On 14 July 2015, New Horizons made an epic journey through Pluto’s system and returned spectacular images showing an icy world with towering water-ice mountains and vast plains of frozen nitrogen. From concept to launch day – and multiple nearly cancelled attempts along the way – took a difficult 17 years. How does it work?…
Imagine our solar system without Saturn and her spectacular rings; but unfortunately they won’t last forever. Studies conducted over the past three years show that Saturn’s iconic rings are rapidly disappearing into its core at an astonishingly rapid rate – enough water is being lost each half hour for this “ring rain” phenomenon to fill…
Astronomers have long observed Saturn’s rings falling into its atmosphere in what’s known as “ring rain”, providing new insight. Simulations by MIT’s Cassini mission, which flew right through them during its death dive into Saturn in 2017, may shed more light on the process. On March 23rd 2025, Saturn’s rings will temporarily vanish from view…
Since its debut launch in 2010, the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle has spent more than 224 days in space – becoming one of the only unmanned spaceplanes used by the Pentagon. As its presence has raised suspicion, including allegations that it’s being used to spy on Chinese space station residents or interfere with satellites in…
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…
Astronomers have long known that Saturn’s iconic rings are gradually dissolving, potentially within 100 million years. Recent research based on data collected by NASA’s Cassini probe indicates this trend is occurring even faster than predicted. What happens if Saturn loses its rings? What are the rings made of? Saturn’s rings are composed of rock, ice…
An international mission to Neptune and Triton has long been overdue; such an expedition could shed more light on what these ice giants represent. Like Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune are ice giants; planets with only trace amounts of hydrogen or helium present. But unlike Jupiter, their orbital periods are short enough for missions to Uranus…
