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NSF Funds ISS National Lab Projects for Advanced Electronics Cooling and Drug Delivery Research in Microgravity

NSF Funds ISS National Lab Projects for Advanced Electronics Cooling and Drug Delivery Research in Microgravity

The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) have announced the selection of two new research projects. These projects will utilize the unique microgravity environment of the orbiting laboratory to advance the understanding of fluid transport phenomena. The investigations build upon over a decade of collaboration between the ISS National Lab and NSF, which has supported nearly 100 projects in areas such as biotechnology, fluid dynamics, and combustion. The two newly selected projects will explore fundamental processes relevant to advanced manufacturing, energy systems, and healthcare technologies. Patricia Weisensee from Washington University in St. Louis will lead a project on the melting dynamics of small particles to improve metal 3D printing and applications like drug delivery. Chen Li from the University of South Carolina will investigate slip ratio in microgravity two-phase flows to design more efficient heat-transfer and cooling systems for...
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NSF Awards $540,000 Grant to Paul Evans for Study of Disordered Materials Crystallization

NSF Awards $540,000 Grant to Paul Evans for Study of Disordered Materials Crystallization

Paul Evans, a professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, has been awarded a three-year, $540,000 grant from the Ceramics Program within the Division of Materials Research of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant will support his research into the transition of disordered materials into crystals, specifically focusing on metal oxides. This process, known as solid-phase epitaxy (SPE), involves transforming an amorphous material into an ordered crystal by using a neighboring crystal as a structural template. Evans and his research team will employ precise, in situ growth and synchrotron X-ray techniques to observe the crystallization in real-time, tracking atomic rearrangements at the boundary between amorphous and crystalline materials. The challenge lies in the small volume of material involved, the rapid atomic rearrangement, and the subtle structural signatures of the process.
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Florida State University Chemists Secure Over $2 Million in NSF Funding for Advanced Materials Research

Florida State University Chemists Secure Over $2 Million in NSF Funding for Advanced Materials Research

Four faculty members from Florida State University's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have been awarded over $2 million in grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). These three-year grants, received by Distinguished Research Professor Igor Alabugin, Professors Eugene DePrince and Susan Latturner, and Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor Joseph Schlenoff, are designated to advance the development of new materials. The research focuses on applications in critical areas such as energy, data storage, quantum computing, and medical devices. The funding will also support the professional and academic growth of students through graduate research assistantships and hands-on laboratory experiences. The department chair, Wei Yang, emphasized that materials chemistry is a sustained strength of FSU Chemistry and Biochemistry, aligning with their strategic vision to push forward research on molecules and materials for next-generation technologies and chemical discoveries.
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NASA Issues Technical Bulletin on Hydrazine Freeze-Thaw Risks for Spacecraft Systems

NASA Issues Technical Bulletin on Hydrazine Freeze-Thaw Risks for Spacecraft Systems

NASA has released a technical bulletin detailing the risks associated with freeze-thaw cycles in hydrazine monopropellant systems used in spacecraft. Hydrazine, which freezes near 1.6°C, can cause significant damage to flight hardware. Historical NASA programs, including the Space Shuttle and Voyager missions, have encountered issues related to hydrazine freezing. The bulletin highlights critical risks such as structural damage to plumbing due to contraction and over-expansion, compromise of valves, seals, and diaphragms from differential thermal expansion, and line blockage or slush formation that can restrict flow and alter thruster performance. Additionally, freeze-induced damage can lead to hazardous leaks, posing toxicity and safety concerns for ground crews, and reducing system reliability and mission availability.
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LSU Secures $20 Million National Science Foundation Award for Advanced X-ray Facility

LSU Secures $20 Million National Science Foundation Award for Advanced X-ray Facility

Louisiana State University (LSU) has been awarded a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a state-of-the-art X-ray facility. This new facility, named the Laboratory for Next-Generation X-ray Science and Technology (LaNeXT), is designed to provide researchers with unprecedented capabilities to observe some of nature's fastest processes. LaNeXT will enable the study of chemical, biological, and materials processes at the atomic and molecular level, with timeframes as short as 30 femtoseconds (30 quadrillionths of a second). The facility will integrate ultrafast laser-based X-rays, synchrotron X-rays, and LSU’s nanofabrication capabilities, creating a unique combination of powerful tools in one location. This initiative aims to fill a gap in U.S. research infrastructure by allowing scientists to capture molecular changes that current synchrotron facilities cannot observe, complementing major national facilities across the country. The project is a collaborative effort, buil...
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SpaceX Commits to Exclusive Use of Nvidia Hardware for AI Infrastructure, Boosting Chip Investment Momentum

