CubeSat propulsion technologies are taking off
Monday, 08 July 2024 17:08
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CubeSats are becoming ever more popular, with about 2,400 total launched so far. However, the small size limits their options for fundamental space exploration technologies, including propulsion. They become even more critical when mission planners design missions that require them to travel to other planets or even asteroids.
A team from Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi recently released a review in Aerospace of the different CubeSat propulsion technologies currently available—let's look at their advantages and disadvantages.
The paper breaks propulsion systems into four categories: Chemical, Kinetic, Electrical, and "Propellant-less." Chemical systems are the traditional rockets most people think of when launching satellites—they burn chemicals together and expel gas created by the fire to produce thrust. Kinetic systems use things like cold gas, where instead of reacting two chemicals together, they simply push gas molecules out to propel themselves in the opposite direction.
SpaceX Secures NASA Contract for COSI Space Telescope Launch
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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 08, 2024
"NASA has selected Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the COSI (Compton Spectrometer and Imager) mission."
The firm-fixed-price contract is valued at approximately $69 million and includes launch services and associated mission costs. The COSI mission is scheduled to launch in August 2027 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 roc
"NASA has selected Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the COSI (Compton Spectrometer and Imager) mission."
The firm-fixed-price contract is valued at approximately $69 million and includes launch services and associated mission costs. The COSI mission is scheduled to launch in August 2027 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 roc 'Ready to come out?' Scientists reemerge after year 'on Mars'
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Washington (AFP) July 6, 2024
The NASA astronaut knocks loudly three times on a what appears to be a nondescript door, and calls cheerfully: "You ready to come out?"
The reply is inaudible, but beneath his mask he appears to be grinning as he yanks the door open - and four scientists who have spent a year away from all other human contact, simulating a mission to Mars, spill out to cheers and applause.
Anca Selariu,
The NASA astronaut knocks loudly three times on a what appears to be a nondescript door, and calls cheerfully: "You ready to come out?"
The reply is inaudible, but beneath his mask he appears to be grinning as he yanks the door open - and four scientists who have spent a year away from all other human contact, simulating a mission to Mars, spill out to cheers and applause.
Anca Selariu, Lunar Impact Flux Insights
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Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 08, 2024
Scholars have revisited the anchor points and historical construction of lunar crater chronology. Initially, the stratification of the Moon's near side relied on remote sensing data from ground-based telescopes and lunar orbiters before lunar samples were returned. As illustrated in Fig. 1, six manned missions and four robotic missions have brought back various samples, including basalts and vol
Scholars have revisited the anchor points and historical construction of lunar crater chronology. Initially, the stratification of the Moon's near side relied on remote sensing data from ground-based telescopes and lunar orbiters before lunar samples were returned. As illustrated in Fig. 1, six manned missions and four robotic missions have brought back various samples, including basalts and vol Europe's Earth Return Orbiter Advances to Next Development Stage
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Paris, France (SPX) Jul 08, 2024
ESA's Earth Return Orbiter (ERO), the pioneering spacecraft designed to capture and return samples from Mars, has achieved a significant milestone, completing its critical design review (CDR). This essential phase confirms the performance, quality, and reliability of the spacecraft's systems, enabling the next steps in its development.
A CDR is a crucial stage in any spaceflight project, e
ESA's Earth Return Orbiter (ERO), the pioneering spacecraft designed to capture and return samples from Mars, has achieved a significant milestone, completing its critical design review (CDR). This essential phase confirms the performance, quality, and reliability of the spacecraft's systems, enabling the next steps in its development.
A CDR is a crucial stage in any spaceflight project, e Garnet Presence in the Deep Lunar Mantle Confirmed
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Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jul 08, 2024
The current understanding of the Moon's interior reveals a central metallic core, a mantle rich in minerals like olivine and pyroxene, and an outer crust layer. This model has been developed through analyses of lunar samples and seismic data from past Moon missions. Despite extensive studies, the debate about the presence of garnet in the deeper lunar mantle remains unresolved. A critical questi
The current understanding of the Moon's interior reveals a central metallic core, a mantle rich in minerals like olivine and pyroxene, and an outer crust layer. This model has been developed through analyses of lunar samples and seismic data from past Moon missions. Despite extensive studies, the debate about the presence of garnet in the deeper lunar mantle remains unresolved. A critical questi NASA Radar Monitors Close Approaches of Two Large Asteroids
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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 08, 2024
The Deep Space Network's Goldstone planetary radar recently tracked two significant asteroid flybys, observing asteroids 2024 MK and 2011 UL21 as they passed by Earth.
Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California monitored these asteroids during their close approaches. One asteroid was found to have a small moon, while the other was discovered just 13 days be
The Deep Space Network's Goldstone planetary radar recently tracked two significant asteroid flybys, observing asteroids 2024 MK and 2011 UL21 as they passed by Earth.
Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California monitored these asteroids during their close approaches. One asteroid was found to have a small moon, while the other was discovered just 13 days be Parker Solar Probe Achieves 20th Close Encounter with the Sun
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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 08, 2024
NASA's Parker Solar Probe successfully made its 20th close approach to the Sun on June 30, 2024. The probe came within 4.51 million miles (7.26 million kilometers) of the Sun's surface, equaling its previous distance record.
