New Idea for Tansporting Spacecraft
Could Ease Trip to Mars (Source: Space Daily)
Scientists say a new method, called ballistic capture, for transporting
robotic rovers, satellites and astronaut-carrying spacecraft to Mars
could save space agencies time and money. Currently, the favored method
for getting a spacecraft into orbit around Mars is the "Hohmann
transfer." After rocketing through the Earth's atmosphere, the craft
make a beeline for the Red Planet, barreling through space at high
speeds. As it approaches Mars, its thrusters fire in the opposite
direction -- slamming on the brakes and swinging the craft into orbit.
Ballistic capture, on the other hand, would allow a more flexible
launch window. It would also do away with the fuel-guzzling that
Hohmann's high-speed braking requires. Instead of rocketing straight at
Mars, a ballistic capture technique would see the spacecraft launched
out ahead of Mars' orbital path. It would gradually slow and hold in
place, waiting for Mars to swing by -- the Martian gravity pulling the
craft into orbit as it approached. Click here.
(12/22)
Young Red Dwarf Stars could Host
Habitable Worlds (Source: Space Daily)
Red dwarf stars, or M dwarfs, have recently been hailed as the best
places to discover alien life. They are by far the most common stars in
our galaxy, making up 75 percent of all stars. They are also the
longest-lived-they can burn for trillions of years, far longer than the
ten-billion-years lifespan of our Sun. What's more, nearly all of them
may have a planet in the habitable zone. Click here.
(12/22)
India's Heavy-Lift Rocket and Crew
Module Milestones (Source: Space Review)
Last week, India achieved two major milestones in a single test flight:
the first test of a new, more powerful launch vehicle, and the
suborbital test of a spacecraft that could later be used for crewed
missions. Ajey Lele describes those achievements and discusses why one
is more important than the other. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2667/1
to view the article. (12/22)
Deferred Decision (Source:
Space Review)
Last week as supposed to be the week where NASA decided between two
options for the robotic portion of its Asteroid Redirect Mission. But
as Jeff Foust reports, NASA officials decided they needed more time to
evaluate the differences between the two. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2666/1
to view the article. (12/22)
What is Orion's Technological
Significance? (Source: Space Review)
The test earlier this month of NASA's Orion spacecraft on the EFT-1
mission was hailed as a major test of many of the spacecraft's key
technologies. Anthony Young examines those technologies, not all of
which are brand new, that are essential to the spacecraft. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2665/1
to view the article. (12/22)
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