ARTICLES
Lessons Learned from the Space Launch System
By Jeremy Lee
As recent announcements inform us that the SLS will be the primary launch vehicle for the Artemis missions that aim to return to the Moon, it seems as if the SLS is indeed fulfilling this mission. However, a dive into the SLS program’s setbacks provide a warning and lesson for the future of American and broader international space policy.
The Developing Issue of Space Debris in Low Earth Orbit
By Andrew Colliton
The outer space and aerospace industries have seen a renaissance in the last decade with the rise of private enterprises such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic among others. With hundreds of satellites being launched annually into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a small section of the earth’s atmosphere, the proliferation of satellites and space junk is accumulating at an alarming rate.
Space, the Final Frontier or Our Best Chance for Liberalism?
By Ty Brownlow
Most have not been to outer space, but there's something about the idea of breaching terrestrial boundaries that makes earthly rules seem as if they have the potential to be less binding. This sentiment leads me to ask; what are the real limitations of our actions? Are there real consequences to our decisions or are they merely socially constructed?
The Future of NASA as an Effective Vehicle for Advancing National and Global Interests
By Nikki Farber
It is no secret that the impact and role of NASA in the exploration of space has been waning for some time. Discussions of private space initiatives run by SpaceX, Blue Origin, and others have dominated the conversation in recent years and some have even been considering the value of the existence of NASA in a post-cold war world.
SpaceX, NASA Contracts Evolve as Collaboration Reinvigorates American-Based Space Travel
By Sarina Dev
With a federal budget that has decreased dramatically since the Space Race of the Cold War, NASA has turned to commercial contracting in order to send American astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
A New Kid on the Block: ALCE - Latin America's Space Agency
By Juan Pablo Espinosa
A new era for space exploration is coming. Government officials from Mexico and Argentina announced in October 2020 the creation of the Latin America and Caribbean Space Agency “ALCE”.
Why National Space Programs Still Matter
By Ashley B.
Whether to show Geo-political intent, fund R&D for new scientific discoveries and technology, or for American soft power, NASA and National Space Programs are still vital for the modern day State.
Mutually Assured Destruction in Low Earth Orbit
By Harry Thomas
The vicious cycle of orbital destruction described by “Kessler Syndrome” threatens to render low Earth orbit completely useless and encase humanity in a tomb of ever-increasing debris.
Space Force Series: The Starfleet Amendment
By Joshua Bell
Two weeks ago the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act which has been labeled as the “Starfleet Amendment.”
Vocabulary Matters in Space, Too
By Brian Britt
The modern space industry lexicon on both the private and the public side is filled with disturbing vocabulary that evokes colonialist themes and invites hostility into our interactions with extraterrestrial environments and lifeforms.
The Value of Diversity in the Space Industry
By Brian Britt
Our society has systematically oppressed and excluded from positions of power and prestige people of color and minorities. The space industry is no exception.
Advocates for Space Should be Advocates for Justice on Earth
By Dr. Dagomar Degroot
Human expansion into outer space is not only impossible but immoral unless it is accompanied by a concerted push for justice on Earth.
SpaceX's Starship: The Importance of a Good Window
By Harry Thomas
Starship is more like an ocean liner than a traditional NASA “capsule”. With a massive transparent screen and a steel supporting lattice stretching over its 9-meter diameter and across much of the length of its 19-meter nose cone, Starship will give a panoramic view of the worlds it explores.
Space Force Series: Where are all of the Spaceships?
By Joshua Bell
The problem? The Space Force does not currently have a single spaceship.