New Way To Locate Earth-like Worlds
One of the reasons it is hard for us to spot Earth-like worlds is because of the brightness of their parent star. A new technique with current technology may find a way of eliminating that brightness and allow us glimpse worlds beyond our solar system.
(MSNBC) A thin plastic “starshade” shaped like a giant daisy flower could one day help astronomers observe faraway planets by blocking out unwanted light from their parent stars, a new study reports.
When telescopes point to a distant planet, the small amount of light reflected by the planet is overshadowed by the light from its parent star, making it especially difficult to be seen. [...]
One way to tackle this problem is to place a shield, known to Sun-watchers as a coronagraph, inside the telescope. In this way, astronomers block out the main light from our own favorite star, providing a view of the environment around it.
If we are able to locate star systems harboring worlds that are favorable, not only would this encourage humanity to explore the stars, but we would have an idea of which direction to head towards in the first place.
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Book Review: Liftport, Opening Space To Everyone
(Note: Thanks to the Liftport team for sending me a free copy of this book.)
Albert Einstein: “The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.”
If Space is the final frontier, then why is it so expensive? We all dream about venturing into the unknown, but at a cost of $3,000 (or more) per pound via rockets, the trip skyward seems to be more than our wallet can bear.
But what if the cost could be reduced? What if the price for sending humans, satellites and tourists into space were affordable to not just space powers, but third world countries as well? This is a problem LiftPort is trying to solve by constructing a space elevator from the oceanic floor towards the celestial heavens.
Detailing their plans via book format, the LiftPort company hopes to build the eighth wonder of the world–and perhaps open up space for everyone.
The book entitled LiftPort: Opening Space To Everyone, is a “mini explanation” of how an elevator to the stars would benefit humanity on a whole. Rated “T for technical,” LiftPort goes through many of the mechanical nuts and bolts on building a space elevator. Early in the book, both problems and possibilities are highlighted in constructing this project, and their honesty as to the hurdles they have to overcome before success can be guaranteed makes creating this object more realistic.
These problems range from creating a physical substance strong enough (via carbon nanotubes) to hold its own weight towards powering the “elevators” (called lifters) in a financially sound way. Also the legal and security issues are dealt with as they discuss how they intend to receive the necessary permits to operate the space elevator as well as securing it from terrorist and international threats abroad.
As far as “opening space to everyone,” LiftPort proposes by reducing the overall cost of entering space (from $3,000 per pound to around $400) it will enable corporations and smaller nations to send up astronauts or satellites without the aid of the current space powers (Russia, China, US). This will in effect produce a “global space sale” which not only attract a long list of space clients, but also potentially attract investors as well.
But this novel is not just for scientists, venture capitalists or even geeks with too much time on their hands. Mixed within the legal and science jargon are short stories which help to not only bring the space elevator to life, but also helps the reader understand (via parable form) how this could impact humanity socially, financially, culturally as well as spiritually.
After reading the book a person may have questions regarding the feasibility of this project. After all, LiftPort’s technical issues have yet to be overcome, and developing material strong enough to hold up not only itself, but withstand nature and space as well will not be easy.
Although some may see this as nothing more than a “mad scientists project,” they must realize that our world has often been shaped by “mad scientists.” This list would include figures such as Thomas Edison, The Wright Brothers, Nikola Tesla, Henry Ford and others who were probably mocked for attempting to construct objects that would ultimately change our planet forever.
Reading this book will open up ones mind towards another possible way of entering space. Not since the days of landing on the moon has another science fiction idea become so close to becoming a scientific fact. Humanity can afford to continue to use rockets to launch people towards the stars. But LiftPort asks, “why currently send people into space if a cheaper method could be conceived?”
Personal note: I enjoyed reading this novel in my spare time and do really think constructing this object is feasible. What I enjoyed most about the book was how a space elevator could help launch other industries (i.e. space tourism, solar satellites, even Ceramics).
What I enjoyed least about the novel was towards the end it seemed as if they were trying to make the Space Elevator sort of like a “cure all” for humanities woes, which would give it the tower of Babel affect (not a good marketing move in today’s world).
