Space Technology

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has been at the forefront of planetary exploration for fifty years. But its roots show it was founded with a very different mission. Find out how the JPL broke away from military weapons development and secured its place in the history of space exploration.

The Clementine Space Probe was a short-lived NASA mission using a robotic spacecraft. In 1994, the probe was launched to the Moon to study a variety of different facets of the lunar surface. While in orbit, one of the studies possibly located the presence of water on the Moon.

Military satellites are not used for surveillance and reconnaissance alone, but also for geodesy, research, and meteorology. The article explains the importance of military satellites in various fields and also discusses the use of spy satellites.

SpaceX aims to develop highly reliable low cost launch vehicles—an idea which was considered impossible a decade ago. This article explains the philosophy behind this company’s success and also discusses its achievements in space technology.

Space travel in the future seems in question right now. NASA’s Constellation program has been cancelled. The Obama Administration has directed NASA to have private enterprise develop new systems. Russia, meanwhile, is upgrading its Soyuz spacecraft and launch vehicle.

Canada's advancements in space technology are associated with support features to the Space Shuttle and International Space Station in the form of Canadarm and Canadarm2. It also has a vested interest in an advanced satellite system known as Radarsat and possible robotic missions to Mars.

How does the space elevator work? Well, the space elevator concept was laughed at by scientists. But everyone should remember that putting a man on the moon was science fiction before NASA did it in 1969. So, the space elevator theory will be transformed into something constructive in the future!

There are two basic factors that determine a rocket's performance--its mass ratio and the exhaust velocity of its propellants. These are critically entertwined. Beyond that, rocket scientists must consider the trajectory they will send the vehicle on into space.

Space junk can be hazardous to astronauts conducting space walks and satellites orbiting the earth. However, many people wonder “what is space junk?” Read on to learn about the dangers of space junk and what’s being done to mitigate further creation of debris.

Call it the ancient astronomical “laptop computer” or a “mini-planetarium”, the astrolabe was one of the best astronomical inventions of the ancient era. Nevertheless, we always wonder who created an astrolabe and what were its important uses? Here are important uses and history of the astrolabe.