SpaceX Commits to Exclusive Use of Nvidia Hardware for AI Infrastructure, Boosting Chip Investment Momentum

SpaceX Commits to Exclusive Use of Nvidia Hardware for AI Infrastructure, Boosting Chip Investment Momentum
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Ohio Space Museum Showcases Gemini Capsule and Moon Rock, Featuring Neil Armstrong and David Scott's Gemini VIII Mission

Ohio Space Museum Showcases Gemini Capsule and Moon Rock, Featuring Neil Armstrong and David Scott's Gemini VIII Mission

An Ohio space museum, the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta, features the actual Gemini VIII capsule, which was flown by Neil Armstrong and David Scott on March 16, 1966. This mission achieved the first successful docking of two vehicles in space. Despite an early return due to a malfunction, the capsule is a central exhibit, displaying its cramped interior and scorch marks from re-entry. The museum also houses a genuine piece of the Moon, a sizable chunk of vesicular basalt brought back by Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin during Apollo 11. Additionally, the museum displays Armstrong's Gemini suit, an Apollo suit, and various artifacts from the space race, including a focus on the Soviet program and Ohio astronauts.
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Representative Brian Babin Advocates for Texas to Host U.S. Space Academy

Representative Brian Babin Advocates for Texas to Host U.S. Space Academy

Representative Brian Babin, an Air Force veteran, has expressed strong support for Texas to host the newly announced United States Space Academy. President Trump signed an executive order last month to launch this academy, and Governor Greg Abbott plans to submit a proposal for Texas to be its home. Representative Babin, who serves as Chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, has publicly backed this initiative alongside Senator Cruz. He highlighted Texas's long-standing role in American human spaceflight, particularly referencing the NASA Johnson Space Center, and emphasized that while the U.S. space program is a national effort, Texas is where many critical components converge. His advocacy underscores the state's historical and ongoing contributions to space exploration and its potential as a future hub for space education and development.
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From Pure Science to Space Research, Caltech Built a Far-Reaching Legacy

From Pure Science to Space Research, Caltech Built a Far-Reaching Legacy

The California Institute of Technology, widely known as Caltech, stands as a testament to the power of focused scientific inquiry and rigorous educ...
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European Space Agency Plans Increased Ariane 6 Launch Cadence to 12 Annually by Late 2029

European Space Agency Plans Increased Ariane 6 Launch Cadence to 12 Annually by Late 2029

The European Space Agency (ESA) is planning to significantly increase the launch cadence of its Ariane 6 rocket to 12 flights per year by the end of 2029, with a further increase to 15 flights annually beyond 2030. This initiative, as detailed by Géraldine Naja, Director of Space Transportation at ESA, aims to address a potential shortage of European launchers by 2030 and ensure autonomous access to space for Europe. The plan also includes an increase in Vega-C launches to six, and potentially nine, beyond 2027. This strategic shift comes after a period where Europe faced challenges in independent space access, necessitating reliance on non-European launch providers like SpaceX for institutional satellites. The ESA and ArianeGroup are currently analyzing and developing a new flight and production schedule for Ariane 6 to meet the growing demand, including new contracts with entities like Amazon LEO and Eutelsat.
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NSF NEON Enhances Data Accessibility with New Date-Time Columns for Sensor Positions

NSF NEON Enhances Data Accessibility with New Date-Time Columns for Sensor Positions

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) is implementing an update to its data download packages. Two new columns, `effectiveStartDateTime` and `effectiveEndDateTime`, will be added to the `sensor_positions` metadata file included in Terrestrial Instrument System (TIS) and Aquatic Instrument System (AIS) data products. These new columns will directly specify the valid beginning and ending date-times for the geolocation information provided in each record, encompassing both the sensor and its associated reference location. Previously, users had to manually combine date ranges from `positionStartDateTime`, `positionEndDateTime`, `referenceLocationIDStartDateTime`, and `referenceLocationIDEndDateTime` to determine the effective date range. This enhancement aims to streamline data usage and improve the accuracy of geolocation tracking for environmental data. The new columns are being included in all newly published download packages and will be retroactively a...
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Firefly Aerospace Expands Cleanroom Facility to Boost Lunar Lander and Orbiter Production

Firefly Aerospace Expands Cleanroom Facility to Boost Lunar Lander and Orbiter Production

Firefly Aerospace Expands Cleanroom Facility to Boost Lunar Lander and Orbiter Production