Although the Space Elevator may not be the only other inexpensive way to send up goods to space (as the magnetic sled may beat them out price wise) it probably would be the only way to bring down objects from space to study or repair, such as satellites, asteroids and moon rocks.
All in all I thought it was an excellent read and would recommend this book to everyone with a future mindset.
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Using Earthshine To Discover Alien Life
Although this technique is controversial (as in whether it works or not) some scientists think that they can use “Earthshine,” or sunlight reflecting off of our homeworld to detect life on other planets.
(New Scientist Space) Earthshine–the dim glow from sunlight bouncing off the Earth, and reflected back from the Moon’s surface–may aid in the search for life on other planets, say scientists. [...][Wesley Traub of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory] and other researchers detailed how the spectrum of Earthshine reveals the presence of ozone and chlorophyll, both sure signs of biological activity on Earth. In the future, it is expected that planet hunting space telescopes will be able to resolve Earth-like planets as tiny pinpricks of light circling around their parent stars.
And though such a “pale blue dot” would not likely reveal any visual details, its spectrum might be enough to distinguish between a sterile and a living world.
This idea is probably worth exploring. Although worlds such as Mercury and Mars (if it has resources) may prove themselves to be worthwhile over time, colonizing more habitable planets would be in our long term best interests. Not only would it cost less money, but would require less energy to colonize as well.
Update: Added photo and corrected html.
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Possible Setback For Space Elevator
(Hat Tip: Space Elevator Blog)
Apparently a scientists has noticed a critical setback for building a space elevator. The problems lies not in the overall layout of the space elevator, but rather its nanotube building blocks.
(Nature) Is it possible to make a cable for a space elevator out of carbon nanotubes? Not anytime soon, if ever, says Nicola Pugno of the Polytechnic of Turin, Italy. Pugno’s calculations show that inevitable defects in the nanotubes mean that such a cable simply wouldn’t be strong enough. [...]
Laboratory tests have shown that individual nanotubes can withstand an average of about 100 GPa, an unusual strength that comes courtesy of their crystalline structure. But if a nanotube is missing just one carbon atom, this can reduce its strength by as much as 30%. And a bulk material made from such tubes is even weaker. Most fibres made from nanotubes have so far had a strength much lower than 1 GPa.
Pugno goes on to state that even if we were able to produce perfect nanotubes, they could (over time) be corroded by oxygen molecules and micrometers from space. When asked whether or not a Space Elevator could be built, Pugno replied, “With the technology available today? Never.” There are some however who disagree.
(Nature) [Bradley] Edwards, who is president and founder of the Dallas-based company Carbon Designs, shrugs off the controversy, and says that with adequate funding he could make cables at or above the 62-GPa benchmark in just three years. He suggests that the key step is carefully spinning long nanotubes together in a close-packed way, which encourages cooperative frictional forces that make the strengths of individual nanotubes less crucial.
What many people fail to realize is that the concept of a Space Elevator is still in its infancy. Current technology (including Edwards proposed method) may not be adequate enough to construct an elevator reaching towards the heavens, but we should never rule out future technology to resolve the issue.
Although debate about the possibilities of a Space Elevator are great, we must remember that a construct like this may take decades to build and it would be silly to expect something like this to be finished within a short few years.
The purpose of the Space Elevator is to benefit future generations, not just the near present and if we become impatient because our brains can not rack up a solution tomorrow then we might as well not even try to go back to the moon.
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Magnetic Sled Hurling Objects Into Space?
With all of the talk of Space Elevators and rocket ships blasting humanity into space, it looks as if someone has found a new way to send objects into orbit–via a magnetic sled.
(New Scientist Space) IT SOUNDS more like a roller coaster than a spacecraft launcher: a levitating sled that whirls around a giant magnetic ring at ever increasing speeds before shooting up into the sky. [...]
LaunchPoint, which is being funded by the US air force, claims a circular accelerator could allow the magnetically levitating sled to progressively build up speed over a period of hours. It would then be launched up a ramp at 10 kilometres per second, firing it into orbit.
Before anyone writes this off as “another silly space idea,” they should remember the same thing was probably said of launching satellites into orbit before Sputnik, landing on the moon and (in the future) the Space Elevator. This new method has the potential to seriously reduce the cost of launching satellites (and hopefully space shuttles) into orbit.
