Category: Space

In the future, space exploration may rely not on individual, expensive satellites, but on teams of smaller satellites working together as a “swarm.” These swarms will enhance accuracy, agility, and autonomy in space missions. Researchers at Stanford University’s Space Rendezvous Lab are at the forefront of this innovation, recently completing the first-ever in-orbit test of a prototype system that navigates a swarm of satellites using only visual information shared through a wireless network.

“It’s a milestone paper and the culmination of 11 years of effort by my lab, which was founded with this goal of surpassing the current state of the art and practice in distributed autonomy in space,” said Simone D’Amico, associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics and senior author of the study published on the arXiv preprint server. “Starling is the first demonstration ever made of an autonomous swarm of satellites.”

Assessing forest health accurately is essential but challenging, especially over large areas and diverse forest types. Traditional methods like airborne laser scanning (ALS) are effective but limited in scope and cost. Space-based monitoring, particularly through lidar technology, offers a promising solution.

Forests are crucial for carbon sequestration, water regulation, habitat provision, and biodiversity support. Understanding forest ecosystem functions requires accurate measurements of parameters such as canopy height, canopy cover, and tree density. However, obtaining these measurements on a large scale has been difficult.

The TeraNet team, led by Associate Professor Sascha Schediwy from the UWA node at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), successfully received laser signals from OSIRISv1, a laser communication payload developed by the Institute of Communications and Navigation of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The signals, transmitted from the University of Stuttgart’s Flying Laptop satellite, were detected using two of TeraNet’s optical ground stations during satellite flybys last Thursday.

“This demonstration is the critical first step in establishing a next-generation space communications network across Western Australia. The next steps include joining this network to other optical ground stations currently being developed in Australia and across the world,” said Associate Professor Schediwy.

NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program, alongside Berkeley Engineering and the Berkeley Space Center, has funded a groundbreaking mission to develop Computed Axial Lithography (CAL) technology. This innovative 3D printing method holds the potential to revolutionize space missions by producing everything from spare parts and tools for spacecraft to new contact lenses and dental crowns for astronauts.

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has significantly evolved since its inception in the 1980s. In 2017, Hayden Taylor, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, led a team of researchers at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to invent CAL technology. This advanced additive manufacturing technique uses light to form solid objects from a viscous liquid, enabling faster and more versatile production of 3D parts.

A California-based company, SpinLaunch, is capturing attention with its groundbreaking satellite launch system, especially from enthusiasts in the Punkin Chunkin community. This technology aims to revolutionize the way satellites are sent into space by using a giant rotating arm to fling satellites into low Earth orbit, eliminating the need for rocket fuel and relying solely on electricity.

SpinLaunch has already conducted multiple successful tests with this technology. “This is not a rocket, and our ability to perform this many tests in just 11 months, all functioning as planned, is a testament to the nature of our technology,” said Jonathan Yaney, founder and CEO of SpinLaunch, in a 2022 Space.com report after their 10th successful launch. The company plans to launch constellations of satellites into orbits below 600 miles by 2026. Satellites are crucial for monitoring Earth’s health, detecting issues like methane leaks, and conducting various types of research. Therefore, a cleaner, more efficient method for placing them in orbit is significant for scientific advancements.

Inversion Space, a pioneering startup founded in 2021, aims to transform military logistics by introducing innovative “space warehouse” capabilities. The company is developing reusable reentry capsules designed to store cargo in orbit, ready for rapid delivery to Earth within an hour when needed.

This groundbreaking technology is set to be tested during Inversion Space’s upcoming “Ray” pathfinder mission, scheduled for early October. The mission will be part of SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare mission, where Inversion Space will deploy and test key technologies essential for developing larger cargo capsules.

Portal Space Systems, under the leadership of propulsion expert Jeff Thornburg, is poised to revolutionize in-space transportation with its groundbreaking Supernova satellite bus. This ultra-mobile platform promises maneuverability on a scale never seen before, offering rapid transfers from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit within hours.

Unlike traditional spacecraft limited by their static nature, the 500-kg Supernova boasts payload agnosticism and a minimum on-orbit survival span of five years, all while being continuously maneuvered. At the heart of this innovation lies Portal’s solar-thermal propulsion system, capable of producing a staggering delta-V of 6 kilometers per second. This enables swift transfers to cislunar space and bolsters maneuverability for national security missions.

In 2001, British Electrical Engineer Roger Shawyer introduced the EmDrive, famously dubbed the “impossible drive” due to its claim of reactionless propulsion, seemingly defying the laws of physics. Despite initial excitement, two decades of testing led to the conclusion in 2021 that the EmDrive was not feasible. However, the dream of propellant-less space travel persisted.

Now, a new contender has emerged, backed by former NASA scientist Charles Buhler. While at NASA, Buhler helped establish crucial labs at Kennedy Space Center and now co-founded Exodus Propulsion Technologies. Their latest drive, powered by a “New Force” outside known physics, has shown promise in overcoming gravity without the need for propellant.

In a groundbreaking endeavor set to revolutionize energy transmission, Japan is poised to harness solar power from space and beam it down to Earth as early as next year. Following in the footsteps of U.S. engineers who achieved a similar milestone two years prior, this advancement signals a significant stride towards a potential space-based solar power station, offering a promising solution in the global fight against climate change.

Addressing attendees at the International Conference on Energy from Space in London, Koichi Ijichi, an adviser at the Japanese research institute Japan Space Systems, unveiled Japan’s ambitious roadmap towards an orbital demonstration of a miniature space-based solar power plant. This innovative system aims to wirelessly transmit energy from low Earth orbit directly to our planet’s surface.

On 21 February, a meter-wide space capsule gracefully landed in the Utah desert, marking the culmination of an eight-month journey through orbit. Nestled within this capsule was a payload of Ritonavir, a vital antiviral medication used in combating HIV and COVID-19.

Conducted by the pioneering Californian start-up, Varda Space Industries, this landmark mission sought to showcase the potential of automated pharmaceutical manufacturing in space. It represents a significant step forward in exploring novel and more efficient approaches to drug development. The W-1 mission of Varda was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket back in June 2023. Weighing approximately 90kg, the capsule harbors the capability to produce nearly 100kg of pharmaceutical products during its prolonged stay in orbit.

Japan has unveiled a bold initiative aimed at bolstering its innovation, autonomy, and international competitiveness in space with the establishment of a $6.7 billion Space Strategic Fund over the next decade. The bill, approved by Japan’s cabinet in November, earmarks funds to support the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in advancing space technology development, exploration, and commercialization efforts.

Defining Objectives and Areas of Support The fund’s objectives are multifaceted, including maintaining independence in space capabilities, strengthening technological superiority, and enhancing supply chain autonomy. Three key areas for support have been outlined: satellites, space exploration, and space transportation. This initiative aligns with Japan’s Space Basic Plan, emphasizing collaboration with commercial and academic entities to drive innovation.

Space has long been recognized as the ultimate frontier for human exploration, and it may also hold the key to the future of human medicine. Dorit Donoviel, Executive Director of the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), is at the forefront of this exploration. In collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine, Caltech, and MIT, TRISH partners with NASA to tackle the health challenges posed by deep space exploration. From microgravity studies to drug production in space, TRISH is breaking new ground.

TRISH funds a diverse range of experiments, addressing crucial aspects of space health. These include research on balance in microgravity, enabling astronauts to manufacture drugs in space, and even projects evaluating mental resilience in extreme environments like Antarctica. Recently, TRISH collected valuable data during the Axiom Mission 3, marking a significant milestone in commercial astronaut expeditions to the International Space Station.