Future plans for space exploration in the American space NASA agencies are sometimes intertwined with very bizarre fantasies. Nevertheless, they are always backed up by concrete science. We wrote about almost everyone, but why not refresh a dozen the strangest projects that are being prepared at NASA?
Dextre
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You all saw footage of spacewalks – when the astronauts embarrassingly clinging to board the International Space Station, and supersonic space debris is already moving out to bring them down. Specifically, this danger should be eliminated by a curious robot from NASA: Dextre, a mechanical handyman. Dexterous manipulator (dextre is and there is a “dodger”) will constantly aboard the ISS, performing maintenance and covering people.
Originally developed by the Canadian Space Agency, Dextre is pretty big. It is 3.5 meters high, equipped with almost with the same long, tenacious hands and weighs about 1700 kilograms. However, this should not seriously affect the space station, which itself weighs 450 tons. The robot can be controlled remotely by astronauts on board the station, but the current protocol involves the management of Dextre by the forces of earthly scientists.
While Dextre fulfills his duties, astronauts will not have to risk your life to recover a lost valve or replace worn wire. Plus they will have more time for space science classes.
Supersonic bidirectional flying wing
Supersonic Bidirectional Flying Wing, how it sounds in the language the original, this is a funny plane that can flip all your idea of flying technology. This is the creation of Gacheng Za, professors from the University of Miami. Interest NASA concept for attracted that can reach unprecedented speed and spin in an unprecedented range of heights.
Speaking of aeronautics in general, the initial phase of flight requires large surface area to lift. That’s why u Airplanes big wings. But as soon as the remedy goes into the air, a large area produces additional resistance, thereby slowing down transport. This dichotomy of aerodynamic efficiency never fully satisfied, but NASA plans to get around this question is a bidirectional design, promising $ 100,000 for the further implementation of the crazy concept.
This giant wing is truly universal. Its wide body allows you to easily fly into the air. It can dial supersonic speed, reach great heights and rotate 90 degrees.
Vegetables in space
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Feed the astronauts is not a serious problem, since it’s quite easy to replenish the powder reserves of “snacks” through regular visits to the ISS. But such refueling will be the question is if we continue space exploration. Why not make space garden?
This is exactly what NASA is trying to figure out, so the first astro vegetables were delivered to the ISS in April 2014. LED Array light bulbs will incubate the salad, and while the red romaine will the only dish on the menu. The device of the salad garden contains six bags (pillows) with seeds, fertilizers and clay.
Mature plants will be quickly frozen and sent back to Earth aboard the Dragon capsule. If deemed safe for after a series of tests, cultures of all kinds will be grown under microgravity, seriously expanding the list food on board the ISS.
Super ball pot
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Tensegrity may sound like the name of a rock band from 80s, but in reality it means “connection by voltage.” Using this concept, NASA has developed a flexible, durable, segmented ball called Super Ball Bot.
Ball design provides mobility and shock absorbing quality, because it evenly transfers strength throughout the structure, as and the human body. It is so durable that NASA plans to drop these balls are right on the moon of Saturn, Titan, without a parachute. Its elasticity softens the landing by removing the need for landing gear.
The ball looks like a messy mess of tent rods. But in fact, this complex thing remains stable and can serve in quality of transport on Titan – like some kind of metal Tumbleweed. NASA will use it as a shell for transportation of robots and descent vehicles of the future. Move the ball much easier than all these things with wheels, and it can roll on rocks, sand and other unfriendly terrain.
European drill
Being the main destination in search of extraterrestrial life, the salty oceans of the moon of Jupiter, Europe, have long forced astronomers drooling uncontrollably. However, she is well protected. 30 km shell of ice. Sounding at such a depth – an unprecedented task for earthlings.
However, this task may be more feasible than it seems. Not so long ago, NASA received $ 15 million in exploration of Europe, and this historic mission may begin as early as 2022 year. NASA has already developed a fundamentally new technology custom drilling that can break through the ice the crust of Europe is a nuclear ice cannon.
