Super Magdrive rocket thrusters run on heavy metal

The most abundant metal known to man is iron. It’s everywhere. Not just on Earth, but in space as well. Astro engineers have just figured out how to use iron – or nearly any metal for that matter – as plasma rocket fuel.Continue ReadingCategory: Space,… Continue reading Super Magdrive rocket thrusters run on heavy metal

China first to haul back rocks from the far side of the Moon

A somewhat scorched Chang’e-6 return craft landed in Inner Mongolia yesterday, bringing with it the first rock and dust samples from the far side of the Moon – and hopes of unlocking some lunar secrets.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Chin… Continue reading China first to haul back rocks from the far side of the Moon

Watch: China touches down on the far side of the Moon

China’s uncrewed Chang’e-6 has successfully landed on the far side of the Moon, where it will use its robotic arm and drill to gather lunar rock and soil samples from the unexplored region for the first time in history. On-board cameras caught the mome… Continue reading Watch: China touches down on the far side of the Moon

Pulsed plasma rocket promises a wild acceleration in space travel

A round trip to Mars – with our current technology – would take about two years: nine months to get there, three months of hangin’ out, waiting for the relative positions of Mars and Earth to line up closely again, then another nine months back. Howe I… Continue reading Pulsed plasma rocket promises a wild acceleration in space travel

Video: Sleek SpaceX suit to make its runway debut on Polaris Dawn mission

Bridging fashion and functionality, SpaceX has revealed what its astronauts will be wearing on the first-ever private spacewalk in 2024. In a new video, the company details the futuristic features of the suit that will be space-tested on the Polaris Da… Continue reading Video: Sleek SpaceX suit to make its runway debut on Polaris Dawn mission

Video: Sleek SpaceX suit to make its runway debut on Polaris Dawn mission

Bridging fashion and functionality, SpaceX has revealed what its astronauts will be wearing on the first-ever private spacewalk in 2024. In a new video, the company details the futuristic features of the suit that will be space-tested on the Polaris Da… Continue reading Video: Sleek SpaceX suit to make its runway debut on Polaris Dawn mission

Video: Ill-fated Boeing Starliner launch scrubbed due to faulty valve

Boeing’s attempt to put two astronauts into orbit has been scrapped. At 8:33 pm EDT, the launch of the Starliner spacecraft was called off due to engineering problems with the oxygen release valve of the Centaur second stage of the Atlas V rocket.Conti… Continue reading Video: Ill-fated Boeing Starliner launch scrubbed due to faulty valve

NASA just hacked a 1977 computer on a spacecraft way out past Pluto

One of the two oldest, active spacecraft has a new lease on life, with NASA getting the 47-year-old Voyager 1 deep space probe to send back engineering data for the first time since November 14. Until now, all the craft could return was gibberish.Conti… Continue reading NASA just hacked a 1977 computer on a spacecraft way out past Pluto