Teledyne Space Imaging’s Post

Great news from Teledyne Space Imaging! 👏 Teledyne has a strong heritage in providing cutting edge sensors and electronics for global space science missions. 🛰️ This contract to deliver a crucial element of the LISA mission’s hardware illustrates the importance of global collaboration between space agencies and companies to advance our collective knowledge. 🌍

🌌 Honouring the CERN-born timepix technology during World Space Week!   This World Space Week, we shine a light on the remarkable advancements in space exploration made possible by CERN’s #timepix technology. This innovative technology, originally developed for particle detection at CERN, has found exciting applications in studying cosmic rays and space radiation, paving the way for safer and more effective space missions.   Developed by the CERN-hosted Medipix2 collaboration, Timepix detectors are extremely small but powerful particle trackers capable of monitoring radiation in the environment. Particles interacting with its pixelated sensor can be classified according to their characteristic shape and tell scientists about the #radiation spectrum in various environments, such as in spacecrafts.   Timepix detectors were initially flown as a tech demo on the International Space Station**** (ISS) in 2012 thanks to the efforts of teams at the University of Houston, the Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics of the Czech Technical University in Prague and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s own SRAG. Since then, NASA’s SRAG and Advanced Exploration Systems have developed the technology to support a variety of missions, instituting Timepix-based systems as standard dosimeters at NASA. In 2022, Timepix was launched in Artemis I, the NASA mission heralding the next phase of human space exploration.   Find out more about the successful space radiation measurements during the Artemis I lunar mission in a paper published in the Nature Magazine this September: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dPQdSQvK    Besides astronaut dosimetry, Timepix, or its successor Timepix2, may be used to predict solar storms and other space events that could impact the Earth and its environment, disrupt telecommunications and cause power grid surges. This week serves as a reminder of the remarkable intersection between particle physics and #space exploration, a sentiment expressed by CERN’s former Director-General, Bernard Gregory, 55 years ago after the first Moon landing: “CERN, which investigates the smallest particles of the universe, sends its sincerest congratulations to NASA, which investigates the largest particles, on the triumphant conclusion of the Apollo 11 mission.” Today, these two realms continue to collaborate and innovate hand in hand, advancing human space exploration one space journey at a time. 🚀 Happy World Space Week!   #WorldSpaceWeek #SpaceExploration #CosmicRays #Innovation

Campus community news: Rakon 'lifts-off' with new product designed for space. Rakon, a leading supplier of frequency control and timing equipment, has announced its new MercuryR™ Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), specifically designed in-house to withstand the harsh radiation environment encountered in space. Sinan Altug, CEO at Rakon says: “Our MercuryR ASIC is a great example of Rakon’s ability to innovate and carry over expertise from one industry to another. The Space IC-OCXO will be a game-changer for the Traditional Space and NewSpace industry who currently rely on more complex and costly discrete oscillators.” The company has a 40-year history of working with leading agencies such as NASA, ISRO and ESA to develop groundbreaking products for traditional space programmes, including ISRO’s recent mission to explore the Moon’s South Pole. Read more here: https://ow.ly/Wiep50TkX6E #Cambourne #Cambridge #SpaceTech #Innovation

SPACE #BUSINESS #OPPORTUNITIES In January 2024, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration solicited industry proposals to help advance key technologies that will eventually be necessary for the Habitable Worlds Observatory. To help further the readiness of these #technologies, NASA has now selected the following #proposals for two-year, fixed-price #contracts with a combined value of $17.5 million, targeted to begin by late summer 2024: 1) “Ultra-stable #Telescope Research and Analysis – Critical Technologies (ULTRA-CT)”. This project will focus on high-fidelity modeling and subsystem demonstrations to support future development of “ultra-stable” optical systems beyond current state-of-the-art technologies. Principal investigator: Laura Coyle, Ball Aerospace (now BAE Systems) 2) “#Technology Maturation for #Astrophysics Space #Telescopes (TechMAST)”. This project seeks to advance the integrated modeling infrastructure required to navigate design interdependencies and compare potential mission design options. Principal investigator: Alain Carrier, Lockheed Martin 3) “STABLE: Systems Technologies for Architecture Baseline”. This project will focus on maturing technologies that support telescope features, such as a deployable baffle and a structure to support the optical train, while mitigating the impact of system or environmental disturbances. Principal investigator: Tiffany Glassman, Northrop Grumman

