A Space Age “tragedy of the commons” is unfolding right under our nose—or, really, right over our head—and no consensus yet exists on how to stop it. For more than a half-century, humans have been hurling objects into low-Earth orbit in ever growing numbers. And with few meaningful limitations on further launches into that increasingly congested realm, the prevailing attitude has been persistently permissive: in orbit, it seems, there is always room for one more.After so many decades of the buildup of high-speed clutter in the form of spent rocket stages, stray bolts and paint chips,...…A Space Age “tragedy of the commons” is unfolding right under our nose—or, really, right over our head—and no consensus yet exists on how to stop it. For more than a half-century, humans have been hurling objects into low-Earth orbit in ever growing numbers. And with few meaningful limitations on further launches into that increasingly congested realm, the prevailing attitude has been persistently permissive: in orbit, it seems, there is always room for one more.After so many decades of the buildup of high-speed clutter in the form of spent rocket stages, stray bolts and paint chips,...WW…

Space is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. .A U.S. military space plane is being used to flight-validate the best ways to gather the sun's energy for power beaming from Earth orbit. In mid-March, the latest classified mission of the U.S. Space Force's winged past 300 days in Earth orbit. Most of the robotic space drone's duties on this mission, known as Orbital Test Vehicle-6 (OTV-6), are a tightly held secret. However, one known bit of research that the craft carries is the , or PRAM-FX. PRAM-FX is a...…Space is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. .A U.S. military space plane is being used to flight-validate the best ways to gather the sun's energy for power beaming from Earth orbit. In mid-March, the latest classified mission of the U.S. Space Force's winged past 300 days in Earth orbit. Most of the robotic space drone's duties on this mission, known as Orbital Test Vehicle-6 (OTV-6), are a tightly held secret. However, one known bit of research that the craft carries is the , or PRAM-FX. PRAM-FX is a...WW…

Space is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. .If you are perplexed, befuddled and bewildered about (UAP) and possible visitations of alien spacecraft, you can take action with do-it-yourself sky-monitoring gear.Given the low cost and high capability of today's consumer-grade technology, you too can be at the ready to document out-of-the-ordinary events.Enter the world of Sky Hub, a global network of smart sensors designed to snag digital signatures of anomalous events. This crowd-sourced network of smart trackers with...…Space is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. .If you are perplexed, befuddled and bewildered about (UAP) and possible visitations of alien spacecraft, you can take action with do-it-yourself sky-monitoring gear.Given the low cost and high capability of today's consumer-grade technology, you too can be at the ready to document out-of-the-ordinary events.Enter the world of Sky Hub, a global network of smart sensors designed to snag digital signatures of anomalous events. This crowd-sourced network of smart trackers with...WW…

TrendingSpace is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.The $100 million Breakthrough Listen project is scanning the heavens for possible signals from alien civilizations.(Image: © Breakthrough Listen)News travels fast — at the lickety-split speed of light, potentially. Back in December, great attention was paid to a report that a mysterious radio signal appeared to have , the closest star to Earth. Proxima Centauri, which is just 4.2 light-years from us, is known to host two planets. One of those two worlds, , is...…TrendingSpace is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.The $100 million Breakthrough Listen project is scanning the heavens for possible signals from alien civilizations.(Image: © Breakthrough Listen)News travels fast — at the lickety-split speed of light, potentially. Back in December, great attention was paid to a report that a mysterious radio signal appeared to have , the closest star to Earth. Proxima Centauri, which is just 4.2 light-years from us, is known to host two planets. One of those two worlds, , is...WW…

Space is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. .It's a cosmic roll of the dice. There's no doubt that a major or comet strike could cause extensive devastation and profoundly affect life on Earth. The largest hit in recent times was the object that exploded over Tunguska, Siberia, in June 1908 with an energy impact of five to 15 megatons. Then there was that spectacular and destructive airburst in February 2013 over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. The generated a shock wave that shattered windows on the ground, and...…Space is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. .It's a cosmic roll of the dice. There's no doubt that a major or comet strike could cause extensive devastation and profoundly affect life on Earth. The largest hit in recent times was the object that exploded over Tunguska, Siberia, in June 1908 with an energy impact of five to 15 megatons. Then there was that spectacular and destructive airburst in February 2013 over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. The generated a shock wave that shattered windows on the ground, and...WW…

