NASA, Johns Hopkins APL Poised to Demonstrate Next-Gen Spacecraft Comms Technology Jul 22, 2025
As NASA prepares to commercialize satellite relay services, APL engineers are developing an effective and efficient way for spacecraft to relay data and communicate in low Earth orbit.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Snaps Closest-Ever Images to Sun Jul 16, 2025
On its record-breaking pass by the Sun late last year, the Johns Hopkins APL-built Parker Solar Probe captured stunning images from within the Sun’s atmosphere. Taken closer to the Sun than we’ve ever been before, the images are helping scientists better understand the Sun’s influence across the solar system, including events that can affect Earth.
Giare Named Head of Johns Hopkins APL’s Air and Missile Defense Sector Jul 15, 2025
Vishal Giare has been appointed head of APL’s Air and Missile Defense Sector, where he will lead APL’s efforts to advance the nation’s ability to defend our homeland, deployed forces, allies and partners against increasingly complex adversary threats.
Commercial Collaborations Enable Agile, Reliable Space Solutions Jul 8, 2025
For nearly a decade, Johns Hopkins APL and Blue Canyon Technologies have collaborated on agile, reliable space solutions for government sponsors, enabling faster and more cost-effective space missions across civil space and national security sectors.
Johns Hopkins APL Develops Innovative Platform for Traumatic Brain Injury Research Jul 3, 2025
A team of researchers from APL and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is developing next-generation brain organoid platforms to better understand the effects of mild blast-induced traumatic brain injuries caused by repeated low-level blasts.
USNORTHCOM Commander’s Visit Spotlights Johns Hopkins APL’s Proactive Role in Homeland Defense Jun 18, 2025
Gen. Gregory Guillot, Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, saw firsthand how APL’s advanced technologies and cross-agency expertise support emerging national security priorities, including integrated air and missile defense, multidomain awareness and counter-drone operations.
Johns Hopkins APL, Navy Team up to Advance Additive Manufacturing for Critical Missions Jun 17, 2025
APL is working with the Naval Sea Systems Command to prove that additive manufacturing can consistently deliver mission-critical components, reducing logistics delays and enhancing fleet readiness.
Engineering Tomorrow’s Quantum Computers May 27, 2025
Researchers have touted the revolutionary potential of quantum computers to take on otherwise intractable challenges, like modeling complex molecular behavior for drug discovery or factoring enormous numbers in use for cryptography schemes. But how such a computer would be created remains unclear. With help from Johns Hopkins APL, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is attempting to define, in practical terms, what a useful quantum computer looks like and how it must be built.
Nano-engineered Thermoelectrics Enable Scalable, Compressor-Free Cooling May 21, 2025
Researchers at Johns Hopkins APL, in collaboration with Samsung Research, have unveiled a breakthrough in solid-state cooling technology, doubling the efficiency of today’s commercial systems. Driven by the Lab’s patented nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric materials and devices, this innovation paves the way for compact, reliable and scalable cooling solutions that could potentially replace traditional compressors across a range of industries.
Johns Hopkins APL Publishes Report on Nation’s First Space Weather Simulation Exercise May 2, 2025
APL recently released the report on the nation’s first space weather tabletop exercise held last year, which simulated a severe space weather event. The report identifies key findings and recommendations for improving the nation’s response to space weather events.
Dragonfly Mission Passes Critical Design Review Apr 25, 2025
The Johns Hopkins APL-led team working on the first rotorcraft designed for scientific exploration on another ocean world has passed its Critical Design Review, a major milestone confirming that Dragonfly’s design is mature and the team can turn its attention to construction and testing of the spacecraft itself.
Dave Van Wie Named Next Director of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory Apr 11, 2025
Dave Van Wie has been selected to lead Johns Hopkins APL as its next director. Van Wie, currently the Air and Missile Defense Sector Head at APL, is a distinguished leader and scholar whose groundbreaking contributions to national defense and aerospace engineering have significantly advanced our nation’s security. His appointment is effective July 14.
