Category: Space

Researchers have announced progress in the development of a Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket (CNTR), a next-generation propulsion system powered by liquid uranium fuel. This advanced concept is being developed by teams at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and The Ohio State University.

The CNTR is a nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) system that heats hydrogen propellant directly using the reactor’s liquid uranium fuel. By spinning the molten uranium in a centrifuge, hydrogen gas is passed through the superheated liquid and expelled through a nozzle to generate thrust. This method is designed to achieve a specific impulse of approximately 1,500 seconds—nearly double that of current solid-core NTP designs, such as NASA’s DRACO Program, which aims for around 900 seconds.

Space debris is becoming an increasingly urgent issue as the number of satellites and spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) continues to rise. Between 2019 and 2023, SpaceX’s Starlink satellites alone performed more than 50,000 maneuvers to avoid potential collisions. In LEO, objects travel at approximately 8 kilometers per second—faster than a bullet—making even the smallest debris a significant threat to spacecraft.

To address this challenge, researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a new material that could revolutionize spacecraft protection: a self-healing polymer designed to withstand high-speed impacts from space debris. This innovative material, known as a Diels-Alder Polymer (DAP), possesses dynamic covalent bonds that break and reform in response to stress, giving it unique impact-resistance properties.

Aetherflux, a space startup with an unconventional origin story, is making waves with its bold plan to revolutionize how we generate and deliver solar power—from space. Founded by Baiju Bhatt, a physicist-turned-finance-exec whose father was a NASA scientist, the company is developing a modular satellite constellation that aims to beam solar energy down to Earth using lasers.

Unlike traditional concepts that rely on massive solar arrays in geostationary orbit transmitting energy via microwave beams to large ground stations, Aetherflux is taking a different route. Its satellites will operate in low Earth orbit (LEO), offering a more scalable and flexible approach to space-based solar power (SBSP). Bhatt argues that previous efforts suffered from an “all or nothing” mentality, while Aetherflux’s modular system allows for iterative development and faster innovation.

SpinLaunch, the experimental space startup known for its centrifugal satellite launcher, has unveiled bold new plans to create a broadband satellite network called Meridian Space. This next-generation constellation will consist of compact “microsatellites” deployed in massive batches of up to 250 satellites per launch—a move that, if successful, would surpass SpaceX’s 2021 record of 143 satellites on a single flight.

In a surprising twist, SpinLaunch won’t be using its signature kinetic launch system—designed to fling payloads into orbit like a giant slingshot—for the initial satellite deployments. Instead, the company will rely on traditional rocket launchesto begin building out the network.

A major milestone in space manufacturing has been achieved with the return of the first-ever metal component produced on the International Space Station (ISS). The component, created using a metal 3D printing system developed by Airbus and its partners, marks a significant step forward in additive manufacturing technology for space exploration. This system has been operational in the ISS’s Columbus module since January 2024, thanks to ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who installed it as part of his Huginn mission.

The first successful print, a curved structure shaped like an “S”, was completed in June 2024. Following this initial test, a fully functional component was produced later that summer, with another sample printed in December. The sample now returned to Earth is being analyzed at the European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC) in the Materials and Electrical Components Laboratory. The primary objective of this investigation is to compare how the metal 3D printing process in microgravity differs from production on Earth. Another sample will also be sent to the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) for further analysis.

The growing issue of space debris—comprising spent rockets, defunct satellites, and other fragments—poses an increasing threat to active missions in Earth’s orbit. If left unchecked, this orbital clutter could lead to catastrophic collisions, damaging current satellites and jeopardizing the future of space exploration.

In response to this looming crisis, a team in Japan is making significant strides to clean up the space junk. Astroscale, a company dedicated to removing space debris, launched its ADRAS-J mission to test innovative technology designed to capture and remove debris. ADRAS-J stands for Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan.

A team of engineers is making significant strides in space innovation with the development of a revolutionary machine designed to produce oxygen directly on the Moon. This ambitious project, taking place in a massive vacuum sphere at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, pushes the boundaries of current space technology and aims to create a life-sustaining system for lunar missions.

The device, a silvery metal contraption adorned with colorful wires, marks a major step forward in enabling long-term lunar exploration and habitat construction. According to Brant White, program manager at Sierra Space, a private aerospace company, “We’ve tested everything we can on Earth now. The next step is going to the moon.” This project is part of a broader initiative to develop systems that can extract essential resources from the Moon’s surface, providing astronauts with the oxygen and materials necessary for survival and deep-space exploration.