NASA Archives | Filling Space

Is the US launch industry experiencing a “bubble”?

The US launch industry is in a state of rapid expansion. For the past several decades, government policies have promoted its development. In the last…

Machine Worlds

How did MESSENGER revolutionize our understanding of Mercury?

Editor October 25, 2019 comets exoplanets flybys geology magnetic fields Mariner 10 Mercury NASA planetary science rocky planets

Mercury, one of Earth’s rocky neighbors, is one of our Solar System’s most enigmatic planets. It is notoriously difficult to study due to its close…

Business Machine

How will robotics advance the space economy?

Editor September 27, 2019 Blue Origin DARPA launch vehicles NASA Northrop Grumman Robots satellites SpaceX the International Space Station the space economy

Robots are critical for expanding humanity off-planet. They help not just with exploring distant parts of the universe, but also with advancing our economic activity…

Business

How does one commercialize Earth observation?

Editor September 6, 2019 Artificial Intelligence climate change critical infrastructure Earth observation Earth system models Machine Learning NASA resiliency satellites weather

One of the great benefits of engaging with space is being able to look back on our own planet. Earth observation is an active area…

Worlds

What do we know about Titan, Saturn’s largest moon?

Editor August 9, 2019 biology geochemistry geology NASA organic molecules physics planetary science Saturn spacecraft Titan

One of the most interesting worlds in this solar system is Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. It has a climate that in some ways…

Arts

How do you make art that depicts exploring outer space?

Editor June 28, 2019 Cassini-Huygens Cassini’s Grand Finale digital film NASA planetary exploration space art space exploration the cosmos the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Making art about future human space exploration catalyzes the very thing it depicts. Suggestive imagery inspires future generations to advance humans’ expansion into the cosmos.…

Society

How does one address gender inequality in the space industry?

Editor May 17, 2019 female engineers gender inequality imposter syndrome NASA promoting diversity space exploration STEM fields STEMinism the space industry workforce diversity

If there’s any demographic that seems to dominate the space industry, it’s straight white males. But hopefully that is changing. Many organizations and individuals are…

Ancestors

Spaceflight History: Nazi Rocketry

Editor March 8, 2019 guided missiles NASA Project Paperclip rocket engineering space history the Cold War the National Air and Space Museum the US Army V-2 rockets Werner von Braun

It is common knowledge that during Cold War, international competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. Less known, perhaps, is that the rocket…

Worlds

The Martian Subsurface: A Shielded Environment for Life?

Editor February 22, 2019 Mars microbial life NASA organic matter seismology subsurface exploration the Jet Propulsion Laboratory the Martian subsurface the Martian surface the Red Planet

Among our solar system’s planets, Mars seems a likely spot for future human habitation. Elon Musk is developing an interplanetary vehicle that may someday…

Life

Plants in Space: Seeding Sustainable Exploration

Editor December 7, 2018 aeroponics aquaculture astrobotany bioregeneration food production horticulture hydroponics NASA space botany the International Space Station

If we are to sustainably explore other worlds, we need to grow plants in space. The importance of space botany to life off Earth…