(via LaunchPoint’s Site) How revolutionary would a Maglev space launch system be? Consider that the first magnetic launch systems are expected to propel payloads into orbit at a cost of roughly $750 / lb, already a significant improvement over the current rocket-launched cost of around $4,000 / lb. Now realize that the total cost to orbit might eventually drop below $100 / lb, and it soon becomes clear how vitally important this technology is to the future of space.
LaunchPoint has already been awarded a $100,000 from the US Department of Defense Small Business Technology Transfer Program, and so far this new piece of technology looks promising. Unfortunately the site does not have a weblog in order for space junkies to keep up with what is happening at the company, but for now email subscriptions will suffice.
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Flashy Goggles To Combat Space Sickness?
Space sickness occurs more than the public realizes, affecting at least 60% of astronauts during and after visiting outer space. This often hampers what an astronaut can do during the first few days of flight, which can translate into lost opportunity (and perhaps lost dollars).
A new piece of technology is hoping to change all of that, by targeting an organ few have thought of before–the eyes.
(New Scientist Space) Goggles that simulate a strobe-lighting effect could prevent the nauseating effects of space sickness–and that of more down-to-Earth travel. [...]
[Millard Reschke at JSC] came up with the idea for the glasses after observing a particular astronaut who had returned from a long stay on Russia’s former space station, Mir. [...]
Reschke’s team noticed that the astronaut’s eyes darted back and forth more than normal. The team suspected these eye jitters–known as square wave jerks–were helping to “freeze” the moving visual scene on his retina, protecting him from space sickness.
The “eye wear” resembles 3-D glasses with shutters built in that switch from dark to light extremely fast. This creates a strobe affect and in several tests has successfully proven to prevent space sickness in micro gravity.
More testing needs to be conducted, but if successful, future astronauts may be opting for the goofy glasses rather than taking drugs.
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Monkeying Around In Space? (Lemur)
What has six legs, weighs 26 pounds and can anchor itself to the bottom of a space station? It’s not a monkey, but Lemur, the space robot.
(Red Orbit) “Lemur,” short for the Limbed Excursion Mechanical Utility Robot, was originally conceived to help maintain future spacecraft and space stations. It weighs in at just 26 pounds (12 kilograms) and is small enough to hitch a ride on the space shuttle or NASA’s planned crew exploration vehicle.
“Lemur could be an astronaut’s pet monkey,” says JPL engineer Brett Kennedy, principal investigator for the robotic project. “It can perform tasks that are too small for astronauts to do easily. It’s built to get into the nooks and crannies of a structure.”
This robot is equipped with a swivel camera, enabling to simply “turn its head” instead of having to move the entire body around. It also comes with a microscope camera about the size of a palm, enabling it to examine items up close. If approved for space, this robot may be a handy item, not only for the space station, but perhaps also for the Moon and Mars.
(Red Orbit) To make Lemur flexible and versatile, Kennedy and his team combined the body styles and abilities of an octopus, a crab and a primate into a six-limbed robot with Swiss army knife tendencies. Attachable tools fit onto each limb and perform a variety of functions. Lemur can support itself evenly on three legs while two other limbs are freed up to work. And the sixth limb? “It’s a bonus, and besides, five limbs would look funny,” Kennedy says. [...]With all its gadgetry and talents, Lemur might have a bright future not only as an assistant astronaut, but also as a Martian rock climber. Lemur could scamper up much steeper hills and cliffs than the Spirit and Opportunity rovers that are currently wheeling around on Mars. “We built Lemur with limbs so it can use both arms and legs just as a biological primate would,” Kennedy said.
Inspired by nature, this “creature” would be very beneficial towards future colonists everywhere. Hopefully this device will not be too expensive for NASA to launch, as they already have a tight budget to work with.
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Pulling Oxygen From Moon Rocks
If we are ever going to live on other worlds, oxygen is going to be a main ingredient for us to exist upon their surfaces. Although we will have to find ways to “export it” to most potential colony spots, a new invention may make that unnecessary for the Moon.
