pale blue dot
On August 12, 2005, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was launched from Cape Canaveral, as part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program. MRO is a multipurpose spacecraft designed to conduct reconnaissance and exploration of Mars from orbit. The orbiter played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the Red Planet, both in terms of current conditions and …
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Anastatia Mayers, an 18-year-old philosophy and physics student from Aberdeen University, made history as the youngest person to travel to space. Her extraordinary journey aboard Virgin Galactic’s Galactic 02 (G02) flight on August 10, 2023, not only set a record for youth but also marked a significant milestone in space tourism.
As we inch closer to the precipice of irreversible climate change, the debate surrounding how best to address its challenges intensifies. Two primary solutions have emerged in this arena: Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and adaptation. While both have their merits, there’s a moral question at the core of this debate. Do we remove the CO₂ …
Moonlit nights have often been the backdrop for tales of mystery and wonder, especially if there’s a full moon. Whether through superstitions or folklore, the moon has been the muse for countless narratives of supernatural occurrences and strange behaviors. But how much of what we’ve heard is truth, and how much is a mere myth? …
In 1967, as space-age fantasies ignited imaginations across the globe, the then Philco-Ford, now Ford Motor Company, attempted to capture the future’s heart and soul in a brief cinematic journey. The film titled “1999 AD” catapulted its audience three decades into the future, offering a tantalizing glimpse of everyday life for a quintessential American family, …
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The notion that intelligent extraterrestrial life might exist has always captured the human imagination. But what if they do exist, and what if they find us before we find them? The late physicist Stephen Hawking once expressed deep concern about this possibility, warning that giving aliens our cosmic address could bring death and ruin. But …
The beluga whale, scientifically known as Delphinapterus leucas, is a remarkable marine mammal known for its striking appearance and incredible adaptability. Characterized by its distinct white coloration in adulthood, bulbous forehead, and absence of a dorsal fin, the beluga is uniquely equipped for life in the cold and icy waters of the Arctic and subarctic …
The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), often referred to simply as the “moon buggy,” was used on the Moon in the last three missions of the American Apollo program (15, 16, and 17) between 1971 and 1972. Its first use was during the Apollo 15 mission, driven by astronauts David Scott and Jim Irwin on July …
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The debate surrounding the release of captive lions, tigers, and other big cats into the wild is both passionate and complex. While the idea of freeing these magnificent creatures to roam their natural habitats is undeniably appealing, the realities of such a decision are fraught with challenges. From the individual animal’s ability to survive to …
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In order to go to the moon, we use complex (and somewhat risky) Lunar Orbit Rendezvous. But, can’t we land a spacecraft on the moon directly? Wouldn’t it be easier? Here’s why we use Lunar Orbit Rendezvous instead of sending a spacecraft to directly land on the lunar surface.
