What Experiments Did Scientists Conduct on the ISS?
Humanity has watched the International Space Station orbit this little blue marble for the last 20 years, as of November 2020. This modern marvel has seen hundreds of astronauts and been home to thousands of scientific experiments. The ISS provides a unique laboratory that allows researchers to carry out their experiments in microgravity. So how, exactly, is the ISS outfitted to support this scientific research? What sorts of experiments are astronauts and scientists conducting on the ISS? Microgravity Experimentation Laboratories might be controlled environments on Earth, but even the most advanced lab on the planet doesn’t hold a candle to the International Space Station. How is the ISS kitted out…
Here’s How NASA Chose the First Astronauts to Walk on the Moon
Right now, everyone is thinking about the moon — how we’re going to get there, when the next set of astronauts from the Artemis missions will land and whether President Trump seriously thinks we’re going to mine our nearest satellite for minerals. While we’re excited to see the Artemis astronauts make their way to the lunar surface, they aren’t the first human beings to set foot on the moon. How did NASA choose the Apollo astronauts for the 1969 mission? How has the selection process changed over the years, and what is NASA looking for in its Artemis astronauts? Becoming an Apollo Astronaut The first human beings to set foot…
What is Celestial Navigation?
We’ve been dreaming of the stars for longer than we can remember, staring up at the twinkling lights that fill the night sky and wondering what they are. We’ve even written songs about them. Centuries ago, before the advent of GPS, explorers and adventurers relied on celestial navigation to help them map a path to their destination. What is celestial navigation, how does it work and when was it relied upon? Contrary to what its name suggests, celestial navigation doesn’t mean we’re navigating our way through the stars. Instead, from here on earth, navigators could use the stars to plot a course — even across the ocean where there were…
Common Tools Used to Gather Data in Space
As a species, we’re working on expanding our horizons — literally — by making our first forays into outer space. In the next decade, we’re hoping to have people living permanently on the Moon and may even be making the first attempt to land human beings on Mars. Despite this push toward interstellar exploration, there is still a lot about the universe around us that we don’t know, and a lot that we don’t even know to ask about yet. On top of that, much of the data that we could be collecting from outer space is invisible to the human eye. What tools are scientists using to gather data…
Did You Know Polyurethane Foam Made the Space Shuttle Possible?
Sometimes it’s all in the details. Something as simple as polyurethane (PU) foam made the modern space shuttle a possibility. This crucial material opened up a range of new options for spacecraft, as well as everyday objects. Polyurethane is a polymer, or a molecule made up of multiple subunits, containing different organic materials that urethane compounds join together. When in foam form, it acts as an invaluable tool for everyday objects. However, researchers later found that it’s the perfect substance for space shuttles. But how exactly did polyurethane become such an essential tool in the space industry? Well, you’re about to find out! The Foam for Space Shuttles In 2016,…
NASA Commissions a New Module for the Space Station
The International Space Station has been in orbit since the first component was launched in 1998, with the first crew arriving in 2000. It’s been in orbit for nearly 22 years and until recently, it seemed like the funding that supports what is currently one of our only platforms in orbit was going to run out. The renewed push to get human beings back into outer space has brought new attention to the space station. NASA has commissioned a new module for the space station. Who is building this new module, what will it do and when will it be heading into orbit? The End of The ISS? The International…
What Is LightSail and How Does It Work?
Science fiction has provided us with a lot of ideas for technology that have slowly become reality. Just look at the smartphone in your pocket. More than half a century ago, Star Trek gave us the idea of portable communicators and data tablets that could provide you with all the information you could ever need at your fingertips. Today, we’ve got cell phones and tablets that do just that. If you’d shown them to Gene Roddenbery in 1966 when his show premiered, he’d have thought you were from the future. Cell phones aren’t the only technology we’ve plucked from science fiction. Let’s take a closer look at LightSail — what…
Why Do Scientists Want to Make a 3D Map of the World?
Humans have been creating maps since we started exploring the world, giving us the tools to find our way home and explore the unknown. We’ve come a long way since explorers marked unknown areas with “Here there be dragons” — we’ve mapped the majority of the known world thanks to aircraft and satellites in orbit. Now, modern scientists want to take map-making a step further and create a 3D map of the entire planet. But why do they want to make a 3D map of the world, and how will future generations benefit from this information? Mapping the Planet We can take photos of the planet from orbit, but these…
The Top 10 Photographs of Celestial Objects
NASA has provided us with stunning photos over the years, featuring everything from stars and planets to nebulae and even distant galaxies, using telescopes here at home as well as probes orbiting our planet and exploring distant corners of the solar system. NASA uses a combination of both visible and invisible wavelengths of light to create images that we can enjoy so we have at least a small idea of what is waiting for us out in the cosmos. With that in mind, here are our top 10 photographs of celestial objects. 1. Jupiter Abyss (https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190610.html) We’re all familiar with the elaborate cloud formations and the big Red Spot that…
What’s the Difference Between LEO, MEO and GEO Satellites?
As of the beginning of 2019, nearly 5,000 satellites are orbiting our planet — more, since SpaceX just launched 60 Starlink communications satellites in one monumental event. With so many orbiting bodies circling the Earth, it’s a miracle they don’t crash into each other, right? It might seem like magic, but in reality, it’s because they aren’t all orbiting at the same height. Let’s take a closer look at what LEO, MEO and GEO satellites are, and why more companies are investing in LEO and MEO satellites to support space exploration. LEO — Low Earth Orbit Satellites in low Earth orbit, or LEO, are the closest devices to Earth. They’re…