(Universe Today) Fortunately lunar soil – or regolith – is almost half oxygen. NASA researchers are using a technique called vacuum pyrolysis, where the regolith is heated until it releases oxygen. Light from the Sun was focused by a lens to heat lunar soil to 2,500 degrees C. As much as 20% of the soil was converted to free oxygen, and the leftover slag could be used for bricks, radiation shielding or pavement. [...]
“All you have to do is vaporize the stuff,” says Eric Cardiff of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. He leads one of several teams developing ways to provide astronauts oxygen they’ll need on the Moon and Mars.
The more I seem to look at the moon, the more promising it seems to colonize its surface. Although some have advocated going to Mars first, the Moon is not only a lot closer, but probably much more valuable as well.
Pulling oxygen from moon rocks would not only be a benefit towards future colonists on the moon–it would also benefit future colonies on Mars, Mercury and any asteroid colonies as well.
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Speedy Retrograde Light Beams?
(Hat Tip: Centauri Dreams and Space Blog Alpha)
It seems that fact is definitely stranger than fantasy! While conducting an experiment, a professor at the University of Rochester was not only able to slow down the speed of light but apparently send it flying in the other direction.
(University of Rochestor) [Robert Boyd, the M. Parker Givens Professor of Optics at the University of Rochester] recently showed how he can slow down a pulse of light to slower than an airplane, or speed it up faster than its breakneck pace, using exotic techniques and materials. But he’s now taken what was once just a mathematical oddity-negative speed-and shown it working in the real world.
“It’s weird stuff,” says Boyd. “We sent a pulse through an optical fiber, and before its peak even entered the fiber, it was exiting the other end. Through experiments we were able to see that the pulse inside the fiber was actually moving backward, linking the input and output pulses.”
Definitely weird stuff. Although this procedure was theorized by scientists, no one knew whether this could be performed within laboratory conditions. Although there may be no immediate benefits for humanity over this, its discovery may throw down one of many hurdles in creating a light saber.
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Chinese Space Station In 2008?
In an attempt to retain its space power status, China it seems is interested in constructing a space station orbiting Earth by next years end.
(Red Orbit) The People’s Daily Thursday said in September following the Olympics China plans to launch a Shenzhou-7 spacecraft with three astronauts for preliminary work on a Chinese space station. [...]
The plans call for a 20-ton station, said Song Zhengyu, a research fellow with the First Institute of the China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp. and deputy director-designer of the launch vehicle. Analysts say China wants to build its own space station to keep up with other countries while showing it can do high-tech exploration.
China is currently leading the Asian world in space technology, with neighbors such as South Korea and Japan envying their status from afar. China’s entrance into the space field has been a benefit globally, as it has rekindled a spirit of exploration of the heavens.
Lets hope it will also inspire its neighbors to pursue similar goals (hint: Japan, where are you?)
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Checking In At The Inflatable Space Hotel
Imagine relaxing in your pajamas, sipping on solar wine while reading the latest news from the Lunar Times–all from the comfort of your micro-gravity bed. The only catch is that the station your staying in has no hard floors, no direction of “up,” and no cutting lasers are allowed on board.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Inflatable Space Hotel.
(Times Online) AN inflatable hotel that will orbit the Earth is being built by a millionaire hoping to kickstart interest in space tourism.
Robert Bigelow, an American hotelier who says he wants to open up space to the general public, is ploughing more than £280m into the project.
The blow-up structure will be launched on rockets and self-inflate to its full size once it is circling the globe.
Its 1ft-thick skin, made from a toughened combination of multi-layered polymer and Kevlar, will allow it to expand while keeping the astronauts protected from space meteorites.
Believe it or not, this project was originally started by NASA, but due to financial constraints they were forced to abandon it in its infancy. Bigelow decided to buy it out in an attempt to not only make money, but also attract Hollywood and drug companies into space.
(Times Online) In addition to being used as a hotel, the structure may be leased to astronauts and pharmaceutical companies wanting to use it as a medical testing centre.
Bigelow hopes the hotel, which would open some time after 2015, will also be in demand as a shooting location for film-makers.
If successful, a future space hotel could revolutionize the space construction industry. Such a project would require fewer launches, allowing NASA to concentrate its efforts on building ships and lunar craft, not to mention working on colonizing Mars.
