NASA

Research & Development

Astronomers Unveil Strong Magnetic Fields Spiraling at the Edge of Milky Way’s Central Black Hole

June 11, 2024 Editorial Staff Comments Off on Astronomers Unveil Strong Magnetic Fields Spiraling at the Edge of Milky Way’s Central Black Hole

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, who produced the first ever image of our Milky Way black hole released in 2022, has captured a new view of the massive object at the centre of our Galaxy: how it looks in polarised light. This is the first time astronomers have been able to measure polarisation, a signature of magnetic fields, this close to the edge of Sagittarius A*. This image shows the polarised view of the Milky Way black hole. The lines overlaid on this image mark the orientation of polarisation, which is related to the magnetic field around the shadow of the black hole. […]

Research & Development

Flexible Levitation on a Track (FLOAT): DARPA’s Magnetic Lunar Railway System

May 20, 2024 Guest Blog Comments Off on Flexible Levitation on a Track (FLOAT): DARPA’s Magnetic Lunar Railway System

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected by DARPA to further develop the concept of building a moon-based railroad network … The envisioned lunar railroad network could transport humans, supplies and resources for commercial ventures across the lunar surface – contributing to a space economy for the United States and international partner […]

e-Power Technology

Deep-Space Mission to Distant Asteroid Involves Cutting-Edge Magnetic Technologies 

January 24, 2024 Editorial Staff Comments Off on Deep-Space Mission to Distant Asteroid Involves Cutting-Edge Magnetic Technologies 

NASA’s deep-space mission to the Psyche asteroid involves a variety of cutting-edge magnetic technologies for precision measurement as well as electrified propulsion. The Psyche spacecraft includes many unavoidable magnetic field sources, which must be accounted for to measure the magnetic field signature of the metal-rich asteroid. It won’t be long now … hold on until 2029 when it reaches orbit at the distant target. […]

e-Power Technology

Hall-Effect Thrusters from Busek to Propel Artemis Gateway 

September 19, 2023 Editorial Staff Comments Off on Hall-Effect Thrusters from Busek to Propel Artemis Gateway 

As space missions probe deeper and last longer, electrified propulsion systems powered by Hall-effect thrusters are proving their mettle. One company leading the way is Busek, a pioneer in Hall-Effect technology for aerospace whose thrusters will be aboard NASA Artemis missions seeking the return of humans to the moon. […]