Technology testing is underway at the Matanuska Glacier in Alaska. The Valkyrie is getting ready for use anywhere throughout the Solar system. Conventional drilling tools could never penetrate powerful ice crust, and the support of a giant drill would be a monstrous task. Valkyrie will use nuclear energy to produce boiling jets of water that can break through through the ice.
Tiny satellites
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NASA’s latest generation of satellites will be significantly different from current models. The clumsy cars we’re used to will gradually be replaced by smaller devices, some of which fit comfortably in your palm.
One of these nanosatellites is CubeSat. How can assume from the name, it’s just a small cube with a face of 10 centimeters and weighing 1.3 kilograms. Such satellites are easy set up and transport, so NASA currently allows even students and schools to develop their own projects. Featured the cubes will go into space. They are so small that they can be easily take on board other missions as a payload.
Soon they will become even smaller. Brand size satellite series was launched into space aboard the shuttle Endeavor in 2011. They are completely invisible, a little more than a fingernail. If testing will succeed, NASA will launch these tiny stamps in droves. After the space is filled with chips, which will drift like specks of dust to an expensive and time-consuming satellite production will end.
Astronaut mice
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To study the effects of prolonged exposure to microgravity, NASA sends rodents into space. As Elon Musk called them, “mouse-astronauts” have an average life expectancy of about two years old, making them ideal animals to study on board International Space Station.
The mice will spend onboard the ISS for six months, which is equivalent to a quarter of them life or 20 years of human life. NASA will watch the mice at different stages of life, noting the differences between those grown in space mice and their terrestrial counterparts. Previously, the mouse more than once flew into space, but specifically this mission will be the longest for them kind of.
Mice will live in “modules”, artificial mouse habitats. Everything necessary for life will be included, and in each module fit about 10 mice or 6 rats. Physiologically we mammals are very similar, so such an experiment will help reveal a lot about how people respond to long-term microgravity.
Traveling without fuel
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The newly developed space engine was taken by NASA at consideration for one simple reason: it can create traction when lack of propellant in the opposite direction. This the engine seems a blatant violator of Newton’s laws of motion and the principle of conservation of momentum, but it seems to work.
Cannae Drive uses a special cone in combination with a microwave radiation to move itself in space. Instead of using fuel, its microwave cone produces pressure from itself, creating tiny cravings. A similar engine called EmDrive was manufactured in the UK.
While the generated energy is measured in micronewtons, it comparable to sneezing butterflies. But the fact of its possible existence means that NASA can ultimately develop a whole generation of new engines that will significantly reduce fuel costs and will make deep space travel in long term more acceptable option.
OSIRIS-REx
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NASA’s New Horizons Program is One of the Best Programs missions planned in our solar system. Mission Juno will provide a new look at Jupiter. “New Horizons” will give us first real pictures of Pluto. OSIRIS-REx may be more ambitious, but according to this program the first samples will arrive on Earth asteroids.
The target is a primitive and relatively close asteroid Bennu. Samples that return to Earth can shed new light on the formation of the solar system. This ancient stone is the rudiment of space debris that has come together for billions of years back to form planets and the sun. He swims untouched about four billion years.
OSIRIS-REx will be launched in 2016 and will plug into Bennu the core. This is a real feat when you consider that the diameter of the asteroid is the length of only four football fields, and get into it through the solar system – like a cannon on the moon. Bennu possesses very good chances to visit Earth in the 22nd century, so this A mission may be important for collecting asteroid data. Suddenly him need to blow up.
Air traffic control for commercial drones
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NASA launched a joint system development effort controls for the thousands of drones that will inhabit our cities.
The very first drones will be monitoring crops and pipelines in rural areas, but in the future their application will be almost limitless. The first commercial drones in the USA were approved in June 2014, and NASA’s management system will open doors for a variety of similar devices. Initial tests, of course, will be conducted away from the centers of civilization, so that waste rubbish from the sky does not accidentally fall on cities.
In the future, devices will be worn over our heads on 120-150 meters high, but we have nothing to worry about: people absolutely not scary. In any case, earlier than five years later, such a future has not yet come.
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