Exploring the moon's shadowed regions using beamed energy
Sunday, 28 March 2021 12:59
In less than three years, astronauts will return to the moon for the first time since the Apollo Era. As part of the Artemis Program, the purpose is not only to send crewed missions back to the lunar surface to explore and collect samples. This time around, there's also the goal of establishing vital infrastructure (like the Lunar Gateway and a Base Camp) that will allow for "sustained lunar exploration."
A key requirement for this ambitious plan is the provision of power, which can be difficult in regions like the South Pole-Aitken Basin—a cratered region that is permanently-shadowed. To address this, a researcher from the NASA Langley Research Center named Charles Taylor has proposed a novel concept known as "Light Bender." Using telescope optics, this system would to capture and distribute sunlight on the moon.
The Light Bender concept was one of 16 proposals that were selected for Phase I of the 2021 NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, which is overseen by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). As with previous NIAC submissions, those proposals that were selected represent a broad range of innovative ideas that could help advance NASA's space exploration goals.
Measuring shoreline retreat
Sunday, 28 March 2021 09:45
Climate change is having an undeniable influence on coastal areas. A substantial proportion of the world’s sandy coastlines are already eroding owing to increased storm surges, flooding and sea level rise. With our coastal environments in constant change, Earth observation satellites are being used to better strengthen our knowledge of changing coastlines.
How asteroid dust helped us prove life's raw ingredients can evolve in outer space
Sunday, 28 March 2021 04:18
Decades of radiation-based scientific theory challenged
Sunday, 28 March 2021 04:18
Japan-Germany international joint experiment on space optical communication
Sunday, 28 March 2021 04:18
Russian researchers reveal most common causes of death among cosmonauts
Sunday, 28 March 2021 04:18
BlackSky's newest satellite delivers first insights within 24 hours
Sunday, 28 March 2021 04:18
OneWeb welcomes TrustComm as a DoD Distribution Partner
Sunday, 28 March 2021 04:18
Missile Warning Satellite Delivered to Cape Canaveral
Sunday, 28 March 2021 04:18
Supernova simulations reveal how stellar explosions shape debris clouds
Sunday, 28 March 2021 04:18
Launch of Europe's largest astronomy network
Sunday, 28 March 2021 04:18
Dark matter is the most likely source of excess of gamma rays from galactic center
Sunday, 28 March 2021 04:18
Major Earth Satellite to Track Disasters, Effects of Climate Change
Sunday, 28 March 2021 04:18
Russian Progress MS-14 spacecraft sets new flight duration record
Sunday, 28 March 2021 04:18
NASA still planning HLS awards by the end of April
Saturday, 27 March 2021 22:52
WASHINGTON — NASA officials say the agency is still planning to make selections as part of its Human Landing System (HLS) program by the end of next month as it takes into account the reduced funding for the program.