Astrodynamics is the research area concerned with the modeling, analysis, and control of the motion of natural and artificial bodies in space under the influence of gravitational and non-gravitational forces. It encompasses orbital mechanics, trajectory design and optimization, mission analysis, attitude–orbit coupling, and perturbation theory for multi-body environments. The field integrates celestial mechanics, numerical methods, optimal control, and spacecraft propulsion modeling to enable precise prediction and adjustment of trajectories for applications such as orbit insertion, station-keeping, interplanetary transfers, formation flying, and proximity operations, often requiring high-fidelity dynamical models and robust estimation techniques for navigation and guidance.
Giant mirrors in space have been a staple of science fiction for decades. But so far, there's been very little work looking at the actual physics behind the concept—possibly because we're still so far from making them ourselves. ...
Planetary Sciences
Jun 29, 2026
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19
NASA is racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission.
Space Exploration
Jun 28, 2026
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76
A mission to raise the orbit of NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is poised for launch no earlier than Tuesday, June 30, at 6:23 a.m. EDT (10:23 p.m. UTC+12), from Kwajalein Atoll, part of the Republic of the Marshall ...
Astronomy
Jun 26, 2026
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74
The European-Chinese Smile mission reached its designated science orbit on June 20, 2026. The team is now embarking on a two-month campaign to commission the spacecraft, which involves switching on and testing its toolbox ...
Space Exploration
Jun 25, 2026
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16
We think of atomic clocks as the definitive timekeepers. They are famous for being accurate down to the picosecond. Unfortunately, they are still subject to general relativity, so if you put them on a different planet, they ...
Space Exploration
Jun 16, 2026
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40
To truly understand what an asteroid is made of, we need to send a probe to it. Remote sensing from ground-based telescopes, or even orbiting observatories, can only do so much. A new white paper submitted to the U.K. Space ...
Planetary Sciences
Jun 12, 2026
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74
NASA on Friday temporarily ordered astronauts to take shelter during repairs to fix a fresh leak aboard the International Space Station.
Space Exploration
Jun 6, 2026
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20
MIT engineers are testing a new propulsion system that combines the power and speed of conventional chemical thrusters with the precision and fuel-efficiency of electrical thrusters. The system could enable the design of ...
Space Exploration
Jun 2, 2026
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180
SpaceX Starship launches are on hold pending an investigation into last week's test flight.
Space Exploration
May 28, 2026
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43
It's getting crowded up there. Over the past few years, the advent of SpaceX's Starlink and other players in the mega-satellite constellation game are adding an exponential load of satellites and orbital debris to the low ...
Space Exploration
May 24, 2026
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21
