Since the 1960s, robot spacecraft have made repeated visits to Mars’ surface and orbit. Their findings revealed a planet featuring mountains, canyons, and the largest volcano in our solar system. Rovers such as Spirit and Opportunity explored rocks to gain insight into what composes this world and to look out for signs of water. Spirit…
Docking spacecraft can be an intricate and dangerous procedure. Both the International Space Station (ISS) and any visiting shuttle or capsule orbit the Earth at high speeds, making small corrections easy enough to send both rocketing away. Both US and Russian segments of the station feature systems to reestablish communication; these IDA ports (Induced Degradation…
Spacecraft propulsion systems employ fuel and oxidizer to alter vehicle momentum. Their effectiveness can often be gauged by their specific impulse – which measures how much thrust they produce per mass flow rate rate per second. Newton’s Law holds that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; however, you cannot use force…
Spacecraft attitude dynamics and control is a study that encompasses kinematics, rigid-body dynamics, linear control theory and orbital environmental effects. This block models attitude dynamics using numerical integration. Spacecraft use thrusters to propel themselves in specific directions, however this approach has its limitations, including fuel usage and thruster cycle time. An alternative would be relying…
The instruments aboard the rover will search for organic compounds that could have provided the foundation of life on Mars and explore whether or not its environment ever supported life forms. Planners are currently deliberating whether the entire spacecraft that launched from Earth on its way to Mars should land directly, or remain in orbit…
Spacecraft Detroit provides an extraordinary experience that will transport you faster, farther and higher than you could ever anticipate. Sure to exceed all expectations and leave you craving more! Spacecraft are vehicles designed to fly and operate in outer space. Their primary uses include satellite communications, meteorology studies, exploration missions and transportation services. Unleash Your…
The International Space Station took 10 years and 30 missions to assemble. Now an invaluable research facility for scientists worldwide. In the 1950s, Yuri Gagarin would urinate on his bus tire to mark his departure for space travel – an act that astronauts continue to follow today. Aerospace Technology Aerospace technology encompasses any machine designed…
SpaceX is creating a global satellite internet network it hopes will connect every person on Earth. Additionally, SpaceX plans to play an instrumental role in commercializing space – with plans of transporting both people and cargo to Mars by 2024. Elon Musk, who founded both PayPal and Amazon, established SpaceX to develop a reusable rocket…
Since 2010, OTV-7, an uncrewed space plane, has conducted numerous technology experiments on long orbital flights. Most recently, its service module enabled OTV-7 to host additional experiments. Its cargo included a Naval Research Laboratory project to test technology to convert sunlight to electricity and NASA experiments on how long-duration space exposure affects materials and seeds….
