Space Exploration Technologies
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ISRO and IIT Madras Unveil Research Centre for Space Thermal Sciences
ISRO and IIT Madras have launched the S Ramakrishnan Centre of Excellence for Research in Fluid and Thermal Sciences. The facility, inaugurated on 17 March 2025, will focus on spacecraft cooling, fluid dynamics, and cryogenic engine advancements. Housed in IIT Madras’ Department of Mechanical Engineering, it will facilitate collaboration between ...
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NASA’s Space Station Research Aids Lunar Missions With Key Technologies
Research aboard the International Space Station is advancing lunar exploration. Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission-1, which landed on 2 March 2025, carries three experiments linked to space station studies. LEXI observes X-ray emissions to study space weather, RadPC tests radiation-tolerant computing, and LuGRE detects GNSS signals for lunar ...
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MAPP Rover Stranded as Athena Lander Tips Over During Lunar Mission
The MAPP rover, designed for lunar exploration, was ready to deploy but remained stuck as the Athena lander tipped over upon landing. The mishap left the rover functional but unable to move, ending the mission prematurely. Despite the setback, Lunar Outpost confirmed that data was successfully collected, and upcoming missions will continue lunar ex...
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Rocket Lab’s Neutron Rocket to Land at Sea, First Launch Set for 2025
Rocket Lab has announced that its Neutron rocket will launch in late 2025, aiming to address the growing demand for medium-lift launch services. The rocket will be recovered at sea using a modified offshore barge, enhancing mission flexibility. The company has also introduced a new satellite platform, Flatellite, designed for large-scale satellite ...
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NASA Tracks GNSS Signals on Moon, Advancing Lunar Navigation Technology
NASA and the Italian Space Agency made history by successfully tracking GNSS signals on the Moon through the LuGRE experiment. The technology could revolutionise lunar navigation, aiding missions like Artemis. LuGRE had earlier set records for GNSS signal acquisition in deep space, reaching lunar orbit before its final touchdown. The data collected...
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Athena Lunar Lander Successfully Lands Near Moon’s South Pole on IM-2 Mission
Intuitive Machines' Athena lunar lander has successfully landed near the Moon’s south pole as part of NASA’s IM-2 mission. Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the lander aims to explore lunar resources and test new technologies, including NASA’s PRIME-1 water ice experiment and Nokia’s 4G network. The exact condition of Athena remains...
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NASA’s IM-2 Mission Brings Ice Mining, Mobile Robots, and More on Moon
NASA is launching IM-2, the second lunar mission under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, to explore the Moon’s South Pole. The Nova-C lander, built by Intuitive Machines, will carry groundbreaking technologies, including an ice-mining drill, a mobile hopping drone, and a lunar 4G network. These innovations will help scienti...
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US Space Force Shares First X-37B Space Plane Image, Revealing Mission Insights
The US Space Force has released the first-ever image of its X-37B space plane in orbit. Captured while conducting experiments above the African continent, the image shows the spacecraft’s solar panel and open payload bay. The X-37B, launched on December 28, 2023, has been in orbit for over a year, testing new space domain awareness technologies a...
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ISRO Unveils World’s Largest 10-Tonne Vertical Mixer for Solid Propellants
ISRO, in collaboration with CMTI, has developed a 10-tonne vertical planetary mixer, the largest of its kind for solid propellants. The system improves precision, efficiency, and safety in propellant production, which is vital for rocket motors. Weighing 150 tonnes, the mixer successfully passed factory-level tests. It is expected to enhance India...
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NASA, General Atomics Test Nuclear Fuel for Faster Mars Missions
NASA and General Atomics conducted key tests on nuclear reactor fuel at Marshall Space Flight Center. The fuel was exposed to extreme temperatures to assess its viability for nuclear thermal propulsion. With successful results, the technology could enable faster space travel, reducing risks for astronauts on long-duration missions. NASA and DARPA a...
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NASA Looks for Private Partners To Revive VIPER Moon Rover Mission
NASA is inviting private companies to collaborate on deploying the VIPER moon rover, initially halted due to budget constraints. The rover, designed to locate lunar water ice, was previously set to launch aboard Astrobotic’s Griffin lander. Companies must submit proposals by February 20, 2025, with final selections expected mid-year. Chosen firms...
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ISRO’s NVS-02 Satellite Stalls in Orbit Due to Technical Malfunction
A technical issue has stalled the orbit-raising operations of ISRO’s NVS-02 satellite, launched on January 29. While solar panels are functioning and communication is stable, the oxidizer valves have failed to open, preventing thruster activation. Tracking data indicates the satellite remains in its initial orbit. ISRO is assessing alternative wa...
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Chinese Astronauts Successfully Generate Oxygen and Rocket Fuel Through Artificial Photosynthesis in Space
Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have made a significant breakthrough by successfully producing oxygen and rocket fuel through artificial photosynthesis. Using carbon dioxide and water, the process mimics the natural photosynthesis found in plants, with the potential to produce methane or formic acid with minor adjustments. Unli...
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SpaceX Falcon 9 Deploys 21 Starlink Satellites, Enhancing Mobile Connectivity
SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral on January 27, 2025, at 5:05 p.m. EST. Among these, 13 satellites feature Direct-to-Cell technology designed to enhance mobile connectivity. The Falcon 9 rocket used for the mission was powered by a first-stage booster completing its 20th successful flight. This booster...
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New Supercomputer Set to Propel Electric Spacecraft Technology Forward
Electric propulsion technology, powered by ion engines, is gaining traction for its efficiency in space travel. However, challenges such as back-scattered electrons from the ion plume threaten spacecraft components like solar arrays and antennas. Recent research by scientists from the University of Virginia and the University of Southern California...
