How Solar Energy Keeps the International Space Station Going
Solar energy is a big deal on planet Earth right now. People around the world have discovered its benefits. Its clean, renewable, and affordable. Once you have an array in place, you can power your home or business for decades. Solar helps us off-planet just as much as it does at home. The sun is our most plentiful power source, and scientists and researchers have found ways to tap into it on the International Space Station.
NASA Commissions a New Module for the Space Station
Axiom Space is building a new commercial module for the International Space Station, transforming it into a commercial destination by 2030.
What Is LightSail and How Does It Work?
Cell phones aren't the only technology we've plucked from science fiction. Let's take a closer look at LightSail — what it is, how it works and how it might change the way we look at interstellar travel.
The Top 10 Photographs of Celestial Objects
Stunning celestial photos by NASA capture Jupiter's abyss, lunar sunrise, dying star Eta Carinae, cosmic rose Rosette Nebula, and more wonders.
83 Black Holes Found at the Edge of the Universe
Astronomers made a groundbreaking discovery: 83 supermassive black holes at the universe's edge, reshaping our understanding of black hole formation and the cosmos' early days.
Why Did Lunar Outpost Design Small Rovers for the Moon?
It's been a long time since we've sent people to the moon. The last human being set foot on our satellite in 1972 and though China has sent probes to the dark side of the Moon, no humans have visited it in decades. In spite of this, many countries are still looking up into the night sky and wonder if the moon has more to offer. One company is working on exploring that potential in the future. Why is Lunar Outpost designing small rovers for use on the moon?
TESS Space Telescope Discovers First Exoplanet
The TESS space telescope was launched on April 18, 2018, sitting atop a Space X Falcon 9 rocket. This telescope, which is short for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, is designed to scan the night sky in search of one thing — exoplanets, or potentially habitable planets outside of our solar system.
What’s on the Menu for Astronauts?
Discover the transformation of astronaut food from toothpaste-like tubes to modern menus. Explore the potential of growing food in space.
Why Does the Advisory Committee Want a Smaller ISS Crew?
There are currently six astronauts on the International Space Station right now — three from the United States, two from Russia and one from Japan. You can use this website to see who they are and how many days they’ve been in space. There are even informational profiles for each astronaut, so you can learn more about them. A total of six astronauts doesn’t sound like a lot in the grand scheme of things, but that hasn’t stopped the Advisory Committee from recommending smaller ISS crews going forward. Why does the committee want smaller teams on the International Space Station, and what will this mean for the future of the…
The ESA Just Released the Most Comprehensive Image of the Milky Way
ESA's Gaia spacecraft reveals the largest image of the Milky Way with 1.7 billion stars, aiding astronomers in studying galaxy formation and evolution.
How Does Space Fever Affect an Astronaut’s Health?
We’ve been sending men and women into space since the late 1960s, and we’ve spent the better part of the last 60 years studying the effect that space travel has on the human body. Recently, we’ve discovered a new and potentially dangerous side effect of living and working in microgravity environments: space fever. What is space fever, and how can it affect the health of the astronauts who live and work on the International Space Station? What Is Space Fever? When you’re on Earth, as long as you are not ill, your normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius. When you become sick and your body…
Does Space Tourism Have Health Risks?
Space tourism poses health risks, but short trips are manageable for people in average health. Psychological impacts, like space anxiety, are crucial.
Intermediate Black Hole Could Explain Black Hole Evolution
Black holes are one of the most terrifying things in the universe. It shows the real power of gravity, which is usually a relatively weak force when it grows large enough. Eventually, it becomes sufficient to control entire galaxies. But we don’t know as much about black holes as we might like. We understand them mostly from a mathematical perspective, although we have been able to observe their behavior by watching the things around them. Black holes are a well-known and now proven phenomenon, but intermediate black holes are a whole different ball game, mostly because they’re still hypothetical. They start out as stellar black holes. These are the smallest…
NASA Will Soon Decide If Changing Juno’s Course is Best
Jupiter is named after the king of the Roman gods, and with its massive size, it definitely holds the title of king of the Solar System. NASA's Juno spacecraft entered orbit around the gas giant in July of 2016. Due to a problem with the craft's propulsion system, NASA is currently debating whether changing Juno's course is the best option. What is Juno looking for out there among the stars?
