March 2015
Dawn of ion propulsion
... infrared spectra collected simultaneously) serve other purposes. They provide some early characterisations of the alien world so engineers and scientists can finalise sensor parameters to be used for the many subsequent observations. They are also...
October 2018
The ethics of space exploration
... exploration of the cosmos? My personal opinion is that many answers are to be found outside the worlds of business and engineering: from philosophy and ethics to various forms of the arts, including but not limited to science-fiction. We have...
May 2019
The inadequacies and dangers of modern rocket technology
...you, I have devoted many decades to the implementation of an alternative space exploration programme. During this time, as an engineer and scientist, I have achieved significant results and made several important conclusions that I consider necessary...
November 2019
PROSPECTing for lunar polar volatiles
... programme in the form of the Exospheric Mass Spectrometer (EMS) as part of the PROSPECT ITMS payload. Meanwhile, in Europe, engineers and scientists have already been busy with development of concepts for future exploration steps, from lunar...
February 2020
Visions of spaceflight before the Space Age
... early rocket pioneers in Europe and beyond. He tried a bit of experimentation, but he was a better writer than scientist or engineer. Oberth privately published one of the most influential books on spaceflight – Die Rakete zu den Planetenräumen [The...
May 2022
Essential guide to the James Webb Space Telescope
... weight, JWST’s mirror needed to be made of 18 smaller segments - hexagonal, as this shape has a high filling factor, allowing engineers to get close to the ideal circle with minimal wasted space. Each mirror segment is made of beryllium coated...
