October 2020
Superconductors - key to unlocking high power space missions
.... These are based on a combination of solar sail technology utilising space-proven polyimides and directly coated thin-film photovoltaic arrays integrated with the surface of a solar sail. The use of a flexible sail rather than rigid...
August 2021
Born to juggle in space
... time. At the least, I hope it will stimulate curiosity about the possibilities of movement on Earth and in space. I considered filming on a parabolic flight, but parabolic flights aren’t perfect and often have drift. The truth is that the...
August 2021
Robotic systems for psychological support
...flights was based on compensating for the astronaut’s sensory deprivation and monotony, mainly using visual stimuli (films, books, news video programmes, photos, paintings, etc.). However, the experience of psychological support for long spaceflights...
May 2022
Essential guide to the James Webb Space Telescope
... of JWST is passively cooled using a massive five-layer tennis-court-sized sunshield made of modified Kapton, the film that gave the lunar module its iconic golden colour. Added to the Kapton is highly reflective aluminium...
September 2023
From the Earth to Mars
... surprising, even stunning. I never expected that the magical ingredients included failed graduate students, famous film directors, overlooked visionaries, stubborn optimists, untrustworthy politicians and successful businesspeople. All of them knew...
October 2023
Space architecture on Earth
... scientists visit Taiyuan. The most open is Wenchang on the tourist island of Hainan, where huge crowds gather to film launches from nearby hotel balconies and the rocky seashore. The DPRK’s site must be the most...
