Buzz
Space exploration has long been a captivating concept. People have envisioned tapping into and even colonizing our solar system (and beyond) since long before the first flight. Back in the '60s, many believed we’d be living on the Moon by now – but spoiler alert, that hasn’t happened. However, there are still plenty of groundbreaking projects underway that bring us closer to the possibility of living beyond Earth.
10. ALASA
ALASA, or Airborne Launch Assist Space Access, is a game-changing concept that involves launching rockets from the back of an aircraft. A major cost factor for space launches is their reliance on specific ground-based launch sites. By using an aircraft as a mobile platform, this technology can bypass weather-related delays and place satellites into orbits that traditional ground-based launches can’t reach.
DARPA, the US military's advanced technology research division, is currently developing a version of this technology. Their aim is to have a fully functional prototype ready within the next two years. This system will be capable of launching satellites weighing up to 45 kilograms (100 lbs) into orbit, and can operate from virtually any major runway across the globe.
9. Skylon
Skylon, an ambitious project by UK-based Reaction Engines, seeks to build a jet capable of reaching space. The British government has allocated £60 million for the project, with the first test flights slated for 2019. The ultimate goal is to deliver up to 15 tons of equipment into space by the early 2020s.
This unmanned vehicle will be able to achieve speeds of 30,000 kph (19,000 mph) and feature an innovative engine that functions as a jet in Earth's atmosphere but transitions to rocket mode once in space. The Skylon project is a pan-European endeavor, with contributions from France, Germany, Belgium, and the UK. In addition to government support, the company plans to raise nearly £200 million from private investors.
8. A Massive Fishing Net
Space debris is a serious issue. With hundreds of thousands of pieces orbiting Earth, it poses a significant risk to satellites and spacecraft. Even small fragments can carry enormous energy due to their high speeds. Experts estimate that to keep the situation under control, five to ten large objects must be removed from orbit each year.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has partnered with a fishing net company to tackle this challenge. The concept is simple yet effective: use a net to capture the debris floating in space and drag it back to Earth. As long as they avoid interfering with operational satellites, this straightforward approach could help safeguard the multi-billion-dollar space industry for decades to come.
7. The First Private Moon Landing
The Google Lunar X Prize is a $40 million reward from the tech giant for any private team that successfully lands a probe on the Moon's surface by the end of 2015. Additional requirements include the probe traveling 500 meters (up or down) and sending back two live broadcasts to Earth. The goal is to reignite the excitement of the original Moon landings while fostering the shift towards affordable private space exploration.
At the time of writing, 22 teams are competing for the prize. Among the front-runners is Moon Express, which has absorbed several smaller teams. The company’s staff includes many former NASA employees, and its ambitions are to explore the Moon for valuable resources, such as rare metals commonly used in modern tech, which can be hard to come by on Earth.
6. SpiderFab
3-D printing is a game-changing technology that will impact people’s lives in the future. It’s no surprise that NASA plans to send a printer to the International Space Station next year to create essential items. This is impressive on its own, but NASA has also backed an even more amazing project: giant 3-D printing robots designed to construct massive structures in space.
This innovative technology is called SpiderFab, as the robots resemble spiders spinning silk to build structures in orbit. By sending raw materials instead of finished products, the size of rockets can be reduced, potentially enabling the creation of kilometer-long sensor arrays or enormous solar sails. Plans include building large telescopes and antennas to explore distant planets and search for alien life.
5. A Sequel to Curiosity
Curiosity captivated the world when it landed on Mars in August 2012 in a stunning feat of engineering. Being lowered onto the Martian surface by a flying crane 560 million kilometers (350 million miles) from Earth was no small accomplishment. It’s no wonder that NASA is planning a sequel to the original ‘seven minutes of terror,’ the heart-pounding moment when Curiosity made its dramatic landing.
The upcoming project aims to leverage the success of Curiosity by utilizing recycled components and capitalizing on the knowledge gained from landing a car-sized rover on Mars. Scientists are still debating whether the new rover should include a container for samples that could be returned to Earth in the future, possibly after being collected by humans.
4. One-Way Mission to Mars
Mars One, a $4 billion initiative, has attracted over 200,000 volunteers from across the globe to embark on a one-way journey to the red planet by 2023. The project is backed by Paul Romer, one of the creators of the reality show Big Brother. Romer’s involvement highlights the project’s unique funding strategy: broadcasting the selection process for the four-person crew, followed by live coverage of the mission itself.
Some of the applicants are married or have children, meaning they would be leaving their loved ones behind. But why would anyone sign up for such a one-way trip? As one potential astronaut puts it, it’s ‘an incredible opportunity to contribute to all of humanity by taking part in a mission that will inspire future generations.’
3. Capturing an Asteroid
Asteroid capture, often depicted in science fiction for mining purposes, is an intriguing concept. The idea of gigantic, floating objects made of rare and precious materials is highly appealing. Estimates suggest there are as many as two million asteroids larger than 800 meters (0.5 miles) in our solar system, making them critical subjects for scientific exploration. NASA’s plan involves ‘lassoing’ an asteroid and pulling it into orbit around the Moon, where astronauts would have the chance to visit. Three potential candidates have already been selected for this mission.
Once the mission is completed, one NASA scientist proposes the idea of disposing of the asteroid by crashing it into the Moon. This seems like a reasonable plan, provided they ensure it doesn’t collide with any astronauts or commercial spacecraft operating nearby.
2. Putting People Back on the Moon
Although a return to the Moon seems inevitable, it is unlikely to be spearheaded by NASA. However, several rising space-faring nations have their sights set on landing humans on the lunar surface. India is aiming for a manned mission by 2020. China has yet to announce a specific timeline, but its ambitions remain clear, while South Korea is targeting a 2025 Moon landing. Russia also plans to reach the Moon by the same year. Japan, however, is setting its sights even higher, with a goal to land on the Moon by 2020 and establish a base there by 2030.
It looks like we are entering a new space race—this time without the looming threat of nuclear destruction that characterized the last one, which is definitely an improvement.
1. Return to Venus
Sending humans to the Moon isn’t the only milestone from the early space race that has gone unachieved in recent decades. In the 1970s and early ’80s, the USSR’s Venera program successfully landed several probes on Venus, giving us the only photos ever taken from the planet’s surface. Now, Russia is preparing for a return to Venus with a mission called Venera-D.
The new mission is seeking collaboration from the global community. The plan is to include a lander, similar to the previous missions, along with balloons that will operate within Venus’s atmosphere. One of the most intriguing proposals is a kite-like device designed to fly through the skies of Venus, equipped with a variety of lightweight scientific instruments.
3. Japan’s Space Elevator
A prominent Japanese construction company has revealed an ambitious plan to construct a space elevator by 2050. The company, Obayashi, which built the Tokyo Sky Tree, aims to make this dream a reality. This new project would be 150 times taller than the Sky Tree and will require the development of carbon nanotube technology, which has yet to be created. According to a company spokesperson, the goal is to make incremental progress so that the project doesn’t fade into obscurity.
