From the Magazine
Op-ed | Reflections on the U.S. space program a half-century after Apollo 11
Indeed, we were witnessing “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Nevertheless, my maternal grandmother who lived with us and was born in Eastern Europe in 1890, exclaimed, “I don’t believe it and will never believe it.”
Op-ed | The Apollo program and the Chinese treasure fleets
During the decades since the cancellation of the Apollo program, some have used the Chinese treasure fleets of the early 1400s as a cautionary tale.
Op-ed | Apollo is a lesson in leadership that continues to inspire and educate
The story of the Apollo program, the many heroes in the headlines and those behind-the-scenes, the unprecedented crisis and tragedies that were overcome to fulfill a martyred President’s bold promise, is a story as compelling as any great novel or Greek myth.
Op-ed | Making the moon and Mars possible
History is now repeating itself. President Trump has declared he wants to send astronauts to the moon by 2024 and then Mars by 2033. But, in other words, NASA is saying to Trump the same thing it said to Bush: “You can’t do your program until you do my program.”
Op-ed | Why we’re not on the moon now (and how we can stay next time we go)
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first humans to walk on the moon, you might notice we aren’t celebrating it on the moon. Why?
Op-ed | The next space age
Twenty-five years after Apollo 11, Arthur C. Clarke outlined for SpaceNews an exploration vision marked by reusable launch vehicles and space elevators. This piece first appeared in our July 18-24, 1994 issue.
Op-ed | What will be different next time we go to the moon
Half a century after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took their first “small steps,” we’re going back with all the wonders of 21st century technology, but this time, things will be different.
The Aerospace Corporation finds new purpose in space
Kevin Bell with The Aerospace Corporation describes the 59-year-old organization as an “innovation shop that helps invent and maintain essentially the corporate knowledge for the U.S. government.”
Op-ed | Graphene goes galactic
Graphene’s discovery in 2004 sparked the flame of endless possibility within the science and technology communities due to its astounding properties.
Inmarsat details GX expansion, OneSat satellite orders
Inmarsat’s recent large order showcases the company's confidence in continuing to invest in geostationary orbit — a notable commitment given the industrywide debate over the optimal orbits for broadband services.
Supply chain expands to meet demand for 3D-printed space parts
It’s not clear whether the additive manufacturing supply chain will expand rapidly enough to meet growing demand for 3D-printed parts for spacecraft or launch vehicles.
Sandvik looks to industry to identify space applications for diamond composite
The Swedish engineering firm Sandvik is looking for space applications for the 3D-printed diamond composite it unveiled at a recent additive manufacturing conference.
Foust Forward | Bursting the space bubble before it even inflates
One of the central beliefs of advocates of the growing commercial space industry is the concept of the trillion-dollar space economy. What if those numbers — both the current and future size of the space economy — are way too high?
Self-driving spacecraft? The challenge of verifying AI will work as intended
To prepare for self-driving cars, mobility companies have spent more than a decade gathering data from thousands of vehicles equipped with a variety of technology. No comparable database exists for companies or government agencies aiming to give spacecraft more autonomy.
Three rules for building a megaconstellation
Six years ago, Planet began launching smallsats for a constellation that today numbers 140, making it the largest commercial satellite system in the world. By the end of this year, Planet may no longer hold that title.
Satellites to the rescue after natural disasters
Since 2000, international space agencies have shared data free of charge through the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters. Increasingly, private companies also publicly release disaster-related imagery and data.