If the political, technical and budgetary stars align for NASA and its partners in coming years, the moon could be the go-to place as the century unfolds. Astronauts would again explore Earth’s celestial next-door neighbor, perhaps setting in motion future mining endeavors to extract ices likely lurking in sunlight-shy craters for processing into water, oxygen, and rocket propellant. Humans that “settle in” on the moon could well be a future prospect.The next chapter in the U.S. human exploration of the moon, the Artemis Project, will dispatch crews there for extended periods of time,...…If the political, technical and budgetary stars align for NASA and its partners in coming years, the moon could be the go-to place as the century unfolds. Astronauts would again explore Earth’s celestial next-door neighbor, perhaps setting in motion future mining endeavors to extract ices likely lurking in sunlight-shy craters for processing into water, oxygen, and rocket propellant. Humans that “settle in” on the moon could well be a future prospect.The next chapter in the U.S. human exploration of the moon, the Artemis Project, will dispatch crews there for extended periods of time,...WW…

Space is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. .China now has a real flag flying on the moon.The sample-collecting Chang'e 5 moon lander deployed a small version of China's five-star red flag on Thursday (Dec. 3), shortly before the mission's attached ascent vehicle .According to (CCTV), this is the first time that China has realized the "independent display" of the five-star flag on the lunar landscape.  The flag weighs just 0.4 ounces (12 grams) and can "maintain its true colors" under a temperature difference of...…Space is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. .China now has a real flag flying on the moon.The sample-collecting Chang'e 5 moon lander deployed a small version of China's five-star red flag on Thursday (Dec. 3), shortly before the mission's attached ascent vehicle .According to (CCTV), this is the first time that China has realized the "independent display" of the five-star flag on the lunar landscape.  The flag weighs just 0.4 ounces (12 grams) and can "maintain its true colors" under a temperature difference of...WW…

SpaceNews correspondent Leonard David talks with space environmentalist Moriba JahEarth is encircled by derelict spacecraft, the remains of exploded rocket stages, and myriad bits of orbiting debris — from tiny chips of paint to the lingering leftovers of past but purposeful anti-satellite tests. Collectively, such high-speed clutter and other litter-causing activities heighten the risk of damaging or short-circuiting the performance of functional spacecraft.The debris threat is a recognized reality. Outer space has already been termed a “tragedy of the commons” in the making. What avenues...…SpaceNews correspondent Leonard David talks with space environmentalist Moriba JahEarth is encircled by derelict spacecraft, the remains of exploded rocket stages, and myriad bits of orbiting debris — from tiny chips of paint to the lingering leftovers of past but purposeful anti-satellite tests. Collectively, such high-speed clutter and other litter-causing activities heighten the risk of damaging or short-circuiting the performance of functional spacecraft.The debris threat is a recognized reality. Outer space has already been termed a “tragedy of the commons” in the making. What avenues...WW…

he space industry is growing and innovating at a pace not seen since the days of the moon landings. Fifty years ago nearly everything related to space was a government-sponsored project. In 21st-century space, rockets and satellites are most often corporate investments or public-private partnerships.This is a preview. Make a selection below to access this issue.Already have access? .Having trouble accessing this article? Please visit our page for more informationMore in the February 2021 issue of Scientific AmericanVisit our for additional information on purchasing a site license to this...…he space industry is growing and innovating at a pace not seen since the days of the moon landings. Fifty years ago nearly everything related to space was a government-sponsored project. In 21st-century space, rockets and satellites are most often corporate investments or public-private partnerships.This is a preview. Make a selection below to access this issue.Already have access? .Having trouble accessing this article? Please visit our page for more informationMore in the February 2021 issue of Scientific AmericanVisit our for additional information on purchasing a site license to this...WW…

Space is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. .The U.S. Navy recently admitted that, indeed, by jet pilots over the years are genuine head-scratchers. There are eyewitness accounts not only from pilots but from radar operators and technicians, too. In August, the Navy established an to investigate the nature and origin of these odd sightings and determine if they could potentially pose a threat to U.S. national security. The recently observed UAPs purportedly have accelerations that range from almost 100 Gs to...…Space is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. .The U.S. Navy recently admitted that, indeed, by jet pilots over the years are genuine head-scratchers. There are eyewitness accounts not only from pilots but from radar operators and technicians, too. In August, the Navy established an to investigate the nature and origin of these odd sightings and determine if they could potentially pose a threat to U.S. national security. The recently observed UAPs purportedly have accelerations that range from almost 100 Gs to...WW…