Space

From miniature satellites to giant sun shields – the extreme technology transforming space engineering

The Sunshield test unit to be used on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is stacked and expanded at a cleanroom in the Northrop Grumman facility in Redondo Beach, California, in this NASA handout picture released July 25, 2014. The Sunshield separates the observatory into a warm sun-facing side and a cold side where the sunshine is blocked from interfering with the sensitive infrared instruments. REUTERS/NASA/Chris Gunn/Handout (UNITED STATES - Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - TM3EA7P0U2M01

Space technology is miniaturizing. Image: REUTERS/NASA/Chris Gunn

Colin McInnes
James Watt Chair, University of Glasgow
Malcolm McRobb
Research Associate of Systems Power & Energy, University of Glasgow
Zhongxu Hu
Research Associate of Systems Power and Energy, University of Glasgow
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CubeSat in hand Image: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA
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Primary mirror of the James Webb telescope. Image: NASA/MSFC/David Higginbotham
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