Our Planet

Human spaceflight is a risk worth taking, says ESA head

Post author By Horizon Magazine
Post date June 9, 2020
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Sergey Prokopyev during August 15, 2018 Russian Spacewalk — Russian cosmonaut and Expedition 56 Flight Engineer Sergey Prokopyev during the Russian Spacewalk on August 15, 2018. The photo was taken by Oleg Artemyev. The duo manually launched four small technology satellites and installed a German-led animal-tracking project named ICARUS (short for International Cooperation for Animal Research Using Space) onto the Russian segment of the space station. Image: Oleg Artemyev on Twitter

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

Animals Life on Earth

Akashinga “The Brave Ones” Trailer

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date June 6, 2020
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Akashinga trailer — Akashinga "The brave ones" trailer (screenshot)

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.

Climate Global Warming

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

Post author By The Conversation
Post date June 3, 2020
No Comments on No, we are not heading into an ice age any time soon

Global warming — Political associations aside, science is a difficult side to argue against. Studies show an overall change in temperature over the last few decades - a frightening trend to continue when our sensitive ecosystems hang in the balance. Although some conservatives believe temperature change is part of the worldly cycle of ice ages and volcanic activity, scientific evidence suggests global warming is largely the cause of human influence.

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

Space Exploration

SpaceX Crew Dragon arrives at the ISS

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date May 31, 2020
No Comments on SpaceX Crew Dragon arrives at the ISS

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule arrives at the ISS — SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule arrives at the International Space Station (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.

Space Exploration

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

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date May 30, 2020
No Comments on 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!

Solar System Astronomy

Planet Nine might not exist, many astronomers now think

Post author By The Conversation
Post date May 27, 2020
No Comments on Planet Nine might not exist, many astronomers now think

Ninth Planet, artist's concept — An illustration of what Planet Nine might look like from an artist's eye. Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)

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

Space Exploration

Please use crewed, not manned

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date May 24, 2020
No Comments on Please use crewed, not manned

PLease use crewed - Jessica Meir (left) and Christina Koch — Oct. 15, 2019 - NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (left) and Christina Koch are inside the Quest airlock preparing the U.S. spacesuits and tools they will use on their first spacewalk together. The Expedition 61 flight engineers are holding the pistol grip tools they will use to swap out a failed power controller, also known as a battery charge-discharge unit, that regulates the charge to batteries that collect and distribute power to the International Space Station. Image: NASA (iss061e006501)

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”.

Space Exploration Energy Mars

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

Post author By The Conversation
Post date May 22, 2020
No Comments on We need faster spaceships. Nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer

Nuclear-powered rockets - Nuclear thermal spaceship — An artist's impression of what a nuclear thermal ship built to take humans to Mars could look like. John Frassanito & Associates/Wikipedia

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

Global Warming Animals Climate Life on Earth Oceans

Saving whales could be key to limiting global warming

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date May 19, 2020
No Comments on Saving whales could be key to limiting global warming

Humpback whale — The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 m (39–52 ft) and weigh about 36,000 kg (79,000 lb). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors, making it popular with whale watchers. Males produce a complex song lasting 10 to 20 minutes, which they repeat for hours at a time. Its purpose is not clear, though it may have a role in mating. Humpbacks frequently breach, throwing two-thirds or more of their bodies out of the water and splashing down on their backs. Photo: Wikipedia

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.

Space Exploration Earth from Space

Capturing a Satellite [November 1984]

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date May 18, 2020
No Comments on 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.