ROOM: The Space Journal is one of the leading magazines on space exploration, technology and industry. At ROOM, we share a common goal – promotion of peaceful space exploration for the benefit of humankind, all while bringing you incisive articles on an array of popular topics. Our authors include scientists and industry leaders from all over the world, which lets us bring you the newest and detailed information about u s space shuttle challenger.
April 2020
Space Florida - gateway to an interstellar future
...and investing in commercialising aged or under-utilised assets. Facilities that once launched NASA’s Apollo and Space Shuttle missions are now launching commercial rockets. The state’s spaceport system is a living example of ...Processing Facilities (OPF) of NASA that were used to turnaround and process the Space Shuttle after landing for subsequent re-flight to space. Space Florida secured a long-term property agreement for the first of these, OPF ...
June 2018
Striding through space
...A Nikon camera fixed to the MMU above Bruce McCandless’s right shoulder recorded this rare view of Space Shuttle Challenger some 60 m away. A minor mystery about this photo was the location of fellow spacewalker, Bob...normal flight operations, both eyes looked straight ahead through the ‘plano’ portion of the spectacles.” Shuttle launch Space Shuttle Challenger was launched on mission STS-41B on 3 February 1984 under the command of Vance Brand, ...
February 2019
The Space Elevator – an alternative path to space?
... and challenges will be faced? In this article Martin Lades considers the concept, the existing competition and the outlook for Space Elevator research. The first elevator may be as expensive as the Space Shuttle but ...spectacular launch failures. The rocket equation for chemical rockets results in only a small payload fraction. The space shuttle carried only one train-wagon-equivalent payload to LEO, around 27.5 metric tons (mt), or 1.4 percent of...
October 2021
A US space strategy for 2050: shaping a domain on the cusp
...resources and security implications. Christa McAuliffe, the American teacher aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger when it was lost in January 1986, poignantly said: “Space is for everybody. It’s not just for a few people in science...that vein, the United States should also be prepared to challenge, through diplomacy or show of force, actions which it considers destructive of space norms, lest those undesirable actions become accepted state practice....
June 2022
Military space – how worried should we be?
..., 1983) unmistakeably reflected the US government and media portrayal of early space as ‘peaceful purposes’. The Space Shuttle had its own dedicated west coast military base, Vandenberg Air Force Base...Bart Hendrickx in Belgium, tends to be outgunned by commentaries higher on suspicion and hyperbole. In the most challenging international situation for a generation, there is there is merit in finding ways of de-escalation, especially through ...
February 2019
Building a space museum from scratch
...the visitor centre, known locally as the Canberra Space Centre (CSC). He said, “Yes, do anything you want, as long it doesn’t cost anything.” I accepted the challenge. Channelling Indiana Jones I asked the station Director...of heatshield, materials from a Mercury spacecraft, and several types of thermal protection tiles used in the Space Shuttle programme. For a space-nut like me, it was heaven. The big crate had my heart pounding. It stood nearly ...
September 2016
Transforming US space policy
... between the United States and the Soviet Union, the Apollo programme, Space Shuttle launches, the International Space Station; all high profile human exploration programmes carried out by world governments. Many do not realise ...data and services from private industry rather than develop, own, operate and sustain full-up space systems These challenges can be met. We must project military strength in order to deter our adversaries, focus government...
February 2021
Space archaeology - preserving our orbital heritage
... paint flake travelling in excess of 17,500 miles per hour is significant, as shown by craters observed in Space Shuttle windows. Whilst larger assets such as the ISS have Whipple shielding to provide a measure of protection from debris...STS-125 Hubble servicing mission four. Challenges There are many challenges facing the orbital heritage of the space industry. The need to remove the smaller sub-10 cm space debris along with larger outdated or ...
May 2020
Space for Art – The magnificent beauty of spaceflight
... so, and I am so thankful to all of the photographers who are chronicling the magnificent beauty of spaceflight. To me, this picture of the Space Shuttle Discovery’s roll to the launch pad for her final flight is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. With... to and from the ISS together for the past 20 years – over half that time in parallel with Space Shuttle flights, and now our sole means of transport since the...
