Apr 12, 2007

It looks like America’s military forces are once again looking towards the heavens in order to fuel their needs. (MSNBC) The Pentagon’s National Security Space Office may begin a study in the near future on the possibility of using satellites to collect solar energy for use on Earth, according to Defense Department...

Mar 24, 2007

(Image Credit: David Mat, via LiftPort Gallery) With humanity regaining their foothold among the stars, there seems to be much chatter regarding the possibility of orbital space stations circling our planet. But in order for humanity to inhabit the heavens above us, we will need to find a way to create artificial gravity as the lack of...

Mar 2, 2007

If humanity ever regains the confidence to revisit the moon, one major factor in deciding where to launch a lunar base can be boiled down to one word–energy. Since establishing a nuclear power plant upon the moon may not be that popular, we may have to settle for solar energy via the Sun. With solar energy abundant in the polar...

Feb 8, 2007

With all of the focus of NASA’s Centennial Challenges on space elevators, lunar landers and oxygen rock extractors, we may have forgotten one critical “challenge” that needs to be overcome–biospheres. (Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies) we have yet to create a closed ecosystem that can support human...

Jan 30, 2007

Over at Planet Quest, NASA has developed a short, interactive tour that lets audiences know about Saturn’s most mysterious moon, Titan. What made this virtual tour interesting was the fact that according to NASA a single spark would be enough to engulf this moon in flames. This basically translates to the banning of rockets...

Jan 26, 2007

Despite the Hollywood glitz of Armageddon and Deep Impact, no human bomb would be strong enough to either alter the asteroid (and its fragments) course or destroy the incoming space rock. However, where nuclear bombs fail, space tractors may prevail. (Washington Post) NASA astronaut and former University of Hawaii solar physicist Edward...

Jan 23, 2007

(Hat Tip: Space Scan) Robert Zubrin, president of The Mars Society has developed a five step plan towards conquering the red planet and enabling humanity to establish a second home within the solar system. (Popular Science) Why talk about building homes on Mars when we have problems on Earth like war, bird flu, AIDS and global warming?...

Jan 11, 2007

(Hat Tip: LiftPort Staff Blog) A new space elevator has emerged from the shadows, and from the looks of it they seemed to be determined to construct a space elevator in the near term future. Black Line Ascension is the culmination of work by various entities and individuals pushing the technology required for eventual construction of...