NASA Archives | Filling Space

What is astrobiology and how does one enter the field?

Astrobiology is a rapidly growing area of space science. It is characterized by interdisciplinarity, bringing together perspectives from various scientific fields. It also addresses one…

Society

What impact does US military space infrastructure have on global society?

Editor July 3, 2020 GPS international banking meteorological constellations military superiority NASA space systems the Cold War the Space and Missile Systems Center the US Air Force the US Department of Defense

The US military is one of the most important entities in terms of developing space infrastructure that has global repercussions. Perhaps the most obvious example…

Life

What does Australia’s outback teach us about astrobiology?

Editor April 24, 2020 astrobiology Australia ExoMars2020 Mars Mars2020 NASA origins of life the European Space Agency the Outback Western Australia

How did life originate on Earth? This is still an open question. It is furthermore one that relates to the field of astrobiology – knowing…

Ancestors

What are the hidden tales of the Apollo program?

Editor April 10, 2020 astronauts documentaries engineers history Honeywell NASA oral histories scientists spacecraft the Apollo program

The Apollo program is well-known both inside and outside the space community. Its achievements are important benchmarks in humanity’s engagement with space. Much focus is…

Business Society

How should Australia participate in space exploration?

Editor February 21, 2020 Australia NASA South Australia space agencies space exploration Sputnik the Australian Space Agency the Space Age tracking stations Woomera

Australia played a central role in space exploration in the early years of the Space Age. Some argue there has been a lull since then…

Business

Is the US launch industry experiencing a “bubble”?

Editor December 13, 2019 government policies NASA NewSpace satellite servicing space policy speculative bubbles the launch industry the space economy the space sector

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…