Latest news with #CubeSat
CTV News
4 days ago
- Science
- CTV News
Satellite built by Calgary students expected to launch into space this fall
Some students at the University of Calgary are using their free time to create a satellite that's scheduled to launch into the upper atmosphere this year. 'It's such a neat experience to get to work on her hands-on team like this, actually creating something that gets to go to space,' said U of C student Meagan Davies. Students started the Calgary To Space team in 2020, and are doing final testing on FrontierSat (also known as CubeSat) before it boards a SpaceX Falcon9 in the fall. '[We're] preparing it to do vibration testing, so we want to see that it can withstand the conditions of being in rocket as they launch it to space,' Davies said. The satellite is roughly the size of a loaf of bread and will orbit about 500 kilometres above earth, taking images, collecting data and testing a boom – a little arm that unrolls like a party blower. '[We'll] see how the boom unfurls and also get some pretty cool pictures of the boom with Earth in the background,' said U of C student Aarti Chandiramani. Imaging of the ionosphere could provide insight about a recently discovered phenomenon known as the Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement (STEVE). STEVE creates purple and green ribbons of light in the night sky, similar to the aurora borealis. FrontierSat Johnathan Burchill, Aarti Chandiramani and Meagan Davies. 'We have instrumentation on FrontierSat to study the plasma space environment, to measure how it moves, so in a way it's kind of like a high-tech windsock,' said Johnathan Burchill, an assistant professor of transdisciplinary space science and aerospace technology with the department of physics and astronomy Burchill is planning to do a research paper with data collected by the students' satellite. 'I'm very excited to see our satellite be a part of a research paper,' said U of C student Yuki Zhou. 'I'm very excited to see it's going to be actually published to the public and shared to the other researchers.' The Calgary To Space team says its project will be the first satellite built by Calgary students to launch into space. 'This is the first one for Calgary, so we're really excited to start that trend and get Calgary a little access point to space,' Chandiramani said. FrontierSat Aarti Chandiramani, Meagan Davies and Yuki Zhou. The approximately 100 students involved (most of them undergraduates from Schulich School of Engineering and the Faculty of Science) spend a lot of time working on the project outside pf class; some even work full-time on FrontierSat in-between semesters. Building a device to send data from space is only part of the challenge. The students also had to raise about $200,000 and navigate federal and international regulations. 'Space is so expensive that generally a lot of people are cut out of it completely,' Chandiramani said. 'But as more and more teams stand-up and we commercialize space a little bit more, projects like CubeSat become a lot more feasible, which means that students like us get lucky opportunities to send something space.' Final details are still being determined by SpaceX, but some of the students are planning to watch their creation launch in-person. 'If I have the opportunity to go to the US and see the actual launch, it's going be very exciting,' said Zhou.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists want to test a solar umbrella that could help fight climate change
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. Scientists have long looked for ways to turn the tide in our fight against climate change. So far, no matter what ideas they come up with, none have been solidified as actual missions with concrete goal. But that could change soon, as researchers plan to test a solar umbrella as a way to cut down on how much heat reaches our planet from the sun. Researchers shared their plan to put together a mission to test a tiny sunshade at what is known as the L1 Lagrange Point — a location between Earth and the Sun where the gravitational pull of both is almost nullified. However, this tiny sunshade will only be a precursor to a much larger mission down the line. Today's Top Deals Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 Before deploying a large, full-scale system, the researchers say they need to see if a solar umbrella will even work in the first place. For the test, the scientists plan to use a 12U CubeSat roughly the size of a large briefcase. It will be equipped with a 144 meter solar sail, which should help demonstrate how effective these systems can be for propulsion long-term. The idea of using space sails to propel spacecraft forward isn't new, but this will be one of the first true tests that will help us determine if it can actually work. Once in place, the researchers say the constant flood of sunlight on the sunshade will help ensure the spacecraft stays in the right position, casting a shade over our planet. The hope is that by limiting how much direct sunlight hits the planet, we'll be able to cut down on how much heat gets trapped in our atmosphere. Whether or not the solar umbrella actually helps with that remains to be seen. But it's still an exciting idea to see put into action. At an estimated cost of $10 million, making sure the system can take care of itself will be paramount, as spacecraft rely on autonomous tech for control. It would take 10 seconds for manual commands to even reach the spacecraft, let alone put them to work. Hopefully the mission is successful, and researchers are able to scale the process up. But just how effective this solar umbrella turns out to be will ultimately take time and possibly more missions to pull off. For now, the researchers have published details about their plans in Acta Astronautica. More Top Deals Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free See the
