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NASA LASER IGNITION SYSTEM
In 2003, NASA Marshall tested a dual-pulse laser ignition system for rocket engines; a separate microgravity study examined laser ignition and flame spread in solid fuelNASA engineers have successfully tested an innovative dual-pulse laser ignition system designed for rocket engines. This groundbreaking sys...
In 1962, NASA packed 22,900 gallons of water into a Saturn I rocket and deliberately released it 65 miles above Earth to see how water behaved in the upper atmosphereNASA scientists have long explored recycling resources for extended space travel. Plants and microorganisms could help regenerate vital sup...
In 2018, NASA invited people worldwide to send their names to the Sun. More than 1.1 million did and their names are still travelling aboard Parker Solar ProbeOver one million names traveled to the Sun aboard NASA's Parker Solar Probe. These names were digitally stored on a memory card, becoming p...
Apollo astronauts left mirrors on the moon decades ago; scientists are still firing lasers at them, here's whyApollo 15's lunar retroreflector continues to aid scientists with precise measurements. This device, left on the Moon in 1971, reflects las...
In 1958, the US launched Gordo the squirrel monkey 300 miles above Earth; he endured 8.3 minutes of weightlessness and 40 g during re-entry, but died after his capsule sank at seaIn the historic space flight of 1958, Gordo, a courageous squirrel monkey, faced intense conditions that ultimately validated human surviva...
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope set to investigate the universe’s biggest mysteries - Check launch date, time, mission goals and what to expectNASA's Roman Space Telescope is set for a Sunday launch to explore cosmic mysteries. This powerful observatory will investigate dark energy...
In 1961, NASA sent Ham the chimpanzee 157 miles above Earth to test whether a primate could work in space; he completed a 16-minute flight and returned safelyChimpanzee Ham made history in 1961 when he soared into space aboard a Mercury-Redstone rocket. His mission aimed to assess the capabilitie...
In 2021, a spacecraft was launched on a first-ever suicide mission to try to deflect an asteroid on impact in space in the revolutionary planetary defense experiment: How NASA’s DART mission changed an asteroid’s orbitIn 2021, a spacecraft was launched on a first-ever suicide mission to try to deflect an asteroid on impact in space in the revolutionary pl...
From Mars to interstellar space, NASA’s new giant antenna is now operationalNASA activated its new 34-meter radio antenna, DSS-23, on August 3, 2026. This new antenna will help communicate with spacecraft across the...
NASA sent Pseudomonas aeruginosa on shuttle Atlantis to space, where it formed denser biofilms with an unusual “column-and-canopy” structureIn groundbreaking space experiments, bacteria grown in synthetic urine were sent aboard the Atlantis space shuttle on two occasions. These ...
NASA's new Roman Space Telescope set to launch this Sunday will help scientists study dark matter and dark energy across billions of galaxies, unraveling the deepest mysteries of the universeNASA Roman Space Telescope launch: NASA's Roman Space Telescope launchNASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to launch on August 3...
In 2018, a laboratory was launched to the International Space Station to study ultra-cold quantum gases in the microgravity environmentIn 2018, a laboratory was launched to the International Space Station to study ultra-cold quantum gases in the microgravity environment. NA...
In 2000, Sandia used a 416-nanometer cheesecloth-like crystal to bend infrared light with little loss. 26 years later, the approach still guides research into faster, cooler photonic chipsSandia researchers developed a tiny structure guiding infrared light with minimal loss. This artificial crystal, made from gallium arsenide...
In 1997, NASA launched Columbia to study undercooled molten metals in microgravity; the STS-83 mission also carried experiments on sintering and fire behaviorThe 1997 mission of space shuttle Columbia was cut short due to problems with fuel cells. However, the crew managed to perform crucial micr...
In 1999, a Florida teen hacked NASA, accessed source code of ISS and forced the world's most powerful space agency to shut down some systems for 21 daysIn 1999, 15-year-old hacker Jonathan James broke into NASA computers and downloaded proprietary software linked to the International Space ...
In 1997, NASA sent a lightning sensor into orbit aboard TRMM to study storms. 29 years later, the mission’s data still helps scientists understand lightning, rainfall and climateNASA's Lightning Imaging Sensor aboard TRMM studied lightning's role in weather. Earlier missions observed lightning from space, revealing ...
In 2012, NASA observed a fuel droplet continue burning invisibly in space after the visible flame went out, producing carbon monoxide and formaldehydeNASA's 2012 space station experiment revealed an invisible cool flame phenomenon. This unexpected discovery occurred when fuel droplets con...
In 1973, NASA sent two fish into space to test their swimming ability in zero gravity; they initially swam in loops but later used light as cue to move normally after 21 daysIn 1973, NASA sent two mummichog fish and 50 eggs aboard Skylab 3 to study how weightlessness affected their sense of balance. The fish ini...
In 1964, NASA first tracked a satellite with lasers; the method later helped measure sea-level rise and ice lossIn 1964, NASA researchers made history by tracking a satellite for the first time using a laser beam. Leveraging spare radar components and...
In 2013, NASA beamed laser data from lunar orbit at 622 megabits per second, demonstrating faster space communications than radioIn 2013, NASA's Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration set a groundbreaking standard by achieving data transmission speeds of 622 megabits...