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NASA is embarking on bold and unconventional projects for future space exploration, blending imagination with rigorous scientific principles. These endeavors, while sometimes fantastical, are always grounded in solid science, leaving us eagerly awaiting the day NASA unveils what could very well be a time machine.
10. Dextre
We've all witnessed the heart-stopping drama of spacewalks—astronauts floating perilously outside the International Space Station, vulnerable to the threat of high-speed space debris. But soon, this risk will be a thing of the past thanks to Dextre, the tallest and most agile robot NASA has ever created. Known as the 'dexterous manipulator,' Dextre is now permanently stationed on the ISS, where it takes over maintenance duties, ensuring the safety of human astronauts.
Originally developed by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Dextre is a sizable piece of equipment. Standing meters (12 feet) tall with prehensile arms of nearly the same length, it weighs 1,700 kilograms (3,700 pounds). Despite its size, it won't tip the balance of the ISS, which weighs 410 metric tons (450 tons). Astronauts aboard the station can operate the robot remotely, but for now, its instructions are sent from Earth, with joint oversight by NASA and the CSA.
As long as Dextre continues to perform its tasks without issue, astronauts won’t have to risk their lives for routine repairs like tightening a screw or fixing a frayed wire. This not only ensures their safety but also gives them more time to explore space science.
9. Supersonic Bidirectional Flying Wing
The intriguingly named Supersonic Bidirectional Flying Wing is a striking aircraft, sleek and intimidating, almost daring anyone to challenge it. Created by Gacheng Za, a professor at the University of Miami, it has caught NASA's attention because Za's design allows the craft to operate at speeds and altitudes never before possible.
When aircraft take flight, they need a large surface area to generate lift, which is why airplanes feature large wings. However, once in the air, these wings cause excess drag, slowing the craft down. This aerodynamic challenge is something that has never been fully solved, but NASA is optimistic about overcoming it with the bidirectional design, offering $100,000 to help bring this ambitious idea to life.
This colossal wing is incredibly adaptable. It uses its expansive form to lift off effortlessly. Then, to achieve supersonic speeds, it climbs to greater altitudes and rotates 90 degrees, presenting the most streamlined profile to slice through the atmosphere.
8. Veggies In Space
Feeding astronauts aboard the ISS is no issue, as resupply missions can easily restock their powdered enchilada supplies. However, for long-term space missions, resupplying won’t be feasible. So, why not grow food in space?
That’s precisely what NASA aims to explore. Ingredients for the first astroponic vegetables were delivered to the ISS in April 2014. Using an array of LED lights, baby lettuce is grown, with red romaine being the first crop to flourish. The lettuce system contains six 'pillows' filled with seeds, fertilizer, and clay.
Once the plants have matured, they will be flash-frozen and returned to Earth aboard a Dragon capsule. However, if they pass a series of tests and are deemed safe to eat, NASA could begin growing a variety of crops in microgravity, greatly expanding the range of food options.
7. Super Ball Bot
"Tensegrity" may sound like the name of an '80s progressive rock band, but it actually refers to "tensional integrity." Using this principle, NASA has created a flexible and robust, segmented ball known as the Super Ball Bot.
The design of the ball allows it to move efficiently while also providing excellent shock absorption, as it evenly distributes force throughout its structure, much like the human body. It’s so tough that NASA plans to drop it directly onto Saturn's moon Titan without a parachute. Its exceptional squishiness serves as a shock absorber, eliminating the need for traditional landing gear.
At first glance, it may seem like a chaotic tangle of tent poles. But this seemingly fragile structure is surprisingly stable and could function as transportation on Titan—imagine a fleet of rolling metallic tumbleweeds. NASA plans to use this tensegrity cocoon to enhance future rovers and landers. It will help protect vehicles and navigate rough terrain, rolling over sand, rocks, and other challenging surfaces more efficiently than wheeled vehicles.
6. Europa Drill
Jupiter’s moon Europa is a top contender in the hunt for extraterrestrial life, thanks to its vast saltwater ocean. But this ocean is encased beneath a 30-kilometer-thick (20 mi) layer of ice, making it a tough nut to crack. Getting through this ice is a monumental challenge on Earth, so imagine the complex calculations needed to do so over half a billion miles away from home.
Despite the obstacles, this mission may be closer than expected. President Obama allocated $15 million from NASA's budget for Europa exploration, and this groundbreaking mission could kick off as early as 2022. NASA has already developed innovative drilling technology specifically designed to penetrate Europa’s icy shell—a nuclear-powered ice cannon.