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3D Systems collaborates with Penn State, ASU researchers on NASA projects
3D Systems (DDD) is collaborating with researchers from Penn State University and Arizona State University on two projects sponsored by the National Aeronautics & Space Administration intended to enable ground-breaking alternatives to current thermal management solutions. Severe temperature fluctuations in space can damage sensitive spacecraft components, resulting in mission failure. By combining deep applications expertise with 3D Systems' leading additive manufacturing solutions comprising Direct Metal Printing technology and tailored materials and Oqton's 3DXpert software, the teams are engineering sophisticated thermal management solutions for the demands of next-generation satellites and space exploration. The project led by researchers with Penn State University, Arizona State University, and the NASA Glenn Research Center1 in collaboration with 3D Systems' Application Innovation Group has resulted in processes to build embedded high-temperature passive heat pipes in heat rejection radiators that are additively manufactured in titanium. These heat pipe radiators are 50% lighter per area with increased operating temperatures compared with current state-of-the-art radiators, allowing them to radiate heat more efficiently for high power systems. Additionally, a project led by researchers at Penn State University and NASA Glenn Research Center with 3D Systems' AIG yielded a process to additively manufacture one of the first functional parts using nickel titanium shape memory alloys that can be passively actuated and deployed when heated. This passive shape memory alloy radiator is projected to yield a deployed-to-stowed area ratio that is 6x larger than currently available solutions, enabling future high-power communications and science missions in restricted CubeSat volume. When deployed on spacecraft, such as satellites, these radiators can raise operating power levels and reduce thermal stress on sensitive components, preventing failures and prolonging satellite lifespan. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Read More on DDD: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue 3D Systems Adjusts Equity Awards Amid Stockholder Meeting 3D Systems Corp Navigates Challenges with Strategic Focus 3D Systems Faces Persistent Revenue Challenges Despite Restructuring and Asset Sale, Justifying Hold Rating 3D Systems Reports Q1 2025 Financial Results 3D Systems' Financial Struggles Lead to Hold Rating Amid Revenue Declines and Withdrawn Guidance
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Brunswick teacher takes student experiments on Zero-G flight
May 27—Middle schoolers at St. John's Catholic School in Brunswick watched their teacher — and their own experiments — soar aboard a zero-gravity flight earlier this month. Science teacher Karin Paquin was one of eight teachers chosen to fly on a Zero-G plane with the Space for Teachers Embedded Teachers Program. Her most recent flight — which took off from Salina, Kansas, on May 7 — comes amid ongoing efforts to expand space education at the Brunswick Catholic school. Paquin's eighth-grade students worked with the Romero-Calvo Lab at Georgia Institute of Technology to design a "passive phase separation experiment," which tests how air and water separate in microgravity, according to a news release from the school. Her seventh graders sent up a CubeSat — a small satellite — to investigate the effects of microgravity on ambient sound to understand whether researchers aboard Zero-G flights should wear hearing protection. "It was very difficult, but it was worth the long hours of brainstorming, building, testing, modifying and retesting," eighth grader Joseph Stratman said. "Knowing it really worked and could impact microfluids in space makes every minute worth it." Zero-G planes, or reduced-gravity aircraft, simulate the feeling of weightlessness by flying in a parabolic pattern. Such flights are used for astronaut training, research and tourism. Paquin rode alongside other teachers, high school students and retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, who flew twice on the Space Shuttle Columbia and spent nearly six months living on the International Space Station. "When I think back on this past year working with Space for Teachers, my students and some incredible collaborators at Georgia Tech, one word comes to mind: transformation," Paquin said. "Throughout the year, my students were challenged in ways they never expected — especially at the middle-school level. But every step of the way, I believed in them. And behind the scenes, supporting me, were the incredible mentors at Space for Teachers who believed in me." This wasn't Paquin's first experience in microgravity; she also flew with students' experiments on a Zero-G flight in 2022 as a part of the Teachers in Space Human Flight Program. "All of a sudden, you just feel weightless," Paquin recalled in an April interview with The Times Record. Students got to watch Paquin from the Zero-G hangar and onboard the aircraft via livestream on May 7. Paquin's science classes over the years have had several experiments onboard space flights, thanks to organizations like Space for Teachers and Teachers in Space. Just last month, another CubeSat designed by St. John's students flew aboard the all-female Blue Origin rocket flight. The St. John's "Launch Lab" allows students to "engage in high-level science with real-world applications," the school said. "The most amazing thing about this program is that not only were my students learning, but so was I," Paquin said. "I was growing into a better teacher, a stronger colleague and a more reflective person because of the opportunities Space for Teachers provided." Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EnduroSat Announces €43 Million Investment, Led by Founders Fund, to Scale Production of New, Larger Class of Gen3 Satellites
Funding will support rollout of 200-500kg Gen3 satellites and the expansion of EnduroSat's fixed-cost constellations-as-a-service model. SOFIA, Bulgaria, May 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EnduroSat, a leading provider of satellite constellations-as-a-service, today announced a €43 million investment led by Founders Fund. The funding, which included participation from CEECAT Capital, Morphosis Capital, and other returning investors, will be used to scale production of EnduroSat's new Gen3 ESPA-class satellites. These 200-500kg software-defined satellites will feature advanced avionics and a fully modular design, making them ideally suited for operators looking for fast deployment of hyperspectral imaging, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), broadband, navigation, and other demanding payloads. This latest investment will also help EnduroSat further scale at its existing European and U.S. locations. "As the number of satellites in space demanded by a broader set of players grows exponentially, our industry needs to re-think how these satellites are built. Raycho and his team at EnduroSat have taken the massive leap to go from utilizing traditional aerospace supply chains, to consumer electronics and automotive supply chains to build their products," said Delian Asparouhov, Partner at Founders Fund and Co-Founder and President of Varda Space Industries. "This makes EnduroSat's cost efficiency and performance above all in the market, and they have a proven flight heritage, with 3,000+ modules in orbit today. Their Gen3 satellites get them into a size class that will allow for almost any space opportunity to be relevant for them." The new Gen3 satellite class is based on a decade of in-orbit experience and customer feedback. The modular, high-performance avionics, offering up to 3.5kW of peak power and 2GBPS datarate, make the satellites highly configurable for a variety of advanced applications. The new design philosophy behind Gen3 is especially well-suited for constellations and responsive space applications, because it's designed from the ground up for fast turnaround and mass production. The cableless satellite bus design, developed entirely in-house, can be assembled and functionally tested in a few hours—orders of magnitude faster than typical satellite builds today. The new Gen3 ESPA-class satellites will complement EnduroSat's flight-proven line of CubeSat platforms and components. By covering the full mission cycle, EnduroSat's constellation-as-a-service model allows operators to focus on their core, value-generating business, eliminating complexity and risk while streamlining costs and timelines for every mission phase, from constellation design to payload integration, launch, and operations. "Our mission is to make space universally accessible, because this fundamentally improves life on earth," said Raycho Raychev, Founder and CEO of EnduroSat. "We're taking the complexity out of space missions by building and operating the space infrastructure our customers need, so they can focus on the next wave of innovation in space applications. I'm excited to work alongside and learn from the team at Founders Fund, which brings decades of expertise in scaling companies and redefining industries. By increasing our production and introducing our new generation of satellites, we'll unlock access to satellite constellations for even more customers—with reliability and price transparency." The latest funding will also support the buildout of a new 17,500 m2 facility in Sofia, which will be one of the largest space R&D centers in Europe. This state-of-the-art facility will include satellite avionics labs, two assembly lines, significantly expanded clean rooms, and a suite of space qualification equipment, including an anechoic chamber. By the end of 2025, EnduroSat aims to produce as many as 60 satellites per month at the new facility. The company is also continuing to scale its U.S. operations, building a dedicated U.S.-based cleanroom and supporting customers from the commercial and defense industries around the globe. About EnduroSat EnduroSat is a space infrastructure builder that engineers, builds, and operates exceptional satellites. The company streamlines space missions in LEO and beyond, handling every step from mission design to launch and operations. EnduroSat serves more than 360 customers globally and employs more than 230 space professionals across 6 locations worldwide. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts info@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
