Six Degrees of Robotics’ Post

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's 80-square-meter (860-square-foot) solar sail, housed in our tiny 12U nanosatellite bus, is scheduled to launch to a 1000km orbit on a Rocket Lab Electron as early as next Wednesday, April 24th. Once in space, ACS3 will deploy four 7-meter-long composite booms stretching out an apartment-sized solar sail that had to be 30 times thinner than a human hair to fit inside a microwave-sized satellite. The mission's primary objective is to successfully demonstrate new boom deployment. This achievement could have far-reaching implications, as the lightweight and compact design of these composite booms could make them the perfect material for constructing habitats on the Moon and Mars. They could act as framing structures for buildings or compact antenna poles to create a communications relay for astronauts exploring the lunar surface. Once deployed, however, the team also hopes to prove the sail's performance as the mission's secondary objective. We really hope to see it sail on sunshine and open new doors for solar system exploration and in-space infrastructure. NASA has a great article about the mission, which you can read in the comments below. Stay tuned for more launch updates! #NewSpace #nanosatellites #smallsats

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's 80-square-meter #SolarSail, housed in our tiny 12U nanosatellite bus, is scheduled to launch to a 1000km orbit on a Rocket Lab Electron as early as next Wednesday, April 24th. Once in space, ACS3 will deploy four 7-meter-long composite booms stretching out an apartment-sized #SolarSail that had to be 30 times #thinner than a human #hair to fit inside a microwave-sized satellite. The mission's primary objective is to successfully demonstrate new boom deployment. This achievement could have far-reaching implications, as the lightweight and compact design of these composite booms could make them the perfect #material for #constructing #habitats on the #Moon and #Mars. They could act as framing #structures for #buildings or compact antenna poles to create a communications relay for astronauts exploring the lunar surface. Once deployed, however, the team also hopes to prove the sail's performance as the mission's secondary objective. We really hope to see it #sail on #sunshine and open new doors for solar system exploration and in-space infrastructure.

NASA and European Space Agency - ESA signed an agreement to expand NASA’s work on the #ExoMars Rosalind Franklin #rover, an #ESA-led mission launching in 2028 that will search for signs of ancient life on the Red Planet. With this memorandum of understanding, the #NASA #Launch #Services Program will procure a U.S. commercial #launch #provider for the Rosalind Franklin #rover. The agency will also provide heater units and elements of the propulsion system needed to land on Mars. A new instrument on the rover will be the first #drill to a #depth of up to 2 meters deep below the surface to collect ice #samples that have been protected from #surface #radiation and extreme #temperatures.

NASA's research represents a paradigm shift in space construction, blending the finesse of robotics with the robustness of architectural design. This technology has the potential to reshape our approach to building in extreme environments, offering scalable, efficient, and sustainable solutions. It's a pivotal step towards establishing a permanent human presence in space and a testament to the transformative power of collaborative robotics and AI in overcoming the challenges of extra-terrestrial construction.

📣 NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration has awarded Intuitive Machines a contract worth up to $4.82 billion for communication and navigation services in the near-space region, supporting the Artemis program. Key Highlights: 🔷 $4.82B Contract: Intuitive Machines will provide communication and navigation services for missions from Earth to beyond the Moon. 🔷 Lunar Satellite Constellation: The deployment of a network of lunar relay satellites will enhance data transmission and navigation, supporting resource prospecting and landing site selection. 🔷 Scaling Lunar Operations: The contract furthers Intuitive Machines' mission to commercialize lunar activities through delivery services, data transmission, and autonomous operations on the Moon. Read more 👇 https://lnkd.in/gpkt6AER #SpaceExploration #LunarEconomy #NASA #Artemis #AerospaceTech #IntuitiveMachines

NASA's Starling mission is a leap into the future of space exploration. A team of four CubeSats, operating autonomously, will orbit Earth, testing technologies essential for deep space missions. These robotic satellites will cooperate without real-time updates from mission control, showcasing advancements in #AutonomousTech command and control. The mission’s success could pave the way for future swarms of satellites, enhancing our abilities to explore and understand the cosmos. Take a glimpse into a future, where #Technology and #Space exploration merge seamlessly. #SpaceInnovation

In the early 2010s, NASA’s Commercial Crew program was a fierce competition between Boeing, SpaceX, and Sierra Nevada Corporation to build a spacecraft that could transport astronauts to the International Space Station. As the competition reached its peak in 2014, SpaceX unveiled its Crew Dragon with an event highlighting its innovative landing technology, while Boeing remained confident in its experience and track record. Unlike SpaceX's approach, Boeing made a bold bid for the entire Commercial Crew budget, nearly convincing NASA decision-makers that they were the only option capable of safely flying astronauts. This moment showed just how close Boeing came to securing the entire funding, relying on its reputation over innovation. #NASA #CommercialCrew #Boeing #SpaceX #SpaceExploration https://lnkd.in/gGuz_AR4

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, poised for her third space journey, is set to embark on the highly anticipated first crewed launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station. NASA's recent announcement disclosed the postponement of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft's inaugural crewed launch to the International Space Station, now rescheduled for no earlier than May 17. The delay stems from a defective rocket valve uncovered during pre-launch assessments, necessitating replacement prior to mission advancement. This complication exacerbates existing challenges for Boeing amidst recent safety apprehensions within its commercial aviation division. Initially slated for May 10, the launch encountered additional setbacks when engineers deemed valve replacement imperative. Consequently, the Atlas V rocket, provided by United Launch Alliance, will return to its hangar for necessary repairs and examinations, extending the potential launch timeframe to May 17. Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, scheduled to participate alongside astronaut Butch Wilmore, faced disappointment on Monday night when the launch was deferred due to the valve issue. This mission marks Williams' third foray into space, highlighting her significant contributions to space exploration. The triumph of the Starliner mission assumes paramount significance for NASA's goal of establishing a dependable commercial vehicle for crew transport to the ISS, with the aim of diminishing reliance on Russian rockets. SpaceX's accomplishment of this feat in 2020 with its Dragon capsule heralded a transformative moment in NASA's space exploration endeavors. #sunitawilliams #indianorigin #space #fly #atlasvrocket #unitedlaunchalliance #launch #timeframe #international #nasa #dragoncapsule #spacex #iss #starliner #thecordbharat

Exciting news from the space frontier! NASA has just installed the massive solar arrays for the Europa Clipper spacecraft, set to journey to Jupiter's enigmatic moon Europa by 2030. 🌠 Why This Matters: 🔸Powerful Design: The largest spacecraft ever developed by NASA, equipped with solar arrays spanning 46.5 feet each, to power its mission across the vast distance from Earth to Jupiter. 🔹Advanced Tech: Featuring cutting-edge Azur Space 3G28 solar cells, designed to endure the harsh conditions of space and the intense radiation of Jupiter’s orbit. 🔸Innovative Launch: Slated for an October 2024 launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, using gravity assists from Mars and Earth to propel it to its destination. Europa Clipper aims to uncover the secrets of Europa's hidden ocean and its potential to support life. Solar array installed for mission to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa: https://lnkd.in/dU-YXnxY #NASA #SolarTechnology #Innovation #RenewableEnergy #SpaceTech #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #EnergyEfficiency