The US Military will be testing a quantum inertial sensor on board an upcoming X037B spaceflight. The quantum navigation device users atom interferometry to supercool atoms and measure overlapping waves patterns of the atoms, which represent positional shifts. The method produces accurate dead-reckoning without any drift or need for external references.
Scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the U.S. Air Force have developed a speedometer device for space vehicles that measures the amount of space-plasma ions that hit both sides of the "dual-sensor laminated-head electrostatic analyzer", and measure the difference to calculate space speed.
Astronomers in Australia have uncovered some evidence that points to the possibility of a 9th planet deep in the solar system, which could take between 10,000 and 20,000 years to orbit the sun.
The Mission Extension Satellite 1 (MEV-1) is a satellite that attached to an existing satellite that has run out of propellant in order to extend its mission by five years. The MEV-1 synchronised orbit with the satellite, attached itself, pushed both into a new orbit, and reversed the process at the end of the five years.
NASA tested a force field that deflects moon dust, on the moon! The Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) was successfully tested on board the Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1.
Researchers at MIT have developed a 3D printed electrospray engine, combining two additive printing methods, that can be manufactured in space for use in propelling small satellites.
Bartosz Ciechanowski published a monster post describing the physics behind the celestial movement of the moon, complete with interactive visual demonstrators.
