Manned Space Travel

What's It Going To Take to Reach Mars? Part 3: Advanced Rocket Concepts

The US space program is positioning itself for an eventual push to the planet Mars. Reaching the Red Planet will take a technological and human effort the likes of which none of us has ever seen. Part 3 of this series highlights a propulsion concept that could make a trip to Mars practical.

Published by Sean Fears (5850 pts) on Sep 10, 2009 to
Space Articles
The History and Future of the International Space Station

The International Space Station will celebrate 11 years of orbiting Earth, on November 20, 2009. How did it develop and grow over the years, and what does the future hold?

Published by stoneforger (1023 pts) on Sep 8, 2009 to
Space Articles
Nothing but the facts about NASA

The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) has made plenty of headlines over the past 50 years, but some facts about the agency might still surprise you.

Published by ebishirl (1545 pts) on Sep 8, 2009 to
Space Articles

A History Of (Future) Lunar Bases

Out of all our accomplishments in space exploration thus far, one has eluded us for decades: establishing a base on the Moon. This article explores the evolving attitudes and projects involving possible lunar colonization over the last century.

Published by allychevalier (14709 pts) on Sep 6, 2009 to
Space Articles
Can NASA's DIRECT 2.0 Replace the Space Shuttle?

In the space community, there’s quite a bit of discussion about NASA’s Project Constellation and whether or not it will be able to meet its timetable. DIRECT is a high-visibility alternative approach that bills itself as safer, simpler, and sooner.

Published by Sean Fears (5850 pts) on Sep 3, 2009 to
Space Articles
China's Space Program - An Overview

Many think that China has only recently begun taking steps towards involvement in space; in truth, they took their first unmanned space presence in 1970. Their manned space program is far more recent, but it is still a logical outgrowth of political, economic, and social policy.

Published by Sean Fears (5850 pts) on Sep 3, 2009 to
Space Articles

The Mecury Missions

American manned spaceflight began with two quick testing of the waters dips on suborbital flights aboard the Mercury Redstone. Then, atop the more powerful Mercury Atlas, four Astronauts spent ever increasing time orbiting the Earth.

Published by George Adcock (3791 pts) on Sep 3, 2009 to
Space Articles
NASA's First Project: The Mercury Redstone Program

There was no guide to follow for space travel. NASA engineers were in uncharted territory. They selected an existing IRBM and ICBM as launch vehicles, and based the spacecraft on ICBM reentry vehicle designs. For pilots, they selected military test pilots.

Published by George Adcock (3791 pts) on Sep 3, 2009 to
Space Articles
Space Is More Crowded Than You Think- A Look Into The Indian Space Program

India has maintained a low profile with its space program until recently, quietly placing communications and remote sensing satellites into orbit, but a high-profile robotic moon mission, hypersonic research, and geosynchronous capability reveal its status as a full member of the space community.

Published by Sean Fears (5850 pts) on Sep 2, 2009 to
Space Articles
NASA's Latest Rocket: Ares V

NASA has taken steps to return to the Moon by the end of the next decade by developing the largest and most powerful rocket since Project Apollo's Saturn V - towering over the Shuttle from which a number of its components are derived, it will be capable of placing over seventy tons in lunar orbit.

Published by Sean Fears (5850 pts) on Sep 2, 2009 to
Space Articles