News

Not just Patriot interceptors: The weapons US and allies use to defend against missiles, drones

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:45:35 +0000

Not just Patriot interceptors: The weapons US and allies use to defend against missiles, drones Jeff Zehnder Fri, 03/13/2026 - 11:45

Concerns about shortages of interceptor missiles in the conflict between the U.S. and Iran highlight the challenges of defending against missiles and drones. Read from CU expert Iain Boyd on The Conversation.

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Aerospace professor discusses laser weapons with The Atlantic

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 20:37:34 +0000

Aerospace professor discusses laser weapons with The Atlantic Jeff Zehnder Mon, 03/09/2026 - 14:37

Iain Boyd was interviewed by The Atlantic for an article on laser based-weapons, which until recently were largely the realm of science fiction.

Boyd, a professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, is a national security expert and also the director of the 91��ý Center for National Security Initiatives.

“This is a technology that has been under development for decades and it’s only really now just really starting to enter the public view," Boyd said.

The article focuses on advances made in both by the United States and Ukraine, as well as the pluses and minuses of military lasers.

Read the full article at The Atlantic...

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Libera space instrument will continue 26-year unbroken record of Earth’s ‘energy budget’

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:17:34 +0000

Libera space instrument will continue 26-year unbroken record of Earth’s ‘energy budget’ Jeff Zehnder Wed, 02/25/2026 - 16:17

Sometime next year, a new NASA instrument designed and built in Colorado will get an eagle-eye view of Earth. The instrument, known as Libera, will circle the planet from high above, scanning every inch of the globe daily to track how much radiative energy, or light at all wavelengths, is leaving Earth.

The measurements are a crucial piece of understanding of what scientists call the planet’s “energy budget.” That’s the name for the constant churn of radiation to Earth from the sun and back into space. Radiation is reflected off clouds and from surfaces like the planet’s vast ice sheets. Thermal radiation also flows from Earth into space on an ongoing basis.

“The flow of that energy is very important for all processes on Earth, including the atmospheric motions and winds that circulate weather systems and drive the ocean currents,” said Peter Pilewskie, a scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder. “This energy is behind everything that sustains life on Earth.”

For six years, Pilewskie has led the team that developed Libera, which is about the size of a baby buffalo.

In February, the group boxed up Libera and shipped it to a facility in Arizona run by the aerospace company Northrop Grumman. There, engineers will install Libera onto a satellite called the Joint Polar Satellite System-4 (JPSS-4)—a collaboration between NASA and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

JPSS-4 is slated to launch for orbit in 2027 when it will be renamed NOAA-22.

Libera is a technical marvel: The instrument will use a suite of detectors no bigger than shirt buttons to record the full wavelength range of radiative energy leaving Earth—including ultraviolet and visible light and infrared radiation. Think of it like measuring how bright our planet is when seen from space continuously and at the full spectrum of wavelengths.

The effort is part of a nearly three-decade-long chain of unbroken measurements of Earth’s energy budget. Libera will follow a NASA mission called the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES). The first CERES instrument launched in 1997, and the mission has maintained a continuous record of the Earth’s energy budget from space since 2000. In Roman mythology, Libera is the daughter of the goddess Ceres.

“This name symbolizes the handover of this important data record from mother to daughter,” said Pilewskie, professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at 91��ý.

It’s also a testament to LASP’s long legacy of traveling to space to help humans on Earth.

“Libera is the next step in LASP’s long legacy of building customized, high-performance instrumentation for space science research,” said Bethany Ehlmann, director of LASP. “This mission reflects LASP’s commitment to creating instruments that advance scientific discovery and empower decision-making for the future.”

Energy balance

Every day, the sun emits huge amounts of radiative energy. Earth intercepts a small amount of that energy nearly 93 million miles away. Roughly 30% of that radiation doesn’t stay on Earth but, rather, returns to space.

The amount of energy coming to Earth from the sun versus the energy that exits the planet into space makes up Earth’s energy budget. Even small changes in those numbers can have profound impacts for the ocean and weather systems that affect life on Earth, Pilewskie said.

To monitor that balance, Libera will adopt a polar orbit and will cover all latitudes of the planet. Its sensor head will swivel back and forth constantly, allowing the instrument to survey the entire planet every day.

Peter Pilewskie, principal investigator for Libera

Brian Boyle, program manager for Libera

Kate Barone, performance testing director for Libera

Pilewskie added that scientists can learn a lot by following Earth’s energy budget. Scientists have long known that an imbalance in energy exists between the planet’s equator and poles—with more energy building up at the equator.

Observations from the 1960s, however, revealed that the imbalance of radiative energy between the equator and poles was much greater than predicted. That imbalance is responsible for driving large-scale circulation patterns around the planet, including the jet streams, trade winds, and the Gulf Stream current in the Atlantic Ocean. Those circulation patterns regulate weather on Earth.

“Libera’s fundamental measurements of Earth’s energy flows improve our understanding of how the Earth system works and how it is changing, with practical benefits across a myriad of applications,” Pilewskie said. “There’s a lot of fulfillment in knowing that our important measurements can impact society.”

Shag carpet

The key to Libera lies in its innovative sensors, which have never flown into space on a mission of this size.

These sensors include countless incredibly small carbon “nanotubes” and are among the blackest materials ever invented. Scientists at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed the initial design for those nanotubes.

Kate Barone, the performance testing director for Libera at LASP compared the sensors to “a super shaggy piece of carpet made out of carbon.”

When radiation streaming from Earth encounters Libera, those black sensors will absorb the rays and heat up ever so slightly. The instrument records those small changes in temperature to calculate how much radiative energy is leaving the planet.

Barone graduated from 91��ý with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering sciences in 2023. She designed tests to make sure that Libera will work as promised, and her experiences gave her invaluable insights into just how complex spacecraft can be.

“It's given me an awesome opportunity to know some of the intricate details of how Libera works, down to its smallest components,” she said.

More than 100 people, including numerous early-career engineers like Barone, have worked on Libera over the years. They’ve solved a lot of tough problems, said Brian Boyle, program manager for the instrument.

Libera, for example, will scan across the Earth about 30 million times during its 5-year mission. Engineers on the project had to design a motor that could last that long in space without breaking down.

“The Libera team members have incredible passion for what they're doing,” said Brian Boyle, program manager for Libera at LASP. “They’ve invented this new world class instrument, and it works exactly as designed.”

Bon voyage

Saying goodbye to Libera has been bittersweet for Pilewskie, who began working on the instrument in February 2020.

“I remember at the time thinking, ‘Six years, that’s a lot of time,’” he said. “Now, looking back, I can’t believe we did all that in six years.”

Barone can’t wait to see some of her own handiwork make it to space:

“It feels awesome that I had a part to play in getting to create an instrument that will give us so much amazing information about Earth.”

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Congratulations 2026 Skyward Showcase honorees

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:08:36 +0000

Congratulations 2026 Skyward Showcase honorees Jeff Zehnder Mon, 02/23/2026 - 10:08

Jeff Zehnder

The six honorees.

Flickr Album of the 2026 Skyward Showcase

Students and researchers shared their work at the 2026 Skyward Showcase last week.

The annual aerospace event features 10-minute talks highlighting current research in a friendly, informal environment.

Hosted by the Smead Scholars, the event offered more than two dozen undegraduate, masters, and PhD students a chance to present their research.

Congratulations to six students for receiving top honors at the event:

Best Overall: James Monaco
Best 1st year: Owen Kranz
Best Undergrad: Jorie Myers
Most Entertaining: Asa O'Neal
Most Feedback: Tomaz Remec
Best graphics: Robyn Natherson

The event also featured a keynote presentation by Ulubilge Ulusoy, the inaugural Smead Distinguished Postdoctoral Associate, and a special closing talk from Lizy-Destrez, professor at l'ISAE-SUPAERO and 2026 Byram Distinguished Visiting Professor.

Students and researchers shared their work at The 2026 Skyward Showcase. The annual aerospace event features 10-minute talks highlighting current...

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Skyward Showcase 2026 - Friday, Feb. 20

Jeff Zehnder — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:21:15 +0000

Skyward Showcase 2026 - Friday, Feb. 20 Jeff Zehnder Sat, 02/14/2026 - 08:21

The Smead Program Presents
Skyward Showcase

Friday, February 20, 2025
@ The Aerospace Building
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Come and go throughout the day!

