APL Advances – January 2023

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory • APL Advances

Critical Contributions to Critical Challenges • January 10, 2023

Continued observations of evolving ejecta have given the investigation team better understanding of what the DART spacecraft achieved at the impact site.

Scientists Following a Dusty Tail to Shape the Story of DART’s Impact

Since the Johns Hopkins APL-built DART spacecraft slammed into asteroid moonlet Dimorphos on Sept. 26, scientists have been analyzing data on the tons of dusty rock launched into space by the impact — learning more about DART’s push against Dimorphos as well as potential applications of this planetary defense technique.

Climate change may pose several existential threats, at least in worst-case scenarios — such as rising sea levels, flooded coasts, increased droughts, heat waves and extreme weather events. But the potential “second order” effects, like the impact that long-term changes in environmental conditions might have on technology, haven’t been studied as closely.

Climate Change Likely to Affect Communications, Remote Sensing Technologies

A team at APL recently studied the potential impact of climate change on communications and remote sensing systems like radars, and determined that severe changes in Earth’s climate would likely affect these technologies — in some cases for better, in others for worse.

A fixed-wing UAV completes a maneuver during testing at APL.

Lab Creates Autonomous Collision Avoidance Technology for Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

APL researchers have given aerobatic fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) the ability to autonomously navigate complex environments using onboard sensing, a first-of-its-kind achievement.

The Computerworld award recognizes the top organizations that challenge their IT staff members while providing competitive benefits and compensation.

APL Named to Computerworld ‘Best Places to Work in IT’

For the fifth consecutive year, APL has earned a leading place among Computerworld’s 2023 Best Places to Work in IT. The Lab was ranked No. 17 overall among large organizations (those that employ more than 5,000 people), with additional rankings at No. 1 for career development and No. 9 for both diversity and IT growth.

Read More Stories

Dragonfly: The Dune Drone

More than a decade before the real Dragonfly soars over the organic dunes of Titan, the team developing the NASA rotorcraft lander at APL is refining the concept by sending instrumented models over the sands of Earth’s deserts. A team of APL engineers ventured back to Imperial Sand Dunes to send the Dragonfly “testbed” through the skies to collect data they’ll need to develop guidance, control and navigation algorithms for the actual Dragonfly, set for launch toward Saturn’s largest moon in 2027. Watch the video.

APL’s STEM Program Office is committed to helping students and teachers develop their literacy and competency in science, technology, engineering and math. Do you know a student who is interested in learning more about these fields? The office has two opportunities that will be accepting applications in January, APL’s STEM Academy and APL’s Student Program to Inspire, Relate and Enrich (ASPIRE), which both aim to increase students’ experience with and knowledge of the STEM fields.

Learn more about APL's STEM Program Office

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

11100 Johns Hopkins Road | Laurel, MD 20723 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.

Subscribe to our email list.