Space has taken an incredible rise this decade, from NASA Artemis to rovers on Mars. There is no end to what we can learn about in space! This is a blog entry about what space exploration has achieved, as well as commercial spacecraft!
NASA Artemis Program
In 2017, NASA started the Artemis space program to discover more about the moon! After almost half a century, NASA, SpaceX, and more commercial space companies will work together to send the first person of color, first woman, and more advanced rockets to the moon!
So as you can see, this Artemis logo has more detail than what meets the eye. The blue streak represents earth, the A stands for Artemis, the red streak represents the Apollo missions colliding with Artemis, and on the top you can see the moon.
Another thing Artemis aims to do is to learn more about Mars. Mars cannot support life because it is 95.32% carbon dioxide, which is harmful to humans. But NASA says that Mars has evidence of life existence (a very long time ago), and learning about mars can help us learn more about OUR existence and life beyond earth.
Partnerships
Aerojet Rocketdyne, Axiom Space, Bechtel, Blue Origin, Boeing, Collins Aerospace, Jacobs, Lockheed Martin, Maxar Space Systems,and Northrop Grumman are also companies that teamed up with NASA to make more space discoveries. They also do commercial service.
SpaceX, Starship,and Starlink
So SpaceX began in May 14, 2002 by Elon Musk. They created the most powerful rocket, known as the Starship. It is also reusable! This is a good thing because a lot of money is used to just make ONE rocket. SpaceX is also creating newer technology, such as their spacesuits. They are less bulky,3D printed,and even have temperature and pressure monitors and regulators! And have you ever wondered how some of the most remote locations in the world get Wifi? Starlink! They are SpaceX WiFi satellites that orbit the earth low, at 211 to 382 miles high.
Their first 3 rockets crashed, but otherwise, they have successfully launched 359 rockets! Falcon rockets are only for launching satellites, though.
Commercial Launches
Because space travel is more advanced now days, NASA and more space companies think it is possible for people to pay to the company, and then have a space vacation. SpaceX has Rideshare, and Virgin Atlantic has … Virgin Galactic! They are all on a mission to make space a tourist destination.
More than the Moon
Believe it or not, NASA is actually launching the Europa Clipper to JUPITER in October 2024! It will orbit Jupiter while learning about the Jovian moon Europa.On August 28, 2024, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn will form a diagonal line.
Exoplanets
An exoplanet is a planet outside our solar system that orbits a star.Because of this, exoplanets may be able to support life, if they have earth- like qualities such as oxygen2 or water and enough distance from light. Most scientists believe the universe is infinite. Here is a cool way to think about it; if the universe is infinite, and there is most likely another planet that can support human life, then there are an INFINITE number of planets that can support life! That also means there can be an infinite number of ourselves!
What are Black Holes?
Black holes are basically dead stars. When the center of a big star collapses on itself, a Black Hole forms. Things can go in, but can’t go out. In the White Hole theory (some scientists belive), when you enter a black hole, you go into a white hole, and come out from another end.
Why Have We Never Seen Anything go into a Black Hole?
Even with advanced telescopes, we still will not be able to see something disappear inside a large vacuum. But black holes suck up all light close to it, so we can’t see anything past the event horizon.