How to design a space habitat that supports its residents’ mental health
A new online platform helps engineers look beyond survival mode when designing habitats for extreme living conditions.
High-orbit satellites could light the way for travel to the moon
Acting as cooperative optical beacons, the satellites could provide GPS-like navigation and communications support for spacecraft operating across cislunar space.
Then and now: How MIT Lincoln Laboratory has served as a driving force in national security innovation
Members of the laboratory community reflect on technology impacts that shaped the United States and the world over the past 75 years.
MIT researcher proposes a way to detect nuclear weapons in space
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans nuclear weapons in space, but there’s currently no way to verify that satellites aren’t carrying them.
MIT student teams win top honors in NASA competition
Three MIT teams took five top awards in the 2026 NASA RASC-AL Competition for designing critical elements for the moon base and future missions to Mars.
How Artemis II livestreamed hi-def videos and images from the moon to Earth
This first use of laser communications on a crewed mission at lunar distance was a foundational step to establishing a high-speed internet in deep space.
Flying at the edge of the stratosphere
MIT students see the Earth's curvature in reborn AeroAstro intro course.
Lincoln Laboratory laser communications terminal launches on historic Artemis II moon mission
High-definition video and data sent from the lunar vicinity to Earth will demonstrate the first use of laser communications on a crewed mission.
Finding a nanoscale solution to safer spaceflight
Using boron nitride nanotubes, mechanical engineering doctoral student Palak Patel develops materials for space that block dangerous ionizing radiation.
Fueling research in nuclear thermal propulsion
Master's student Taylor Hampson is modeling the behavior of an unconventional rocket engine that will heat propellant using nuclear energy.
Using classic physical phenomena to solve new problems
Marco Graffiedi, a doctoral student in nuclear science and engineering, is researching quenching processes to help cool nuclear cores, and NASA craft the next generation of space vehicles.
NASA selects Adam Fuhrmann ’11 for astronaut training
The AeroAstro alumnus, who participated in Air Force ROTC and the Gordon Engineering Leadership Program at MIT, is a test pilot and one of 10 new astronaut candidates selected from around the nation.
Luna: A moon on Earth
MIT students and faculty designed and fabricated a control room for a unique lunar landing mission — an achievement in design and engineering.
Bridging Earth and space, and art and science, with global voices
Professor Craig Carter’s precision design for a student-led project now on the moon encodes messages from around the world on a silicon wafer.
3Q: MIT’s Lonnie Petersen on the first medical X-ray taken in space
Performed in microgravity, 200 miles above the Earth’s surface, the imaging procedure could help keep astronauts safe and healthy on long-term missions.