Watching a SpaceX Rocket Land on a Drone Barge Never Gets Old
We usually see rocket launches and landings from above. But there’s something about seeing the whole thing happen from the ground-up that’s just so much better.
Watch Chewie Interview a Rocket Scientist About Advanced Propulsion Systems
Certain aspects of the Star Wars universe (FTL travel, force magic) are clearly impossible. But some technologies, like extremely high-powered thrusters and even lightsabers, may one day be feasible.
We're One Step Closer to Green Rocket Fuel
Is it possible to have an eco-conscious rocket? While that may seem like a laughable concept, NASA is testing new green propellants to replace hydrazine, the current toxic and corrosive standard moseying around space.
A Single Weak Strut Caused That SpaceX Rocket to Blow Up
Every strut counts, as they say. On June 28th, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon capsule stuffed full of supplies for the International Space Station blew up in mid-air, minutes after launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Today, Elon Musk revealed the cause: A single, flimsy strut.
Boeing Dreams of an Engine Powered by Lasers and Nuclear Explosions
Since we seem to be on the topic of fantastical power sources today, it’s my solemn duty to inform you that respected airplane manufacturer Boeing has aspirations to build a jet engine powered by lasers and nuclear explosions.
How Did We Get to Pluto So Fast?
On July 14th, the New Horizons spacecraft will make history when it sails past Pluto, formerly known as the ninth planet. Even more incredible is how fast we got there. The spacecraft traveled 3 billion miles in nine and a half years. That’s about a million miles a day for almost ten years. How the heck did we do it?
Watching Water Burst This Stressed Rocket Part Is Strangely Satisfying
Sometimes, all a day really needs is a nice video of rocket components exploding during stress-testing. Why, hello there Space Launch System! Did your booster composite case get over-pressurized with water to test how the materials would withstand launch-strain? Perfect!
Space Shuttle Engines Start Hot Fire Tests For New Space Launch System
It lives! The RS-25 rocket engines from the space shuttle have been repurposed for the Space Launch System, NASA's rocket for deep space exploration. The engines hot fired for the first time since 2009 in this 500-second burn.
Rocket Engine Made With 3D Printed Parts Survives First Hot Fire Tests
Parts of this engine were 3D printed using copper alloy materials. All of them survived their first-ever hot fire test, and 18 more hot fire tests in different injector and thrust chamber assembly configurations. The future is so cool.
Distributed Rocket Science is a Thing Now
How long does it take to dissolve 1 kilogram of nitrogen in 15 kilogram of hydrazine? A not-so-little spacecraft called out for help, and in less than two hours, the internet found an answer.
Comment of the Day: Rocket Fuel Edition
It was a crowded field on Monday, with commenters weighing in on everything from zombie-cakes to the first families of science fiction to the hidden motivations of flesh-eating plants, but only one comment can be comment of the day and today that comment comes from Rod Brock.
Rocket science, explained with soda bottles
Fuel and oxidizer. Together they make propellant, which can be used to launch a rocket – but for the best results, you need to find the right ratio. Too much of one or the other, and your exhaust velocity begins to drop. Less exhaust velocity means less thrust — and less thrust means you will not go to space today.
The New York Times fails miserably in its obituary for rocket scientist Yvonne Brill
Last Wednesday, acclaimed rocket scientist Yvonne Brill died. To honor her, the New York Times' obituary opened by remarking on her "mean beef stroganoff."
Can You Fly By Firing Guns at the Ground?
It might be the preserve of fantastical action movies, but we've probably all wondered at some point or other if it's actually possible to fly through the air by firing bullets down at the ground.
International Space Station Could be Left Empty by November
For personal reasons, I had to miss yesterday's NASA press conference, which gave an update on International Space Station operations following the failure and crash of a Progress resupply vehicle last week. When I returned home and saw the headlines about the briefing from other news sites, I thought, "Wow, everyone…
The haunting beauty of abandoned playground rockets
Once, these rocket ships helped countless schoolchildren to conquer the vast reaches of space. Now, they look like a good way to get tetanus, with their rusty distressed metal. Photographer Lauren Orchowski's new book Rocket Science documents their beautiful decrepitude.
The Life of Polyamorous Pagan Rocket Scientist Jack Parsons — In Pictures
Sure I'll take any excuse to use "polyamorous" and "rocket scientist" in the same headline, but in this case there's a good reason. Over at BoingBoing, David Pescovitz has unearthed an online comic book biography about Jack Parsons, the man who founded the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and shared a wife with L. Ron…
Researchers Begin Developing Single-Pixel Camera
Megapixels, Gigapixels, phooey is what I have to say about that. Researchers at Rice University are developing a single-pixel camera that will compensate for inefficiencies of the current digital cameras. I'm still pretty confused how the damn thing actually works, but it is supposedly similar to that of a pin-hole…
