Author Archives: kylebward

The Quest to Inhabit Mars

Posted on April 20, 2019 by kylebward

As a species, we need multiple paths to survival. One of which is living in space. With this in mind, companies like SpaceX have plans to colonize Mars. But why Mars? It is the next most habitable planet after Earth. It contains water, temperatures that are not too hot nor too cold, enough sunlight, ability … Continue reading The Quest to Inhabit Mars → Continue reading →

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Electric Propulsion

Posted on April 20, 2019 by kylebward

A propulsion method I was unaware of is electric propulsion (EP). An EP system consists of thruster components, propellant components, power components, and an optional pointing mechanism. Essentially, electric and magnetic fields react to charged particles in the rocket’s exhaust which accelerates charged particles that make up propellant. This requires less energy than chemical rockets … Continue reading Electric Propulsion → Continue reading →

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Future Exoplanet Research

Posted on April 10, 2019 by kylebward

The future of exoplanet research means not just the discovery of more exoplanets, but characterizing them. To do so, the European Space Agency (ESA) is launching the Characterizing Exoplanet Satellite (CHEOPS), the PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars mission (PLATO), and the Atmospheric Remote-Sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey mission (ARIEL). CHEOPS will observe bright stars with … Continue reading Future Exoplanet Research → Continue reading →

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NASA’s Mars 2020 Mission

Posted on March 9, 2019 by kylebward

In 2020, sometime from July 17th to August 5th during the rover’s launch window, NASA will send a rover to Mars to try to answer a question being asked for over a century: was there life on Mars? The objective of the Mars 2020 Mission is to search for signs of previous microbial life as … Continue reading NASA’s Mars 2020 Mission → Continue reading →

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Electric Cars and Climate Change

Posted on March 9, 2019 by kylebward

Climate change is the change in global climate patterns due to an increase in fossil fuels. A solution to mitigate these emissions released by fossil fuels is converting automobiles to use only electric energy. However, the electricity used by electric vehicles also generates harmful emissions due to power plants that use fossil fuels to generate … Continue reading Electric Cars and Climate Change → Continue reading →

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Blog 2: When is the Best Time to Surf?

Posted on February 10, 2019 by kylebward

When’s the right time grab your surfboard and hit the beach? High tides cause closeouts, which blocks a surfer’s path, and low tides cause slow-rolling waves, which are low frequency and high amplitude waves. Ideally, you want to surf during mid tide conditions. But first, what causes these changes in tide? Tides are caused by … Continue reading Blog 2: When is the Best Time to Surf? → Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on January 26, 2019 by kylebward

Galileo Galilei (Feb 15, 1564 – Jan 8, 1642) Historical Events During Galileo’s Lifetime: In 1607, Jamestown was founded, becoming the first permanent English colony established in the Americas. Jamestown was established by the Virginia Company of London and was a settlement in the Virginia Colony, which was chartered in 1606. Starting in the early … Continue reading Historical Astronomers in Context → Continue reading →

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The Cosmic Calendar

Posted on January 20, 2019 by kylebward

The Cosmic Calendar is a method used to visualize and better understand the timeline of the universe. Midnight, January 1st, is when the Big Bang occurred, and December 31st, 23:59:59, is modern time. On the Cosmic Calendar, the early development of the universe ranged from January 1st to September 6th and the first known biotic … Continue reading The Cosmic Calendar → Continue reading →

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ASTR 2110 Intro Post

Posted on January 15, 2019 by kylebward

Hello! Welcome to my Solar System Blog. Below is a picture of me when I traveled to Hellesylt, Norway, to visit a friend of mine last summer. If you want to learn more about the small town, Hellesylt, please click here. Continue reading →

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