Astronomy & Astrophysics News

Galaxy-surveying spacecraft Gaia detects two new planets

Researchers from Tel Aviv University (TAU) led the discovery of two new planets in remote solar systems by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) spacecraft Gaia, a star-surveying satellite on a mission to chart a 3D map of our Milky Way galaxy and beyond. Because this is the first time that Gaia has successfully located new… Read More

TAU satellite protects electronic systems from hazardous radiation effects in space

Tel Aviv University (TAU) recently launched the TauSat-3 satellite to space, a technological demonstrator of the COTS-Capsule, an innovative space mechanism for detecting and mitigating cosmic-ray-induced damage to space systems. TauSat-3, which is approximately the size of a shoebox, was carefully designed and built by TAU’s team of experts and will examine the performance of… Read More

In exclusive event, astronaut Jessica Meir addresses TAU Governors

On October 21, 2021, NASA astronaut Dr. Jessica Meir addressed the 2021 Board of Governors Meeting of Tel Aviv University (TAU), discussing her missions to space, life under extreme environmental conditions, and the relationship between her research and combating climate change. Meir, who is also a marine biologist and physiologist, delivered her remarks by live… Read More

TAU builds and plans to launch a small satellite into orbit

The TAU-SAT1 nanosatellite, approximately the size of a shoebox, is currently undergoing pre-flight testing at the Japanese space agency JAXA prior to a planned launch by NASA in the first quarter of 2021. TAU-SAT1 was entirely devised, developed, assembled, and tested at Tel Aviv University’s Nanosatellite Center, an interdisciplinary endeavor of the University’s Iby and… Read More