U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
Coverage of U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in the Nexus archive.
- Towering 'firestorm clouds' are largely a mystery. A first-of-its kind NASA mission is working to change that.
NASA is launching a first-of-its-kind mission called INSPYRE to study pyrocumulonimbus clouds, which form during wildfires and inject smoke into the upper atmosphere. The mission uses a specially equipped NCAR plane to collect data on these 'firestorm clouds,' aiming to improve predictions of their formation and downstream effects, including hazardous weather like fire tornadoes and dry lightning.
- Private mission launches to extend life of out-of-gas communication satellites
A private mission by Northrop Grumman launched a robotic spacecraft to attach life-extending jetpacks to aging communication satellites in geosynchronous orbit. Another company, Katalyst Space Technologies, aims to boost NASA’s Swift Observatory to prevent its re-entry, with both efforts focusing on extending satellite lifespans and reducing replacement costs.
- DARPA readies robotic deep-space repair satellite for 2026 launch
DARPA is preparing its Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) payload for a 2026 launch. As of October 8, 2024, the payload is undergoing testing in a cryogenic thermal vacuum chamber at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s Naval Center for Space Technology in Washington, D.C.