Recent Posts

Detract yet delight written farther his general. If in so bred at dare rose lose good. Feel and make two real miss use easy.
August 23, 2017
Microgravity and Nearsightedness

Microgravity has various negative impacts on health.  While bone and muscle loss are the most well known and dangerous, they have recently been resolved a combination of medicine, diet, and exercise.  One remaining issue is the fluid shift from the spinal column to the eyes and optic nerves over time.  Roughly two out of three […]

Read More
July 9, 2017
Mars Soil Toxic?

A recent study, reflected in numerous news articles, indicates that the surface of Mars may be more toxic than originally thought.  The short version is as follows:We already knew that perchlorates exist in may locations in the upper layers of the surface of Mars.  We knew that iron oxide was common  We knew that the […]

Read More
July 8, 2017
NASA Sponsoring Small Nuclear Power Projects for Mars

NASA is currently developing prototypes of small nuclear power plants for use in robotic and crewed missions.  While this work is early and low priority, it is on the critical path to space exploration and settlement.The reactors will use uranium as a heat source and Stirling cycle mechanics.  This will avoid the issue of plutonium […]

Read More
July 1, 2017
Paying for Affordable Launch: OneWeb

OneWeb (Google's satellite constellation) is preparing to manufacture three satellites a day.  While Elon Musk's high speed internet constellation is meant to help pay for space settlement, Google's constellation has no grander purpose.  It will help drive down the cost of launch vehicles, though, by providing a steady paying customer for those services. Space is […]

Read More
June 4, 2017
DNA Experiment launched to ISS

The latest Falcon 9/Dragon resupply mission to ISS contains a small experiment to evaluate the effect of space radiation in a habitat on antibody encoding genes.  This goes directly to one of the Grand Challenges of space settlement. Not only is the human immune system mildly suppressed by long stays in orbit, but the virulence […]

Read More
May 31, 2017
ISS Inflatable Habitat Getting Radiation Experiment

NASA is setting up two radiation sensors within the Bigelow BEAM module on the ISS.  One will assess the radiation environment for comparison with the conventional aluminum structures used in the remainder of the space station.  The other sensor will have 3D printed plastic spheres placed around them of various thicknesses to see how well […]

Read More
April 16, 2017
Grand Challenges 4: Radiation

Sorry for the delay. The fourth installment in the Grand Challenges of Space Settlement is up.  Radiation.

Read More
February 25, 2017
Seven Distant Worlds, With Dramatic Implications

NASA has announced the discovery of a solar system 40 light years away that contains seven planets, each roughly the size of Earth. Three of these planets orbit at a distance that is considered habitable.While some who read this are excited about all the discoveries for future generations, others dismiss it as something invisible to […]

Read More
February 12, 2017
Space Settlement Challenges, Part 3.

Here is a new page in the Space Settlement Challenges series.  Part 3 of 12. Health issues in Microgravity.

Read More
January 26, 2017
Space-X Update and Financial Prospects

Space-X has been the subject of a few recent updates and analyses. This is a review of that information, and an original analysis of the financials, their planned satellite constellation, and competitive analysis.Elon Musk has announced that the “Block 5” version of the Falcon 9 rocket will be launched by the end of 2017. This […]

Read More
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram