Tiny satellites may soon orbit closer to Earth for longer, thanks to 3D-printed electric rockets built at Cornell, according to the Cornell Chronicle.
Led by aerospace engineer Elaine Petro, the team’s custom rockets pair with a breakthrough propellant made of accelerated nanoparticles—reaching speeds up to 30,000 mph—to overcome atmospheric drag that typically pulls small satellites down.
Funded by DARPA and developed in just three years, the project could reshape everything from GPS to climate monitoring. But Petro warns: without sustained research funding, the U.S. risks falling behind in the new space race.
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