Next-Gen Refueling Spacecraft to Revitalize Satellites in Geostationary Orbit
The Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is developing a spacecraft named Astroscale Prototype Servicer for Refueling (APS-R) as part of a $25.5 million project with the…
Southwest Research Institute News
Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) is located in San Antonio, Texas and was founded by Tom Slick in 1947. The institution wants to push the boundaries of science and technology to create innovative solutions to pressing world issues. The interdisciplinary culture of SWRI allows for a collaborative environment. Read about SWRI research at SciTechDaily.com.
Is Europa Habitable? Juno Spacecraft Measures Oxygen Production on Jupiter’s Moon
NASA’s Juno spacecraft has provided crucial data on the charged particles in Europa’s atmosphere, revealing insights into its potential for supporting life. This study, involving…
Astronomers Uncover Surprising Activity on the Dwarf Planets Eris and Makemake
The Webb telescope has observed what appear to be young methane deposits on the surfaces of Eris and Makemake. A team co-led by Southwest Research…
For the First Time: Water Molecules Have Been Discovered on an Asteroid’s Surface
The FORCAST instrument on SOFIA discovered water on asteroids that were previously considered dry. Scientists from the Southwest Research Institute have made the first discovery…
Meet Selam: The Stellar New Discovery From NASA’s Lucy Mission
The satellite discovered during the first asteroid encounter of NASA’s Lucy mission has an official name. On November 27, 2023, the International Astronomical Union approved…
Another Surprise From NASA’s Lucy Asteroid Encounter: “We Never Suspected Anything So Bizarre!”
NASA’s Lucy Surprise Observation of 1st-ever Contact Binary Orbiting Asteroid It turns out there is more to the “marvelous” asteroid Dinkinesh and its newly discovered…
Double Surprise: NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Makes “Marvelous” Discovery During Asteroid Dinkinesh Flyby
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft has revealed that the asteroid Dinkinesh is a binary system. The flyby tested the spacecraft’s tracking abilities and provided a preview of…
Unlocking Lunar Secrets: Moon’s Polar Ice Far Younger Than Estimated
A new study reveals that the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions are younger than previously estimated. A team including Southwest Research Institute’s Dr. Raluca Rufu recently…
Moon-Sized Impacts: The Secret Behind Gold & Platinum in Earth’s Mantle?
A new study suggests impact-driven mixing of mantle materials could create current mantle composition. Southwest Research Institute’s Dr. Simone Marchi collaborated on a new study…
Webb and SOFIA Telescopes Provide Deep Insight Into Asteroid Psyche’s Metallic Mystique
Southwest Research Institute scientists are studying the asteroid Psyche using infrared telescopes, aiming to understand its composition before NASA’s Psyche mission launches. The asteroid’s potential…
Far Beyond Pluto: NASA’s New Horizons To Continue Exploring Outer Solar System
NASA has announced the continuation of the New Horizons mission, focusing on collecting unique heliophysics data starting in 2025. New Horizons’ mission of exploration of…
Mound Mysteries in the Kuiper Belt: Shared Origin of Arrokoth’s Giant Structures?
These “Building blocks” of this Kuiper belt object may point to key details of streaming instability model of planetesimal formation. A new study led by…
NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Snaps First Images of Asteroid Dinkinesh on Its 12-Year Voyage of Discovery
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft provides its first glimpse of asteroid Dinkinesh. Over a span of two months, Lucy will get closer, testing its systems before a…
Jupiter’s Volcanic Moon: Diving Into Io’s Fiery Puzzles With Hubble and Webb
Remote-sensing data will complement Juno spacecraft’s in situ observations. The Space Telescope Science Institute recently awarded Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) a large project to use…
Planet Resurfacing: Venus Volcanism Could Have Been Fueled by Ancient, High-Energy Impacts
Models show Venus’ superheated core could produce extended volcanism and long-lived resurfacing. A Southwest Research Institute-led team has modeled the early impact history of Venus…
Scientists Detect 6000-Mile-Long Plume of Water Escaping From Saturn’s Moon
SwRI scientist awarded JWST Cycle 2 observations of Enceladus A pair of scientists from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) were members of a James Webb…
NASA’s Juno Spacecraft Encounters Giant Swirling Waves at the Edge of Jupiter’s Magnetosphere
Waves produced by Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities transfer energy in the solar system. A team led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and The University of Texas at…
JUICE Spacecraft’s Ultraviolet Spectrograph Springs Into Action: First Data Collected
The Southwest Research Institute’s Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS), part of the ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft, has successfully completed its initial testing. UVS will…