An electronic device called the memristor could be our best hope for making practical chips that borrow design points from the human brain.

Particles can carry information securely because intercepting them would alter the message and alert the receiver or sender.

Combining Maxar’s capabilities in robotics, spacecraft and space systems operations creates the opportunity to deploy and maintain revolutionary new space architectures. Since the dawn of space exploration, pioneers in the field envisioned sustainable space stations enabled by in-space assembly, manufacturing and servicing. Wernher Von Braun conducted a detailed study in 1945 that defined the deployment and construction of the rotating wheel space station. The design included maintaining artificial gravity and oxygen levels. Today, NASA has led the construction and continuous operation of the International Space Station for over 20 years, demonstrating the technical feasibility of large-scale in-space assembly and servicing.

Recently, Maxar has been working with NASA on concepts for both human-tended and uncrewed sustainable space platforms. These in-space assembled structures provide basic functions and a modular interface for new and evolving payloads and missions. The lunar orbiting Gateway will be one such platform where the Maxar-developed Power and Propulsion Element will provide the foundation of power, maneuvering, communications systems and initial docking capabilities. Additional Gateway segments will plug-in to the Power and Propulsion Element to make use of these systems. The versatility of the Power and Propulsion Element also allows it to be refueled in orbit, and we are working with NASA to conceive the architecture that could resupply the Gateway with fuel and other essentials.

Another concept we’ve been developing with NASA is an uncrewed “science station” that is constructed in sun synchronous LEO orbit and features science instruments that are robotically installed, upgraded, and replaced over time. This allows for co-location of science instruments, which is often desired or necessary, while eliminating the need to budget for, develop, integrate and launch all the payloads simultaneously on a single launch.

The last 10 years have seen a lot change in the world of technology — but what will the next decade bring us?

A decade ago the hottest smartphone on the market was the iPhone 3GS — a phone with a miniscule 3.5” display and a far cry from the 6.5” screen available on the iPhone XS today.

Speakers have got bigger too, now coming packed with integrated circuits allowing us to do our shopping from our living rooms just by talking.

Crypto in the 2020s: scalable and private blockchains, barbell adoption, crypto as a core part of tech, and adoption by institutions and governments.

Image Source: SpaceX

SpaceX’s first mission of 2020 will deploy Starlink satellites on Monday, January 6 –It will mark the first official launch supported by the new United States Space Force. A Falcon 9 rocket will lift off at 9:20 p.m. EST from Pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. SpaceX conducted a static-fire test yesterday to prepare the rocket for the Starlink-2 mission.

Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched a Starlink mission, the Iridium-8 mission, and the Telstar 18 VANTAGE mission pic.twitter.com/QdailzdG4o— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 4, 2020

.@ElonMusk’s Neuralink wants to create and develop brain-machine interfaces.

The best way to distribute quantum entanglement around the globe is via a massive constellation of orbiting satellites, physicists say.

NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION

BWX Technologies, Inc. is a leading supplier of nuclear components and fuel to the U.S. government, also providing components and services to the commercial nuclear power industry.

We are creating a unified UKRI website that brings together the existing research council, Innovate UK and Research England websites. If you would like to be involved in its development let us know.