Tag: space

Now Even Pluto May Be Harboring A Subsurface Ocean

Now Even Pluto May Be Harboring A Subsurface Ocean

A new study of Pluto’s massive chasms strongly suggests that the former planet is concealing a liquid water ocean beneath its bizarre and wildly varying surface. From the abstract in Geophysical Research Letters: The New Horizons spacecraft has found evidence for geologic activity on the surface of Pluto, including extensional tectonic deformation of its water […]

Posted in: Outer Planets
Radically Upgrading the Estimate of Alien Civilizations in the Milky Way

Radically Upgrading the Estimate of Alien Civilizations in the Milky Way

You may recall the Drake Equation, the famous estimate of the total number of potential technologically advanced civilization in the Milky Way, with which we might make radio contact. The right hand side of the equation, courtesy of Wikipedia are : R* = the average rate of star formation in our galaxy fp = the […]

Posted in: Exo Planets
Russian Space Minister: Program Will “Never Catch Up” to SpaceX Innovation

Russian Space Minister: Program Will “Never Catch Up” to SpaceX Innovation

  Russia still leads the world in total number of space missions launched, but for how long?  Here is an unusually blunt assessment of the state of that nation’s space program by the always loquacious Dmitry Rogozin. From the Moscow Times: “Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has been left red-faced after telling reporters that “Russia […]

Posted in: Russian Space
Emissions Nebula Image From ESO

Emissions Nebula Image From ESO

  Another stunner from the European Southern Observatory From the ESO Description: “LHA 120-N55, or N55 as it is usually known, is a glowing gas cloud in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way located about 163 000 light-years away. N55 is situated inside a supergiant shell, or superbubble called […]

Virgin Galactic / Blue Origin Videos and Which Ticket Would You Buy?

Virgin Galactic / Blue Origin Videos and Which Ticket Would You Buy?

There is little doubt that SpaceX is for the moment in a class by itself in developing partially reusable orbital space transportation, but it is interesting to note that the company has had very little to say regarding what if any role it sees for space tourism in the products it is developing. The Dragon […]

Establishing a Legal Framework for Deep Space Development

Establishing a Legal Framework for Deep Space Development

As the NewSpace era gradually transitions from addressing the challenges of reaching orbit to building out the business cases for what can happen once you do, regulatory issues are going to continue to play a significant, and in many cases, enhanced role. For those who are prone to be unhappy about seeing the advance of […]

Facing Higher Odds, SpaceX Scores Second Successful Ocean Landing

Facing Higher Odds, SpaceX Scores Second Successful Ocean Landing

SpaceX achieved its second consecutive successful landing at sea overnight as a part of the JCSAT-14 satellite launch to Geostationary Transfer Orbit. Coming less than one month after the first successful drone ship landing which took place during the NASA CRS-8 resupply mission to ISS on April 8, last night’s achievement was even more challenging […]

Posted in: SpaceX
For SLS and Orion, 2016 Election Could Be a Bad Moon Rising

For SLS and Orion, 2016 Election Could Be a Bad Moon Rising

As the Democratic and Republican parties close in on the selection of their respective nominees for the US 2016 Presidential election, former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver is the name most frequently cited as a leading candidate to head America’s space agency if Hillary Clinton wins the election. A champion of the COTS and Commercial […]

Posted in: SLS / Orion
ESO: Inside the Fiery Furnace

ESO: Inside the Fiery Furnace

Another ridiculously stunning image from the European Southern Observatory. This isn’t science fiction folks, this is the universe, or creation, depending on your viewpoint, in all its unbridled glory. And to think that this band of mostly hairless primates on the third planet out from an inconsequential star in a fairly mundane galaxy are inquisitive […]

Bigelow Aerospace & ULA Propose a Major Expansion of the International Space Station

Bigelow Aerospace & ULA Propose a Major Expansion of the International Space Station

On Sunday, the SpaceX CRS-8 Dragon spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station, carrying in its “trunk” the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module or BEAM. Based on a press conference held today at the 32nd Space Symposium in Colorado Springs however, BEAM may be only the beginning of Bigelow’s presence at ISS, and the future may […]

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