Bigelow plans on launching a beta type first, which will test the amount of radiation received through “the vessel” (and other dangers) before populating it with humans.
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Mars Trip Safer With Antimatter Ships?
If humanity is to conquer the red planet, they need to be able to cross the gulf of space as quickly as possible. Otherwise future colonists may suffer from health problems such as bone loss and muscle fatigue when en route towards Mars.
However, if a future antimatter engine can be built, then those future threats could be eliminated, if not at least reduced.
(Red Orbit) Antimatter is sometimes called the mirror image of normal matter because while it looks just like ordinary matter, some properties are reversed. For example, normal electrons, the familiar particles that carry electric current in everything from cell phones to plasma TVs, have a negative electric charge. Anti-electrons have a positive charge, so scientists dubbed them “positrons”.
When antimatter meets matter, both annihilate in a flash of energy. This complete conversion to energy is what makes antimatter so powerful. Even the nuclear reactions that power atomic bombs come in a distant second, with only about three percent of their mass converted to energy.
Unlike the nuclear powered space craft, a “positron” powered ship would be safer and more efficient. Many scientists have opted towards a nuclear powered craft in order to reduce time while in flight. However, reactors can be complex and a slight error could spell doom for all on board–especially during a launch.
(Red Orbit) If a rocket carrying a nuclear reactor explodes, it could release radioactive particles into the atmosphere. “Our positron spacecraft would release a flash of gamma-rays if it exploded, but the gamma rays would be gone in an instant. There would be no radioactive particles to drift on the wind. The flash would also be confined to a relatively small area.
The danger zone would be about a kilometer (about a half-mile) around the spacecraft. An ordinary large chemically-powered rocket has a danger zone of about the same size, due to the big fireball that would result from its explosion,” said Smith.
Currently the price for assembling 10 milligrams of anti-matter is around $250 million. This price could be reduced through research as well as technology, and is probably less expensive than chemical rockets which cost around $10,000 per pound.
This would probably be easier to develop than a safe nuclear reactor and may be a preferable choice amongst astronauts–since no one probably enjoys riding with a nuclear device strapped to their back.
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Google Mars In Various Colors
It seems as if the boys and gals at Google have decided to commemorate Percival Lowell’s birthday with the launch of Google Mars–in various colors.
(Google Blog) In commemoration of Lowell’s birthday, we’re pleased to bring you Google Mars. Explore the red planet in three different ways: an elevation map shows color-coded peaks and valleys, a visible-imagery map shows what your eyes would actually see, and an infrared-imagery map shows the detail your eyes would miss.
The layout is similar to Google Moon, without the cheese of course! But for the space fans who desire something more globe like, Google is working on a similar version within Google Earth.
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Volcano Telescope?
It looks as if the United States and its southern neighbor Mexico are about to partner in order to build a massive telescope ontop of a volcano. Although Mexico is grateful for the financial partnership, they do not appreciate the source of funding.
(Red Orbit) [T]he fact that most of the U.S. funding comes from the Defense Department has worried some Mexicans who are leery of any military connections with their powerful northern neighbor.
“We want Mexico to be in the vanguard of scientific advance, but it would be better if all the money came from non-military sources,” said Rosa Maria Aviles, a federal lawmaker on the lower house of Congress’ Science and Technology Committee. “We are a pacifist nation.”
The Pentagon often funds scientific projects in order to reap the benefits that these endeavors produce. The telescope will cost an estimated $120 million and be constructed 15,000 feet ontop of the Sierra Negra within the central state of Puebla.
(Red Orbit) “We will get incredible new insight into how galaxies were first formed,” said project scientist David Hughes of Mexico’s National Astrophysics Optics and Electronics Institute. “Once we start operating, we should be making breakthrough discoveries on an almost daily basis.”Scientists also will be able to collect new data on nearer galaxies such as Andromeda and examine all its stars and planets to see what may lurk there.
Hopefully this telescope can be used to not only view the stars that orbit other galaxies, but also be able to locate possible worlds for colonization for the human race.
Note: Ironically, building this telescope at such an height has caused some “issues,” as villagers employed by the government had trouble bringing up the needed materials in their vehicles to construct the project. They reportably had to switch to using mules, an animal bred for that altitude.
