Hypersonics research paving way for Mars exploration, space tourism

Hypersonics research paving way for Mars exploration, space tourism

Feb. 16, 2021

Drawing on partnerships with NASA, the DOD and the aerospace industry, the College of Engineering and Applied Science recently launched a new research initiative focusing on hypersonic vehicles—and will launch a new hypersonics grad certificate this summer.

‘Galaxy-sized’ observatory sees potential hints of gravitational waves

‘Galaxy-sized’ observatory sees potential hints of gravitational waves

Jan. 19, 2021

CU Ƶ researchers are part of a high stakes (albeit collaborative) international race to find the gravitational wave background. Their project joins two others in Europe and Australia to make up a network called the International Pulsar Timing Array.

Tiny moon shadows may harbor hidden stores of ice

Tiny moon shadows may harbor hidden stores of ice

Nov. 17, 2020

Hidden pockets of water could be much more common on the surface of the moon than scientists once suspected, according to new research led by CU Ƶ. In some cases, these tiny patches of ice might exist in shadows no bigger than a penny that have gone without a single ray of sunlight for billions of years.

New CubeSat will observe the remnants of massive supernovas

New CubeSat will observe the remnants of massive supernovas

Nov. 17, 2020

Scientists at CU Ƶ are developing a satellite about the size of a toaster oven to explore one of the cosmos’ most fundamental mysteries: How did radiation from stars punch its way out of the first galaxies to fundamentally alter the make-up of the universe as it we know it today?

Scientists peer inside an asteroid

Scientists peer inside an asteroid

Oct. 20, 2020

New findings from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission suggest that the interior of the asteroid Bennu could be weaker and less dense than its outer layers—like a crème-filled chocolate egg flying though space. The findings could give scientists new insights into the evolution of the solar system’s asteroids.

Where no spacecraft has gone before: A close encounter with binary asteroids

Where no spacecraft has gone before: A close encounter with binary asteroids

Sept. 15, 2020

CU Ƶ and Lockheed Martin will lead a new space mission to capture the first-ever closeup look at a mysterious class of solar system objects: binary asteroids. These bodies are pairs of asteroids that orbit around each other in space, much like the Earth and moon.

CIRES scientists awarded $5.3M for space weather research

CIRES scientists awarded $5.3M for space weather research

Sept. 15, 2020

NASA and the National Science Foundation have awarded two CU Ƶ space weather scientists more than $5M to lay the groundwork for faster and more robust space weather forecasts. Both projects are led by CIRES scientists working with the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.

Ƶ announces new hypersonics initiative

Ƶ announces new hypersonics initiative

Aug. 18, 2020

“It really takes an interdisciplinary approach to think about analyzing and designing a hypersonic vehicle,” said Iain Boyd, an aerospace engineering professor at CU Ƶ. The university has awarded a two-year grant to Boyd and 20 other faculty members to model better designs for such vehicles.

Emirates Mars Mission to begin journey to the red planet

Emirates Mars Mission to begin journey to the red planet

July 15, 2020

This month, the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) is slated to blast off aboard an H-IIA rocket. Since 2014, researchers at CU Ƶ have worked side-by-side with dozens of young scientists and engineers from the United Arab Emirates to help them make this mission a reality.

To safely explore the solar system and beyond, spaceships need to go faster—nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer

To safely explore the solar system and beyond, spaceships need to go faster—nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer

June 23, 2020

An update of 50-year-old regulations has kickstarted research into the next generation of rockets, which could be the key to faster, safer exploration of space. Professor Iain Boyd shares on The Conversation.

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