This KISS Study Program will aim to 1) establish the concept of software-defined space systems (SDSSs) that can adapt their functions at all levels after launch through software updates and 2) formulate a concrete one-shot multifaceted mission.
The aerospace industry has experienced a dramatic shift over the last decade: Flying a spacecraft has gone from something only government agencies and large corporations could afford to something universities and small startups can accomplish on a shoestring budget. This talk is about pushing these limits – building spacecraft that are dramatically smaller, simpler, and cheaper – and taking advantage of computation, networking, and autonomy to accomplish exciting new science and exploration missions, while also bringing spaceflight within reach of more people.
The Keck Institute for Space Studies is deeply saddened to learn of Yuk Yung’s passing. Yuk has been an active and dedicated member of the KISS Steering Committee for many years, providing invaluable guidance in the technical assessment of KISS studies. He will be greatly missed by KISS, Caltech, and the wider community. Learn more about Yuk’s contributions to planetary science on the Caltech website.
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The Keck Institute for Space Studies is excited to announce the selection of the programs for the 2026 cohort. Congratulations to all of the teams! We look forward to working with you and sharing more as these study programs develop.
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The KISS final report “Tracing Greenhouse Gases: A Blueprint for a Joint Meteorology and Atmospheric Composition Program," was recently highlighted by Caltech. To learn more about the KISS study visit our Programs page. To read the final report click here.
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Recently published paper “Implications of Shallow-Shell Models for Topographic Relaxation on Icy Satellites” acknowledges the KISS study Digital Twins for Solar System Exploration: Enceladus. To learn more about the KISS study visit our Programs page. To read the paper click here.
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