-
ISRO and IIT Madras Unveil Research Centre for Space Thermal Sciences
ISRO and IIT Madras have launched the S Ramakrishnan Centre of Excellence for Research in Fluid and Thermal Sciences. The facility, inaugurated on 17 March 2025, will focus on spacecraft cooling, fluid dynamics, and cryogenic engine advancements. Housed in IIT Madras’ Department of Mechanical Engineering, it will facilitate collaboration between ...
-
NASA’s Space Station Research Aids Lunar Missions With Key Technologies
Research aboard the International Space Station is advancing lunar exploration. Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission-1, which landed on 2 March 2025, carries three experiments linked to space station studies. LEXI observes X-ray emissions to study space weather, RadPC tests radiation-tolerant computing, and LuGRE detects GNSS signals for lunar ...
-
MAPP Rover Stranded as Athena Lander Tips Over During Lunar Mission
The MAPP rover, designed for lunar exploration, was ready to deploy but remained stuck as the Athena lander tipped over upon landing. The mishap left the rover functional but unable to move, ending the mission prematurely. Despite the setback, Lunar Outpost confirmed that data was successfully collected, and upcoming missions will continue lunar ex...
-
Rocket Lab’s Neutron Rocket to Land at Sea, First Launch Set for 2025
Rocket Lab has announced that its Neutron rocket will launch in late 2025, aiming to address the growing demand for medium-lift launch services. The rocket will be recovered at sea using a modified offshore barge, enhancing mission flexibility. The company has also introduced a new satellite platform, Flatellite, designed for large-scale satellite ...
-
NASA Tracks GNSS Signals on Moon, Advancing Lunar Navigation Technology
NASA and the Italian Space Agency made history by successfully tracking GNSS signals on the Moon through the LuGRE experiment. The technology could revolutionise lunar navigation, aiding missions like Artemis. LuGRE had earlier set records for GNSS signal acquisition in deep space, reaching lunar orbit before its final touchdown. The data collected...
-
Athena Lunar Lander Successfully Lands Near Moon’s South Pole on IM-2 Mission
Intuitive Machines' Athena lunar lander has successfully landed near the Moon’s south pole as part of NASA’s IM-2 mission. Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the lander aims to explore lunar resources and test new technologies, including NASA’s PRIME-1 water ice experiment and Nokia’s 4G network. The exact condition of Athena remains...
-
NASA’s IM-2 Mission Brings Ice Mining, Mobile Robots, and More on Moon
NASA is launching IM-2, the second lunar mission under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, to explore the Moon’s South Pole. The Nova-C lander, built by Intuitive Machines, will carry groundbreaking technologies, including an ice-mining drill, a mobile hopping drone, and a lunar 4G network. These innovations will help scienti...
-
US Space Force Shares First X-37B Space Plane Image, Revealing Mission Insights
The US Space Force has released the first-ever image of its X-37B space plane in orbit. Captured while conducting experiments above the African continent, the image shows the spacecraft’s solar panel and open payload bay. The X-37B, launched on December 28, 2023, has been in orbit for over a year, testing new space domain awareness technologies a...
-
ISRO Unveils World’s Largest 10-Tonne Vertical Mixer for Solid Propellants
ISRO, in collaboration with CMTI, has developed a 10-tonne vertical planetary mixer, the largest of its kind for solid propellants. The system improves precision, efficiency, and safety in propellant production, which is vital for rocket motors. Weighing 150 tonnes, the mixer successfully passed factory-level tests. It is expected to enhance India...
-
NASA, General Atomics Test Nuclear Fuel for Faster Mars Missions
NASA and General Atomics conducted key tests on nuclear reactor fuel at Marshall Space Flight Center. The fuel was exposed to extreme temperatures to assess its viability for nuclear thermal propulsion. With successful results, the technology could enable faster space travel, reducing risks for astronauts on long-duration missions. NASA and DARPA a...
-
NASA Looks for Private Partners To Revive VIPER Moon Rover Mission
NASA is inviting private companies to collaborate on deploying the VIPER moon rover, initially halted due to budget constraints. The rover, designed to locate lunar water ice, was previously set to launch aboard Astrobotic’s Griffin lander. Companies must submit proposals by February 20, 2025, with final selections expected mid-year. Chosen firms...
-
ISRO’s NVS-02 Satellite Stalls in Orbit Due to Technical Malfunction
A technical issue has stalled the orbit-raising operations of ISRO’s NVS-02 satellite, launched on January 29. While solar panels are functioning and communication is stable, the oxidizer valves have failed to open, preventing thruster activation. Tracking data indicates the satellite remains in its initial orbit. ISRO is assessing alternative wa...
-
Chinese Astronauts Successfully Generate Oxygen and Rocket Fuel Through Artificial Photosynthesis in Space
Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have made a significant breakthrough by successfully producing oxygen and rocket fuel through artificial photosynthesis. Using carbon dioxide and water, the process mimics the natural photosynthesis found in plants, with the potential to produce methane or formic acid with minor adjustments. Unli...
-
SpaceX Falcon 9 Deploys 21 Starlink Satellites, Enhancing Mobile Connectivity
SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral on January 27, 2025, at 5:05 p.m. EST. Among these, 13 satellites feature Direct-to-Cell technology designed to enhance mobile connectivity. The Falcon 9 rocket used for the mission was powered by a first-stage booster completing its 20th successful flight. This booster...
-
New Supercomputer Set to Propel Electric Spacecraft Technology Forward
Electric propulsion technology, powered by ion engines, is gaining traction for its efficiency in space travel. However, challenges such as back-scattered electrons from the ion plume threaten spacecraft components like solar arrays and antennas. Recent research by scientists from the University of Virginia and the University of Southern California...
