The current powerful solar storm hitting Earth is creating spectacular aurorae and messing with non-hardened electronics, but it could also help out with the space debris problem in low Earth orbit.
Huge storms on the surface of the Sun are currently flinging bursts of energy at Earth. That energy heats the atmosphere, causing it to expand. As the atmosphere reaches farther out into space, it applies more friction to objects in low Earth orbit. Friction slows objects, giving gravity an assist in bringing the objects back to Earth.
Of course, the effect is small, and thus will affect only small objects. Still, NASA estimates that perhaps half a million objects could fall out of orbit and burn up in the atmosphere. At orbital speed, each of those tiny pieces would act like a bullet fired from a high-powered rifle if it hit a spacecraft, so the fact that many of them will be gone is no small thing.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Building A Private Future
On February 7, NASA will solicit proposals from private companies wanting to work with NASA to build a private manned spacecraft capable of ferrying humans to and from ISS. This will be the third round in the process. NASA will give funding to more than one company, hoping that at least one design will produce an actual vehicle.
Given NASA's limited resources, the agreements executed will not give NASA the authority to dictate the final design of these new ships, but the space agency and the winning companies will work closely together.
Given NASA's limited resources, the agreements executed will not give NASA the authority to dictate the final design of these new ships, but the space agency and the winning companies will work closely together.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Farmers Insurance Commercial
Farmers Insurance is currently airing a television commercial that shows a fake space capsule crashing into a little fake house. This happens in a presumably fake classroom. It seems the company offers homeowner's insurance that will protect against your home being hit by space debris.
Of course, no person has yet been killed by incoming space debris, and such debris hitting a house or a car is an extremely rare event, so the company stands to make solid money on such a policy. Still, the fact that the company is showcasing such an option might have significance beyond the corporate balance sheet. It suggests the company has data saying the American people are aware of the space debris problem. Perhaps someone in the political class should test that hypothesis. Solving the problem will eventually require someone to step up and say something must be done.
Of course, no person has yet been killed by incoming space debris, and such debris hitting a house or a car is an extremely rare event, so the company stands to make solid money on such a policy. Still, the fact that the company is showcasing such an option might have significance beyond the corporate balance sheet. It suggests the company has data saying the American people are aware of the space debris problem. Perhaps someone in the political class should test that hypothesis. Solving the problem will eventually require someone to step up and say something must be done.
NEOShield
A new consortium of universities, research institutes, and corporations in the U. S. and several European nations has been put together to study strategies and hardware required to protect Earth from collisions with near-Earth objects (NEOs)-- asteroids and comets. The studies will be carried out over the next three and a half years, and the point, obviously, is to begin to develop real options before they become necessary.
Taxpayer funded space research is criticized as being a waste of money, but it was precisely that research that established comets and asteroids pose a continuing threat to Earth-- a theory developed during research supporting the Apollo lunar landings. That money may turn out to have been extraordinarily well spent.
Taxpayer funded space research is criticized as being a waste of money, but it was precisely that research that established comets and asteroids pose a continuing threat to Earth-- a theory developed during research supporting the Apollo lunar landings. That money may turn out to have been extraordinarily well spent.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Days Of Tragedy
This is a tough period for NASA each year. Yesterday marked the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire that claimed three astronauts. Nineteen years later, seven lives were lost-- remarkably. the first astronauts to die during a mission-- when Challenger exploded. On February 1, 2003, seven more were lost when Columbia broke apart during re-entry.
It's still the case that no astronaut-- likely no human-- has ever been lost while actually in space. Given the extreme danger of spaceflight, that record speaks volumes about the abilities of the engineers who design manned spacecraft, the workers who build them, and the astronauts and controllers who fly the missions.
It's still the case that no astronaut-- likely no human-- has ever been lost while actually in space. Given the extreme danger of spaceflight, that record speaks volumes about the abilities of the engineers who design manned spacecraft, the workers who build them, and the astronauts and controllers who fly the missions.
Friday, January 27, 2012
More Florida Space Debate
In the CNN GOP presidential debate last night, space policy came up again. Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich restated their positions, while Rick Santorum and Ron Paul essentially said the country couldn't afford a huge new project like building a lunar base just now.
Romney also tried to use Gingrich's proposal to build an American lunar base by 2020 as a way to suggest Gingrich lacks sound, practical judgment. Gingrich countered by comparing his proposal with John Kennedy's call to put a man on the Moon within the decade. Whatever the political realities of this year turn out to be, the technological case is clear. Given national priority, the U. S. is far closer to being able to meet Gingrich's goal now than it was to being able to go to the Moon when Kennedy stood before Congress in May, 1961.
Romney also tried to use Gingrich's proposal to build an American lunar base by 2020 as a way to suggest Gingrich lacks sound, practical judgment. Gingrich countered by comparing his proposal with John Kennedy's call to put a man on the Moon within the decade. Whatever the political realities of this year turn out to be, the technological case is clear. Given national priority, the U. S. is far closer to being able to meet Gingrich's goal now than it was to being able to go to the Moon when Kennedy stood before Congress in May, 1961.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Gingrich Proposes Lunar Base
Campaigning on Florida's Space Coast, Newt Gingrich promised there would be an American lunar base by 2020 if he's elected president, saying America's space program needs "a kick in the pants."
At the same time, Mr. Gingrich said he would cut NASA's budget, arguing the agency needs to be leaner and less bureaucratic. The money saved would be used to establish huge prizes that would guide space development by encouraging the private sector to meet certain specific goals, like establishing a base on the Moon.
At the same time, Mr. Gingrich said he would cut NASA's budget, arguing the agency needs to be leaner and less bureaucratic. The money saved would be used to establish huge prizes that would guide space development by encouraging the private sector to meet certain specific goals, like establishing a base on the Moon.
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