UC Berkeley Space Sciences Lab

Like many programs this had a primary mission of two years, but 12 years on exploration and data collection continues

in 2012, our NuSTAR observatory launched into space! The telescope continues to unlock the mysteries of X-ray sources throughout the universe. To celebrate, let’s look at some recent mission discoveries!

Astronomers want to unlock the mysteries of fast radio bursts — events that cause powerful, fleeting beams of radio light. NuSTAR recently teamed up with our NICER telescope to catch one in the act, providing clues about how these blasts happen. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3Xj9GKp

What made GRB 221009A the brightest gamma-ray burst we’ve seen? There might be clues in its jets! X-ray data from our NuSTAR telescope suggest there could be something unusual about the massive star whose collapse triggered the record-setting event. More: https://go.nasa.gov/4epq9D0

Why is the Sun’s corona so much hotter than its surface? Even though NuSTAR typically sets its sights on objects outside our solar system, it teamed up with solar observatories to help us investigate one of the Sun’s biggest mysteries: https://go.nasa.gov/3Vk51Fr

Why do a class of objects called ultraluminous X-ray sources appear to be breaking the rules? NuSTAR caught one of these sources stealing material from a neighboring star, helping us understand why it’s brighter than it should be for its mass: https://go.nasa.gov/3XjW41h

We can’t wait to see what NuSTAR will find next!

Download this colorful poster here: https://go.nasa.gov/4bYQZjC

June 7th - on this day in 1992, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) was launched on a Delta II 6920-10 rocket out of Space Launch Complex 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Also known as Explorer LXVII, the 3,275 kg EUVE was built by UC Berkeley Space Sciences Lab. It was designed to operate in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) range of the spectrum, and was used to carry out a full-sky survey, and subsequently, a deep-survey and pointed observations.

Initially planned for a mission duration of six months, EUVE operated for 8.5 years.

Message from acting director Stuart Bale: Dear SSL friends, I’m very sad to tell you that our colleague and dear friend Misty Willer passed away in the early morning hours on Sunday, May 26. She was 45 years old and had been battling brain cancer for 6 years. She is survived by her husband, Chris, whom she met in high school, and her two children, Wyatt who is 10 and Claire who is 8....

Misty Willer (1979-2024) Message from acting director Stuart Bale: Dear SSL friends, I’m very sad to tell you that our colleague and dear friend Misty Willer passed away in the early morning hours on Sunday, May 26. She wa…

Researchers have used the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument to make the largest 3D map of our universe and world-leading measurements of dark energy, the mysterious cause of its accelerating expansion...

Dark Energy results from the first year of DESI operations [Read the full article in Berkeley Lab News] Researchers have used the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument to make the largest 3D map of our universe and world-leading measurements of dark energy,…

The historic May 11, 2024 geomagnetic storm awed aurora watchers in all 50 states, and scientists are actively analyzing data to determine its impacts on our atmosphere. One example is the NSF-supported MANGO network (Mid-latitude All-sky-imaging Network for Geophysical Observations) in the continental US. MANGO is a partnership between SSL, the University of Illinois and SRI (lead); SSL's assistant research physicist Brian Harding is one of the co-Is....

MANGO Captures Historic Geomagnetic Storm The historic May 11, 2024 geomagnetic storm awed aurora watchers in all 50 states, and scientists are actively analyzing data to determine its impacts on our atmosphere. One example is the NSF-supp…

An instrument developed by SSL being installed on IMAP.

NASA’s IMAP mission takes a HIT! 💥
(In a good way!)

The HIT instrument is now being installed onto the spacecraft, and you can watch in real time.

Find out how: go.nasa.gov/4bAnaFS

Hello SSL supporters! Let’s celebrate Catherine Dang, a recent Economics graduate who has greatly supported our community. As SSL’s Undergraduate Community and Opportunity Builder for the last two years, Catherine diligently worked to connect students with our industry professionals, plus also coordinated numerous undergrad events here at SSL. She shares that she joined SSL with the intention of helping students find a supportive community and a platform to excel professionally.

Thank you, Catherine, for your dedication and hard work - SSL is grateful to have had you on our team. We wish you every success in your post-graduation pursuits!

Diving into the future of space exploration was an incredible experience thanks to SPACE at Berkeley! At the Space Sciences Laboratory, we learned of how they pioneered new spacesuit technologies and innovative designs that sought to redefine the astronaut experience. A big thank you to the team for igniting our passion for space innovations! 💫🪐

https://www.ssl.berkeley.edu/berkeley-news-uc-berkeley-will-manage-300-million-nasa-mission-to-map-the-uv-universe/

Berkeley News: UC Berkeley will manage $300 million NASA mission to map the UV universe An orbiting space telescope approved by NASA last month and scheduled for launch in 2030 will conduct the first all-sky survey of ultraviolet (UV) sources in the cosmos, providing valuable informat…

https://www.ssl.berkeley.edu/work-of-ssl-desi-team-featured-in-nyt-article-on-dark-energy/

