Tag

Cubesat

All articles tagged with #cubesat

science1 month ago•14 min saved

CubeSat concept to verify the Outer Space Treaty with cosmic protons

A Nature paper proposes a physics-based method to verify OST compliance by monitoring neutrons produced by GeV protons in the inner Van Allen belts. The study suggests a 9U‑CubeSat detector could identify a thermonuclear device on a suspect satellite from about 4 km away with roughly a week of observation, offering a conceptual pathway for in‑space verification of nuclear weapons bans. The work is theoretical, grounded in simulations and open code, and is intended to spur further research rather than immediate deployment.

via Nature|

#cosmic-protons #cubesat #outer-space-treaty

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

City Labs Ushers in Commercial Nuclear Power in Space with BOHR CubeSat

Miami-based City Labs launches BOHR, a 1U CubeSat powered by a tritium betavoltaic battery, claiming the first commercial nuclear-powered satellite. The mission demonstrates persistent power for small payloads while solar panels handle regular operations, and serves as a regulatory-approved first step toward broader nuclear-powered space missions—though power levels remain nanowatt to microwatt range.

via Ars Technica|

#betavoltaic #bohr #city-labs

technology2 months ago•96 min saved

MIT's ASCENT fuel could fuse chemical and electric propulsion in space

MIT researchers propose ASCENT, a greener, non-toxic propellant that could power both chemical and electrospray propulsion in a single cubesat package; ground tests show comparable thrust to dedicated thrusters, and NASA-backed Green Propulsion Dual Mode will test the system in space no earlier than November to demonstrate dual‑mode capability for smaller, cheaper satellites.

via Space|

#ascent #cubesat #electrospray-thrusters

space3 months ago•75 min saved

CubeSat neutrino detector aims to illuminate solar core from orbit

Space.com reports the world’s first space-based neutrino detector, SNAPPY, has launched to a ~310‑mile Earth orbit aboard SpaceX CAS500‑2 for about two years. The 3U CubeSat carries gallium‑tungsten detector crystals to catch solar neutrinos closer to the Sun, testing space-based detection technology and potentially enabling future solar-neutrino missions and imaging of solar fusion shells.

via Space|

#cubesat #neutrinos #snappy

space3 months ago•3 min saved

Tiny CubeSat Probes Solar Neutrinos from Low-Earth Orbit

NASA-supported SNAPPY, a half-pound CubeSat, launched from Vandenberg AFB to test a solar neutrino detector in a low-Earth polar orbit, featuring four crystal detectors shielded with tungsten-dust epoxy and an electronics stack on a Kongsberg NanoAvionics platform; the mission, funded by NASA's NIAC program, aims to validate detector performance in space and inform future near-Sun detectors, with contributions from NASA centers, Wichita State University, and other partners.

via NASA (.gov)|

#cubesat #nasa-niac #snappy

civil4 months ago•14 min saved

NASA allocates science payload on Mars MTN relay mission

NASA is reserving space for a small science payload on the Mars Telecommunications Network (MTN) relay spacecraft—up to 20 kilograms in a 55 by 55 by 45 cm volume, up to 60 watts, and capable of 200–1,000 megabits of data per day. The payload will be provided by NASA and could be cubesats. This follows NASA's plan to include science on MTN; a draft RFP was released April 2 with an updated industry-day briefing noting the payload requirement. The final RFP is due May 1, with proposals about a month later. MTN aims for a late-2028 launch and full Mars operation by 2030, funded by a $700 million bill; several companies, including Blue Origin and Rocket Lab, are pursuing the contract, though instruments and selection details remain undecided.

via SpaceNews|

#civil #cubesat #mars

space5 months ago•5 min saved

Tiny NASA CubeSat Delivers First Ultraviolet Images for Exoplanet Habitability

NASA's SPARCS CubeSat released its first ultraviolet images, validating its detectors and filters and kicking off a year-long program to monitor flares from low-mass stars in order to assess how stellar activity could affect the habitability of their orbiting planets and inform future UV missions.

via NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (.gov)|

#cubesat #exoplanets #habitability

space5 months ago•5 min saved

Small NASA CubeSat Delivers First Ultraviolet Views of Exoplanet-Hosting Stars

NASA’s SPARCS CubeSat has released its first ultraviolet images, confirming instrument performance and launching a year-long study of low-mass stars to understand how their flares may affect the habitability of surrounding exoplanets. The mission will monitor about 20 stars for five to 45 days using detector-integrated UV filters and onboard processing to sample stellar activity and guide future UV missions.

via NASA (.gov)|

#cubesat #exoplanets #habitable-worlds

science8 months ago•2 min saved

NASA Launches In-Space Test of Dual-Function Satellite Propulsion

NASA is testing two new micropropulsion technologies onboard the CubeSat DUPLEX in space, which use polymer fibers for efficient and safe spacecraft maneuvering, demonstrating capabilities for orbit maintenance and extended missions to the Moon and Mars.

via NASA (.gov)|

#cubesat #duplex #micropropulsion

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Chinese Scientists Propose Cubesat Swarm Mission to Study Asteroid Apophis

Chinese scientists are proposing a cubesat swarm mission to fly by asteroid Apophis during its 2029 approach to Earth, aiming to study its properties and enhance planetary defense strategies, with potential international collaboration and similar missions planned by other space agencies.

via SpaceNews|

#apophis #asteroid #cubesat

science-and-technology1 year ago•2 min saved

South Korea advances Venus exploration with new cubesat missions

South Korea's IBS has ordered a series of small cubesats to study Venus from low Earth orbit, aiming to complement larger missions and provide continuous data over 15 years, despite potential NASA budget cuts threatening flagship Venus missions.

via SpaceNews|

#cubesat #nanoavionics #nasa-cuts

space1 year ago•2 min saved

Tianzhou 7 Completes Mission with Atmospheric Reentry

China's Tianzhou 7 cargo spacecraft, which delivered supplies to the Tiangong space station earlier this year, has been deorbited and burned up in Earth's atmosphere. After undocking from the station on November 10, it reentered the atmosphere on November 17, likely over the South Pacific Ocean. Before reentry, Tianzhou 7 released a 6U cubesat named Bayi-08 for Earth observation and communication purposes. Meanwhile, China has launched the Tianzhou 8 mission to continue resupplying the Tiangong station.

via Space.com|

#china #cubesat #deorbit

science-and-technology2 years ago•1 min saved

NASA Launches Climate Satellite to Study Earth's Poles

Nasa has launched a CubeSat mission called PREFIRE to study the heat escaping from Earth, focusing on the Arctic and Antarctica. The mission aims to improve climate models and predictions related to sea levels, weather, and ice cover. The satellites, launched from New Zealand, will gather data on how heat is radiated into space and how cloud cover affects Earth's temperature.

via The News International|

#antarctica #arctic #climate-change

space2 years ago•3 min saved

NASA Launches First Climate-Monitoring CubeSat to Study Earth's Poles

Rocket Lab successfully launched the first of two NASA PREFIRE Earth science cubesats on May 25, placing it into a 525-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. The mission aims to measure infrared emissions at the poles to improve climate models. A second identical cubesat will be launched in the coming days.

via SpaceNews|

#cubesat #earth-science #nasa

science-and-technology2 years ago•1 min saved

NASA and Rocket Lab Launch PREFIRE Mission to Study Earth's Polar Heat Loss

NASA has launched the first of two CubeSats as part of the PREFIRE mission to measure heat loss from the Arctic and Antarctica. The data collected will enhance climate models and improve predictions related to sea levels, weather, and ice cover. The second satellite's launch date will be announced soon, and both will operate in near-polar orbits to gather frequent measurements of atmospheric phenomena.

via CNN|

#antarctica #arctic #climate-science