Topics: History, NASA, Space Exploration, Spaceflight, Space Shuttle In April 1981, John Young — America’s premier astronaut and one of only 12 people to ever walk on the Moon — was training with co-pilot Bob Crippen for STS-1, the maiden voyage of space shuttle Columbia. Though eager, Young harbored no illusions that he might never returnContinue reading “40 Years Since STS-1…”
Category Archives: Spaceflight
Snaps From Perseverance…
Topics: Mars, NASA, Space Exploration, Spaceflight Data from the powerful science tool includes sounds of its laser zapping a rock in order to test what it’s made of. The first readings from the SuperCam instrument aboard NASA’s Perseverance rover have arrived on Earth. SuperCam was developed jointly by the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)Continue reading “Snaps From Perseverance…”
Touchdown…
Topics: Mars, NASA, Perseverance, Space Exploration, Spaceflight Editor’s Note: This release was updated on Feb. 22 to correct the metric unit for the speed at which the rover’s wheels made contact with the surface to kph. New video from NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover chronicles major milestones during the final minutes of its entry, descent, andContinue reading “Touchdown…”
Aiming the Archer…
Topics: Diversity in Science, Moonbase, NASA, Space Exploration, Spaceflight Artemis, in Greek religion, the goddess of wild animals, the hunt, and vegetation and of chastity and childbirth; she was identified by the Romans with Diana. Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo. Source: Britannica The Biden administration’s crucialContinue reading “Aiming the Archer…”
Rocket Science…
Topics: Mars, Nuclear Fusion, Space Exploration, Spaceflight, Women in Science A physicist has come up with a new rocket engine thruster concept that could take people to Mars ten times more quickly. The physicist in question, Fatima Ebrahimi, is the concept’s inventor and is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). Ebrahimi’s studyContinue reading “Rocket Science…”
High Flight…
Topics: Mars, NASA, Planetary Science, Space Exploration, Spaceflight “High Flight” by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. Ingenuity, a technology experiment, is preparing to attempt the first powered, controlled flight on the Red Planet. When NASA’s Perseverance rover lands on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021, it will be carrying a small but mighty passenger: Ingenuity, the MarsContinue reading “High Flight…”
Lattice Confinement Fusion…
Topics: Astrophysics, NASA, Nuclear Fusion, Propulsion, Space Exploration, Spaceflight A team of NASA researchers seeking a new energy source for deep-space exploration missions, recently revealed a method for triggering nuclear fusion in the space between the atoms of a metal solid. Their research was published in two peer-reviewed papers in the top journal in theContinue reading “Lattice Confinement Fusion…”
One Small Step…
Topics: Moonbase, NASA, Space Exploration, Spaceflight, Star Trek Cultural references: Neil Armstrong’s quote: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” and the title of a Star Trek Voyager episode, season 6, episode 8. On August 4, 1972, the sun unleashed an incandescent whip of energy from its surface and flung it towardContinue reading “One Small Step…”
SABRE…
Topics: Aerodynamics, ESA, NASA, Space Exploration, Spaceflight The pursuit, exploration and utilization of the space environment can be misinterpreted as a luxury. History portrays space as an exclusive domain for global powers looking to demonstrate their prowess through technological marvels, or the stage for far-off exploration and scientific endeavour with little impact on daily life. However,Continue reading “SABRE…”
Tang Jet…
Topics: Aerodynamics, Futurism, Plasma, Propulsion, Spaceflight Personal note: I’ve been offline prepping for my preliminary exam presentation, and grieving the loss of a friend I had known for 40 years since our freshman year at NC A&T. I was his best man. He did not die of COVID, but a heart attack. As such, myContinue reading “Tang Jet…”
Physics and Nano 