Categories
Space Exploration

Human spaceflight is a risk worth taking, says ESA head

On 12 April, the International Day of Human Space Flight commemorates the first human – Yuri Gagarin – traveling to space in 1961, and the inaugural Space Shuttle mission on the same day in 1981.

Since Gagarin, humans have flown to space hundreds of times, including six missions to the moon, and have maintained a permanent space presence onboard the orbiting International Space Station (ISS) since November 2000.

But now new challenges are on the horizon, including returning to the moon and possibly going to Mars. We spoke to the head of ESA about why humans should go to space, the value of robotic exploration, and what role Europe has to play in the future.

By Jonathan O’Callaghan

Categories
Animals Life on Earth

Akashinga “The Brave Ones” Trailer

Akashinga: The Brave Ones tells the real story of Akashinga, the all-female anti-poaching unit in Zimbabwe that is revolutionizing the way animals (particularly elephants) are protected and communities are empowered.

The movie is executive produced by the well-known Canadian filmmaker and environmentalist James Cameron and directed by Maria Wilhelm, the Executive Director of the Avatar Alliance Foundation and President & COO of CAMERON Companies.

Categories
Climate Global Warming

No, we are not heading into an ice age any time soon

This article is originally published on The Conversation with the title of “Climate explained: why we won’t be heading into an ice age any time soon” under a Creative Commons license.

James Renwick, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Categories
Space Exploration

SpaceX Crew Dragon arrives at the ISS

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule arrives at the International Space Station (ISS) following up a historic liftoff with an equally smooth docking. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule (named Endeavour by the crew) docked automatically to the ISS, no assistance needed.

Categories
Space Exploration

How to land the Space Shuttle… from space? [Amazing video]

How did I miss this for years? In this brilliant video below, software engineer Bret Copeland explains how to land the space shuttle… from space!

Categories
Solar System Astronomy

Planet Nine might not exist, many astronomers now think

Planet Nine is a theoretical, undiscovered giant planet in the mysterious far reaches of our solar system. The presence of Planet Nine has been hypothesized to explain everything from the tilt of the sun’s spin axis to the apparent clustering in the orbits of small, icy asteroids beyond Neptune.

But does Planet Nine actually exist?

Samantha Lawler, University of Regina

Categories
Space Exploration

Please use crewed, not manned

The American science communicator Emily Calandrelli (also known as The Space Gal, @TheSpaceGal on Twitter) published a very funny video on her Twitter account, which can be titled “Please use crewed, not manned”.

To explain her cause, Calandrelli used the popular “Joey, the famous ‘Friends’ character being taught French” meme, where Phoebe hopelessly tries to teach Joey French.

Calandrelli also posted that video on Facebook saying “a friendly reminder”.

Categories
Space Exploration Energy Mars

We need faster spaceships. Nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer

With dreams of Mars on the minds of both NASA and Elon Musk, long-distance crewed missions through space are coming. But you might be surprised to learn that modern rockets don’t go all that much faster than the rockets of the past.

Iain Boyd, University of Colorado Boulder

Categories
Global Warming Animals Climate Life on Earth Oceans

Saving whales could be key to limiting global warming

According to a report published by the World Economic Forum, whales are a surprising weapon in the fight against climate change. Scientists say saving whales could be key to limiting global warming.

Categories
Space Exploration Earth from Space

Capturing a Satellite [November 1984]

An amazing image titled “Capturing a Satellite” by NASA: Astronaut Dale A. Gardner prepares to dock with the spinning WESTAR VI satellite during the STS-51A mission. He was wearing a getting his turn in the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU, see notes 1). Gardner used a large tool called the Apogee Kick Motor Capture Device to enter the nozzle of a spent WESTAR VI engine and stabilize the communications spacecraft sufficiently to capture it for return to Earth in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Discovery.