🚀 WHY WE NEED INNOVATION IN REACTION WHEELS NOW 🚀 Reaction wheels have been crucial in stabilizing satellites and telescopes for decades, but fundamentally, they haven’t changed much in the last 40–50 years. Yet these devices still bring risks that can derail entire missions — even for NASA. The recent SPHEREx mission narrowly avoided a significant delay due to issues with its reaction wheels, highlighting just how vulnerable we still are to mechanical failures. At Magma Space, we believe it’s time to rethink the traditional reaction wheel. Our MAGNETICALLY LEVITATED REACTION WHEEL aims to solve these long-standing challenges. By eliminating the ball bearings — the leading cause of vibration, wear, and failure — we achieve up to a 95% REDUCTION IN VIBRATION and dramatically increase reliability. For mission-critical applications, this means less risk, smoother performance, and a longer lifespan. As space missions become more complex and require higher precision, the industry needs to catch up with the demands of modern space dynamics. Our magnetic reaction wheels are a step in that direction, designed to elevate satellite stability and enable new levels of accuracy and agility. It’s time for the next generation of reaction wheels — it’s time for Magma Space. 🔗 Check out this article for more on the SPHEREx mission and its close call with reaction wheels: https://lnkd.in/gxr2xAnY #SpaceInnovation #SatelliteTechnology #NewSpace #SpaceExploration #AerospaceEngineering #MagneticTechnology #ReactionWheels #MagmaSpace

Some early Christmas🎄 reading for everyone: How Europe Can Build “Space Power” with Asia. On Christmas Day 2021, an Ariane V rocket launched from French Guiana carrying the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a $10 billion project over two decades in the making. Twenty-seven minutes after takeoff, the telescope separated from the rocket and deployed its solar array. The launch was “perfect.” The successful launch was a milestone for the European Space Agency - ESA, which partnered with NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Canadian Space Agency. But for Europe, it also represented something more tangible. In return for the launch, NASA granted ESA 15% of Webb’s observation time, allowing Europe to contribute to the search for the origins of the universe and life on exoplanets. While the JWST launch was a success, Europe faces significant limitations in space. Bureaucratic competition, differing national priorities, and financial constraints hinder Europe’s ability to influence space governance. To enhance its influence, Europe must expand its partnerships, not only with traditional space powers like the U.S. and Japan but also with emerging spacefaring nations in Asia, such as India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Read more at the link! Much thanks to ISPI - Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale for helping me publish and for letting me attend the Rome MED Forum this year.

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope: Hardware Highlights Spring 2024 FriendsofNASA.org | Full article: https://lnkd.in/gFvpdBTU Every day, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope moves closer to completion. This video highlights examples of the important hardware milestones from part of this journey. Components and systems are built separately, tested, and then integrated with larger parts of the spacecraft to carefully build the full telescope. Roman’s foundation is the primary structure, or spacecraft bus. It houses electronics and support systems. Like the chassis of a car, everything is built up from this aluminum hexagon. This video, covering the spring of 2024, opens with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s integration and testing complex. The flight versions of the Solar Array Sun Shield panels are unpacked in Goddard’s largest clean room and placed into special racks to safely hold them. Multiple copies of hardware often exist, most for testing purposes; flight hardware is the version that will actually fly in space on the final spacecraft. The Wide Field Instrument is Roman’s primary one and it will capture enormous images of distant objects. Assembled by BAE Systems in Colorado, it undergoes environmental testing at their facilities, proving that it can function in space, before traveling to Goddard for integration with the rest of the spacecraft. The Coronagraph Instrument, a technology demonstration that will be able to directly image planets outside our solar system, was developed and built at JPL in California. After comprehensive testing there, JPL carefully transported the Coronagraph across the country to Goddard, where a team of JPL and Goddard engineers carefully unpacked it and performed a thorough inspection as well as continued testing. To learn more about all these systems and where they fit into Roman, visit: https://lnkd.in/gKW3CUGE Launching no later than May 2027, Roman is NASA’s next flagship astrophysics mission. An infrared survey telescope with the same resolution as Hubble but at least 100 times the field of view, Roman is being built and tested at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Partners from around the globe are contributing to this effort. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Producer: Scott Wiessinger (KBR Wyle Services, LLC) Videographers: Sophia Roberts (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.) Scott Wiessinger (KBR Wyle Services, LLC) Public affairs officer: Claire Andreoli (NASA/GSFC) Editor: Scott Wiessinger (KBR Wyle Services, LLC) Duration: 1 minute, 29 seconds Release Date: July 31, 2024 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Space Telescope Science Institute #NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Women #Leaders #Pioneers #NancyGraceRoman #Astronomer #History #RomanSpaceTelescope #Exoplanets #Planets #SolarSystem #MilkyWayGalaxy #Stars #Cosmos #Universe #SpaceTelescope #JPL #GSFC #STScI #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Houston’s Axiom Space is changing how it plans to assemble its new commercial space station in space, a move that will likely complicate the process but further bolster Axiom’s ties to NASA. https://lnkd.in/gHBa889a

