August 2017
On-orbit assembly will deliver major benefits in coming decade
..., a ‘client’ and a ‘servicer’. Planned to launch in 2018, the servicer will chase and rendezvous with the client, demonstrate refuelling and module exchange, and then safely de-orbit the client. DARPA is developing robotic servicing vehicles...
January 2018
Maximising the economic opportunities of deep space
... most promising of which are laser-based systems. A spin-off from Harvard called Analytical Space is focused on demonstrating this capability from LEO. The technology, however, could be used to build a laser-based deep space communications...
November 2018
Purpose, promise and power – video from space
... preparation for the launch of its prototype satellite, VividX2, and the upcoming Vivid-i constellation, Earth-i first demonstrated the planned VHR space video capabilities with a series of airborne helicopter simulations. These tests flights matched...
August 2020
Interstellar aspirations
..., Johannes Kepler suggested “sailing on the winds of space” and he had it right. Sunlight-propelled light sails were demonstrated by the Planetary Society in 2015 with the Lightsail-1 spacecraft and by the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) with...
October 2020
Open Source Space
... philosophy of Open Source Space. Teams with diverse areas of expertise are continuing the academic tradition of experimenting, demonstrating and learning quickly, and then sharing their knowledge and experience to create better systems in the future...
January 2021
Taking out the trash in space
...in December 2019 aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital rocket. OSCAR attained around three minutes of microgravity to demonstrate its features. About the author Annie Meier is chief of the Exploration Systems & Development Office which includes...
