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Space Technology

NASA Researchers Develop Laser 3D Printing for Lunar Bases

What Happened Scientists at Ohio State University have successfully demonstrated a laser-based 3D printing process that can create structures using lunar regolith—the fine, dusty material covering the Moon’s surface. Led by Dr. Sarah Wolff and graduate student Sizhe Xu, the research team developed a selective laser melting technique that fuses particles of simulated lunar soil into solid building materials. The process works by using high-powered lasers to heat lunar regolith particles to their melting point, causing them to fuse together layer by layer.

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Duke University Creates World's Fastest Light Detector

What Happened Duke University scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in photodetection technology by creating an ultrathin device that combines unprecedented speed with full-spectrum light sensitivity. The photodetector can respond to electromagnetic radiation ranging from visible light to infrared and beyond, generating electrical signals in just 125 picoseconds. This achievement makes it the fastest pyroelectric detector ever built, according to the research team. Pyroelectric detectors work by converting temperature changes caused by absorbed light into electrical signals, but traditional devices typically operate in the nanosecond range—roughly 1,000 times slower than this new innovation.

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UC Davis Creates First Engine That Generates Power From Space's Cold

What Happened Researchers at the University of California, Davis have successfully built and tested a device that generates mechanical energy during nighttime hours by harnessing the vast temperature differential between Earth and space. The system employs a specialized Stirling engine that connects the relatively warm ground to the frigid depths above, converting this natural temperature gradient into usable power. The technology works through radiative cooling, a natural phenomenon where Earth’s surface loses heat to space through infrared radiation after sunset.

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AI Data Centers Head to Space as Major Tech Giants Race to Orbit

What Happened The space-based computing revolution has moved from concept to active development, with several major players making concrete moves toward orbital AI infrastructure: Starcloud became the first company to successfully train a large language model in space using an NVIDIA H100 GPU in 2025, proving the technical feasibility of the concept. The company has since filed with the FCC for a constellation of up to 88,000 satellites. SpaceX submitted FCC applications in January 2026 for millions of satellites dedicated to space-based computing, leveraging their Starlink manufacturing and launch capabilities.

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