Selecting the right outlet for space science and aerospace engineering research depends heavily on the alignment between a manuscript's technical depth and a journal's editorial scope. The Journal of Ongoing Space Exploration and Technology provides a focused platform dedicated to advancing the technical, observational, and engineering dimensions of space research. Hosted on the SciMatic platform, the journal connects researchers across diverse disciplines who are actively involved in studying the cosmos or developing the systems required to reach it.
Aim and Editorial Focus
The primary aim of the Journal of Ongoing Space Exploration and Technology is to facilitate the dissemination of research, technical developments, and evidence-based discussions concerning active and planned space exploration. The journal seeks to bridge the gap between fundamental scientific inquiry—such as planetary physics and astrophysics—and the applied engineering required to execute missions successfully.
Rather than treating space science and hardware engineering as separate tracks, the journal treats them as complementary facets of a single endeavor. This interdisciplinary approach allows mission planners, instrument designers, and theoretical scientists to evaluate research within its operational context.
Core Thematic Scope
The journal's scope divides broadly into two major thematic pillars: observation and missions, and the technologies that support them.
1. Space Missions and Discoveries
This track focuses on the scientific outputs of past, current, and upcoming space missions. The journal welcomes manuscripts that evaluate empirical data, mission architectures, and theoretical implications across several sub-disciplines:
- Planetary Science: Surface geology, atmospheric composition, volatile distribution, and internal structures of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.
- Astrophysics and Cosmology: Space-based observations of stellar evolution, galactic dynamics, cosmic background radiation, and high-energy astrophysical phenomena.
- Mission Reports: Detailed scientific and operational findings from ongoing or concluded orbital, flyby, lander, and rover missions.
- Celestial Dynamics: Orbital mechanics, trajectory modeling, and observational surveys of near-Earth objects and deep-space bodies.
2. Space Technology and Engineering
The second track emphasizes the hardware, software, and systems engineering needed to conduct space exploration. Articles in this category present practical, reproducible engineering methodologies, including:
- Spacecraft Design and Subsystems: Bus architectures, thermal management, power generation and storage (such as solar arrays and radioisotope systems), and radiation hardening.
- Propulsion Systems: Chemical propulsion, electric and ion thrusters, solar sails, and emerging propulsion concepts for deep-space transport.
- Robotics and Autonomous Systems: Surface rovers, manipulators, sample-handling mechanisms, autonomous navigation, and landing algorithms.
- Satellite Systems: Small-satellite configurations, CubeSat constellations, inter-satellite communication links, and attitude determination and control systems (ADCS).
- Scientific Instrumentation: Spectrometers, imaging systems, magnetometers, and environmental sensors designed for vacuum and extreme thermal regimes.
Who Should Submit
The Journal of Ongoing Space Exploration and Technology serves a targeted audience of academic and industry specialists. The editorial criteria are designed to support contributions from:
- Planetary Scientists and Astrophysicists: Researchers analyzing space-based telemetry, spectroscopic data, and remote sensing feeds from active space missions.
- Aerospace and Systems Engineers: Practitioners designing flight-ready components, testing propulsion technologies, or establishing mission operational parameters.
- Robotics and Autonomy Researchers: Specialists developing algorithms and mechanisms for extraterrestrial surface operations, docking maneuvers, and autonomous rendezvous.
- Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Researchers: Authors presenting rigorous empirical research, specialized laboratory simulations, or extended chapters from graduate work.
Manuscript Workflow on SciMatic
Submissions to the Journal of Ongoing Space Exploration and Technology are managed directly through the SciMatic platform. Authors can handle manuscript submission, track revisions, and communicate with editors within an integrated environment. SciMatic incorporates an AI Review Process that assists editorial teams in screening formatting, structure, and initial compliance before manuscripts move through formal peer review.
Researchers writing long-form projects can utilize the Thesis Manager or Literature Survey tools to organize citations and background material prior to submission. For transactions related to article handling or platform services, SciMatic supports payments through internal SCI balance credits or USDT, simplifying administrative steps for international research groups.
Authors preparing a manuscript are encouraged to review the journal's submission guidelines to ensure their work fits within the scope outlined above, emphasizes clear methodology, and presents data that contributes directly to ongoing progress in space exploration.
