Space exploration and tourism is currently undergoing an incredible revolution: globalizing, shifting to become a service industry and welcoming in newcomers into its fold. During the Gulf War, allied forces used satellites to accurately pinpoint enemy troops and target their rocket attacks with pinpoint precision – demonstrating the value of space presence even during warfare….
Spacecraft are vessels specifically engineered for travel and operation in outer space, featuring life support systems, science instruments and accommodations for crew. Some spacecraft are unmanned while others can carry people. Manned spacecraft are used to fly astronauts directly to the International Space Station and other planetary destinations while unmanned ones conduct scientific research. Aldrin…
Humanity longs to feel as if we can travel amongst the stars, yet this image of an astronaut looking back towards Earth illustrates just how far that goal really is. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is on its way to visit Bennu asteroid, taking this black-and-white image en route. Red Rectangle Astronomers have for more than three…
Spacecraft designers craft hardware specifically tailored for outer space travel. Ranging from orbiting satellites and space vehicles that travel between planets to missions that explore distant corners of space, each piece must withstand its challenging surroundings. After adopting a mission, detailed designs are drawn up and Engineering Models (EM) and Qualification Models (QM) constructed. These…
Spacecraft simulators are software applications designed to simulate the movement of a spacecraft in space. Users can calculate orbits and even simulate potential impacts with Earth. KSP is an outstanding simulator that allows the player to learn how to control real NASA spacecraft. Although its career mode and solar systems options may be somewhat limited,…
Spacecraft are vehicles designed for space travel that may or may not require pilotage, with each maneuver using limited fuel to speed towards its destination. NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity arrived on Mars in 2012 to search for evidence of past life. Equipped with its Mastcam-Z camera, Curiosity captures stunning panoramic and stereooscopic photos of Mars….
The probe’s instruments would investigate Saturn’s temperature field, clouds and composition as well as Titan’s thick haze using radar technology and sampling its rings system. Cassini revolutionized our understanding of Saturn. Her discoveries revolutionized how we perceive this system. Although her mission ended abruptly when she fell into Saturn’s atmosphere in 2017, but not before…
Aerospace engineers design and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and missiles according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, they may oversee manufacturing of these products and systems. Astronautical engineers design and construct spacecraft, the vehicles astronauts use to explore what remains mostly uncharted areas of space. This work can be both challenging and rewarding….
Spacecraft are vehicles capable of transporting cargo or people beyond Earth’s atmosphere into space, consisting of a structural subsystem to bear launch vehicle loads as well as power, communications and navigation subsystems. The navigation subsystem determines a spacecraft’s position and orientation within space. Additionally, it allows it to respond to commands transmitted from ground control….