"The close approach (known as perihelion) occurred at 3:47 UTC (11:47 p.m. EDT on June 29), with Parker Solar Probe moving 394,736 miles per hour (635,266 kilometers p
NASA's Parker Solar Probe successfully made its 20th close approach to the Sun on June 30, 2024. The probe came within 4.51 million miles (7.26 million kilometers) of the Sun's surface, equaling its previous distance record.
"The close approach (known as perihelion) occurred at 3:47 UTC (11:47 p.m. EDT on June 29), with Parker Solar Probe moving 394,736 miles per hour (635,266 kilometers p Milky Way's Warp Reveals Shape of Dark Matter Halo
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Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 07, 2024
A research team led by Dr. HUANG Yang from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) has developed a novel "motion picture" method for measuring the precession rate of the Milky Way's disk warp. Utilizing this innovative approach, the team observed the precession direction and rate of the Milky Way's warp using a sample of Cepheid variable stars of various
A research team led by Dr. HUANG Yang from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) has developed a novel "motion picture" method for measuring the precession rate of the Milky Way's disk warp. Utilizing this innovative approach, the team observed the precession direction and rate of the Milky Way's warp using a sample of Cepheid variable stars of various Quantum Detectors Poised to Reveal Dark Matter Mysteries
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London, UK (SPX) Jul 08, 2024
A major scientific enigma may be closer to resolution as researchers harness cutting-edge quantum technology.
Approximately 80% of the universe's matter is dark, eluding direct observation but detectable through its gravitational effects. Despite ongoing efforts, these dark matter particles remain unseen.
Scientists from Lancaster University, the University of Oxford, and Royal Hollo
A major scientific enigma may be closer to resolution as researchers harness cutting-edge quantum technology.
Approximately 80% of the universe's matter is dark, eluding direct observation but detectable through its gravitational effects. Despite ongoing efforts, these dark matter particles remain unseen.
Scientists from Lancaster University, the University of Oxford, and Royal Hollo NASA's CURIE CubeSat to Study Space Weather on Ariane 6 Rocket
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Paris, France (SPX) Jul 08, 2024
NASA's CURIE (CubeSat Radio Interferometry Experiment) will be a rideshare payload on the ESA's (European Space Agency) first flight of the Arianespace Ariane 6 rocket, aimed at exploring the main factors influencing space weather. The launch is scheduled for July 9 from Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.
Designed by Dr. David Sundkvist and his team at th
NASA's CURIE (CubeSat Radio Interferometry Experiment) will be a rideshare payload on the ESA's (European Space Agency) first flight of the Arianespace Ariane 6 rocket, aimed at exploring the main factors influencing space weather. The launch is scheduled for July 9 from Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.
Designed by Dr. David Sundkvist and his team at th RuggON's Vehicle-Mounted Computer Offers Global Connectivity
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Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jul 08, 2024
RuggON, a leading provider of rugged computing solutions, has unveiled the Iridium Connected VORTEX, a robust Vehicle-Mounted Computer (VMC) designed for seamless global connectivity. Equipped with a specialized antenna and an integrated satellite-communications module, the Vortex ensures reliable data and message exchange even in the most isolated locations, beyond the reach of conventional 5G
RuggON, a leading provider of rugged computing solutions, has unveiled the Iridium Connected VORTEX, a robust Vehicle-Mounted Computer (VMC) designed for seamless global connectivity. Equipped with a specialized antenna and an integrated satellite-communications module, the Vortex ensures reliable data and message exchange even in the most isolated locations, beyond the reach of conventional 5G Ovzon 3 Satellite Commences Commercial Service
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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 07, 2024
As previously communicated, Ovzon's proprietary satellite, Ovzon 3, has reached its designated position in the geostationary arc. After several weeks of final in-orbit testing, the satellite is now ready for commercial service.
The first delivery of SATCOM-as-a-Service from Ovzon 3 will be provided to the French government organization GIGN (Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie National
As previously communicated, Ovzon's proprietary satellite, Ovzon 3, has reached its designated position in the geostationary arc. After several weeks of final in-orbit testing, the satellite is now ready for commercial service.
The first delivery of SATCOM-as-a-Service from Ovzon 3 will be provided to the French government organization GIGN (Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie National Effects of Visual and Auditory Guidance on Space Station Tasks
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Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 07, 2024
Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Technology conducted a study examining the impact of visual and auditory instructions on procedural tasks within a simulated space station environment. The study involved 30 participants (15 men and 15 women) aged between 20 and 50, with an average age of 42. All participants were right-handed and free from significant visual or auditory impairments, mee
Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Technology conducted a study examining the impact of visual and auditory instructions on procedural tasks within a simulated space station environment. The study involved 30 participants (15 men and 15 women) aged between 20 and 50, with an average age of 42. All participants were right-handed and free from significant visual or auditory impairments, mee Shenzhou XVII Crew Shares Post-Mission Insights with Media
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Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 08, 2024
The astronauts of China's Shenzhou XVII mission held their first press conference on Friday, two months after returning from their space expedition.
The three crew members - Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin - are reported to be in excellent physical and mental condition. Their muscle strength, endurance, and cardiopulmonary function have largely returned to pre-flight levels.
The astronauts of China's Shenzhou XVII mission held their first press conference on Friday, two months after returning from their space expedition.
The three crew members - Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin - are reported to be in excellent physical and mental condition. Their muscle strength, endurance, and cardiopulmonary function have largely returned to pre-flight levels.