Tests are currently being conducted on Alaska’s Matanuska Glacier, where the VALKYRIE is being prepared for its future role on other celestial bodies. Traditional drilling tools would never be able to break through such a thick ice layer, and maintaining a large drill bit is a logistical nightmare. Instead, VALKYRIE uses a nuclear core to generate intense jets of water to slice through the ice.
5. Tiny Satellites
NASA’s new generation of satellites marks a dramatic shift from the bulky, traditional models. These large machines are being replaced by compact, lightweight devices, some of which are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
One of the most notable new satellites is the CubeSat. As its name suggests, it’s a tiny cube, measuring just 10 centimeters (4 inches) long and weighing a mere 1.3 kilograms (3 pounds). These satellites are highly adaptable and easy to transport, which is why NASA is inviting students and schools to submit their designs. The winning designs will be launched into space and can even be carried as secondary payloads on other scheduled missions.
They’re shrinking even further. In 2011, a collection of satellite-sized stamps was launched into space aboard the shuttle Endeavour, where they were attached to the ISS. These nearly invisible devices are no bigger than your thumbnail. If testing proves successful, NASA plans to launch these tiny satellites in large numbers. Once in orbit, these lightweight chips would float like specks of dust, offering a cheaper and less labor-intensive alternative to traditional satellite production.
4. Mouse Astronauts
To study the effects of prolonged exposure to microgravity, NASA is sending its most adorable astronauts into space. Referred to as 'mousetronauts' by billionaire Elon Musk, these rodents, with an average lifespan of around two years, are perfect candidates for space studies aboard the ISS.
The mice will spend six months on the ISS, which amounts to a quarter of their lifespan or over 20 years for a human. NASA plans to track their development at various life stages, comparing mice born in space to their Earth-bound counterparts. While mice have flown on past space missions, this will be the most extensive and longest study to date.
They’ll be housed in 'modules,' which are like artificial mouse habitats. These living spaces are equipped with everything needed for a comfortable existence, including social interaction, as each module can accommodate up to 10 mice (or six rats). Since mammals share similar physiology, this experiment will provide valuable insights into how humans might respond to extended periods in microgravity.
3. Air Traffic Control For Commercial Drones
NASA has launched a partnership to create a control system for the thousands of drones expected to fly through our cities.
The first new drones will focus on monitoring crops and pipelines in rural areas, but their potential applications are limitless. The FAA approved the first commercial drones in the U.S. in June 2014, and NASA’s control system would pave the way for many more drones. Initial testing will take place away from populated areas, keeping the skies clear of flaming debris.
These low-altitude devices will fly at altitudes of 120–150 meters (400–500 feet) above us. However, we likely won’t see a fully functional version of this system for at least four years, as NASA needs to evaluate numerous variables before allowing flying robots to fill our skies.
2. OSIRIS-REx
NASA’s New Frontiers program includes three ambitious missions aimed at exploring our solar system: Juno, which will provide fresh insights into Jupiter; New Horizons, which will give us our first close-up images of Pluto; and OSIRIS-REx, which aims to return an asteroid sample to Earth.
A primitive, nearby asteroid named Bennu is the target for this mission, with samples brought back potentially offering clues about the formation of the solar system. This ancient object is a remnant from the debris that eventually formed the planets and the Sun. It has drifted undisturbed for over four billion years.
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, slated for launch in 2016, will sample Bennu using an extractor rod. Given that the asteroid’s diameter is about the size of four football fields, and it speeds through the solar system like a cosmic bullet, this is no easy task. Bennu has a significant chance of colliding with Earth in the 22nd century, so this mission is vital for gathering data on the asteroid’s composition—just in case we need to take action.
1. Traveling Without Fuel
NASA has been exploring newly designed space engines that can generate thrust without expelling fuel in the opposite direction. While this may seem to defy Newton’s laws of motion and the principle of momentum conservation, the technology appears to function as intended.
The Cannae Drive uses its unique cone shape in combination with microwave radiation to propel itself through space. Rather than relying on fuel, its convex front directs pressure from microwaves away, producing a small but measurable push. A similar device, called the EmDrive, has also been developed in the UK.
Currently, the thrust produced is extremely small, measuring only micronewtons, roughly the equivalent of a butterfly’s sneeze. However, this technology could eventually pave the way for a new generation of engines—ones that could eliminate the need for fuel and make deep-space travel much more feasible.
