Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: bearnard1212 on 06/01/2021 15:03:38
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The most advanced space craft of the recent time
What was the most advanced space craft of the recent time that surprised you the most? As you can see technology nowadays is a fast developing thing and a lot of stuff have been invented for the recent time that can make a scientific breakthrough. What was the most special for you?
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https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/dawn/overview/
I would say the Dawn Probe. It uses an advanced ion thruster, allowing it to be the first (man-made) spacecraft to orbit multiple non-terrestrial bodies (Vesta and Ceres). This feat would not be possible (practical) using conventional chemical thrusters, which have too low of a specific impulse.
This mission also gathered reams of data regarding the composition and history of the asteroid belt. I don't think we're ready to be a space-faring civilization yet, but I think the first step along that way is likely to involve the asteroid belt (or one of the Martian moons), rather than colonization of our own moon or planetary bodies like Mars or Venus (ick!).
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The Gaia spacecraft is in the process of measuring the positions of a billion astronomical objects, including about 1% of the bright stars in our galaxy.
- In conjunction with ground-based telescopes, many of the closer stars will have 3-dimensional position and velocity relative to Earth, creating a detailed star map of our part of the spiral arm of our galaxy
- This will allow a video of the past and future movement of these stars
- It has already discovered that some previously known stars are grouped together into high-velocity stellar streams, the remnants of small galaxies that were disrupted by passing too close to the Milky Way.
It will give us a perspective on who we are, and where we are, as the Solar System in our galaxy.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(spacecraft) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(spacecraft))
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an advanced ion thruster.....This feat would not be possible (practical) using conventional chemical thrusters, which have too low of a specific impulse.
The Mullard ion thruster in the London Science Museum dates from 1955. That's "recent" in my book, but predates most of the correspondents in this forum!
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https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/dawn/overview/
I would say the Dawn Probe. It uses an advanced ion thruster, allowing it to be the first (man-made) spacecraft to orbit multiple non-terrestrial bodies (Vesta and Ceres). This feat would not be possible (practical) using conventional chemical thrusters, which have too low of a specific impulse.
This mission also gathered reams of data regarding the composition and history of the asteroid belt. I don't think we're ready to be a space-faring civilization yet, but I think the first step along that way is likely to involve the asteroid belt (or one of the Martian moons), rather than colonization of our own moon or planetary bodies like Mars or Venus (ick!).
I would like to mention the spammy. Simply for getting closer to the sun than any other spacecraft so far and considering how hard it is to get that close. The space craft which is capable to take samples from the outer corona of the Sun really makes you amazed by it, because of the high temperature it can endure.
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The Gaia spacecraft is in the process of measuring the positions of a billion astronomical objects, including about 1% of the bright stars in our galaxy.
- In conjunction with ground-based telescopes, many of the closer stars will have 3-dimensional position and velocity relative to Earth, creating a detailed star map of our part of the spiral arm of our galaxy
- This will allow a video of the past and future movement of these stars
- It has already discovered that some previously known stars are grouped together into high-velocity stellar streams, the remnants of small galaxies that were disrupted by passing too close to the Milky Way.
It will give us a perspective on who we are, and where we are, as the Solar System in our galaxy.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(spacecraft) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(spacecraft))
As far as I know, there some kinds of satellites that measure the positions of astronomical objects and can forecast space weather like some kind of satellites forecast it on Earth. Also, I am surprised by microsatellites and how fast they are developing.
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https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/dawn/overview/
I would say the Dawn Probe. It uses an advanced ion thruster, allowing it to be the first (man-made) spacecraft to orbit multiple non-terrestrial bodies (Vesta and Ceres). This feat would not be possible (practical) using conventional chemical thrusters, which have too low of a specific impulse.
This mission also gathered reams of data regarding the composition and history of the asteroid belt. I don't think we're ready to be a space-faring civilization yet, but I think the first step along that way is likely to involve the asteroid belt (or one of the Martian moons), rather than colonization of our own moon or planetary bodies like Mars or Venus (ick!).
I`d like to mention another kind of space vehicle of the recent that also impressed me. This vehicle is made by a private space company
The fact that impressed me the most about this spacecraft- is that it is intended for placing payloads into Sun- Synchronous Orbit.