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency (C Gilat secures over $9M in contracts for satellite communications solutions
Wednesday, 24 July 2024 22:17
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ, TASE: GILT), a global leader in satellite networking technology, solutions, and services, announced that the company has received over $9 million in cumulative orders from various satellite operators. These orders aim to enhance global SATCOM networks using Gilat's advanced and proven solutions.
Gilat's technology will support a variety of services an NASA streams first 4K video from aircraft to space station and back
Wednesday, 24 July 2024 17:39
A team at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland has streamed 4K video footage from an aircraft to the International Space Station and back for the first time using optical (laser) communications. The feat was part of a series of tests on new technology that could provide live video coverage of astronauts on the moon during the Artemis missions.
Historically, NASA has relied on radio waves to send information to and from space. Laser communications use infrared light to transmit 10 to 100 times more data faster than radio frequency systems.
Working with the Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA's Small Business Innovation Research program, Glenn engineers temporarily installed a portable laser terminal on the belly of a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.
Producing oxygen from rock is harder in lower gravity, modeling study shows
Wednesday, 24 July 2024 16:38
One of the challenges engineers face when developing technologies for use in space is that of different gravities. Mostly, engineers only have access to test beds that reflect either Earth's normal gravity or, if they're fortunate, the microgravity of the ISS. Designing and testing systems for the reduced, but not negligible, gravity on the moon and Mars is much more difficult. But for some systems, it is essential.
One such system is electrolysis, the process by which explorers will make oxygen for astronauts to breathe on a permanent moon or Mars base, as well as critical ingredients like hydrogen for rocket fuel. To help steer the development of systems that will work in those conditions, a team of researchers led by computational physicist Dr.
Webb images new, cold exoplanet 12 light-years away
Wednesday, 24 July 2024 14:00
An international team of astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have directly imaged an exoplanet roughly 12 light-years from Earth. While there were hints that the planet existed, it had not been confirmed until Webb imaged it. The planet is one of the coldest exoplanets observed to date.
Star Catcher banks $12.25 million for orbital energy grid
Wednesday, 24 July 2024 12:00
EarthCARE’s multispectral imager puts clouds into context
Wednesday, 24 July 2024 08:36
Launched less than two months ago, ESA’s EarthCARE satellite has already returned images from two of its four instruments. Now, it has also delivered the first images from its multispectral imager, showcasing various types of clouds and cloud temperatures worldwide. This instrument is set to add valuable context to the data from EarthCARE’s other instruments.
YPSat witnesses ISTSat-1 & 3Cat-4 CubeSats deployment from Ariane 6
Wednesday, 24 July 2024 08:00
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Video returned from the ESA Young Professionals Satellite payload, YPSat, attached to the upper stage of the inaugural Ariane 6 rocket, launched on 9 July 2024. This clip shows two cubesats deployment into orbit from the Exolaunch dispenser: The first CubeSat is ISTSat-1 and the second is 3Cat-4, both supported by ESA Education initiatives. The video has been enhanced to highlight these events, that were part of the key mission objectives for YPSat. The YPSat project represents the culmination of about two and a half years of dedication and hard work core team of about 30 Young