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Sierra Space has secured a contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the 10-year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) capability study. This study intends to integrating oxygen extraction, electrical storage and hydrogen-oxygen engine technology into an architecture on the surface of the moon. This research and development initiative will make advanced lunar missions possible and help shape the future of extended space exploration for the benefit of humanity. Sierra Space has already demonstrated its capabilities in carbothermal oxygen production from lunar soil, or “regolith.” In April, #NASA achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully extracting oxygen from simulated lunar soil using a carbothermal reactor developed in-house by Sierra Space. This breakthrough occurred within a thermal vacuum chamber simulating the lunar environment, setting the stage for future resource utilization on the moon, known as in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Link: https://lnkd.in/gp6B9wz8

NASA-funded pulsed plasma rocket concept aims to send astronauts to Mars in 2 months An innovative rocket system could revolutionize future deep space missions to Mars, reducing travel time to the Red Planet to just a few months. The goal of landing humans on Mars has presented a myriad of challenges, including the need to quickly transport large payloads to and from the distant planet, which, depending on the positions of Earth and Mars, would take almost two years for a round trip using current propulsion technology. The Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR), under development by Howe Industries, is a propulsion system designed to be far more efficient than current methods of deep space propulsion, enabling the trip between Earth and the Red Planet to be made in just two months. Specifically, the rocket will have a high specific impulse or Isp, a measure of how efficiently an engine generates thrust. This technology could therefore enable astronauts and cargo to travel to and from Mars more efficiently and rapidly than existing spacecraft. Stemming from the Pulsed Fission Fusion concept, the PPR uses a fission-based nuclear power system, which obtains energy from the controlled splitting of atoms, to generate thrust for spacecraft propulsion. However, the PPR is smaller, simpler and more affordable than previous concepts. In addition to enabling further range missions, the PPR could support much heavier spacecraft, meaning additional shielding could be installed to reduce a crew's exposure to harmful high-energy particles, called Galactic Cosmic Rays, endured during long-duration spaceflight. https://lnkd.in/g63r_4tP

Magnetic fusion plasma engines could carry us across the solar system and into interstellar space, What will it take before human beings can travel to the nearest star system within their own lifetimes? Credit: Shigemi Numazawa/ Project Daedalus Missions to the moon, missions to Mars, robotic explorers to the outer solar system, a mission to the nearest star, and maybe even a spacecraft to catch up to interstellar objects passing through our system. If you think this sounds like a description of the coming https://lnkd.in/enHhgX2G

Such space exploration missions as #BepiColombo, for example, would not be possible with chemical propulsion alone. BepiColombo is equipped with both chemical and ion thrusters. The chemical thrusters will perform critical manoeuvres such as orbit insertion and trajectory correction. The 4 ion thrusters will enable the spacecraft to make the long journey to Mercury, make trajectory corrections and small adjustments to the spacecraft's orbit around Mercury, and carry out its scientific mission with precision and efficiency. Learn more about the Space exploration missions and electric propulsion: https://bit.ly/3PrPxgS

UK Space Agency misses out on opportunity to diversify their investments as NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration snags the next phase in development on #PelletBeam propulsion concept for less than £150,000. This incredibly interesting technology is a direct competitor to the #Nuclear propulsion under development by Rolls-Royce in Derby, in enabling large probes (over 1,000kg) to travel rapidly, and efficiently into deep space, to the outer planets and even beyond the solar system. NASA invested for sub-system further investigation as Phase one to take place this year with a $175,000 grant by NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. Do you think the UK is missing out on backing a diverse crop of opportunities in favour of a few large businesses with lobbying power, and playing second fiddle on NASA or ESA projects? #GiantLeap

The future of space exploration hinges on innovations like reusable launch vehicles and advanced propulsion systems. The #AsiaPacific region, with its growing investments and ambitious space missions, is set to drive significant growth in the #spacecraft industry. #AMR #SpaceExploration #SpaceTech #Innovation #ReusableLaunchVehicles #AdvancedPropulsion #AsiaPacificSpace #SpaceIndustryGrowth https://lnkd.in/dE3gQmuA

An innovative #rocket system could revolutionize future deep space missions to #Mars, reducing travel time to the #RedPlanet to just a few months. The goal of landing humans on Mars has presented a myriad of challenges, including the need to quickly transport large #payloads to and from the distant planet, which, depending on the positions of Earth and Mars, would take almost two years for a round trip using current #propulsion technology. The Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR), under development by Howe Industries LLC, is a propulsion system designed to be far more efficient than current methods of deep space propulsion, enabling the trip between Earth and the Red Planet to be made in just two months. Specifically, the rocket will have a high specific impulse (or Isp), a measure of how efficiently an engine generates thrust. This technology could therefore enable astronauts and cargo to travel to and from Mars more efficiently and rapidly than existing #spacecraft. Stemming from the Pulsed Fission Fusion concept, the PPR uses a fission-based nuclear power system, which obtains energy from the controlled splitting of atoms, to generate thrust for spacecraft propulsion. In addition to enabling further range missions, the PPR could support much heavier spacecraft, meaning additional shielding could be installed to reduce a crew's exposure to harmful high-energy particles, called Galactic Cosmic Rays, endured during long-duration spaceflight. The PPR concept is now moving into Phase II of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) study, having completed Phase I, which focused on the neutronics of the propulsion system, designing the spacecraft, power system and necessary subsystems, analyzing the magnetic nozzle capabilities, and determining trajectories and benefits, according to the statement. During Phase II, developers will build upon the assessments from Phase I to optimize the engine design, perform proof-of-concept experiments and design a spacecraft concept to better protect crewed flights to Mars. Currently visited only by robotic explorers, the PPR could one day bring NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration closer to establishing a permanent base on Mars.