This is pretty cool. A Reddit user put together a chart showing all the human occupied spacecraft that have been used so far. Click through to see the full sized version. via Every Ship That Has Carried Humans Into Space, In One Chart. One thing that stands out for me is how huge the Saturn V was, … Continue reading Every Ship That Has Carried Humans Into Space, In One Chart
Tag: International Space Station
The real goal and challenge of establishing off-world colonies
David Warmflash (a very cool name) has a post up at Discovery looking at the issues with establishing off world colonies: Forget Mars. Here's Where We Should Build Our First Off-World Colonies. The collective space vision of all the world’s countries at the moment seems to be Mars, Mars, Mars. The U.S. has two operational rovers … Continue reading The real goal and challenge of establishing off-world colonies
SpaceX reveals the new crewed Dragon V2
Very cool. SpaceX has been making a lot of news recently, announcing one breakthrough after another. Their current unmanned Dragon capsule has made multiple successful supply runs to the ISS. Now they've revealed a version that can transport humans. The most eye popping aspect of it is the SuperDraco rocket engines on the capsule itself that … Continue reading SpaceX reveals the new crewed Dragon V2
SpaceX Successfully Soft-Lands on Earth for First Time. Is Mars Next?
The other day, I noted that there wasn't much information on what had happened with the SpaceX soft landing. Now there is a bit more, and it sounds promising. In addition to maybe saving 70% of launch costs, the technology could have benefits for future Mars landings. After flying to the edge of space, a … Continue reading SpaceX Successfully Soft-Lands on Earth for First Time. Is Mars Next?
Reusable rockets: Up and down and up again
A while back I highlighted SpaceX's reusable first stage. Last week, they launched with it with the plan to have it do a controlled descent into the waters off Cape Canaveral. I haven't been able to find detailed reports of how well it worked, other than this snippet from their web site. Data upload from … Continue reading Reusable rockets: Up and down and up again
SpaceX prepares to take the biggest step towards affordable space travel: Soft landing the Falcon 9 rocket
Recently, I've observed how the multistage rocket system probably isn't going anywhere and that the best approach might be to embrace it and make it work as effectively as possible. I've noted the appeal of VTOL (vertical take off and landing) rocket. Well, it turns out SpaceX was way ahead of me on both points. … Continue reading SpaceX prepares to take the biggest step towards affordable space travel: Soft landing the Falcon 9 rocket
Gravity: a review
I finally watched the movie Gravity last night. Despite a number of flaws, I enjoyed it immensely. I think it sets a new standard for movies set in space (at least I hope it does). The visuals were stunning and the story had me on the edge of my seat. I now really regret not … Continue reading Gravity: a review
The space age is in full swing, for robots
Yesterday I made the observation that it was much cheaper to transmit information than to travel to an interstellar destination, observing that sending a microscopic robot able to use raw materials in the destination system to bootstrap manufacture what it needs. The Leather Library pointed out that this applies as well to destinations in our solar … Continue reading The space age is in full swing, for robots
Soyuz Videos
Not sure how I missed these videos before, but if you haven't seen them yet, and you're interested in how Soyuz launch and reentry works, they are awesome! Until NASA either get the Space Launch System deployed or private ventures succeed at developing something, the Russian Soyuz, which has been in use by Russia for … Continue reading Soyuz Videos
