Category Archives: Space Travel

50 Ways to Make a (Golden) Record

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Nathan Xiao

Featured image I’ve always found the Golden Record very interesting. It represents a special moment in humanity’s history, when we decided what particular parts of our existence on Earth we wanted to show to any other possible life forms in the universe. What, then, did we decide to put on it? How did we reach … Continue reading 50 Ways to Make a (Golden) Record → Continue reading →

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Why We Haven’t Been Invaded by Aliens

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Katie

As we learned in class, the Drake equation can estimate that the existence of life should exist. The universe is huge, its been in existence for a very long time, and there is no foreseen limit to what can exist, especially life off Earth. Fermi’s paradox is super cool, creepy, exciting and puzzling all at … Continue reading Why We Haven’t Been Invaded by Aliens Continue reading →

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On This Day in Astronomy History…

Posted on April 29, 2018 by maxflorsheim

  On April 27th, 1961, fifty-seven years ago, NASA launched Explorer 11 into space. This satellite held the first gamma-ray telescope to go into space. Gamma rays are the wavelength of light with the highest energy levels. These wavelengths can originate from sources such as supernova explosions, supermassive blackholes, and solar flares. While scientists had […] Continue reading →

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Are Viruses the Missing Piece in Astrobiology?

Posted on April 27, 2018 by maxflorsheim

Despite being the most abundant form of life on Earth, viruses and their dormant state known as virions, are often left out the conversation in identifying life outside this place. However, a group of scientists are now calling for this to change. Noting that the term virus is only used six times within NASA’s 250-paged […] Continue reading →

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Blog 8: In Space Manufacturing

Posted on April 21, 2018 by battismm

Over the past two semesters I have been working on an engineering senior design project. My team and I have been working for the Marshall Space Flight Center on one of NASA’s ongoing missions to develop in space manufacturing capabilities. The International Space Station currently houses approximately 29,000 pounds of spares in storage. Historically, 95% … Continue reading Blog 8: In Space Manufacturing Continue reading →

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Europa: A Jovian Lunar Oasis?

Posted on April 9, 2018 by stellarastronomy1995

Discovered in 1610 by the renowned astronomer, engineer, and philosopher Galileo Galilei, the Jovian orbiter Europa may again serve to revolutionize humanity’s cosmic perspective. Initially evidence that Earth was not the absolute center of motion in the Universe, Europa, among the discovery of the other Galilean moons, advanced the credibility of the heliocentric model through … Continue reading Europa: A Jovian Lunar Oasis? → Continue reading →

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On This Day in Astronomy History…

Posted on April 9, 2018 by maxflorsheim

On this day, April 9th, 59 years ago in 1959, NASA introduced the world to their first ever astronauts, the Mercury 7.  A press conference was held in D.C. to announce the line up, and reveal America’s next move in the space race against the Soviet Union. This came a year after NASA had introduced […] Continue reading →

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Voyager 1

Posted on March 18, 2018 by yadavdhruv

Voyager 1 is currently the farthest spacecraft we have ever sent out. It was launched in 1977 and is currently 141 AU or 13 billion miles away from Earth right now. It is traveling at 38,000 mph but has not even travel a full light day yet. The original purpose of the Voyager missions was … Continue reading Voyager 1 → Continue reading →

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Voyager 2

Posted on March 17, 2018 by stellarastronomy1995

August 20, 1977. The flyby-type probe Voyager 2 was launched from Earth, destined to explore our Solar System and beyond. Passing by Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, Voyager 2 carried with it instruments to relay close-up images of these Jovian planets, and a message from Earth to be read and listened to by those who … Continue reading Voyager 2 → Continue reading →

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Almost InSight

Posted on March 17, 2018 by Nathan Xiao

InSight is short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport, and is NASA’s next big spacecraft. A little contrived, but its memorable. InSight is a Mars lander designed to study the inside of Mars: the crust, mantle, and core. It does so by measuring the planet’s seismology, heat flow, and precision tracking. … Continue reading Almost InSight → Continue reading →

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