Work of SSL DESI team featured in NYT article on dark energy An article in the New York Times on April 4 titled “A Tantalizing ‘Hint’ That Astronomers Got Dark Energy All Wrong” noted the DESI team’s contribution to recent discoveries on th…

https://www.ssl.berkeley.edu/curie-ready-for-ariane-6-launch/

CURIE ready for Ariane 6 launch Roger unpacking CURIE in good spirits Chris Moeckel and Roger Roglans recently returned from Berlin, where they successfully integrated CURIE into the NovaPod with four other satellites. After a st…

https://www.ssl.berkeley.edu/foxsi-4-observes-large-solar-flare/

FOXSI-4 observes large solar flare FOXSI-4 successfully pioneered the observation of a large solar flare onboard a sounding rocket.

🔴 Mars mission update! 🔴

Blue, the spacecraft on the left, has completed a successful thermal vacuum test campaign. Meanwhile Gold, the spacecraft on the right, has completed pre-environments testing and is now into vibration testing.

Not long to go until these beautiful machines are shipped out to the Cape ready for their journey to Mars for UC Berkeley Space Sciences Lab and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s ESCAPADE mission to unravel the mysteries of Mars' unique magnetosphere.

https://www.ssl.berkeley.edu/ssl-booth-draws-students-families-despite-rainy-cal-day/

SSL booth draws students, families despite rainy Cal Day Cal Day was celebrated on Sat. April 13th from 8:00am-4:00pm. White-tented booths were arranged around the central campus, staffed by dozens of individual departments for the annual UC Berkeley ope…

Hello SSL Supporters! Let's take a moment to recognize another one of SSL's amazing undergrads: Emilie Lo. Emilie is a 1st year majoring in physics and minoring in EECS working on the ICON project! SSL is so lucky and appreciates having Emilie as part of the team!

We are thrilled to shine the spotlight on Malaikah Khan, a dedicated member of our SSL community! Malaikah is a transfer student who has embraced the challenges of UC Berkeley with determination and resilience.

Malaikah shared, "As a transfer, it was quite a shock to adjust to the rigor of Cal, and I often felt leagues behind my peers. Working at SSL and with the help of my amazing advisor, I've realized that being here at SSL, and at Cal, was indeed meant to be challenging but that I did not have to do it alone. I am really excited to continue my research and make the most of my time here."

Malaikah, we are so grateful to have you in our community! Your perseverance and commitment are an inspiration to us all. Keep shining bright!

Hello SSL supporters! At SSL, we believe in celebrating our outstanding students, and today, we're excited to shine the spotlight on Pooneh! Pooneh, thank you for being a valuable part of our SSL community. Your dedication and enthusiasm have not gone unnoticed, and we want to express our appreciation for all that you do!

But let's hear from Pooneh herself:
"SSL is a super fun place to work. Though it seems scary at first, everyone is nice and welcoming, making it a great place to be!"

We couldn't agree more, Pooneh! SSL is all about creating a welcoming and supportive environment where students like you can thrive.

Small solar sails could be the next ‘giant leap’ for interplanetary space exploration. The BLISS project brings together researchers from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, as well as the Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center and the Space Sciences Laboratory....

The Bliss Project: Small solar sails could be the next ‘giant leap’ for interplanetary space exploration Small solar sails could be the next ‘giant leap’ for interplanetary space exploration. The BLISS project brings together researchers from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Scien…

Celestis is a company that conducts memorial spaceflights, launching spacecraft to, and returning from, space in order to honor and remember lives dedicated to exploration, adventure and humanity's presence among the stars. It's a fitting journey for SSL's Mike Lampton: scientist, astronaut, inventor, entrepreneur, and beloved husband and father. Mike passed away in June after working at SSL for fifty-four illustrious and prolific years....

Memorial spaceflight for Mike Lampton Celestis is a company that conducts memorial spaceflights, launching spacecraft to, and returning from, space in order to honor and remember lives dedicated to exploration, adventure and humanity& #…

NASA is aware of the risk of launching a real science mission on the first flight of a new rocket. But this mission, known by the acronym ESCAPADE, is relatively low cost. The Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers mission has a budget of approximately $79 million, significantly less than any mission NASA has sent to Mars in recent history....

NASA will launch a Mars mission on Blue Origin’s first New Glenn rocket NASA is aware of the risk of launching a real science mission on the first flight of a new rocket. But this mission, known by the acronym ESCAPADE, is relatively low cost. The Escape and Plasma Acc…

Happy Tuesday, SSL supporters! Today we're shining the spotlight on Skyler Chan, a superb undergrad working wonders on the COSI mission. Majoring in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Skyler's revamping space exploration with machine learning to pinpoint electron recoil events in the COSI telescope. He’s also helping to orchestrate an undergrad competition with LEAPFROG, a simulated lunar lander challenge. Skyler is truly soaring to new heights. Thank you Skyler for your stellar contributions! 🎉

For the first time, SSL will have its own booth at the Fall American Geophysical Union (AGU) Meeting, from Monday, December 11, through Thursday, December 14, at the Moscone Center. AGU is expected to have more than 25,000 attendees from over one hundred countries and the theme is Wide Open Science. SSL scientists will be volunteering at our booth to share information about our many cutting-edge projects. If you plan to attend AGU, please stop by booth #1141 to say hello, ask questions, and discuss current topics in earth and space science!

