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According to SpaceNews, the tests on a “core module” by the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) represent a breakthrough in combining rigid structures with flexible modules. Images of the flexible platform suggest a diameter of around 2 meters. IMCAS did not provide details like a planned launch date, intended orbits, the mass and volume of a platform and more. The size of the test article suggests this is a technology demonstrator, rather than a full size model, with significant work and progress needed before flight. https://lnkd.in/eQYaSN7q

This week I’ve been learning about orbital mechanics and how geography defines what’s possible before a rocket even leaves the ground. Where you launch determines the energy you’ll spend, the orbit you’ll reach, and how efficiently you’ll get there. At the equator, Earth’s rotation gives a free velocity boost of about 0.5 km per second. Move north, and that advantage fades. Cape Canaveral sits at 28.5 degrees north, Kourou in French Guiana at 6, and Kazakhstan at 51. That difference means thousands of kilograms of extra propellant, millions in cost, and an entirely different mission profile. Inclination changes are even more expensive. A single one-degree adjustment costs roughly 135 meters per second of delta-v, nearly half of the Space Shuttle’s entire orbital correction capacity. A 30-degree change consumes as much energy as half of orbital velocity itself. That’s why missions use Hohmann transfers and make inclination changes at apogee, where velocity is lowest and the burn is most efficient. All of this comes down to working with forces, not against them. You can’t fight geography or motion; you have to align with them. SAGA Space Architects work reminded me of this principle in a completely different context. Their architecture begins from the site itself: the Arctic, the desert, or any environment they test in. They design with the same awareness an engineer has before a launch: start from the ground you stand on. Every structure is a trajectory. Every constraint is part of the equation. Whether it’s orbital dynamics or architectural design, efficiency comes from understanding context, not overpowering it. P.S. From my MIT aerospace engineering studies on launch site constraints and delta-v optimization, and research on SAGA’s site-based prototypes, where architecture and orbital mechanics share the same principle, design with the forces that already exist. #Architecture #Aerospace #Engineering #MIT

#NYCU #Asfaloth-2025 #Rocket #Launched: First Integration of TASA’s MLP Marks a Milestone in #Academic #Space #Research National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (#NYCU)’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Institute of Space Systems Engineering (#iSSE) successfully launched their scientific sounding rocket “Asfaloth-2025” at 6:32 a.m. on October 18 from the Xuhai Rocket Range in Pingtung County. The mission, known as Asfaloth Launch-2, marks the second flight test of the Asfaloth rocket series and the tenth scientific launch conducted at Xuhai since the facility’s inauguration in 2022. The project was carried out under the guidance of the National Science and Technology Council (#NSTC) and the Taiwan Space Agency (#TASA). Cross-Lab Collaboration for Taiwan’s Next-Gen Space Research The Asfaloth-2025 mission brought together four NYCU teams: ASARe (Prof. Zu Puayen Tan) – overall structure and system integration MSCL (Prof. Tsung-Lin Chen) – avionics design ARRC (Prof. Shih-Sin Wei) – propulsion system ACES Lab (Prof. Chao-Hsiung Tseng) – communications design #TASA provided technical launch support and safety supervision. For more reading, https://lnkd.in/giZbvTDG

GridPro’s Multiblock Mesh on the Cassini-Huygens Space Probe The image shows a structured multiblock mesh and CFD solution generated using GridPro for European Space Agency - ESA Cassini-Huygens space probe, launched in 1997 to explore Saturn and its moons. Simulating such a complex geometry required exceptional mesh control and topology adaptability. GridPro’s topology-based meshing approach enables the creation of high-quality, conformal grids around intricate spacecraft surfaces from antennas and instruments to thrusters and body contours. This level of meshing precision is essential for accurate prediction of aerodynamic forces, thermal loads, and re-entry flow phenomena, ensuring mission safety and performance reliability in deep-space environments. GridPro continues to empower engineers and researchers with automated, scalable multiblock meshing tools that handle the most demanding aerospace simulations with ease. #GridPro #CFD #AerospaceEngineering #SpaceExploration #CassiniHuygens #StructuredMesh #Simulation #Aerodynamics #SpaceScience #ESA

Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket for only the second time ever — and for the first time, it carried real payloads: two satellites designed to monitor weather patterns on Mars. Beyond the headlines, moments like this highlight just how far aerospace engineering has come. New Glenn isn’t just a rocket — it’s a platform built around high-power propulsion systems, precision optics, advanced materials, and laser-based sensing technologies used throughout mission operations. As laser use expands across space research — from atmospheric mapping to satellite diagnostics and communication — safety and reliability demands continue to scale right alongside the hardware. At Laser Safety Industries, we love watching these milestones because they reflect what we see across the broader industry: more lasers, more mission-critical applications, and rapidly evolving technical requirements that push every supporting field forward. Congrats to the Blue Origin team — another step toward making interplanetary science routine.