Research Talks! Prizes for presenters! Free Food!

Join us for this yearly tradition! Skyward Showcase provides Smead Aerospace students and faculty the opportunity to give 10-minute talks highlighting current research in a friendly and informal event

Keynote Speaker:

Earth Independent Long Duration Exploration Missions
Dr. Ulubilge Ulusoy
Smead Distinguished Post-doctoral Associate
10:40 - 11:30 a.m., AERO 120

Abstract: As we work to expand human presence toward the Martian surface, we face the challenge of Earth-independent operations driven by significant communication delays. To overcome these challenges and enable missions to Mars and beyond, we must increasingly rely on AI-enabled and robotic agents.

Questions? Sarah.Kinney@colorado.edu

Join us for this yearly tradition! Skyward Showcase provides Smead Aerospace students and faculty the opportunity to give 10-minute talks highlighting...

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Iain Boyd discusses how antidrone lasers work

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:18:24 +0000

Iain Boyd discusses how antidrone lasers work Jeff Zehnder Fri, 02/13/2026 - 11:18

Iain Boyd was interviewed in a new Scientific American piece on the use of laser-based weapons systems.

The article discusses the development of military lasers and the recent temporary airspace restriction over the El Paso International Airport, reportedly to avoid conflicts with laser weapons being used to target drones crossing into the U.S. from Mexico.

Boyd said laser weapons systems have significant benefits, as they can fire continuously without being reloaded. However, they also present a unique negative.

“If you fire a laser at a drone and miss it, that laser beam will keep on going for a long way. It might hit something else or dazzle a pilot," Boyd said.

Read the full article at Scientific American...

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A ‘generationally defining moment’: 40 years later, NASA alum reflects on Challenger disaster

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 15:01:55 +0000

A ‘generationally defining moment’: 40 years later, NASA alum reflects on Challenger disaster Jeff Zehnder Mon, 01/26/2026 - 08:01

On January 28, 1986, NASA’s Challenger space shuttle disintegrated 73 seconds after launching from the Kennedy Space Center. All seven crew members aboard, including 91��ý alumnus Ellison Onizuka (AeroEngr ’69), tragically lost their lives.

David Klaus, professor emeritus from 91��ý’s Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, started his career with NASA and was a shuttle launch control engineer at the time (although he did not work the Challenger mission).

91��ý Today spoke with Klaus about his memories of that day, the legacy of the crew and crucial lessons learned from the tragedy.

Where were you on the day of the Challenger incident?

NASA had plans to start launching Air Force payloads off the West Coast at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in July of 1986. I was training to be on the Vandenberg launch team, and I would have been on the Challenger launch console, but I had just gone out to California for some work out there. So I was at the Vandenberg launch site when the Challenger launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

We happened to be sitting in the launch control center at Vandenberg. We pretty much saw what everybody else watching TV saw, although we could hear the comms loops. We could hear what was going on.

When did you realize that something was wrong?

All I saw was that infamous image with the solid rocket boosters going off in two directions. I was pretty new in the game at that point, so I didn't have a lot of insight. But I was sort of in disbelief at first. You don't really comprehend what you're seeing. It just doesn't look right. Something looks wrong. Your brain’s trying to process what's going on. But we realized pretty quickly that this was a bad event.

What caused the shuttle to break apart?

The actual root cause of the failure was the O-rings (gaskets) that keep the propellant pressure contained inside the two rockets. It was really cold in Florida that day, and my understanding is that the cold weather made the seals brittle. Because they were brittle, they allowed gas pressure to escape, and the escaping gas pressure is ultimately what caused the destruction of the vehicle.

The Challenger crew members are pictured in November 1985, about two months before the tragedy. Back row, from left: Ellison Onizuka, Sharon McAuliffe, Greg Jarvis and Judy Resnik. Front row, from left: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee and Ron McNair. (Credit: NASA)

What lessons were learned from the Challenger?

For every NASA mission, when something goes wrong or is unexpected, it gets documented as ‘lessons learned’, and you work to make sure it doesn't happen again. You either change operational requirements, or you change the design, or both.

After the Challenger accident, for example, NASA has had tighter weather criteria for launch. And they added heater strips around the O-ring joints on later flights as part of a redesign. So both operational and design changes were made.

