How NASA’s Juno Mission to Jupiter Works [Infographic]
Recently, on August 5, 2011, NASA launched a new space probe, called Juno, headed towards Jupiter. When it reaches its destination the spacecraft will be placed in a polar orbit in order to study the planet's composition, gravity field, magnetic field, polar magnetosphere, and the deep winds of its atmosphere.
Swedish Man Arrested after Trying to Build a Nuclear Reactor at Home
A man from Sweden was arrested after trying to start a nuclear reaction in his own kitchen. 31-year-old Richard Handl said that he was only doing it as a hobby and didn’t know that it was illegal. It is illegal for a reason. It is dangerous and we don’t want someone without appropriate qualifications and the right equipment to experiment with nuclear power. Fortunately it is a highly complex process and very hard to accomplish without the knowledge and equipment. Handl was trying to set up his own mini nuclear reactor for months before wondering if it was legal. Ironically he was the one that tipped off Sweden’s Radiation Authority…
Non-Rocket Spacelaunch – Space Elevator Safety Issues
The space elevator is a gigantic concept and as such it has many safety issues that would have to be resolved before construction begins. A space elevator would present a navigational hazard, both to aircraft and spacecraft.
A Pulsar With Planets
A pulsar is probably the deadliest object in the Universe. Despite their beauty, you wouldn’t want to get close to one of them! They are a type of neutron star that emits a highly focused beam of electromagnetic radiation from both magnetic poles. This radiation, deadly to any form of life, can only be visible when one of the two beams is turned to face towards the observer (which is hopefully not anywhere close). The radiation is so strong that it would disintegrate the molecular bonds holding together DNA strands, killing any life in the process. Pulsars rotate in an extremely regular period. It’s this rotation that makes them pulse,…
