Topics: Astronautics, Climate Change, Environment, Futurism, Global Warming, Mars, Spaceflight When Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, he envisioned a greenhouse on Mars, not unlike the one later depicted in the 2015 blockbuster The Martian. Soon, his fantasy grew from a small-scale botanical experiment into a vision for a self-sustaining Martian city. In a speech at theContinue reading “Caveat Colonizing…”
Category Archives: Spaceflight
Proxima Oceans…
Topics: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Exoplanets, Space Exploration, Spaceflight Astronomers have discovered a third planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the star closest to the Sun. Called Proxima Centauri d, the newly spotted world is probably smaller than Earth and could have oceans of liquid water. “It’s showing that the nearest star probably has a very rich planetary system,”Continue reading “Proxima Oceans…”
HETs…
Topics: Applied Physics, Computer Modeling, NASA, Space Exploration, Spaceflight Abstract Hall effect thrusters operating at power levels in excess of several hundreds of kilowatts have been identified as enabling technologies for applications such as lunar tugs, large satellite orbital transfer vehicles, and solar system exploration. These large thrusters introduce significant testing challenges due to theContinue reading “HETs…”
Uhura to Proctor…
Topics: NASA, Space Exploration, Spaceflight, SpaceX, Star Trek Dr. King revealed to Nichols that TOS was the only show that he and his wife, Coretta, allowed their little children to stay up and watch. Further, he told Nichols what the show meant to him personally and detailed the importance of her having created a character with “dignityContinue reading “Uhura to Proctor…”
Biggie’s Starship…
Topics: Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Space Exploration, Spaceflight, Star Trek China is investigating how to build ultra-large spacecraft that are up to 0.6 mile (1 kilometer) long. But how feasible is the idea, and what would be the use of such a massive spacecraft? The project is part of a wider call for research proposals fromContinue reading “Biggie’s Starship…”
Gene Centennial…
Topics: Planetary Science, Space Exploration, Spaceflight, Star Trek NASA is helping the legacy of inspiration, hope, and diversity fostered by the creator of Star Trek to live long and prosper. The agency will observe the late Gene Roddenberry’s 100th birthday with a special program called, Celebrating Gene Roddenberry: Star Trek’s Bridge and NASA – aContinue reading “Gene Centennial…”
ISAAC…
Topics: International Space Station, NASA, Space Exploration, Spaceflight In April 2021, Bumble, one of the free-flying Astrobee robots aboard the International Space Station, was put to the test to investigate a simulated anomaly. In the simulation, the station’s life support systems detected a high concentration of carbon dioxide. A similar situation, in reality, could be very dangerousContinue reading “ISAAC…”
Gordon Gekko, Hal 9000, and Overview…
Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Existentialism, Human Rights, Spaceflight Note: The post title is sourced from The Atlantic article, as is the lurid artwork. It is the experience of seeing firsthand the reality of the Earth in space, which is immediately understood to be a tiny, fragile ball of life, “hanging in the void”, shielded andContinue reading “Gordon Gekko, Hal 9000, and Overview…”
A Voyage In Her Lifetime…
Topics: International Space Station, Interstellar, NASA, Space Exploration, Spaceflight, Star Trek Light Sails were first mentioned in the year 1610 in a letter by astronomer Johannes Kepler to his friend, Galileo Galilei. “With ships or sails built for heavenly winds, some will venture into that great vastness.” Avery Brooks in his character of Benjamin SiskoContinue reading “A Voyage In Her Lifetime…”
The Lighthouse…
Topics: History, Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Spaceflight Widely considered to be the “Father of Science Fiction,” the famed French poet, novelist, and playwright known as Jules Verne celebrates what would have been his 193rd birthday this year. Born Feb. 8, 1828, Verne ushered in the grand era of speculative fiction with his classic novels, “20,000Continue reading “The Lighthouse…”
Physics and Nano 