It's a high-risk endeavor to start with, putting people into space. And I think it became very apparent at that point. The Challenger was the first in-flight fatal accident that had occurred in NASA's history. In the space domain, there are a lot of unknown unknowns, and those are the ones that can cause the biggest problem. But once they happen, they're not unknown anymore, and now you've got something you can design toward.

How do you view the legacy of the Challenger crew?

The Challenger incident was one of those generationally defining moments. It was a reminder that life is risky. If you're pushing the envelope, you accept the risks, and you do the best you can to mitigate those risks. But you can't ever make them go away. So the crew’s legacy was maybe a heightened awareness of the risk of space flight, but also the importance of continuing to go to space even when catastrophic events do occur.

Looking back 40 years later, what stands out the most about the Challenger?

The technical lessons learned made me start thinking more about risk analysis. It's one thing to design a vehicle that can meet all the needs and do the job, but once you get to that point in the design process, you now go back and start looking at it and saying, ‘What can go wrong? What happens if it goes wrong, and what can we do about it if it does go wrong?’

The human aspect, of course, goes without saying. These were some pretty outstanding individuals, and their lives were tragically cut short. But on the other hand, I don't think they would have stepped aside. Everyone understood that there was risk. The degree of risk might have been debatable, but anytime you're launching people into space—anytime you're walking across the street, for that matter—there's a degree of risk that you accept in your life to do what you want to do.

David Klaus

If you were speaking to young engineers now, what would you want them to understand?

When you're the one designing the rockets or the habitats or any of the infrastructure, pay attention to the details. Don't take shortcuts. Try to think beyond just ‘Here's an answer that's good enough.’

Consider risk analysis from the very beginning of the design. Think about all the things that can go wrong and try to design something that is what we call either fault tolerant or redundant. So, if something breaks, can the system continue working? Or do you have another way that you can provide that function in place of the thing that broke?

Think about what needs to be done and break it down into the functions that have to be accomplished to make that happen. Then brainstorm different ideas—not just one solution, but as many as you can come up with. And then work to find an optimal balance of risk and complexity from that process.

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Alumna set for New Shepard launch

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:09:37 +0000

Alumna set for New Shepard launch Jeff Zehnder Wed, 01/21/2026 - 10:09

Laura Stiles (AeroEngr MS'11, PhD'13) is spacebound.

The 91��ý alumna is set to fly on the New Shepard Mission NS-38 suborbital flight, which is scheduled to launch Jan. 22, 2026.

Stiles is Blue Origin’s Director of New Shepard Launch Operations. She is a late addition to the flight, after a previously announced crew contracted an illness and is no longer able to fly.

Stiles has been at Blue Origin in 2013 where she has worked in a number of capacities, including mechanical systems design, integrated vehicle test, launch operations, astronaut training, as well as service as a Flight Controller and CapCom.

In 2024, Stiles was a recipient of a Smead Aerospace alumni award for Excellence in Technical Achievement and Leadership (Under 40 Category).

With the flight, Stiles will become the 21st CU affiliate to journey to space.

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Boyd interviewed on potential sonic weapons

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:40:30 +0000

Boyd interviewed on potential sonic weapons Jeff Zehnder Thu, 01/15/2026 - 13:40

Iain Boyd discusses the raid to capture Nicolas Maduro in a new interview with The Telegraph (UK).

The article explores if the United States used a sonic weapon as part of the raid. Such instruments are associated with the Havana Syndrome, a mysterious ailment that has impacted American diplomats around the world.

Boyd suggests the weapon used in the Maduro raid could have combined sonic and radio waves, but many questions remain.

Read the full story at The Telegraph...

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Retired professor and astronaut honored

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 19:51:28 +0000

Retired professor and astronaut honored Jeff Zehnder Fri, 01/09/2026 - 12:51

Joe Tanner, NASA astronaut and former senior instructor at the University of Colorado Boulder is being inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Tanner flew on four Space Shuttle missions from 1994 to 2006, taking part in Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions and critical assembly work on the Interntional Space Station.

After retiring from NASA, he joined the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, where he served as a senior instructor for nearly a decade.

The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame was created by the original Mercury Seven astronauts to recognize accomplishments in space and contributions to space exploration.

Read the full article at Space Coast Daily...

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