Part 1 of 2 Parts
So far, the main purpose of visiting moons, planets and asteroids in the solar system has been scientific research. However, the primary interest of commercial investors in space industries is the use of space as a source of valuable materials, both natural and manufactured, that cannot be created on Earth.
Current space transportation is based on vertically launched expendable rockets. However, reusable rocket-propelled “spaceplanes” for horizontal take-off offer significant savings as well as fundamental improvements in flexibility and safety. Spaceplanes would be able to operate similar to airplanes from airports. They would not require a launch pad with complex and expensive infrastructure.
Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) have been the power plants of interplanetary spacecraft for fifty years. However, one major problem is that they are relatively heavy. Modern RTGs may weigh hundreds of pounds. They are fine for large-scale missions, but they are prohibitively big for small scale missions to the outer planets.
Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) have been the power plants of interplanetary spacecraft for fifty years. However, one major problem is that they are relatively heavy. Modern RTGs may weigh hundreds of pounds. They are fine for large-scale missions, but they are prohibitively big for small scale missions to the outer planets.
Vast is a California-based startup and one of the newest entrants in the world of privatized spaceflight. They plan to use a SpaceX rocket to launch the world’s first commercial space station which they call Haven-1.
Part 2 of 2 Parts (Please read Part 1 first)
Part 1 of 2 Parts
The U.S. Space Force’s X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) was manufactured by Boeing. The robot spacecraft is sent into space by a launch vehicle and then lands as an aircraft upon re-entering the atmosphere.
Engineers from Aerojet Rocketdyne and NASA have started the multiyear qualification testing of the most powerful solar electronic propulsion (SEP) thrusters. These engines are expected to radically change propulsion in space, according to a press release from NASA.
Currently there are tens of thousands of chucks of space debris floating around in low Earth orbit. All of these pieces of space junk are bigger than a softball. The orbital junk yard is becoming a problem for the global economy and military forces because they are increasingly depending on satellites.
