Preparing For Launch: An Update on JWST
Move over, Hubble! NASA's currently in the middle of building Hubble's successor as we speak. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWTS) will help astronomers understand the history of the universe using infrared technology and a mirror coated in 24-karat gold! To discover how these function, read on, and prepare to launch!
Go Away, Gravity! – The Ventures of Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic
Elon Musk has a net worth of $11.9 billion while Richard Branson has a net worth of $4.8 billion. If they stacked their respective fortunes in $1 bills atop each other, the tower would reach six million miles, almost 25 times the distance between the earth and the moon. And that is, in a metaphorical way, exactly what the two plan to do.
Evolution of the Space Suit [Infographic]
Two types of pressurized suits are in use today: "escape suits" worn inside the craft during launch and landing, and full "EVA" suits worn for working in the vacuum of space. NASA escape suits are colored International Orange for easy spotting by rescuers in the event of an emergency landing.
NASA’s Messenger Mission to Mercury [Infographic]
In the 1970s, Mariner 10 photographed less than half of Mercury's surface. MESSENGER's mission is to enter orbit around the planet, complete the detailed mapping of Mercury and return data about magnetic fields and particles in the planet's vicinity.
US Air Force’s Secretive X-37B Space Plane [Infographic]
The X-37B is an unmanned space test vehicle for the United States Air Force, based on NASA's original X-37 design. It is a lot smaller than the Space Shuttle and is launched via an Atlas V booster. The first test flight was in April 2010, followed by a second test flight in March 2011.
Could Space Junk Be a Threat to Our Hi-Tech Way of Life?
Space waste, space junk, orbital debris…whatever you call this orbiting mass of objects, they are a big issue. Space waste doesn't just make earth's orbital corridors look untidy, it poses a very real threat to the future of space exploration and our way of life. Read on to find out more…
Moscow’s Secret Moon Plan: The N-1 Rocket [Infographic]
“Hoping to beat the Americans to the moon before 1970, Soviet rocket engineer Sergey Korolyov worked in secret to plan the mighty N-1, an equal to the American Saturn V booster. In 1966 however, the sudden death of Korolyov threw Soviet plans into disarray. After four N-1s were lost in catastrophic accidents, the Soviets destroyed the remaining hardware and denied the very existence of the program. The N-1 remained a state secret until being made public in 1990.” Taken from the infographic below: Source Space.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration
The International Space Station: Inside and Out [Infographic]
“Begun in 1998 with the launch of the first component from Russia, the construction of the International Space Station (ISS) is the most complex space project ever undertaken. At $100 billion it is in fact the single most expensive object ever built.” Taken from the infographic below:
What Does Felix Baumgartner’s Jump Mean for the Science World?
Felix Baumgartner's record-breaking freefall jump wasn't just a daring feat. Backed by NASA-linked experts, the data collected is shaping aerospace safety and space travel, paving the way for future innovations in high-altitude and space missions.
RIP. Neil Armstrong
Yesterday, August 25, we lost a true hero. Neil Armstrong died at the age of 82 due to complications from blocked coronary arteries. He was an inspiration to many and has taught us to dream big about the future of humanity in space. He will be forever remembered. RIP.
Monthly Stargazing Calendar for August 2012
This month will be very eventful when it comes to astronomy and space exploration. First off on August 6 the Curiosity Rover, also known as Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), is scheduled to land on the red planet at 5:31 AM UTC.
15 Things You Didn’t Know About Outer Space [Infographic]
Since the dawn of history, outer space has always caught the imagination of people across the continents and different cultures. However most of what we currently know about space has been discovered since the beginning of the space age over half a century ago.