Space Exploration Technologies
Exploring the Solar System with Swarms of Microprobes
It's satisfying to sit back and take stock of all the places in the Solar System that we've explored. The…
What Future Propulsion Technologies Should NASA Invest In?
Researchers consistently complain about how difficult it is to fund breakthrough research. Most funding agencies, especially governmental ones, think funding…
Solar Electric Propulsion Systems are Just What we Need for Efficient Trips to Mars
There are many different ways to get to Mars, but there are always tradeoffs. Chemical propulsion, proven the most popular,…
Falcon Heavy Launches Space Force’s Mysterious X-37B Space Plane
Rocket launches seem to have become a bit mundane for many these days yet the odd launch captures peoples imagination.…
A Detailed Design for a Space Station at Sun-Earth L2
New ideas in space exploration come from all corners, and, by and large, the community welcomes anybody interested in the…
We’re Entering a New Age When Spacecraft Communicate With Lasers
In October 2023, NASA launched its long-awaited on-again, off-again Psyche mission. The spacecraft is on its way to study the…
ESA is Testing a Modular Multipurpose Rover that Could Be a Science Lab or a Tiny Bulldozer
Most rovers have been built for Mars, and each one of them is a complex machine designed with specific goals…
ESA’s Hera Mission is Bringing Two Cubesats Along. They’ll Be Landing on Dimorphos
In about one year from now, the European Space Agency will launch its Hera mission. Its destination is the asteroid…
Europa and Enceladus are the Perfect Targets for a Lightsail Mission
There's always a need for new technologies or for novel uses of existing technologies to lower the cost of space…
Solar Sails Could Reach Mars in Just 26 Days
A recent study submitted to Acta Astronautica explores the potential for using aerographite solar sails for traveling to Mars and…