NASA is constructing a blueprint for human exploration throughout the solar system for the benefit of humanity. Last Tuesday, the agency released the results from its first Architecture Concept Review (ACR). The ACR is a robust analysis process designed to align NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration strategy and codify the support architecture.
Part 2 of 2 Parts (Please read Part 1 first)
Part 1 of 2 Parts
The beautiful northern and southern auroral lights are a result of what is called space weather. The solar wind generated by the Sun is guided by the Earth’s magnetic fields to the North Pole and the South poles. This is usually a relatively harmless phenomena unlike the more powerful solar storms that can knock out satellites.
The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program nurtures visionary ideas that could transform future NASA missions with the creation of breakthroughs— radically better or entirely new aerospace concepts — while engaging America's innovators and entrepreneurs as partners in the journey. NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) nurtures new ideas in space technology.
In my last post, I discussed plans to use native materials and additives from Earth to create bricks that could be used to construct habitats on the Moon and Mars. There are a number of different ideas for the construction of habitats on the Moon.
One of the many challenges of constructing buildings in space is that it will require cost-effective building materials generated on site. It would be prohibitively expensive to be launching bricks and mortar into space.
Hall thrusters are a form of electronic propulsion known as ion thrusters being developed for satellites and spacecraft. Ion thrusters work by accelerating ionized particles of gas like xenon using a magnetic field. They have conventionally been used to adjust the orbit of satellites in Earth orbit.
I have posted several times about the problems of increasing space debris in Earth orbit. There are multiple private space companies currently working on a variety of systems to clear space debris from Earth orbit.
Part 2 of 2 Parts (Please read Part 1 first)
Part 1 of 2 Parts
In 2022, fans of space exploration witnessed the long-awaited first test flight of NASA’s lunar Space Launch System rocket. This year could see even more action at the launch pad as a bunch of new rockets make their debut.
