Tag: Nasa

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 →

Interstellar travel: Raising children in space

BBC Future has an article looking at how living in space might effect humans and society, and asking, among other things, should we have babies in space? “Mars,” sang Sir Elton John in Rocket Man, “ain't the kind of place to raise your kids.” Sir Elton might be lacking in Nasa-related experience, but he had a … Continue reading Interstellar travel: Raising children in space →

It’s time to look for life in Europa’s ocean

Lee Billings has a fascinating article up at Aeon asking why we continue to send missions to Mars when the best chance of life existing today is in Europa's underground ocean. If Europa is alive, if some biology dwells within those dark waters, the implications would be even more staggering than finding life on Mars. … Continue reading It’s time to look for life in Europa’s ocean →

Americans keen on space exploration, less so on paying for it | Pew Research Center

Many Americans are optimistic about the future of space travel, but they don’t necessarily want to pay for it. It’s been that way for some time, actually. A Harris survey taken in 1970 – less than a year after the first moon landing – showed that a majority (56%) thought the landing was not worth the money spent. … Continue reading Americans keen on space exploration, less so on paying for it | Pew Research Center →

First potentially habitable Earth-sized planet confirmed by Gemini and Keck observatories — ScienceDaily

This is a pretty big milestone.  The first Earth sized planet in a star's habitable zone.  Pity it's so far away (500 light years) that spectral analysis probably won't be possible to figure out what its atmosphere has in it. The first Earth-sized exoplanet orbiting within the habitable zone of another star has been confirmed … Continue reading First potentially habitable Earth-sized planet confirmed by Gemini and Keck observatories — ScienceDaily →

Will civilization collapse in the coming decades?

Apparently, there is a NASA funded study which says so. If history is any guide, our civilization will eventually collapse.  Every other society in human history has ultimately done so: Sumer, Egypt, Rome, etc.  There's no good reason to think we've beaten the civilization life cycle, any more than there is to believe the assertions … Continue reading Will civilization collapse in the coming decades? →

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 →

Why the Asteroid Belt Doesn’t Threaten Spacecraft

When Cosmos showed the asteroid belt Sunday night, I noticed that, taking some artistic license to quickly get a point across,  they showed it as crammed with asteroids.  Anyone familiar with the real asteroid belt knows that's not accurate.  Even in the belt, asteroids are lonely rocks. When you think of the asteroid belt, you … Continue reading Why the Asteroid Belt Doesn’t Threaten Spacecraft →