"A New Era of Space Discoveries: Innovations and Future Challenges" - ### Introduction to the article “Exploring Innovations in Space: Towards a New Era of Discovery” The accelerating pace of discoveries and innovations in space reflects humanity's growing interest in technology and adventure. In recent years, space has become a major focus for many countries, particularly with increased government and private investments and the development of technologies that encourage the exploration of the unknown. This field represents a platform that combines science, engineering, innovation, and research to achieve ambitious goals, ranging from exploring distant planets to developing new technologies to improve life on Earth. Major space agencies like NASA and the European Space Agency are now competing to achieve unprecedented accomplishments, covering diverse areas from manned missions to communications technologies and satellites. However, space does not merely represent a realm for scientific research; it is also a stage for international cooperation, economic development, and securing natural resources. In this time where space research intertwines with technological innovations, the role of private companies in supporting space exploration and fostering growth is clearly evident. Progress in this unique field requires collaboration among governments, companies, and research entities, opening space for discussing the challenges and new opportunities that space presents. In this article, we will explore innovations in the field of space, focusing on significant technological developments, global challenges, and the impact of these achievements on humanity as a whole. Technological Developments in Space Exploration Recent years have witnessed numerous technological advancements that facilitate space exploration. Among these developments are sustainable rocket technologies aimed at reducing costs and ensuring frequent flights. SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is a pioneer in these innovations thanks to the development of reusable Falcon 9 rockets. These technologies allow for the rapid and cost-effective delivery of payloads. Spacecraft have also seen significant improvements. New vehicles like “Orion,” developed by NASA, aim to carry astronauts to the Moon and Mars. These vehicles are equipped with advanced life support systems and smart technologies that make long-duration flights safer and more effective. Challenges in Space Exploration Despite advancements, space exploration faces several challenges. First, launch costs are one of the biggest obstacles for agencies and companies. While costs have been reduced thanks to new technologies, developing technological systems still requires massive investments. Secondly, space poses a very harsh environment, with difficult atmospheric conditions such as high radiation that has negative effects on devices and vehicles. Future missions need to adapt effectively to these conditions to ensure the safety of ...

Feeling as light as a CisLunar Industries PPU! Atomos Space Selects CisLunar Industries for Power Processing Units Atomos Space and CisLunar Industries today announced that CisLunar Industries will provide advanced Power Processing Units (PPUs) for Atomos Space's next-generation orbital transfer vehicle (OTV), Quark. Quark performs rendezvous, docking, capture, and relocation of satellites in various Earth and beyond-Earth orbits. Atomos Space uses high-power electric propulsion for Quark, and PPUs are a critical element of the propulsion system. Traditional PPU solutions limit performance in spacecraft in this power class – they generate 3x the heat and have up to 4x the mass of CisLunar Industries’ PPU. CisLunar Industries’ PPU will allow the supported propulsion system to run at higher power, higher efficiency, and higher reliability, while taking up less volume and mass on the spacecraft to enable Quark’s best-in-class performance. "We are thrilled to be working with CisLunar Industries to push the boundaries of orbital logistics," said Vanessa Clark, CEO of Atomos Space. "CisLunar Industries’ groundbreaking PPU technologies significantly increase our OTVs performance – so we can offer unprecedented delta-V and responsiveness to our customers." Gary Calnan, CEO of CisLunar Industries, added, "We are proud to support Atomos Space as they deliver a key capability to their customers. The unique properties of our innovative PPU enhance the capability they can deliver, and being part of that kind of collaborative success is what drives us.” CisLunar Industries’ PPU combines cutting edge innovations to produce a reliable, rad-hard, high-power, and highly efficient power unit for electric propulsion systems. This system uses new technologies like GaN transistors for the first time in a high-power PPU, enabling tremendous improvements in mass, power efficiency, and volume while maintaining the reliability required for critical missions. The first unit has already passed radiation testing, and Quarks that incorporate CisLunar Industries’ PPU are scheduled to begin commercial services in 2026. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration United States Space Force Elara Nova: The Space Consultancy Air Force Research Laboratory Space Development Agency