Large-scale Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations have become a focal point for providing round-the-clock high-fidelity information services. However, their efficient and economical batch deployment faces severe challenges from growing demands and multiple constraints, with existing methods struggling to address the computational complexity in large-scale scenarios. To meet this pressing need, this study published in the Chinese Journal of Aeronautics proposes an innovative deployment optimization framework. At its core, it constructs a novel partial time-expanded network and employs an efficient hybrid algorithm to significantly reduce constraint explosion, enhancing solution efficiency and scalability. The framework supports dual-channel, multi-configuration rocket strategies and flexible deployment under multiple mission triggers through weighted optimization. Ultimately, it effectively reduces deployment costs, improves optimization efficiency, and provides reliable decision support for large-scale constellation deployment.

Accurate estimation of the ionosphere is essential for reliable Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning, timing, and space weather applications. 

Due to the unique conditions of the space environment and abundant resources, the field investigation and study of the Moon, Earth’s sole natural satellite, represent a crucial milestone in China’s forthcoming deep space endeavors. The successful collection of lunar soil by the Chang’E-5 mission signifies the next phase of the lunar exploration program, which aims to establish a preliminary research station on the lunar south pole. Highly adhesive fine dust particles with an adhesion strength of 0.1 to 1.0 kN/m², which originate from the regolith, disperse throughout the lunar surface. These particles exhibit a lasting attraction and subsequent persistent adhesion to the surface of spacecraft or spacesuits. The accumulation of highly adhesive dust on spacecraft presents a serious issue to hinder long-term extravehicular activity and the establishment of a permanent station on lunar surface. In contrast to the immediate physical damage caused by hypervelocity (> 1.0 km/s) impacts, this adhesion observed at low- velocity (0.01 to 100 m/s) collisions can more unobtrusively and mortally degenerate the performance of equipment. In recent years, many interaction models have been developed to forecast the adhesion and ejection dynamics of lunar dust on various surfaces. Most researches on the electrostatic force applied on dust particles near the surface use point-charge approximation. Although this simplification makes the simulation easier, the error can be large due to the polarization of dust induced by the image charge.

Discover how space–ground fluid AI is set to revolutionize 6G networks by integrating edge AI with satellite systems, enabling global AI services and overcoming challenges of satellite mobility and communication rates. Explore the innovative techniques proposed in a new study published in Engineering that could shape the future of intelligent connectivity.

The Research Group on Innovation, Development and Competency Assessment in Education (IDOCE) at Universitat Jaume I in Castelló, coordinated by Professor Lucía Sánchez-Tarazaga, has promoted the creation of the Observatory of the Teaching Profession. This initiative emerged from the need to disseminate academic knowledge on teaching and the teaching profession and aims to become a co-creation space for sharing teaching experiences and fostering educational research among non-university teachers.

In a new study, MIT researchers tested their theory of Spatial Computing, which holds that the brain recruits and controls ad hoc groups of neurons for cognitive tasks by applying brain waves to patches of the cortex.