In the constant search for low-cost spaceflight, Norwegian startup Ripple Aerospace has come up with a unique solution: How about we just get rid of, like, the land? Their plan calls for reusable cargo rockets to be built in shipyards, transported to open ocean, and launched from the sea, without so much as a floating launch pad to get in the way of the rocket’s journey from ocean to space.
Continue reading… “Spaceflight startup Ripple Aerospace want to launch rockets from the ocean”
Within a few years, the first commercial mining mission beyond Earth’s orbit could be underway. Asteroid mining company Deep Space Industries has announced that it will be sending a spacecraft called Prospector-1 out in search of resources by the end of the decade.
Continue reading… “Space Mining Company Plans to Launch Asteroid-Surveying Spacecraft by 2020”
Stratolaunch will be the first air-launch platform of this scale and will rank among the largest aircraft in history.
Not too long ago, Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. The night of his launch – April 12, 1961 – I went out onto the front porch and stared up at the stars, trying to see his capsule passing overhead.
Continue reading… “Stratolaunch – Tackling the Space Challenge”
Not too long ago, we had to assume that we would never be able to travel faster than light. This was based on scientists’ belief that we can travel through space but cannot change the nature of space itself. Then the idea of ‘Warp Drive’ came along to challenge all of the barriers that Einstein’s theory identified. Warp Drive is about squashing and stretching space. Maybe it’s time to have a look at how far we’ve come or how close we are to seeing a real warp drive built by humans.
Continue reading… “Warp drive is closer than you think”
Since Elon Musk founded a start-up space company over 14 years ago, the goal has always been the same: Establishing a colony on Mars. You’ll be amazed at how he’s planning to get there.
Continue reading… “Elon Musk’s new details on his ‘mind blowing’ mission to Mars”
With the major advances in 3D printing technology, companies are looking to take it past the bounds of earth and start 3D printing in space. Opportunities like asteroid mining, cheaper repair parts for orbiting equipment, and even building extraterrestrial bases are becoming increasingly likely.
Continue reading… “3D printing in space and future space colonies”
As early as 2018, SpaceX plans to send its Dragon spacecraft to Mars. The company hinted at series of missions designed to test how to land heavy payloads on Mars. If successful, the endeavor would make SpaceX the first private spaceflight company to land a vehicle on another planet.
Continue reading… “SpaceX announced plans to send its Dragon spacecraft to Mars”
People often say that sci-fi is becoming a reality whenever a bold new technology comes out. Usually that is a bit of an exaggeration. However, Harold White, a NASA engineer and physicist, is in the process of designing a spaceship that is truly straight out of almost every sci-fi story every written.
Continue reading… “NASA’s Star Trek inspired spaceship that could travel faster than light”
Competition is good. There’s no shortage of it between tech companies. Whether it’s fighting over a rocket launches or who’s going to win the online-video space, tech companies do a phenomenal job of disrupting traditional industries and themselves. Here are eight of the fiercest rivalries in tech.
Continue reading… “Today’s 8 fiercest rivalries in tech”
Amun 3554 is a little more than a mile wide and it’s one of the smallest M-class (metal-bearing) asteroids yet discovered. Unless it ever decides to smash into us — a theoretical possibility, but extremely unlikely over the next few centuries — it will continue orbiting the sun, unknown and unmolested.
According to research presented to a forum of company executives and NASA scientists, getting a mine up and running on the moon or an asteroid would cost less than building the biggest gas terminals on Earth.
Continue reading… “Space mining could cost less than building a gas plant on Earth”
We usually think of rockets that are headed to space are being launched from the ground. But, as demand for satellite launch services rapidly increases year-over-year, interest in air launching rockets is returning to a growing market of lighter-weight payloads. And those might want a mothership.
Continue reading… “Motherships are making a comeback for air launching rockets into space”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.