Negative-Stiffness vibration isolation has played an integral role in supporting systems for ground testing and development of spacecraft and components, both inside and outside of vacuum chambers. Steve Varma Operations Manager Minus K Technology Spacecraft ground testing is sensitive to the smallest vibrations, can be caused by a multitude of factors. Every structure is transmitting vibrations from […]
Vibration tests boost NASA’s electric aircraft project
To ensure NASA’s new X-57 “Maxwell” electric aircraft would be energy efficient and safe for use, NASA carried out extensive ground vibration tests, simulating the stresses it would experience during a real flight. With the increasing demand for electric-powered ground transportation, NASA wanted to prove that an aircraft could also be electrically powered. The result…
What’s the weather like today – on Mars?
Common question. New planet. It’s April and in the Gale Crater, where the Curiosity rover is currently exploring, that means early autumn temperatures: highs around 10°F and lows less than -100°F reported from its Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS). In addition to air and ground temperatures around the rover, other measurements include atmospheric pressure, humidity […]
Skybot humanoid robot grounded after Russian space flight
Russia’s Skybot F-850 robot highlighted the ambitions and shortcomings around humanoid robots in space and for other applications.
KBR revs up with AWS, NASA for fully autonomous vehicle race
KBR, a provider of technology and services to the government and energy industry, worked with Amazon Web Services and NASA to stage a race of fully autonomous vehicles.
Historic 3D printing of first object in space
History was made on November 24th at 9:28pm GMT, when the first 3D printer built to operate in space successfully made its first part on the International Space…
How to reduce the weight of a heat shield
Protected by the shell of its launch-rocket during blastoff, NASA’s Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) must get back to earth on its own at mission’s end. To keep capsule and crew safe under the huge reentry and splashdown loads—temperatures exceeding 4,800° F and speeds up to 25,000 mph—a 16.4-ft. diameter ablative thermal protection system is…
NASA Glenn’s GreenLab facility researches algae for alternative fuel
During a recent visit to the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, my colleagues and I were taken on a tour on the GreenLab research facility. Dr. Bilal M. M. Bomani demonstrated and explained how and why the lab is in existence and the purpose it serves. At first glance, you would not know […]