Dust mitigation is a priority for space agencies to prevent damage to equipment during surface missions on the moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and NASA Langley Research Center used laser ablation to pattern two ceramics with hydrophobic surfaces, which led to a reduction in the adhesion of simulated lunar dust.
Read MoreTo celebrate the milestone of the 20th volume of the International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, the editorial team assembled a selection of journal papers representing the excellent work from the advanced ceramics community. The focus this month is thermal and environmental barrier coatings.
Read MoreThe idea of harvesting solar energy in outer space and beaming it back to Earth is a science-fiction concept that in recent decades gained real-world legs. Now, the California Institute of Technology announced that an experiment through its ongoing Space Solar Power Project beamed solar energy collected in space back to Earth for the first time.
Read MoreThough the presence of water on the moon is a well-confirmed fact, the origins of this water and its distribution on the lunar surface remain largely unknown. Thanks to new lunar samples brought back by the Chinese Chang’e 5 lunar exploration mission, researchers now know that impact glass beads appear to play a significant role in the lunar surface water cycle.
Read MoreTo achieve manned missions to Mars, spacecraft will need to maximize fuel usage. Nuclear thermal propulsion is one technology actively on NASA’s radar. In a recent study, researchers from Missouri S&T and NASA Marshall used a surrogate material to explore the thermal properties of a cermet fuel that may be used in future nuclear propulsion systems.
Read MoreThe December 2022 issue of the ACerS Bulletin—featuring an overview of ceramics and glass used in space travel and exploration—is now available online. Plus—new C&GM and ceramicSOURCE 2023.
Read MoreWhile missions that take place in space often capture media headlines, ground-based operations are equally important in our search to understand the cosmos. Today’s CTT covers two recent announcements concerning observatories in Puerto Rico and Iran.
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