Spacecraft concept art captures the adventure and exploration inherent to interstellar travel or maneuverability amidst celestial obstacles, inspiring wonderment at their immense designs. Here, artists bring these breathtaking visions to life! Senior Concept Artist Joe Gloria will take us through his three-dimensional design process with tools like 3D-Coat and ZBrush; however, these concepts can easily…
Spacecraft require vast amounts of energy to move, far beyond what can be provided from burning rocket fuel like you use in your car. Parker Solar Probe currently holds the record for heliocentric speed; however, as its mission extends further away from Earth our frameworks for measurement deteriorate and ascertaining their speed becomes increasingly challenging….
Film that blends thriller and existentialist themes. Despite some flabby physics and technical gaffes, this remains a reader favorite. This Academy Award-nominated drama explores the contributions made by Black NASA mathematicians Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson as they helped overcome segregation and sexism as part of the Mercury program. What is the Space…
Systems engineers collaborate across departments to define and communicate requirements. They conduct system-level trade studies and support reliability engineering efforts. Kylene Eagle uses her problem-solving abilities in various capacities at Rocket Lab, an end-to-end space company offering launch and on-orbit operations. She contributes to designing and developing Photon – a satellite bus which supports innovative…
Orion is the spacecraft designed to transport astronauts between Earth, the International Space Station, lunar orbit and Mars. It was specifically developed with safety, durability and affordability in mind. Orion will launch on top of a Space Launch System rocket and feature an escape tower to protect astronauts during reentry. When Orion returns to Earth,…
Spacecraft are subjected to rigorous conditions during launch, operation in hostile space environments, and long-term radiation risks during deep space missions. A spacecraft’s components must include power systems capable of turning sunlight into electricity as well as thermal control subsystems to protect equipment against extreme temperature changes. Propulsion subsystem consists of engines and devices which…
Architecture now plays an increasingly vital role in outer space. From inflatable 3D-printed structures to entire space habitats, architecture’s presence is growing. But its challenges can be considerable: keeping residents comfortable while accommodating change while remaining functional at scale are just two major ones. Aerospace is developing strategies and processes to accelerate rapid development, quick…
Spacecraft are vehicles designed to travel beyond Earth’s atmosphere into interplanetary space or orbit planetary bodies, with systems and instruments to withstand its hostile environment. Instruments may record characteristics of phenomena close at hand, as with polarimetry; or at greater distances with remote-sensing instruments like radar imaging. These latter tools typically create images by analyzing…
Space can be an unforgiving environment that challenges spacecraft to operate reliably for extended missions. Engineers develop power systems with redundancy in mind to reduce system failure risk that might jeopardize a mission. The main EPS inverters utilize 30 V DC from the maneuver booster regulator and convert it to the 2.4 kHz square wave…
