Plasma shield
Researchers find that Earth’s “plasmaspheric hiss” protects against a harmful radiation belt.
Researchers detect brightest pulsar ever recorded
The pulsar, about as large as the city of Boston, is 10 million times brighter than the sun.
Where to grab space debris
Algorithm tested aboard the International Space Station analyzes the rotation of objects in space.
MicroMAS: small is beautiful
Professor Kerri Cahoy and her group recently delivered MicroMAS, the weather nanosatellite they built in collaboration with MIT Lincoln Laboratory, to a launch provider.
A river of plasma, guarding against the sun
MIT scientists identify a plasma plume that naturally protects the Earth against solar storms.
Big plans for small spacecraft
Paulo Lozano is designing tiny ion thrusters for the next generation of satellites
Space weather’s effects on satellites
MIT study finds that high-energy electrons in space may be to blame for some satellite failures.
Inflatable antennae could give CubeSats greater reach
Design inflates with a powder that turns into gas.
NASA selects MIT-led TESS project for 2017 mission
$200 million project will launch telescopes to perform full-sky search for transiting exoplanets.
Students take control of satellites on the International Space Station
200 high-school students participate in MIT’s annual Zero Robotics competition.
MIT-developed ‘microthrusters’ could propel small satellites
As small as a penny, these thrusters run on jets of ion beams.
Research update: SPHERES to get powerful magnets and goggles
New wireless power and camera setups will expand the mini-satellites’ vision and navigation capabilities.