Questions tagged [technology]
Questions relating to the use of technology to further space exploration.
123 questions
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Uses for the TPS Tiles after shuttle [closed]
After the space shuttle’s retirement, what has the technology seen with the orbiters thermal protection system (TPS Tiles) had a use for post 2011, since to my knowledge no other vehicles are using ...
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ESA: Does the ESA initiate the development of necessary new technologies if it is necessary? Does the ESA create new space missions?
I tried to do some research but I couldn’t find any definitive answer to this: Does the ESA initiate the development of necessary new technologies if it is necessary? And does the ESA create new space ...
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Has there ever been a fully-reusable big-dumb-booster design proposed?
I know of fully expendable Big Dumb Boosters, as well as "smart" reuse in systems like NEXUS (all versions) and their contemporaries, what I'm trying to figure out (after hours of sorting ...
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What material can a maser sail design use?
A quick recap for photon sails:
Photon sails are conceptual spacecraft propulsion systems that would generate thrust from radiation pressure. Types of photon sails include solar sails, laser sails and ...
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What will the live video and audio quality be like when astronauts next set foot on the moon?
What will the live video and audio quality be like when we watch an Artemis crewmember set foot on the moon?
The quality of the original Apollo footage from the 1960's is terrible by today's standards....
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How did the cost of delivery of cargo into orbit change with technology maturation?
I had an argument with my friend recently about the effect of technology maturation on spaceflight cost. In the process, I managed to find this infographic:
Image source
The trend for cost reduction ...
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With our current technology, how large could we make a useable space-based VLBI telescope?
I am trying to find an equation that models the current technical limits that we have on creating an effective space-based VLBI telescope.
Variables that are likely relevant in the model: distance of ...
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Could we launch from the moon to another planetary body? [closed]
Would it be possible with currently rocket technology or technology towards the end of its development (ex. SLS, Starship, New Glenn, etc.) to launch from the moon. Of course, we would send down a ...
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Can we launch from the moon?
Would it be possible with currently rocket technology or technology towards the end of its development (ex. SLS, Starship, New Glenn, etc.) to launch from the moon. Of course, we would send down a ...
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What are some of the obsolete technologies that space agencies used in day-to-day work during the 1960s?
This may be a vague question, please let me know if more info is needed.
As we know, NASA put a man on the moon using technologies that we no longer use, like slide rules and entire teams of people ...
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Has any piston machine been used on a space mission?
Inspired by question about engine lubrication in space.
Piston engines are not used for propelling spacecraft, but there are some possible uses for especially Stirling engines and compressors:
...
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First hemispherical resonator used in spaceflight? First used on a deep space mission?
This answer to How exactly did Cassini provide rock-solid attitude control to enable high resolution low light imaging? (1.2 arcsec/pixel for narrow angle camera) says:
Cassini was the first ...
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Why are the recent flights of two billionaires discussed in terms of space travel?
Recently, there has been much attention on the fact that billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson were passengers in very high-altitude flights. Reputed media outlets discussed these events as &...
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Were Nixie tubes used by a space program?
I’ve been receiving this ad from a company selling Nixie tube clock kits online:
The technology that was used in the first space shuttles and submarines can be in your home and moreover in a unique ...
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Is there any significant difference between NASA and EU technology readiness levels?
The wikipedia article for technology readiness levels lists the NASA and European Union definitions. I've put these into a table:
Level
NASA
EU
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Basic principles observed and reported
Basic ...
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How (the heck) did Lunokhod 2 drive, navigate and survive a ~40 kilometer drive over four months on the Moon using 1970's technology?
Mashable.com's Every rover, ranked by distance traveled on the moon and Mars; The 13 rovers, ranked. calls attention to this amazing feat, and a review of basic statistics and discussions on odometry ...
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Has Demonstrator-1 2021-006BX demonstrated a hydrogen-oxygen combustion engine fueled by electrolysis yet?
