space travel articles
Who is banned from the ISS?
The reality of who can visit or work aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is less about physical capability and ...
Why don't we use ion thrusters?
The idea of an ion thruster seems, on the surface, like a nearly perfect solution for space travel. These devices operat...
Where do rocket boosters usually land?
The final resting place of a rocket booster is not a singular location; rather, it is a decision dictated by the vehicle...
Why can't we fly to the Moon now?
It seems counterintuitive that in the mere half-century since humanity first set foot on the Moon, the capability to rep...
Why can't rockets be electric?
The fundamental challenge behind powering a rocket entirely with electricity for liftoff isn't a matter of impossibility...
Is Jeff Bezos considered an astronaut?
The brief, suborbital flight that propelled Amazon founder Jeff Bezos past the widely accepted threshold of space ignite...
Is rocket fuel good for the environment?
The plumes rising from rocket launches introduce a unique suite of chemicals directly into the upper layers of the atmos...
When can you call someone an astronaut?
This is a question that has moved from the realm of science fiction debates to real-world media headlines: when does som...
When can you be called an astronaut?
The title of "astronaut" carries immense weight, conjuring images of groundbreaking achievement, scientific dedication, ...
Could nuclear power be used for space travel?
The idea of harnessing the massive energy density locked within the atom to propel spacecraft through the cosmos is not ...
What is the most reliable rocket in the world?
Determining the single "most reliable" rocket in the world is less about finding a definitive historical record and more...
Does Jeff Bezos have a rocket?
The answer to whether Jeff Bezos possesses a rocket is complex, but fundamentally, yes—through the aerospace company he ...
Will humans ever explore Jupiter?
The sheer scale of Jupiter, a world dwarfing everything else in our solar system except the Sun, naturally sparks the im...
What is the Chinese space capsule called?
When discussing China's presence in low Earth orbit, many people picture the large, multi-module structure orbiting abov...
Can China use the International Space Station?
The question of accessing the International Space Station (ISS) for Chinese astronauts is firmly answered by current US ...
What is one of the primary sources of space debris?
The accumulation of defunct human-made objects orbiting our planet represents an escalating hazard to every active satel...
What is the rock thing in space?
When we talk about a "rock thing in space," we are usually referring to any small celestial body orbiting the Sun that i...
What is a rock that falls from space?
The object that completes its fiery voyage from the vacuum of space to the surface of our planet has several names depen...
What was wrong with the Hubble Space Telescope when it was first launched?
The initial deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope in April 1990 was greeted with immense global anticipation, but tha...
What are the units used in space?
The vastness of space necessitates a language of measurement far beyond the familiar feet, miles, and pounds of daily li...
How is space weather different from normal weather?
The concept of weather typically conjures images of rain clouds, wind speed indicators, and thermometers measuring condi...
Who was the first space traveler?
The honor of becoming the first human to venture into outer space belongs to a citizen of the Soviet Union, **Yuri Aleks...
What is the frozen ice in space?
The frozen substances populating the cosmos are far more complex and varied than the familiar cubes we drop into a glass...
What is Elon Musk trying to do in space?
The core ambition driving Elon Musk’s involvement in space exploration is arguably the most audacious goal in modern eng...