Station Science Top News: May 12, 2023

by ISS Program Science Office | 2023-05-12

Researchers verified a new technology that improves the speed and reliability of space-to-ground communication links that could enable sending larger amounts of data to the ground in real time. Small and affordable communications systems could pave the way for creating a space data “highway” in the future.

Validation of the new multi-mode fiber (MMF) in the SOLISS technology demonstration, which performed even in suboptimal conditions, could support science activities aboard the International Space Station and future communication system designs. The ability to send and receive data in remote locations also has potential applications in helping people stay connected on Earth.

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Free flying robots on the space station successfully demonstrated hopping from one surface to another, a major step in the development of robots to assist astronauts with risky spacecraft maintenance and planetary exploration.

The hopping technique demonstrated by Astrobatics uses less propellant and is a potentially faster way for robot vehicles to cross surfaces. This could assist astronauts in exploring small planetary bodies and be applied to robots facing similar challenges back on Earth.

View of NASA astronaut Victor Glover in Kibo, the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) conducting work on the Astrobee, Honey. In the background, the JEM airlock can be seen as well. Credit: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/Soichi Noguchi