NASA's NASA CubeSat to Demonstrate Water-Fueled Moves in Space says:
A NASA CubeSat will launch into low-Earth orbit to demonstrate a new type of propulsion system. Carrying a pint of liquid water as ...
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Was the teletype machine on MIR the first printer in space? Is there a photo, and what frequencies were used?
Seeing the video KK5IM 2021 Shack Tour spotted in The Ham Shack lead me to What paper size do they use on the International Space Station? which begins:
We know they have at least one printer on the ...
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I think I have an idea of how to stop global warming, where can I share it? [closed]
It is quite simple space technology that will require a lot of funds and some physical and biological research, but I think it is realistic to create it because the idea is simple (build special space ...
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What paper size do they use on the International Space Station?
We know they have at least one printer on the ISS – that's NASA-supplied so it would be in the US Orbital Segment. Presumably there is a printer in the Russian Orbital Segment as well. (Mir had a ...
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How to move in space with just solar panels or without them?
What are the technologies known to humankind, to do propulsion in space, with a spacecraft having solar panels, when:
It is under ample solar flux?
It is interstellar under negligible solar flux?
...
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Is space habitation a technology problem or is it really just a mass (cost) problem?
There are a lot of challenges with space habitation. Gravity, radiation, fuel for reactions to maneuver, water, atmosphere, food, etc. etc.
NASA and many others are working on all kinds of solutions ...
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What is the maximum practical deltaV obtainable from a chemical rocket launched from earths surface?
What is the maximum practical deltaV obtainable from a chemical rocket launched from earths surface?
Not an exact number as there are too many variables but an approximate maximum assuming a 10,000kg,...
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Why doesn't the USA use structurally stronger rockets for the more important launches?
Russia uses the R-7 ICBM-derived Soyuz launch vehicle for most of its space launches. The advantage of it is that there's no concern on what the weather is like on launch day and Soyuz launches almost ...
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Is it possible to create an overridable inflatable airlock seal?
If the information I obtained is correct, inflatable airlocks are sealed by the air pressure and cannot be unlocked unless the pressure is lowered(correct me if I'm wrong).
Additionally, airlocks ...
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Are there any studies or technology envisioned for Mars entry and landing without a parachute?
Are any space agencies examining the possibility of a Mars landing without a parachute?
It wasn't clear to me if the use of the HIAD (Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator) would eliminate ...
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Challenges to building a human habitat on Titan (Saturn's Moon)?
I have been studying Titan for a while, reading documents from Cassini and Huygens (probes). On Titan there is an atmosphere, layer of clouds, seas of hydrocarbons (fuel and plastic for many centuries)...
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Getting to Titan and beyond - technology knowledge management to get... anywhere
The article which made me to post this question is actually about (not yet) getting to Titan, but these words provoke thought for any space exploration target, please note it's a NASA engineer telling ...
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How do these Apollo mission control displays work?
In a recent question there's this image of a display in the restored Apollo Mission Operations Control Room 2:
I always wondered, how do these displays work (the original ones from the 60s/70s, not ...
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What might be a viable avenue of propulsion research in aiming for mission delta-V north of 100 km/s?
This question was inspired by some comments of mine I left on an answer here:
Is it better to develop more powerful rockets instead of seeking and developing new technologies?
and thus in turn both ...
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Stability of rocket during flight; why does the lift force change direction when the center of pressure moves?
I am currently learning about fins and the role they play in the stability of a rocket during flight. I came across a relatively minor problem.
Here is one of the resources I'm looking at: http://www....
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Is it better to develop more powerful rockets instead of seeking and developing new technologies? [closed]
I have question about Space Industry and Era.
I'm aiming to being Rocket Scientist but I think it looks like will be so hard to reach far planets with these rocket technology that uses Newton's Laws ...
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Could a Rotary Rocket charge a super capacitor while descending on Mars?
Could a rotary rocket entering the atmosphere collect enough energy in a super capacitor through the rotors (along with auto rotation) while descending to have a controlled landing in the last few ...
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Does the US Navy guard SpaceX drone ships and make sure bad actors don't abscond with critical technology on the high seas?
