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How small satellites are radically remaking space exploration
NASA - planetary science
At the beginning of this year, NASA scientists had to decide which missions should explore our Solar System. They chose four missions for further study from the 20 intriguing ideas submitted. From these, they will pick two to fund fully.
This is how NASA has done planetary science for decades, and the process has succeeded phenomenally. Yet, there is so much more we can learn about the Solar System.
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NASA - planetary science
At the beginning of this year, NASA scientists had to decide which missions should explore our Solar System. They chose four missions for further study from the 20 intriguing ideas submitted. From these, they will pick two to fund fully.
This is how NASA has done planetary science for decades, and the process has succeeded phenomenally. Yet, there is so much more we can learn about the Solar System.
Emerging technologies for space exploration
Two emerging technologies may propel NASA and the rest of the world into an era of faster, low-cost exploration that would lead to more exploration and democratise access to the Solar System.
- A new generation of companies is developing new rockets for small satellites. Rocket Lab has a lunar program for its small Electron rocket, and Virgin Orbit with a group of Polish universities is to launch up to three missions to Mars with its LauncherOne vehicle.
- At the same time, various components of satellites are being miniaturised.
- Tiny satellites are no longer theoretical. Two years ago, a pair of CubeSats, called MarCO-A and MarCO-B, launched with the InSight mission. The briefcase-sized satellites deployed their own solar arrays and journeyed to Mars.
Small sats in deep space
NASA had several goals with MarCO. The MarCOs proved that small satellites could thrive in deep space and stream data back home.
A few months after their mission ended, the European Space Agency announced that it would send two CubeSats on its "Hera" mission to a binary system.
Spurred interest in small satellite missions
Interplanetary small satellite missions spurred interest in the emerging new space industry.
Polish scientists believe they can build a spacecraft with a mass of 50kg or less that can take high-quality images of Mars and its moon, Phobos. It might also be able to study the Martian Atmosphere. Access to low-cost launch was a key enabler of the idea.
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The International Space Station
The ISS is a multi-nation super satellite, the largest single construct in space, made between 1998 and 2011.
As of 2018, 230 astronauts and 18 countries have visited the Internat...
ISS Journey Around Earth
The International Space Center circles the globe every 90 minutes at a speed of 17,500 mph. It flies at an altitude of 248 miles above Earth.
It holds a crew of three to six people, and for a long time, used the Russian Soyuz spacecraft as a way to transport astronauts. SpaceX has sent 2 more astronauts in May 2020, using their Special Dragon Spacecraft, courtesy Elon Musk.
Activities of ISS
Astronauts mainly perform experiments and do maintenance at the ISS. They also do some personal care and exercise, reach out to Earth to conduct some media or school events, and occasionally perform spacewalks. They also use a bit of Twitter.
Human health research, especially eye problems are a major activity. Biological activities, animal tests and testing of appliances in space is also done.
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Star Wars
The first movie of the blockbuster franchise, retroactively titled as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, exploded into the movie theatres in 1977. It became a global cultural phenomenon and gave bir...
The Story Set In Space
The Star Wars story is a classic Hero’s Journey, in which the protagonist, Luke Skywalker in a galaxy, far, far away, learns that he is able to harness a certain force. He eventually joins the rebellion against the Galactic Empire, and along with his allies, destroys the Death Star, uniting with his father, who had fallen on the dark side.
Sequels Prequels
The original story and its continuation in the two sequels released in the 80s had limited computer graphics technology, which eventually became better in the 90s. The Director, George Lucas, then released three ‘prequels’ which had better technology and visual effects, though the story wasn’t in the same league.
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Pioneer
Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 were launched in 1972 and 1973. They were the first spacecraft to visit Jupiter and Saturn in a one-way voyage.
- Pioneer 10 traveled through...
Voyager
Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes followed after the Pioneers.
- They made many important discoveries about Jupiter and Saturn.
- Discoveries include rings around Jupiter and volcanism on Jupiter's moon.
- Voyager made the first flybys of Uranus, where it discovered ten new moons.
- It found that Neptune weighs less than first thought.
- Both Voyager crafts can continue to transmit radio signals until at least 2025.
- It is now exploring the edge of the solar system.
WMAP
The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) was launched in 2001 and measured the temperature of the radiation left over from the Big Bang.
- The craft can map out the fluctuations in the presumed cosmic microwave background radiation.
- The data from WMAP revealed a better estimate for the age of the universe.
- It confirmed that about 95 percent of the universe is composed of dark matter and dark energy.
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