Header image: Artist’s impression of an Apollo capsule re-entry (image source: NASA.) One of the most harrowing parts of a spacecraft’s journey is atmospheric entry. When it collides with the air at thousands of kilometres per hour, the gasses heat… Read More »Rocket Physics, the Hard Way: Re-entry and Hypersonic Flight
It’s been just over two months since NASA’s experimental helicopter touched down on the Martian surface, and Ingenuity is still alive and well. Despite having encountered some difficulty during its last transit, the increasingly impressive aircraft has now completed its… Read More »NASA Mars Helicopter Still Going Strong
Header image: Computational fluid dynamics simulation of a NASA X-43A hypersonic aircraft (image source: NASA.) Recall the last time you watched a rocket launch. About a minute into ascent, you may have heard Launch Control call out “Max q!”. But… Read More »Rocket Physics, the Hard Way: Max q and Bernoulli’s Principle
Last installment, we delved into the inner workings of chemical rocket propulsion systems. Practically, however, they are limited to a specific impulse of about 450 seconds. This is partially due to the limited energy available from chemical fuels, which pales… Read More »Rocket Physics, the Hard Way: Nuclear Thermal Rockets
Your great-grandchild’s first job might be washing dishes in a restaurant on Mars. That may sound oddly mundane, and it should. If you’re a consumer of space exploration news and conversation, then you will no doubt have come across the… Read More »Mars for All
In our previous article, we covered the basics of rocket engines, but we only scratched the surface when it came to fuel-oxidizer combinations. While hydrogen-oxygen and kerosene-oxygen dominate the world of launch vehicles, numerous other propellant combinations are in common… Read More »Rocket Physics, Extra Credit: Rocket Fuels
Header image: SpaceX Raptor test fire (image source: SpaceX.) “Anyone who sits on top of the largest hydrogen-oxygen fueled system in the world; knowing they’re going to light the bottom, and doesn’t get a little worried, does not fully understand… Read More »Rocket Physics, the Hard Way: Rocket Engine Engineering
Header image: Artist’s impression of Perseverance in powered descent under its skycrane (image source: NASA/JPL-Caltech.) Perseverance successfully landed on Mars in 2021! Previous installments of Rocket Physics, the Hard Way have discussed the rocket equation and astrodynamics in the context… Read More »Rocket Physics Special: The Physics of Perseverance
This is a follow-up to Rocket Physics, the Hard Way: How to go to Mars which covered the basics of orbital mechanics. Building on our foundation of intuitive understanding, we will now cover the more technical aspects. What is an… Read More »Rocket Physics, the Hard Way: How to go to Mars – Extra Credit
“There is an art to flying, or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams In this series, Rocket Physics, the Hard… Read More »Rocket Physics, the Hard Way: How to Go to Mars
“Rocket science is tough, and rockets have a way of failing.” – Sally Ride, NASA astronaut To go to Mars, we need rocket science. But why is rocket science so hard? In this series, Rocket Physics, the Hard Way, we… Read More »Rocket Physics, the Hard Way: The Tyranny of the Rocket Equation
2020 has been, to say the least, a difficult year for humanity. However, it has also been marked by great achievements in space exploration; a testament to our relentless pursuit for knowledge despite adversity. Before we enter 2021, let’s take a look at the year’s highlights in space exploration.
Yesterday evening marked a significant turning point in human spaceflight, with the first operational mission of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program getting underway. CSA Astronaut David Saint-Jacques shared his comments on this historical moment. From Yuri Gagarin’s landmark voyage 59 years… Read More »Canadian Astronaut: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 Mission is “the dawn of a new era”
Last month, scientists confirmed the presence of multiple subsurface lakes under glaciers at the Martian south pole. How were these lakes found and why do they matter? Let’s dive into geophysics, astrobiology, and chemistry with this infographic!
Today Jim Bridenstine showed us under the hood of NASA’s current Moon program, with a candor that cuts through otherwise nebulous public relations rhetoric. Finally, I almost get it. The Artemis program often receives harsh criticism within the space exploration… Read More »NASA Administrator points to the Moon as a political gateway to Mars (opinion)
What will it mean to be human for our descendants? Will children born in the coming centuries find a sense of pride as a member of our kind? Will their place in the ever reaching limbs of the Sapiens family… Read More »An Heirloom to a Civilization
Header image: NASA astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor harvests kale and lettuce from the Veggie (Vegetable Production System) experiment on the International Space Station (ESA/Alexander Gerst) “‘They say once you grow crops somewhere, you have officially colonized it. So, technically, I colonized Mars.… Read More »Growing Food on Mars: ISRU Part 4
Access to energy is arguably the most important indicator of a civilization’s development. On Mars, generating energy can mean the difference between life and death – not only is it necessary to power life support systems, but it is also… Read More »Generating Energy on Mars: ISRU Part 3
In Part I, we discussed making the essentials for life on Mars: fuel, oxygen, and water. After the initial exploration phase, the construction of permanent settlements and structures will begin to become a priority. When humanity settles Mars, Martian architects… Read More »Construction Materials on Mars: ISRU Part 2
Of the plethora of acronyms in Mars exploration circles, one in particular forms the cornerstone of many Mars and Moon exploration plans: In-Situ Resource Utilization, or ISRU. It is key to establishing a permanent human presence beyond Earth, and both… Read More »How to Make Fuel, Oxygen, and Water on Mars: ISRU Part 1