3 minute read - What's in a name? More than you might think. KMI's first spacecraft needed a title that not only symbolized its mission but also paid homage to the myths of old. After much debate, we landed on "Laelaps"—a name rooted in Greek legend. But what does a mythic hound, destined to catch everything it chases, have to do with space?
10 minute read - Designing for space isn’t easy. Before electronics reach the ISS, they must endure launch forces, operate in microgravity, and function reliably in orbit. In this first installment, Thomas Zieglar breaks down the challenges of building for space—starting with robustness. Plus, meet Astrobee, the free-flying ISS robot hosting our REACCH demo. From extreme environments to precision engineering, KMI is exploring what it takes to make space tech not just survive—but thrive.
5 minute read - From on-demand tools to building lunar colonies, 3D printing is revolutionizing space missions. By reducing costly resupply needs and enabling in-space manufacturing, it’s paving the way for sustainable exploration beyond Earth. Can it overcome the extreme challenges of space to truly support the next era of deep space exploration?
7 minute read - Have you ever wondered if there’s a better way to get to space than rockets? Robotics Engineer Preksha Sanjay Madhva breaks down futuristic concepts like space elevators, skyhooks, and other ideas that could revolutionize space travel. From reducing fuel costs to carrying larger payloads, these innovative ideas could change how we explore the cosmos - if we can solve their massive engineering challenges.
5-minute read - A previous KMI column discussed various methods of propulsion and the respective “oomph” that each one has. Austin Morris, Director of Engineering, continues this topic by reviewing how spacecraft need to generate their own power in order to keep running and a few of the different ways to do that.
5 minute read - Modern space technology comes with many obstacles, the most difficult of which to overcome is gravity. Fortunately, our knight in shining armor is the humble rocket, which rides upon a steed of fire and smoke to defeat the gravitational tyrant. In today’s column, KMI Director of Engineering Austin Morris explains a bit about the concepts that lie beneath the Tyranny of the Rocket Equation.
4 minute read - In my previous column, The Sky is Falling and That’s Okay, I discussed the fact that there is an average of one orbital object that reenters Earth’s atmosphere every day. I also described why it is typically better for these objects to reenter than to stay in orbit, to ensure that they burn away into nothingness and cause no risk of damage to other objects. This is because the enormous amount of air friction that is encountered when entering the atmosphere at orbital speeds creates such an unbearable amount of heat that very few objects can survive it long enough to slow down and descend to the surface.
