September 2016
Life in the extremes: confessions of an astrobiologist
... radiation doses - they actually thrive there In fact, this type of research was what got me into NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where I worked as a visiting researcher. As soon as I found out that there are researchers there...
January 2017
New oceans beckon for solar sail technology
... lead by the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) where the solar sail is being developed. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is building the spacecraft. The sail team is now building the flight sail and...
January 2017
Mini space station for mice to study effects of reproduction in reduced gravity
... panels placed at a node at the centre of mass, the entire facility would spin up using reaction control system jets attached to the service module and the habitat spacecraft. The rotation would induce a Mars-like partial...
February 2017
UN strategy lifts capacity for non-spacefaring countries
... access to space for all. Dream Chaser Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser is about the size of a regional jet and is expcetd to accommodate about 20 to 25 laboratory stations. It is the only reusable, lifting-body, multi-mission spacecraft...
March 2017
Rosetta – outstanding climax to pioneering mission
... of the Solar and Planetary Missions Division, as such also taking up the Rosetta Flight Director role. Perihelion jet. It was hard for me to leave the active operations role on my beloved mission but I knew I left it in good hands...
April 2017
Urgent action needed to keep satellites safe in orbit
... due to mechanical wearing (e.g. Sun-tracking solar panel bearings, momentum wheels, etc.), limited propulsion resources (gas jets or similar), and carefully engineered thermal surfaces which can be subject to degradation due to space ‘weathering...
