Questions tagged [space-mission]
93 questions
127
votes
10 answers
Why do spaceships heat up when entering earth but not when exiting?
Recently I read up on spacecrafts entering earth using a heat shield. However, when exiting the Earth's atmosphere, it does not heat up, so it does not need a heat shield at that point of time yet. Why is this so? I know then when entering earth,…
QuIcKmAtHs
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59
votes
8 answers
Is it possible to send all nuclear waste on Earth to the Sun?
If we neglect the danger of unsuccessful lift-off of the rocket and the cost, would it be physically possible to send all nuclear waste on Earth to the Sun?
Will there be an obstacle that prevents this? For example, solar winds?
Mubin Icyer
- 679
32
votes
3 answers
Parker Solar Probe passing extremely close to the Sun; what relativistic effects will it experience and how large will they be?
note: This is a question about relativistic effects. I've included some detail about the spacecraft and its orbit for background, but the question is about relativistic effects and their observability.
When the Parker Solar Probe passes within 8.5…
uhoh
- 6,089
30
votes
1 answer
Why is Anti-helium so important in the search for dark matter?
I've been reading/hearing that if the AMS satellite measures a significant flux of anti-helium in cosmic rays, that would be an irrefutable proof of dark matter. I was wondering:
Why is that? what is the dark matter decay/annihilation that produces…
Juanjo
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30
votes
4 answers
How long would a bubble made in the ISS last?
It seems to me that if on Earth soap bubbles pop, it is because the gravity makes the water and soap go to the bottom of it. When there is not enough water at the top of the bubble, it pops.
But what if we remove gravity and make a bubble in the…
EngelOfChipolata
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25
votes
1 answer
Why is Voyager 1 approaching Earth?
When I read JPL's mission status for Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 the distance between Earth and Voyager 1 is decreasing.
Is it right?
Jin Kwon
- 361
22
votes
5 answers
Would a fast interstellar spaceship benefit from an aerodynamic shape?
Some (generous) assumptions:
We have a spaceship that can reach a reasonable fraction of light speed.
The ship is able to withstand the high energies of matter impacting at that speed.
Given the amount of matter in inter-stellar space, at high…
user1264
- 513
20
votes
3 answers
Cameras in Voyager probes
I've always wondered about the cameras in the space probes, especially in the Voyagers.
1) What kind of cameras do they have? Digital? (Electronic - what kind of sensor and megapixel count?) Analog? (Do they develop the film and then scan it, as…
Andres
18
votes
6 answers
Why put a radio telescope in space instead on the Moon?
Why are we not building a space-based radio telescope? If a lunar radio telescope is hard to build, why not a space-based radio telescope? It could be an interesting tool, I presume. Thus, what could be the advantages of a space-based radio…
riemannium
- 6,843
16
votes
1 answer
Are the Voyager probes still sending us a signal ?
This article reported today, a finding from one of the voyager probes. It talks about magnetic structures at the (far) outer edge of our solar system. Does that mean we're still able to pick up a signal from the Voyager probes ? And how long does it…
giulio
14
votes
5 answers
How much damage would a space probe cause?
How much damage would a space probe cause if it can get about 4 lightyears away in 10 years and doesn't have any brakes when it arrives? Could it cause a global extinction event on the planet it was sent to? Do actual concept probes think about…
Emil
- 713
14
votes
2 answers
What is the most distant object from the Earth that a spacecraft has visited to date?
What is the most distant object from the earth that a spacecraft visited has visited so far? What was the mission and when did it happen?
Mehper C. Palavuzlar
12
votes
3 answers
Rockets in vacuum vs. Rocket on earth
Recently my physics teacher during a rant said something that piqued my interest. Heres what he said "There are more problems visiting other stars if you wanted a rocket to go 99% the speed of light you'd need an extreme amount of energy and the…
HyperDoge
- 259
12
votes
1 answer
The most distant point from the earth that a space shuttle has reached
What is the most distant point from the Earth that a space shuttle has reached? When did this happen?
Mehper C. Palavuzlar
11
votes
2 answers
Voyager: Is it in "orbit" and will it return?
This Phys.SE question about Voyager got me thinking, and I didn't see an answer:
Gravity - what goes up must come down.
Will Voyager, in its current trajectory ever be pulled back into our Solar System? Thus, does it have an orbit?
Is Voyager, more…
WernerCD
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