7 Questions with Astronaut Eileen Collins

The first female pilot and first female commander of a space shuttle, Eileen Collins, shares leadership lessons for women in aerospace.

Test Your Knowledge About the Artemis Generation

How well do you know the Artemis generation?

Testing the Thermal Limits of BNNTs

The first study on how purified boron nitride nanotubes remain stable in extreme temperatures in inert environments.

Magazine Archives

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Aerospace Vehicle Entry Flightpath Control

This novel flightpath control system exploits the dihedral effect to control the bank angle of the vehicle by modulating sideslip.

Lunar Surface Navigation System

Scientists have developed a novel concept for a lunar navigation system based on the reverse-ephemeris technique.

NASA Targets 2026 for Launch of Israel's First Space Telescope

NASA will launch Israel’s first space telescope mission, the Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (ULTRASAT). ULTRASAT, an ultraviolet observatory with a large field...

Plasma Thrusters Used on Satellites Could be Much More Powerful

It was believed that Hall thrusters, an efficient kind of electric propulsion widely used in orbit, need to be large to produce a lot of thrust. Now, a new study from the...

Using Ultrasound Waves to Move Objects

By placing a metamaterial pattern on the surface of an object, the researchers were able to use sound to steer it in a certain direction without physically touching it.

3D-Printed Sensors May Lead to Better Weather Research

Scientists have created the first completely digitally manufactured plasma sensors — also known as retarding potential analyzers (RPAs) — for orbiting spacecraft.

The Space Solar Power Demonstrator Has Launched

On January 3^rd, the Caltech Space Solar Power Project (SSPP) launched into orbit a prototype, dubbed the Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD), which will test several key...

Test Your Knowledge About the James Webb Space Telescope

Test your knowledge about the James Webb Space Telescope.

How Much Do You Know About GPS and its History?

Do you know the history of GPS? Take this quiz to find out.

Modular and Reconfigurable Robots for Assembly of Structures

In-space and planetary surface assembly for human exploration is a challenging domain that encompasses various technological thrusts to support human missions.

Lightweight Crane Technology for the Moon

A prototype version could be demonstrated on a large cargo lunar lander.

Top 5 Tech Briefs Quizzes of 2022

See Tech Briefs’ top-performing quizzes of 2022.

Small But Mighty: Stratospheric Microballooons

A zero-emission reusable stratospheric balloon developed by Urban Sky for remote sensing could one day be used for real-time wildfire monitoring.

10 Holiday Gift Ideas for Engineers

Gift giving always induces anxiety. It’s never easy to pick a present that someone will enjoy, especially if the recipient is an engineer.

Spacecraft to Remove Orbital Debris

Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have designed an Active Debris Removal Vehicle that can remove large orbital debris from low-Earth orbit.

Automated RF Interference Mitigation System

Innovators from the NASA Glenn Research Center developed a software-based automated RFI mitigation system to increase communication reliability.

Solid Electrolyte–Based Microthrusters for Precision Propulsion

Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are developing a novel microthruster that could provide easy-to-control propulsion during spaceflight.

How Artemis I Launched

The Artemis I launch took place at Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with support from University of Central Florida alums, faculty, and students. However, it didn’t go off without a hitch.

Beaming Clean Energy from Space

Once considered science fiction, technology capable of collecting solar power in space and beaming it to Earth to provide a global supply of clean and affordable energy is moving closer to reality. Through...

Test Your Knowledge About 3D Printing in Space

Take this quiz to find out how much you know about the rise of 3D printing in space and its future outlook.

Reliable Power for Long-Term Lunar Surface Operations

To open the Moon to continuous multi-year human and robotic operation, Astrobotic is developing LunaGrid™ — a commercial power system for the surface of the Moon.

2022 Create the Future Design Contest: Aerospace & Defense Category Winner — The Well-Dressed Spacecraft

The sustainability crisis extends to low-Earth Orbit (LEO), where human-made debris poses a ubiquitous threat.