Blog & News
Blog
The in-Space Assembled Telescope
NASA’s study of robotic assembly of huge space telescopes
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NASA video on in-orbit robotic assembly
When does it make sense to build things in orbit instead of on the ground?
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The future of worldwide communications?
Will SpaceX’s Starlink become the communications provider that crushes all others?
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Our talk at the Satellite Innovation Conference
The market and business cases for in-orbit servicing and assembly are getting stronger.
read moreRobots: change agents for space
The potentials and difficulties facing space robotics, as well as how individuals can involve themselves in this exciting field.
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Let’s move beyond rovers
Elevated tracks can enhance mobility for long-duration lunar missions and resource extraction plants.
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A first customer for the Space Superhighway
NASA has recently announced that it will partner with industry to resupply the Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-to-partner-with-american-industry-to-supply-artemis-moon-missions Last month in Aviation Week Online, we talked about the...
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Lunar dust — a big deal
The six Apollo missions experienced a wide variety of effects from lunar dust (regolith). The image is a NASA photo of Dr. Harrison Schmitt in his dust-begrimed suit. There is a superb 2007 compilation of dust effect information from the six Apollo missions:...
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Let’s get agile in space
If you’re not in the IT world, you may not be familiar with the concept of “agile development.” Basically it started as a software development method—small bites, quick turns, frequent “scrum” meetings to elicit good ideas, test as you go. That’s an inadequate...
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Economic opportunities in Earth orbit
People are starting to notice that space provides vast opportunities for economic returns, and therefore is attractive for investment.
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New space robotics projects around the world
Two new international space robotics programs
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Without in-orbit servicing, the losses mount
Satellite power systems and solar panels continue to fail, driving up insurance claims. In-space servicing could fix some of these.
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Inspecting a failed satellite–once a concept, now a mission
Air Force sends one of its satellites to take pictures of another one
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The era of satellite servicing is upon us
The robotic Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1) launched Wednesday
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Space robotics are happening
A great summary of the current projects: https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/aerospace/satellites/how-nasa-will-grapple-and-refuel-a-satellite-in-low-earth-orbit It looks like DARPA's RSGS and NASA's Restore-L will both get to orbit in 2022. RSGS is headed for...
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Using the stuff on the Moon
From the latest meeting on using lunar resources, the presentations are now available online.
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Crater analysis suggests more water on the Moon
Some of the craters at the Moon's poles are shallower than typical impact craters. It has just been suggested that the "fill" material could be largely water ice, as is true at Mercury: https://phys.org/news/2019-07-moon-thought.html Of course, the only way to really...
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Moving around on the Moon
This week, specifically June 6-9, is the International Space Development Conference in Arlington, Virginia. Traditionally, this is the conference where new thinking and radical ideas receive a hearing from a broad, like-minded audience. My talk is at 11 AM on...
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A business analysis firm looks at space robotics
The firm Global Market Insights has taken a look at coming demand for space robotics:...
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Maxar to build the first component of the Lunar Gateway
NASA has decided to include the Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway in its architecture for returning to the Moon in 2024. Ultimately to consist of several modules, the first module must be the one that keeps everything in the correct orbit. This module is called the...
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