Infrastructure


As LEO Popularity Surges, Concern Escalates Over Debris Risk

Starting with Sputnik, humankind has littered low Earth orbit with clouds of debris, with as many as 170,000 objects ranging in size from poppy seeds to defunct satellites of school-bus size whizzing around the planet in uncontrolled orbits. With an historic surge in demand for satellites in low Earth orbit, including plans that could add more than 50,000 spacecraft, and planned space stations, the debris problem could grow exponentially.Starting with Sputnik, humankind has littered low Earth orbit with clouds of debris, with as many as 170,000 objects ranging in size from poppy seeds to defunct satellites of school-bus size whizzing around the planet in uncontrolled orbits. With an historic surge in demand for satellites in low Earth orbit, including plans that could add more than 50,000 spacecraft, and planned space stations, the debris problem could grow exponentially.

Starting with Sputnik, humankind has littered low Earth orbit with clouds of debris, with as many as 170,000 objects ranging in size from poppy seeds to defunct satellites of school-bus size whizzing around the planet in uncontrolled orbits. With an historic surge in demand for satellites in low Earth orbit, including plans that could add more than 50,000 spacecraft, and planned space stations, the debris problem could grow exponentially.

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Lessons from Earthbound Launchpad Failures Inform Future Missions to Moon, Mars

The incredible power in rocket boosters is magnificent when they are safely in the sky, but basic laws of physics are problematic closer to the ground, with every action creating an equal and concrete-shredding reaction. Now, with the Moon and Mars in NASA’s sights, engineers are working to overcome the dangers rocket thrust could bring when landing and taking off without the safety of a launchpad.The incredible power in rocket boosters is magnificent when they are safely in the sky, but basic laws of physics are problematic closer to the ground, with every action creating an equal and concrete-shredding reaction. Now, with the Moon and Mars in NASA’s sights, engineers are working to overcome the dangers rocket thrust could bring when landing and taking off without the safety of a launchpad.

The incredible power in rocket boosters is magnificent when they are safely in the sky, but basic laws of physics are problematic closer to the ground, with every action creating an equal and concrete-shredding reaction. Now, with the Moon and Mars in NASA’s sights, engineers are working to overcome the dangers rocket thrust could bring when landing and taking off without the safety of a launchpad.

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Euclid Joins James Webb Space Telescope to Probe the Universe’s Earliest Unknowns

Well before the Euclid telescope was on its way to join the James Webb Space Telescope nearly a million miles from Earth, engineers and scientists were deep into planning how the advancements and knowledge gained from Euclid and Webb will aid in building even more advanced telescopes to probe the next unknowns in the universe. The work is redefining science and delivering new technology for wider use on Earth.Well before the Euclid telescope was on its way to join the James Webb Space Telescope nearly a million miles from Earth, engineers and scientists were deep into planning how the advancements and knowledge gained from Euclid and Webb will aid in building even more advanced telescopes to probe the next unknowns in the universe. The work is redefining science and delivering new technology for wider use on Earth.

Well before the Euclid telescope was on its way to join the James Webb Space Telescope nearly a million miles from Earth, engineers and scientists were deep into planning how the advancements and knowledge gained from Euclid and Webb will aid in building even more advanced telescopes to probe the next unknowns in the universe. The work is redefining science and delivering new technology for wider use on Earth.

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Celebrating 60 Years of Women in Space

Women in Space TereshkovaWomen in Space Tereshkova

June 16 marks the 60th anniversary of Valentina Tereshkova’s historic launch to orbit, where she became the first woman to reach space. She orbited Earth 48 times during the three-day Vostok 6 mission.

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Spain Signs Up as 25th Nation in Artemis Pact

Officials from NASA and the U.S. State Department gathered in Madrid Tuesday as Science and Innovation Minister Diana Morant signed off for Spanish agreement to the Artemis Accords, marking the 25th nation to join the U.S.-led treaty to govern conduct in orbit and beyond.

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