press archives:

Biggest Piece of Space Junk Ever

Nineteen thousand pieces of space debris are orbiting the earth’s low orbit. This junk consists of things like spent rockets, solid fuel, nuts, bolts, tools, cameras, and lens caps—all hurtling around the world at about 17,000 mph. An encounter with one of these high-velocity pieces of debris could spell disaster for a communications satellite or a manned space station. So, how can these potential collisions be eliminated? Laser brooms, Terminator Tethers, collection vehicles, and aerogel balls are all been considered in the war against space junk…read more

Cleaning Up Space Junk

Nineteen thousand pieces of space debris are orbiting the earth’s low orbit. This junk consists of things like spent rockets, solid fuel, nuts, bolts, tools, cameras, and lens caps—all hurtling around the world at about 17,000 mph. An encounter with one of these high-velocity pieces of debris could spell disaster for a communications satellite or a manned space station. So, how can these potential collisions be eliminated? Laser brooms, Terminator Tethers, collection vehicles, and aerogel balls are all been considered in the war against space junk.

NASA new technologies

WASHINGTON — NASA is looking for new technologies that have potential use in future agency projects which could benefit from testing during flights on an airplane that simulates the weightless conditions of space. The technologies may improve air and space vehicle capabilities and support future systems used in space exploration.

NASA’s Facilitated Access to the Space Environment for Technology Development and Training, or FAST, program helps emerging technologies mature through testing in a reduced gravity environment. To prepare technologies for space applications, it is important to demonstrate they work in a zero-gravity environment. This unique testing environment can be provided in an aircraft flying repeated parabolic trajectories which create brief periods of zero gravity. The aircraft also can simulate reduced-gravity levels similar to those found on the surface of the moon or Mars.