Space Exploration's biggest obstacles - Part I

Gravity is a challenge.

Problem: #Takeoff

Dealing with the force of #gravity, especially during the takeoff, is one of the most difficult variables of #space #exploration. The Earth's gravity makes a powerful force on any object attempting to leave its surface, which requires enormous amounts of energy to overcome. If an object on Earth's surface wants to escape (#escapevelocity), it must achieve the necessary velocity to break free from Earth's #gravitational pull, traveling at speeds exceeding 11.2 km/s (kilometers per second). That's more than 40 000 km/h. Moreover, the risks associated with takeoff and ascent require precise planning and execution to ensure the safety of the astronauts and the mission's success. This is why spacecraft are designed with powerful engines and advanced technologies. So, leaving Earth is kinda similar to a divorce: in that case, you want to leave quickly and with as little cargo as possible, fighting powerful forces collaborating against you, the gravity being most particular.

Our ships move far too slowly.

Problem: #Propulsion

Traveling through vast space is relatively easy because of the absence of any resistance force to slow down the spacecraft. However, getting started is a different story entirely. The larger an object’s mass, the more force it takes to move it. Rockets, with their huge #mass, require significant amounts of #propellant to achieve initial acceleration. However, this propellant will be consumed in a matter of minutes, which can lead to reaching the moons of #Jupiter in five to seven years. Developing new propulsion methods is crucial to shortening travel times and making space exploration more efficient. Scientists are currently exploring and developing new propulsion technologies that could revolutionize space travel, such as #nuclear and #electric propulsion systems. These new methods could help us explore the vast reaches of space in a more efficient and cost-effective way.

It's a minefield up there.

Problem: Space #Debris

Space debris (#spacedebris) is also a major issue for space exploration. The US Space Surveillance Network (#SSN) monitors over 17,000 softball-sized objects and half a million smaller pieces orbiting Earth at speeds exceeding 17,500 mph, even the smallest particles pose a threat to spacecraft. #Whipple shields (layers of metal and #Kevlar) offer some protection against small debris, but larger objects like satellites can cause irreparable damage.?

Mission control takes precautions to avoid #hazardous paths, but tracking isn't perfect. Pulling the decommissioned #satellites out of orbit isn't feasible. It would require an entire mission just to capture one. To prevent further buildup of debris, decommissioning programs are now being implemented for recent launches. These programs extract extra fuel, then use rocket boosters or solar sails to angle down to get pulled down by Earth's gravity to burn up on re-entry into Earth's #atmosphere.

Failing to clean up our own space junk could lead to the #Kessler syndrome, where collisions create more debris until it becomes impossible to fly in space. Moreover, if a space war breaks out, destroying enemy satellites would be catastrophic for space travel, highlighting the importance of #world #peace in the future of space exploration.

Space has no GPS.

Problem: #Navigation

Space navigation is a unique and another challenging problem because we haven't found or built any technology to position (similar to our existing Global Positioning System (#GPS)) our location in space yet.

Currently, the Deep Space Network (#DSN), which is a collection of antenna arrays located in California, Australia, and Spain, is the primary navigation tool used for #spacecraft traveling beyond Earth's #orbit. The DSN is used by a wide range of missions, from student project satellites to major probes like New Horizons, to stay positioned as required.

However, as more and more missions take flight, the DSN is getting congested, and the command post is continually busy. To address this traffic jam, #NASA is working on solutions to lighten the load on the DSN. One solution is to use higher-bandwidth lasers to handle big data packages, like photos or video messages. The reliability of the DSN decreases as spacecraft travel farther away from Earth. Transmissions to deep space can take hours even though radio waves travel at the speed of light.?

To address this, #deepspace navigation expert Joseph Guinn is working on an #autonomous system that collects images of targets and nearby objects and uses their relative location to triangulate a spaceship's coordinates. Guinn calls this system a deep-space positioning system (#DPS), which could be similar to GPS for Earth-bound vehicles. allowing spacecraft to navigate in deep space more accurately and without relying solely on the DSN.

References: https://www.wired.com/