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A Small Climb For Man (Space Elevator)
Who ever said that building an elevator to the stars was impossible? It seems that one company is envisioning just that–and putting those plans into practice.
(Spaceref.com) LiftPort Group, the space elevator companies, today announced that it has successfully completed its second round of preliminary tests of its high altitude platform and robotic lifters. [...]
In this phase of testing, conducted earlier this month in Arizona, LiftPort successfully launched an observation and communication platform a full mile in the air and maintained it in a stationery position for more than six hours while robotic lifters climbed up and down a ribbon attached to the platform.
The robots were able to climb more than 1500 feet, surpassing the previous record of 500 feet. A space elevator is not only feasible, but also less costly than sending a rocket into orbit. Constructing a space elevator will not be easy, as one can tell by how high Lift Port intends to build the structure.
(Spaceref.com) A revolutionary way to send cargo into space, the LiftPort Space Elevator will consist of a carbon nanotube composite ribbon eventually stretching some 62,000 miles from earth to space.The LiftPort Space Elevator will be anchored to an offshore sea platform near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, and to a small man-made counterweight in space.
Mechanical lifters are expected to move up and down the ribbon, carrying such items as people, satellites and solar power systems into space.
Although many nations may prefer to send their cargo, astronauts, etc. via rocket ship, such a procedure may be too costly for their national budget. A space elevator will probably be inexpensive and enable less developed nations to launch satellites into orbit as their is no cost for rocket fuel.
Constructing an item such as this will take enormous effort, but if successful, Lift Port may be the first modern company to build the eighth wonder of the world.
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NASA Turning Water Into Oxygen
A device built by NASA for the International Space Station could allow for future colonists on other worlds to develop breathable oxygen from water.
(Red Orbit) NASA is preparing to launch an oxygen generation system to the International Space Station. The system uses water to generate breathable oxygen for crew members. Life support systems like this are necessary to support future long-duration missions to the moon, Mars and beyond. [...]
The system will also help replace oxygen lost during experiments and airlock depressurization. Once activated, the oxygen generation system may daily provide up to 20 pounds of oxygen.
The device needs little monitoring and during normal operating periods develops up to 12 pounds of oxygen daily. This is enough breathable oxygen for six people, which is good news for future space travelers everywhere.
(Red Orbit) “Advancing life-support technology will become increasingly important as we pursue missions to the moon and Mars,” said Bob Bagdigian, project manager at Marshall’s Center for the Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System.
The oxygen generation system is one of two primary components in the station’s regenerative environmental control and life support system. The other component, the water recovery system, is planned for shipment to Kennedy early next year, once testing and design modifications are completed.
The water purification system basically recycles wastewater (i.e. urine, etc.) which will help reduce costs. This could potentially be coupled with the Oxygen device, as its primary function is separating the hydrogen from the two oxygen molecules.
As more devices like these are developed, sending humans to other worlds will become less burdensome.
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Alien TV, Anyone?
It appears that the Europeans are planning on funding the design for the worlds largest telescope. This telescope will not only be powerful, but it will be able to pick up any alien television stations on nearby stars.
(Spaceref.com) The “Square Kilometre Array” (SKA) will be an international radio telescope with a collecting area of one million square metres — equivalent to about 200 football pitches [...] Such a telescope would be so sensitive that it could detect TV Broadcasts coming from the nearest stars.
Although remarkably large this future telescope has the potential of revealing one of the Universes biggest secrets–and potentially disproving Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.
(Spaceref.com) The final design will enable the SKA to probe the cosmos in unprecedented detail, answering fundamental questions about the Universe, such as “what is dark energy?” and “how did the structure we see in galaxies today actually form?”.The new telescope will test Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity to the limit — and perhaps prove it wrong.
The telescope will not be built until 2020, although Italy may have built a telescope on the moon by that time period. Some may see this as a “waste of time” but the purpose of telescopes is not only to gaze at the stars but also find another world to colonize.
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A Living Ship?
(Hat Tip: Space News Blog)
Orbital Shuttles often face the extremes of outerspace. Floating in a region where temperatures can change from hundreds of degrees above zero to below in an instant can be devastating over time as cracks can form, causing future havoc.