A Chinese institute is testing an inflatable module that could be used for in-space manufacturing. The tests on a “core module” by the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) represent a breakthrough in combining rigid structures with flexible modules. Images of the flexible platform suggest a diameter of around 2 meters. IMCAS did not provide details like a planned launch date, intended orbits, the mass and volume of a platform and more. The size of the test article suggests this is a technology demonstrator, rather than a full size model, with significant work and progress needed before flight. [SpaceNews] https://lnkd.in/daHvgpV6

New space startup ARCA Dynamics is building nanosatellite constellations designed to enhance space situational awareness (SSA) and orbital safety. By monitoring #satellite fleets and smaller space debris in low Earth orbit (LEO), the company is tackling one of the biggest challenges facing the space sector: protecting critical infrastructure in orbit. In a short time, ARCA Dynamics has established itself as one of Europe’s most promising SSA innovators. Their technology blends on-demand tracking, radio frequency detection, and space-based processing to deliver real-time orbital intelligence. To bring its nanosatellite vision to life, ARCA Dynamics relies on Creo, a PTC Technology to design lightweight satellite structures optimized for harsh orbital environments, where extreme temperature swings and orbital radiation put stress on materials. CEO and Co-Founder Daniele Luchena and Chief Commercial Officer Mariarosa Argentiero spoke with PTC about how Creo's advanced #CAD capabilities have helped ARCA Dynamics move faster, reduce development risk, and ensure its nanosatellites are mission-ready for the challenging realities of LEO. A great example of how cutting-edge product development tools and visionary engineering allow smaller #spacetech companies to build sophisticated, resilient systems that once required the resources of major aerospace primes.

🌕 Testing Our Dust-Proof Lunar Connector at NASA’s Simulant Laboratory Last week, our team had the incredible opportunity to visit the NASA Lunar Simulant Laboratory to test the prototype of our dust-proof protective enclosure, designed to meet IP6X standards and operate under strict constraints like dexterity, no-twist handling, and a weight under 1 kg. Our main goal was to evaluate how our design performs against lunar dust infiltration using NASA’s JSC-1A ORBITEC Lunar Mare Regolith Simulant. Inside a sealed glovebox chamber, we dispersed the dust with fans and exposed our prototype to multiple 45-minute test cycles while moving the device to simulate operational motion. This allowed us to observe ingress behavior and collect data for validation and future redesign. The prototype combines CNC-machined acrylic components (manufactured by me) with 3D-printed parts developed collaboratively by the team. We also utilized microscopy analysis at NASA to study the behavior of dust particles on critical surfaces and identify potential seal and tolerance improvements for our next iteration. One major takeaway from this experience is realizing how different it is to see a CAD model work on screen versus making it function in real life. Design for manufacturing requires constant iteration, communication, and critical analysis — and none of this would have been possible without my amazing teammates, Tasnim Fahmy, Alexa Reyes, and Paola Perdomo, as well as our mentor, Francis Davies, from the Power and Propulsion Division of NASA. Each brought unique perspectives and problem-solving skills to the table. The NASA Simulant Laboratory team also guided us through their facilities, explaining how lunar materials are characterized and tested for compliance — an experience that deepened our understanding of real-world engineering under extreme environmental constraints. Being inside NASA’s lab and working hands-on with lunar dust was truly a dream come true. As a future mechanical engineer, I aim to turn complex and challenging constraints into practical, sustainable solutions that create real impact. To every engineering student: teamwork and communication are your strongest tools. Mistakes and challenges are part of the process — patience and collaboration turn them into progress. Huge thanks again to Tasnim, Alexa, Paola, Francis, and the NASA Simulant Laboratory team for making this milestone possible. Go Coogs! #NASA #Engineering #MechanicalEngineering #LunarDust #SpaceExploration #UH #Capstone #STEM #Manufacturing #CNC #3DPrinting

Looking forward to co-teaching this 2nd edition of our AIAA short course focused on spacecraft lithium-ion battery power systems with Dr. Rob Gitzendanner. Special topics include flight cell and battery testing, safety and reliability, electrical power systems (EPS), dead-bus recovery, AI&T integration and test, launch and ground processing, on-orbit battery management, and end-of-mission EPS passivation strategies.