Space Flight
What Should Light Sails Be Made Out Of?
The Breakthrough Starshot program aims to cross the immense distances to the nearest star in just decades. Using a high-powered…
A Spider Stellar Engine Could Move Binary Stars Halfway Across a Galaxy
Eventually, every stellar civilization will have to migrate to a different star. The habitable zone around all stars changes as…
Add Astronaut Nutrition to the List of Barriers to Long-Duration Spaceflight
Though there are no firm plans for a crewed mission to Mars, we all know one's coming. Astronauts routinely spend…
NASA's New Solar Sail Extends Its Booms and Sets Sail
Solar sails are an exciting way to travel through the Solar System because they get their propulsion from the Sun.…
Astronauts’ Muscle Loss Mimics Age-Related Muscle Loss
One of the hazards astronauts must contend with is muscle loss. The more time they spend in a microgravity environment,…
The Shelf Life of Many Medications Is Shorter Than A Round Trip To Mars
Check any container of over-the-counter medicine, and you'll see its expiration date. Prescription medicines have similar lifetimes, and we're told…
The Most Dangerous Part of a Space Mission is Fire
Astronauts face multiple risks during space flight, such as microgravity and radiation exposure. Microgravity can decrease bone density, and radiation…
Astronauts Struggle To Eat Their Space Food and Scientists Want to Know Why
Astronauts sometimes struggle to consume enough nutritious food on the ISS because it tastes bland. But astronaut food is of…
Warp Drives Could Generate Gravitational Waves
Will future humans use warp drives to explore the cosmos? We're in no position to eliminate the possibility. But if…
Japanese Billionaire Calls Off His Starship Trip Around the Moon
Six years after he announced a grand plan to fly around the moon with a crew of artists in SpaceX's…