Metal made in space lands on Earth
The first metal 3D part ever created in orbit has landed on Earth.
Space Exploration
Feb 27, 2025
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Page 21: Research news on Artificial satellites
Artificial satellites as a research area encompasses the scientific and engineering study of human-made objects intentionally placed into Earth or other celestial orbits for observation, communication, navigation, and experimentation. Research focuses on orbital dynamics and mission design, attitude determination and control, space environment interactions (radiation, plasma, micrometeoroids), and advanced materials and power systems for long-duration operation. It also includes development of miniaturized platforms (e.g., CubeSats), payload instrumentation for remote sensing and scientific measurements, formation flying and constellations, on-orbit servicing, autonomy and fault management, and the impacts of satellite proliferation on space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation.
Two atmospheric missions on one satellite
The second of the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellites and the first instrument for the Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission are fully integrated and, having completed their functional and environmental tests, they are now ...
Space Exploration
Feb 24, 2025
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Research sheds light on using multiple CubeSats for in-space servicing and repair missions
As more satellites, telescopes, and other spacecraft are built to be repairable, it will take reliable trajectories for service spacecraft to reach them safely. Researchers in the Department of Aerospace Engineering in The ...
Space Exploration
Feb 14, 2025
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How NASA's Lunar Trailblazer will make a looping voyage to the moon
Before arriving at the moon, the small satellite mission will use the gravity of the sun, Earth, and moon over several months to gradually line up for capture into lunar orbit.
Space Exploration
Feb 14, 2025
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What is space junk and why does it pose an increasing risk for Earth? An expert explains
Year after year, humanity is setting new records for the amount of stuff we're sending into the Earth's orbit, spurred mostly by Starlink's orbital domination. We're getting more eyes (satellites) on the sky, but we're also ...
Space Exploration
Feb 12, 2025
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Robot grippers could be used to remove space debris
Blue tentacle-like arms attached to an Astrobee free-flying robot grab onto a "capture cube" in this image from Feb. 4, 2025. The experimental grippers demonstrated autonomous detection and capture techniques that may be ...
Space Exploration
Feb 7, 2025
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Measuring light sail performance in the lab
Sailing has been a mainstay of human history for millennia, so it's no surprise that scientists would apply it to traveling in space. Solar sailing, the most common version, uses pressure from the sun to push spacecraft with ...
Space Exploration
Feb 3, 2025
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Japan launches a navigation satellite on a new flagship rocket for an improved positioning system
Japan's space agency said on Sunday it successfully launched a navigation satellite on its new flagship H3 rocket as the country seeks to have a more precise location positioning system of its own.
Space Exploration
Feb 3, 2025
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How to fly NASA's Orion spacecraft
On NASA's Artemis II test flight, the first crewed mission under the agency's Artemis campaign, astronauts will take the controls of the Orion spacecraft and periodically fly it manually during the flight around the moon ...
Space Exploration
Jan 29, 2025
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Vision-based navigation system enables satellites to approach or avoid other objects in space
Mounted on a robotic arm attached to a 33-m long rail, a camera system is brought closer and closer to this scale-model satellite, recreating the experience of a rendezvous in space.
Space Exploration
Jan 27, 2025
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