SSL will have a booth at AGU For the first time, SSL will have its own booth at the Fall American Geophysical Union (AGU) Meeting, from Monday, December 11, through Thursday, December 14, at the Moscone Center. AGU is expected…

🎓 Student Spotlight 🌟

Meet Leire Roma Rubi, an exceptional undergrad with a passion for astrophysics! Thanks to your support, Leire is enhancing the COSI gamma-ray telescope using neural networks, making incredible strides in the world of cosmic exploration. 🚀🔬

We're incredibly thankful for Leire's dedication and the support of SSL contributors like you, which makes her groundbreaking work possible.

One of two Rocket Lab-built spacecraft for NASA and UCBSSL's ESCAPADE mission to Mars. Rocket Lab photo by Austin Adams. LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced that the two spacecraft the Company is building for NASA’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission have entered the system integration phase in preparation for a planned launch in 2024....

Business Wire: Rocket Lab Integrating Twin Spacecraft for Mission to Mars for NASA One of two Rocket Lab-built spacecraft for NASA and UCBSSL’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars. Rocket Lab photo by Austin Adams. LONG BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (N…

NASA is receiving its first long-awaited sample from an asteroid. OSIRIS-REx visited and collected samples from 101955 Bennu, a carbonaceous near-Earth asteroid. The sample's return yesterday concludes a seven-year mission, and the contents will be studied by scientists worldwide. SSL research scientist Zack Gainsforth, interviewed by Al Jazeera English for this video, compares the magnitude of potential discoveries to Stardust, an earlier sample return mission for which Gainsforth analyzed cometary particles....

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx to bring samples of asteroid Bennu to Earth: What to know NASA is receiving its first long-awaited sample from an asteroid. OSIRIS-REx visited and collected samples from 101955 Bennu, a carbonaceous near-Earth asteroid. The sample’s return yesterday…

Hello SSL Supporters! 🌟 Meet the shining stars of our 2023 ASSURE program 🚀, SSL’s annual 10-week summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) opportunity where community college students get extensive training and real-world experience with SSL researchers and engineers. 📚✨ Huge applause to our dedicated 2023 ASSURE students – your journey fuels SSL's pride! 🎉👏

EnduroSat, the Space Sciences Laboratory at UC Berkeley, and NASA have partnered to launch the PADRE mission, a CubeSat that will study the Sun in hard X-rays. The mission is scheduled to launch in 2025 and will help scientists to better understand solar activity, solar flares, and space weather.The PADRE science instruments will be hosted on EnduroSat’s 12U satellite, which is one of the highest-performance platforms of the company....

EnduroSat Partners with SSL/UCB and NASA to Launch PADRE Mission to Study the Sun EnduroSat, the Space Sciences Laboratory at UC Berkeley, and NASA have partnered to launch the PADRE mission, a CubeSat that will study the Sun in hard X-rays. The mission is scheduled to launch in…

Happy Wednesday SSL Supporters! Today, we're thrilled to showcase the outstanding work of Andrew Ji, a rising star in our Experimental Astrophysics Group at SSL! 🚀Andrew's passion lies in the development of Microchannel Plates (MCPs) and their detectors. These incredible devices amplify electromagnetic signals, enabling us to capture and visualize celestial phenomena that lie far beyond our reach. Give a big round of applause to Andrew Ji, a shining star in our research community! 🌟

In an article on June 28th, the Washington Post tried to allay recent concerns—hyped on social media—about the impact of future solar storms. A typical scary narrative foretells "magnetic fields unleashed by a solar superstorm rip through Earth’s magnetosphere, sending currents surging through human infrastructure...We look up from our phones and computers to catch a glimpse, and the internet as we know it blinks out." But as Bob Sanders of UC Berkeley…...

Bale unfazed by “internet apocalypse” In an article on June 28th, the Washington Post tried to allay recent concerns—hyped on social media—about the impact of future solar storms. A typical scary narrative foretells “magnetic fie…

New SSL Undergraduate Engagement Group and Recent Activities/Achievements “The University's fundamental missions are teaching, research and public service” (source: UCOP). Although SSL excels at research, and through those discoveries, public service to a large degree, a number of us here have seen SSL’s role in and greater potential for contributing to the mission of teaching somewhat underappreciated on campus and beyond....

New SSL Undergraduate Engagement Group and Recent Activities/Achievements New SSL Undergraduate Engagement Group and Recent Activities/Achievements“The University’s fundamental missions are teaching, research and public service” (source: UCOP). Although SSL excels …