There is renewed interest in air-breathing spaceplanes or reusable boosters. At the same time, remarkable launch cost reductions in more conventional boosters are imminent due to the efforts of SpaceX and other firms. Continue reading
New observations from the Herschel Space Observatory show a bizarre, twisted ring of dense gas at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Only a few portions of the ring, which stretches across more than 600 light-years, were known before. Continue reading
With the future of the International Space Station uncertain, the Chinese have announced their own space station program, instead of joining forces with the other space powers. China’s space station will be named “Tiangong” which means “Heavenly Palace” in Mandarin. Continue reading
Whether we realize it or not digital signage is all around us. From digital billboards, public transport signage, to digital displays at the grocery store or gas station, we are always exposed to tons of advertisement. The digital media industry … Continue reading
“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” –Western Union internal memo, 1876. “Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.” … Continue reading
A piece of space junk zoomed uncomfortably close by the International Space Station today (June 28), so close that the outpost’s six-man crew had to take shelter in Russian space capsules in case of a collision. Continue reading
The following infographic describes the history of computers and extrapolates their future. New technologies will dramatically change the way we use and interact with computers. New computing methods will bring more powerful and efficient computers.
Europe’s ambition for a spacecraft to return autonomously from low orbit is a cornerstone for a wide range of space applications, including space transportation, exploration and robotic servicing of space infrastructure. Continue reading
Sample return is something of a holy grail to planetary explorers. The advantage is that age dating and extensive compositional analysis can be done better with modern instruments in Earth-based laboratories than on miniaturized instruments that have to prepared years in advance for space flight. Continue reading
About one in 10 rocky planets around stars like our Sun may host a moon proportionally as large as Earth’s, researchers say. Our Moon is disproportionately large – more than a quarter of Earth’s diameter – a situation once thought to be rare. Continue reading