One scientist has come up with a proposal to resolve this issue, by using a technique he found demonstrated in nature.
(Physorg.com) “When we cut ourselves we don’t have to glue ourselves back together, instead we have a self-healing mechanism. Our blood hardens to form a protective seal for new skin to form underneath,” says Dr Christopher Semprimoschnig, a materials scientist at ESA’s European Space Technology Research Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands, who oversaw the study. [...]He and the team at Bristol did it by replacing a few percent of the fibres running through a resinous composite material, similar to that used to make spacecraft components, with hollow fibres containing adhesive materials. Ironically, to make the material self-repairable, the hollow fibres had to be made of an easily breakable substance: glass.
Basically whenever the “skin” of the ship is damaged, the fibers are suppose to break open releasing the liquids sealing the crack within. This would allow astronaut’s to not only travel through the vast emptiness of space between planets, but also the asteroid belt as well.
Other uses could be applied towards the future Martian colonies (as the wind storms can be hazardous for any future residents). This technology is at least a decade away, but hopefully humanity will see experimentation not only on shuttle craft, but also upon the moon.
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New Planet Finding Instrument
This new instrument was able to detect a world orbiting a young star 100 light years away. This “Exoplanet Tracker” is relatively small and may help astronomers to locate worlds around other stars.
(Astrobiology Magazine) “In the last two decades, astronomers have searched about 3,000 stars for new planets,” said Jian Ge, a professor of astronomy at the University of Florida.
“Our success with this new instrument shows that we will soon be able to search stars much more quickly and cheaply – perhaps as many as a couple of hundred thousand stars in the next two decades.”
With hyperspace technology possibly several decades away, this Exoplanet tracker could provide humanity with a way to chart which stars are worth visiting and which ones to avoid.
This new piece of equipment has several advantages over the former method of detecting worlds (i.e. The Doppler Effect). It’s not only able to view multiple worlds at a time but also is more affordable than its predecessor.
(Astrobiology Magazine) At a development cost of about $200,000, the interferometer-equipped ET is also far cheaper than comparable spectrographs, which cost more than $1 million.
And at about 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and weighing about 150 pounds, it is lighter and smaller. The instrument is based on a concept first proposed in 1997 by Lawrence Livermore National Lab physicist David Erskine.
Although costly, this new piece of equipment should help reduce the amount of spending searching for “other Earths.” For the human species to mature, they must not only be willing to leave their cradle, but their solar playground as well.
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Could Hyperspace Become A Reality?
(Hat Tip: Mars News)
A hypothetical engine based upon a controversial theory could enable humanity to travel to the stars–and beyond.
(Scotsman.com News) The theoretical engine works by creating an intense magnetic field that, according to ideas first developed by the late scientist Burkhard Heim in the 1950s, would produce a gravitational field and result in thrust for a spacecraft.
Also, if a large enough magnetic field was created, the craft would slip into a different dimension, where the speed of light is faster, allowing incredible speeds to be reached. Switching off the magnetic field would result in the engine reappearing in our current dimension.
If this theory is proven to be sound, a trip to Mars could be reduced to about three hours as well as a journey to a star 11 light years way could take place within 80 days. The US Air force along with the Department of Energy have expressed interest in this new theory, with the latter having the tools able to create the magnetic field for this new “warp engine.”
(Scotsman.com News) “It would be amazing. I have been working on propulsion systems for quite a while and it would be the most amazing thing. The benefits would be almost unlimited,” [Professor Jochem Hauser a physicist at the Applied Sciences University in Salzgitter, Germany, and a former chief of aerodynamics at the European Space Agency] said.
“But this thing is not around the corner; we first have to prove the basic science is correct and there are quite a few physicists who have a different opinion.
“It’s our job to prove we are right and we are working on that.”
Dramatically shortening the time period of space travel is critical if humanity is ever going to populate the neighboring star system. Such a feat would ensure the survival of the species, as a super nova could wipe out our entire race, regardless of how many worlds we colonized.
If engines like these can be completed in the next several decades, colonizing worlds as far way as Pluto (and even farther) will not be a question of “how,” but of “when.” If proven to be cost effective and feasible within two decades, we may find our children viewing worlds we only dreamed of viewing through a telescope.
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