TESS discovers its third new planet, with longest orbit yet
Measurements indicate a dense, gaseous, “sub-Neptune” world, three times the size of Earth.
Tiny satellites could be “guide stars” for huge next-generation telescopes
Researchers design CubeSats with lasers to provide steady reference light for telescopes investigating distant planets.
Laser-pointing system could help tiny satellites transmit data to Earth
Platform offers the precision that shoebox-sized CubeSats need to beam down hefty data packets.
3 Questions: MIT goes interstellar with Voyager 2
MIT Kavli's John Richardson describes MIT's role in the historic passing of the Voyager 2 craft past the heliopause and into the interstellar medium.
Arctic ice sets speed limit for major ocean current
Long-term melting may lead to release of huge volumes of cold, fresh water into the North Atlantic, impacting global climate.
Amy Finkelstein, Lisa Parks win 2018 MacArthur Fellowships
Health care economist and media studies scholar are the latest MIT faculty to nab prestigious “genius grant.”
For collecting weather data, tiny satellites measure up to billion-dollar cousins
Study finds shoebox-sized CubeSats gather weather data comparably to data collected by larger satellites.
Tiny ASTERIA satellite achieves a first for CubeSats
Measurement of an exoplanet transit demonstrates proof of concept that small spacecraft can perform high-precision photometry.
A transformative summer for student engineers
High school students explored engineering and technology at the Beaver Works Summer Institute, ending with robot races and demonstrations.
3Q: A bold mission to touch the sun
MIT’s John Belcher discusses the launch of the Parker Solar Probe, which will fly directly into the sun’s atmosphere.
3Q: Muriel Médard on the world-altering rise of 5G
“The reason 5G is so different is that what exactly it will look like is still up in the air. Everyone agrees the phrase is a bit of a catch-all.”
Contemplating the eyes in the sky
Media studies scholar Lisa Parks examines the way satellites and other aerial technologies have changed society.
Rebecca Masterson appointed AeroAstro principal research scientist
Mechanical engineer and instrument scientist on NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission is the first female principal research scientist in the department's history.
Networks in aerospace
Graduate student Alexa Aguilar helps tiny satellites communicate and builds connections in her academic community.