The ability to swap satellites into predefined launch configurations will provide more launch options and faster access to space. — For developers of mid-sized small satellites, the biggest hurdle is not building the satellite but launching these devices into space. A small satellite developer typically designs a customized satellite solution, then figures out a launch that meets their requirements. …

What does the future hold for small satellites, and what technological hurdles need to be overcome to get there? — The rapid escalation of the production and launch of small satellites has revolutionized space. Aerospace has been at the forefront of CubeSat technology and the miniaturization of satellites since before the CubeSat standard was established — flying the world’s first containerized satellite over 20 years ago.

A Long March 5B rocket body, used to deliver the Wentian module to China’s new space station on July 24 is now in an uncontrolled descent, raising some challenging policy questions about good behavior in space. —

Our space debris expert is back with answers about the giant rocket stage left behind after the July 24 Long March 5B Launch. — On April 29, 2021, China launched the first module, Tianhe, of its Tiangong space station on their heaviest rocket to date, the Long March 5B. The rocket body traveled with the module to orbit, resulting in an uncontrolled reentry of the rocket’s core stage. …

The Slingshot program looks to advance on-orbit experiments using modular and autonomous technologies on next-generation satellite systems. — Space is rapidly evolving into a more dynamic and challenging domain, requiring more resilient and responsive architectures and processes that accelerate and streamline access to orbit while harnessing cutting-edge innovations to provide greater flexibility and adaptability for space systems.

Since 1999, The Aerospace Corporation has been a pioneer in the design, construction and flight of ultrasmall satellites. Learn more about the timeline of our past and future satellites. — The Aerospace Corporation began pioneering the design, construction and flight of ultrasmall satellites in 1999, developing an inexpensive, lightweight spacecraft that used the latest miniaturized electronics and microelectromechanical systems.

Aerospace has been at the forefront of CubeSat technology and the miniaturization of satellites since before the CubeSat standard was established — flying the world’s first containerized satellite over 20 years ago. — The accelerating pace of space innovation has transformed what humans once thought possible about reaching orbit, the moon, and beyond. The proliferation of small satellites and their increasing popularity have been major catalysts for this revolution. Smallsats offer a number of significant advantages — enabling enormous flexibility and experimentation for…

We get a lot of questions about rockets. — In honor of Earth Day, we asked Marty Ross, Aerospace rocket emissions expert studying the effects of aerospace propulsion on the Earth’s atmosphere, about the climate impacts of rocket launches, and how the increased pace of launch might change those outcomes. There is a lot of information about the impact of airplane emissions on global warming. Do rocket emissions have a similar impact?

Space traffic coordination needs massive amounts of data analysis to operate safely and efficiently. — Traffic etiquette, once learned, can seem intuitive: a driver stops their car at a red light, understanding that cross-traffic will have a green light and the right-of-way. Coordinating these simple signals have enabled a vast transportation system that continuously accommodates over 275 million motor vehicles across the United States…