August 2017
Big science from small spacecraft
... of Mars using a seismometer. In parallel, JPL has developed the MarCO (Mars Cube One) spacecraft as the first interplanetary cubesats, intended as pathfinders for the space science community. Two MarCO spacecraft are scheduled to launch on the...
April 2018
Developing Mars
... of gold is historically insensitive. Gold may therefore become the most reliable store of wealth in the interplanetary era and a likely metal for interplanetary hard currency, should such a thing ever be needed. Platinum, being more abundant, might...
July 2018
Using algae to support astronauts on deep space missions
...If humans are to have any hope of becoming true interplanetary explorers, then new life support technologies have to be developed..., the best hope humans have of becoming true interplanetary explorers lies in the development of new life support...
October 2020
Superconductors - key to unlocking high power space missions
...savings are realised for higher power missions in applications such as cargo transfers, in-space logistics, and crewed interplanetary flights. Cargo transfers will form a key part of the in-space infrastructure with the transportation of several tens...
January 2022
Earth - no longer humanity’s only home
.... When astronauts leave planet Mars, they’ll have to do it independently. Finally, after again facing the challenge of months of interplanetary transit, they must survive another entry, descent and landing, bringing them safely back to the surface...
February 2022
Revolution and responsibility: the challenges of space
... since the end of the Apollo programme, astronauts have learned to live in space, and prepare for future interplanetary expeditions, in the shadow of the Earth. To declare space and celestial bodies as the common heritage of humankind is to recognise...