SpaceX loses the center core of its Falcon Heavy rocket due to choppy seas
While I thought my question How vulnerable could space launch vehicles be to a “lone gunman”? was just my tangential ...
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If human space travel is limited by the G force vulnerability, is there a way to counter G forces?
I read somewhere that prolonged G forces (even 2 Gs) are not tolerated by human physiology and that this ultimately limits our ability to sustain space travel.
Are there any tactics to reduce G force ...
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Alternative tests for A-SAT missiles
Keeping the strategic consequences of blowing up an actual satellite as technology demonstration aside, I want to assess it from a purely scientific/technological standpoint.
To demonstrate the ...
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Is there any reason that NASA's launched space probes and MERs usually operate decades longer than expected?
Space Probes & MERs History Recap
Pioneer 10 & its twin probe Pioneer 11 reference
Courtesy of Uwe's response on my question :-
Pioneer 10 was planned for 21 months of operation. It did ...
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How feasible is wind energy generation on Mars? [duplicate]
Spacecrafts and rovers tend to have dust settled on their panel which leads to reduced power generation.
If wind turbines could power the instruments, then the seasonality of solar power generation ...
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How could a transmission be relayed wirelessly from the bottom of Europa ocean to Earth?
Answers to Do you need a “wire” on a Europa submarine to phone home? are generally yes, but a wire is cumbersome and dramatically limits range,
If a rover was sent to the bottom of Europa's Ocean ...
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Is the payload HP3, onboard the InSight a single use instrument?
InSight's HP3 probe is meant to drill deep into Martian soil. And the depth of reach is determined by whether there is a rocky layer underneath or not. If it's loose soil all the way down, merrier it ...
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Why NASA hosts many of their reports public, while ESA/JAXA/ Roscomos doesn't?
There are abundant resources available online in NTRS about the hard earned knowledge of rocket science. But NASA makes them available for free for all.
But there does exist some classified ...
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What technology do we lack, preventing us from the colonization of space? [closed]
I mean the technology that will facilitate multi-planetary life. There is definitely a financial feasibility concern with existing tech, but what technical developments remain to achieve this ...
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Inflatable Power Line?
Could the weight of a launch tower or some of a space elevator be mitigated balloons?
Similar to the children's air inflated jump houses could a tower be inflated with hydrogen/helium with different ...
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Could the Lunar Lagrange Points work for space telescopes?
Every orbit in space has its pros and cons. Low Earth Orbit has accessibility but frequent eclipses whereas a Solar Lagrange Point is clear and stable but distant. In the case of the Lunar Lagrange ...
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What spinoff technologies have come from the Soviet/Russian space program?
There is plenty of information available on NASA spinoff technologies including a Wikipedia page and Space SE question. What innovations are a byproduct of the Russian space program?
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Starlink vs 5G technology, are they directly competing services?
While the world is preparing for 5G mobile technology (which involves new devices for smartphones and stations), SpaceX is going to roll out its Starlink "constellation".
What I did not know is that ...
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What are some common (but non-obvious) materials that are particularly unsuitable for spaceflight?
If a product was to be made for use in space, there may be certain materials or certain combinations of materials that might work well on Earth, but be particularly unsuitable for spaceflight ...
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How was Enterprise held/released from the carrier 747 for the Shuttle approach and landing tests?
Related to my other question: What are the benefits of using pyrotechnics on spacecraft?
When the Space Shuttle was first flight tested (Enterprise approach and landing tests) it was released from a ...
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What are the benefits of using pyrotechnics on spacecraft?
NASA always appears to use pyrotechnic devices (NASA standard initiators for explosive bolts, frangible nuts, etc.) to release elements (spent stages, fairings, etc.) where SpaceX appears to be using ...
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How have cameras, radios, and related electronics improved since Apollo? [closed]
When you look at Apollo-era hardware (still and movie cameras, radio gear, etc.) much of it appears to be bulky and probably quite heavy by modern standards, surprising when you consider how much ...
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