Johns Hopkins APL Team Applies Expertise to Homeland Defense Wargame Apr 7, 2025
A team from APL played a central role in a recent Defense Department wargame that addressed the challenges of protecting logistics infrastructure against growing adversarial threats.
Training Robots to Plan and React Like Humans Apr 3, 2025
Johns Hopkins APL researchers are advancing robotic perception by using artificial intelligence to equip autonomous agents with the capacity to make sense of unstructured environments — and make plans just like humans.
Johns Hopkins APL, Microsoft Collaborate to Advance Robotics and Materials Discovery Using AI Apr 2, 2025
APL and Microsoft are partnering to advance robotics and materials discovery by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI).
AI Reveals New Way to Strengthen Titanium Alloys and Speed Up Manufacturing Mar 6, 2025
Johns Hopkins researchers have leveraged artificial intelligence to uncover faster, more efficient ways to manufacture titanium alloy parts while maximizing mechanical performance.
Generative AI Wargaming Promises to Accelerate Mission Analysis Mar 3, 2025
A team at Johns Hopkins APL is creating an artificial intelligence-driven capability that automates much of the work that goes into designing, setting up, developing and running wargames. The effort holds promise to dramatically amplify the impact and value of wargames and similar exercises for the military and other government agencies.
Johns Hopkins APL Satellite Communications Facility Plays Critical Role in U.S. Lunar Initiative Feb 28, 2025
A signature APL facility that dates back to the Sputnik era is playing a pivotal role for one of NASA’s most critical lunar initiatives.
Revolutionizing Battlefield Medicine: Augmented Reality for Lifesaving Trauma Care Feb 13, 2025
Johns Hopkins APL researchers are leveraging predictive anatomy visualization, artificial intelligence and real-time ultrasound to help medics provide faster and more accurate medical care in the field.
Nimble Cellular Networks Keep Tactical Users Connected Jan 7, 2025
Johns Hopkins APL researchers are contributing to the development of a mobile cellular system that can be installed in a small uncrewed aerial vehicle to give warfighters and first responders communications connectivity in austere environments.
Parker Solar Probe Makes History With Closest Pass to the Sun Dec 27, 2024
NASA’s mission to “touch” the Sun has confirmed that it survived its record-breaking closest approach to the Sun’s surface on Dec. 24. Breaking its previous record by flying just 3.8 million miles (around 6.1 million kilometers) above the surface of the Sun, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe hurtled through the solar atmosphere at a blazing 430,000 miles per hour (692,000 kilometers per hour) — faster than any human-made object has ever moved.
Shape-Shifting Antenna Poised to Transform Communications Nov 26, 2024
Johns Hopkins APL researchers have leveraged cutting-edge additive manufacturing techniques and shape memory alloys to create an antenna that can change its shape — and offers a range of potential commercial, military and scientific applications.
Rapidly Fielding Autonomous Systems at Sea Sep 24, 2024
As the Navy continues to develop and deploy autonomous systems at sea, Johns Hopkins APL researchers are lending their expertise and insights to rapidly integrate, test and assess low-cost uncrewed maritime systems.
U.S. Air Force, Johns Hopkins APL Hypersonic Experiment Soars and Collects Vital Data Sep 5, 2024
The BOLT-1B experiment collected data about boundary layer transition (the flow of air around the skin of a hypersonic vehicle), which increases hypersonic vehicle drag and aerodynamic heating. That data will be used by researchers to validate new and more accurate modeling and prediction methods during the design of hypersonic vehicles.
Breakthrough Process Creates Next Generation of Powered Wearable Fibers May 22, 2024
Researchers at Johns Hopkins APL have established new, scalable methods of developing battery- and solar-powered fibers, making it theoretically possible for electrical energy to be harvested from, and stored in, the clothing people wear. These fibers could power high-performance wearable electronics that breathe, stretch and wash just like conventional textiles.