Topic: Aerospace » Aerospace Science » Astronautics

Astronautics

The science of space flight
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Canaveral Junior

Wallops Island gets ready for the big time.
March 20, 2013 | By Tony Reichhardt

Awaiting Curiosity’s Fate

As the rover rocketed down to the Martian surface, the team at JPL could only wait and hope.
August 06, 2012 | By Bruce Lieberman

<i>Atlantis</i> as seen from the International Space Station in February 2001.

Meet the Orbiters

A fleet of winged spacecraft, the likes of which we'll never see again.
March 01, 2011 | By Michael Klesius

Most pictures of the Venus surface are synthetic, like this view of a volcanic region called Eistla, created from Magellan orbital radar data. The SAGE lander would take actual photos from ground level.

Forbidden Planet

We’ve been to the moon. Mars is easy. But landing on Venus? That’s tough.
September 2010 | By Sam Kean

Europe’s Rosetta spacecraft flew past Earth three times, but experienced the flyby effect only once. Nobody knows why.

The Force Is With Them

What changes the speed of spacecraft flying by Earth?
September 2010 | By Sam Kean

Plume Power

The space shuttle's exhaust trail makes for a lovely sight on an April morning.
May 11, 2010 | By Michael Klesius

NASA

Exit Strategy

NASA’s new launch abort system just passed a major test. But what booster and capsule will use it?
May 06, 2010 | By Michael Klesius

Dust devils like this one form frequently at Eldorado Valley.

Devils’ Advocates

Some people go to Las Vegas to gamble, others to learn about Mars.
September 2009 | By Tony Reichhardt

Testing the AiResearch Advanced Extravehicular Suit’s range of motion in the 1960s.

Space Suits Past and Future

Bill Elkins has been outfitting astronauts since before NASA was born.
June 10, 2009 | By Michael Klesius

Mercury astronaut John Glenn in 1962.

Is It Safe?

The first company with a plan—and a rocket—to send humans to orbit answers the existential question.
May 2009 | By Michael Milstein

The roving Mars Science Laboratory prepares to drop to the Martian surface, using a new (for Mars) Skycrane maneuver.

Legs, Bags, or Wheels?

When choosing landing gear for Mars spacecraft, engineers have to weigh their options-literally.
August 2007 | By Tony Reichhardt

To test human responses to G forces, the Navy put subjects in a 10- by six-foot oblate steel sphere at the end of a 50-foot arm.

The G Machine

Riding an Atlas into space was a piece of cake compared to pulling 32 Gs on the Johnsville centrifuge.
May 2007 | By Mark Wolverton

Astronauts attach the Port 1 truss to the International Space Station in 2002.

How Things Work

Space Station Truss
March 2007 | By Adam Pitluk

The powdery lunar soil was great for making footprints, but was a problem for astronauts like Charlie Duke, shown here during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972. It got in their eyes and throats, and clung stubbornly to every surface.

Stronger Than Dirt

Lunar explorers will have to battle an insidious enemy—dust.
September 2006 | By Trudy E. Bell

Living and working in the most remote office in the solar system, the next moon-bound astronauts will rely on a 21st century lunar lander with conveniences only dreamt of by veterans of Apollo.

Son of Apollo

The next lunar lander will be a giant leap ahead of the first.
May 2006 | By Tony Reichhardt

The Invisible Killers

We have the technology to send astronauts to Mars. But can we return them safely to Earth?
January 2006 | By John F. Ross

Before launching Discovery, NASA must be sure that foam won

The Space Shuttle Returns

How NASA recovered from the Columbia tragedy and tackled the job of getting the shuttle flying again.
May 2005 | By Linda Shiner

The glow of success: NASA has already flown 12-inch ion engines. Ions shoot out the holes in a circular grid, producing a small but steady thrust.

NASA Goes Nuclear

When your batteries are dead and solar power is only a distant memory, you're going to need something else in your power pack.
July 2003 | By Ben Iannotta

NASA once considered using the space shuttle to carry the X-37 to orbit, but those plans changed. When the craft does go into space, it will most likely ride atop an expendable launcher.

Will the Air Force Finally Get a Spaceplane?

If Boeing's X-37 can maneuver politically as well as in space.
January 2003 | By Ben Iannotta

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky Slept Here

Following in the footsteps of the man who invented space travel.
September 2002 | By Anatoly Zak


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