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.
From the mountains of Turin to the deserts of Arizona, a core element of Gateway, humanity's first lunar space station, is now one step closer to the moon. As seen in this April 1, 2025, photo, HALO (Habitation and Logistics ...
Space Exploration
Apr 7, 2025
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For decades, satellites have played a crucial role in our understanding of the remote polar regions. The ongoing loss of Antarctic ice, due to the climate crisis, is, sadly, no longer surprising. However, satellites do more ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 3, 2025
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SpaceX is set to launch the first human spaceflight directly over Earth's polar regions on Monday—a days-long, privately funded orbital mission involving four astronauts.
Space Exploration
Mar 31, 2025
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ESA's Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) has arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States. This cutting-edge European experiment will test fundamental physics from the outside of ESA's Columbus module ...
Space Exploration
Mar 25, 2025
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As civilizations become more and more advanced, their power needs also increase. It's likely that an advanced civilization might need so much power that they enclose their host star in solar energy-collecting satellites. ...
Astrobiology
Mar 20, 2025
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Solar power satellite (SPS) advocates have been dreaming of using space resources to build massive constructions for decades. In-space resource utilization (ISRU) advocates would love to oblige them, but so far, there hasn't ...
Space Exploration
Mar 17, 2025
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The International Space Station supports a wide range of scientific activities, from looking out at our universe to breakthroughs in medical research, and is an active proving ground for technology for future moon exploration ...
Space Exploration
Mar 17, 2025
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CubeSats have a lot of advantages. They are small, inexpensive, and easily reproducible. But those advantages also come with significant disadvantages—they have trouble linking into broader constellations that allow them ...
Planetary Sciences
Mar 13, 2025
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MIT aerospace engineers have found that greenhouse gas emissions are changing the environment of near-Earth space in ways that, over time, will reduce the number of satellites that can sustainably operate there.
Space Exploration
Mar 10, 2025
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70
Technicians with ESA (European Space Agency) and Airbus installed the four solar array wings on NASA's Orion spacecraft for Artemis II on March 3. The solar array wings, attached to the service module, deploy after Orion ...
Space Exploration
Mar 7, 2025
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