Hibernation capsules, asteroid ships, magnetic force fields - more like technology from Star Trek or other popular science universes than real developments. Nevertheless, NASA is currently looking for opportunities to implement all this not on screens, but in real life. The innovative advanced research program launched by the space agency sometimes finances completely crazy projects in the rocket and space industry. In the first phase, scientists are given up to 100 thousand dollars over the course of nine months, the developments that passed in the second stage receive up to 500 thousand dollars over two years. Since the main goal of the program is early research on promising projects that may prove useful in the future, NASA selects various, but credible, innovative ideas and finances them. Let's look at some of the projects of the first and second stages!
Hibernation capsules
Spaceworks Engineering conducts research related to a sound and healthy sleep in space, and estimates what needs to be done to create small capsules that will help you sleep a couple of weeks, or even six months, so as not to get bored while traveling to Mars or Saturn . A nap at work is worth a lot!
Laser Shooting Probes
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology understand that sitting on a flying asteroid or comet, and then starting to drill there is a task, and you can’t just sit on your first cosmic body. Therefore, now they are developing the possibility of remote surface drilling using lasers. After the laser can make a hole on the surface of the asteroid, it will be possible to study gases and other materials flying out of the hole made by the laser using spectrometers.
Magnetic brake
MSNW is developing a force field generator that can help the spacecraft slow down and land successfully. The magnetic shield will use a plasma made of gaseous argon, and will allow a ship to land more efficiently and with less risk. Atmospheric braking, of course, is a time-tested method, but due to the strong heating of the housing of the planted apparatus, it remains a rather risky way.
Artificial Gravity Ships
People and things do not feel very comfortable in space: there is no gravity there. But there is cosmic radiation, the benefits of which the human body does not have, to admit.
Therefore, experts from Growth-Adapted Tensegrity Structures are working on spacecraft concepts that can solve these two problems and help make your stay in space more comfortable. After all, if a person weighs in space as much as on Earth, and radiation ceases to pose a threat to astronauts, then it will already be possible to think about more comfortable cabins for the crew, as well as about bare decks and orbital bars with movie theaters.
Space gliders
A satellite is an expensive and impractical thing, it is usually impossible to repair it, and sometimes you really want to. The way out is to replace the satellites that fly a lot of money to the developers with something lighter and more pleasant. Dual-Aircraft Platform (DAP) is just one of these options; in the future, it can help make exploring the Earth from orbit easier, more enjoyable and less expensive.
DAP - two unmanned aerial vehicles resembling gliders, connected to each other by a thick and durable cable. They can fly using solar energy and wind.
Asteroid ship
The Reconstituting Asteroids into Mechanical Automata (RAMA) project is very ambitious. Its goal is to turn an asteroid into an autonomous space ship using the good old space technologies, including not very new ones. After the cosmic body is equipped with all the systems necessary for travel, it will be programmed to travel to Earth. When the asteroid reaches, it can be explored. If everything goes well, NASA plans to implement the idea in 20-30 years.
Stick landing system
Tension Adjustable Novel Deployable Entry Mechanism (TANDEM) is an interesting idea that allows a spacecraft equipped with shock absorber struts fastened to each other by high-voltage cables to easily and gently land on a hard surface, because on other planets there are not always smooth and suitable landing sites . It is understandable, not cleared.
Electromagnetic dust gliders
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory E-glider - a glider that is developed for flying over space bodies that have no atmosphere. The medium near the surface of such bodies is electrified due to the constant photoelectric bombardment of the Sun, therefore, charged dust is present even at high altitudes. Therefore, now there is research related to the development of a glider capable of flying and maneuvering with the help of this dust.
The article is based on materials .
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