SPHERE Fishing for Space Debris

The International Space Station (ISS) sure could use some help, and eventually might get it if people buy off on this latest idea. If you weren’t aware, the ISS has three robot test satellites aboard, called SPHERES. SPHERES have been highlighted on this site before for a different project, so here’s what they’re used for just in […]

Healing Robot Arms from Space

Fox News recently reported about the Canadian Space Agency’s contributions to medicine with Canadarm. Canadarm 2 is a robotic and remote controlled arm mounted on the International Space Station (ISS). The original Canadarm was mounted on the space shuttle. Both robotic arms were designed to do work outside in space, while astronauts controlled the arms in the relative safety of […]

Groovy Man! Satellite Helps with Earthquake

The European Space Agency (ESA) announced the results of a decision to use California’s Napa Valley earthquake as an opportunity to show how satellites might be able to provide information. In this case, the ESA tasked their low earth orbiting (LEO) Sentinel-1 satellite‘s Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry payload to take a look at the affected area. The […]

Space Launcher Fires Unexpectedly (AGAIN!!??)

Whoopsies! Or perhaps a more intense, colorful yet NSFW word went through the minds of the astronauts inhabiting the International Space Station (ISS) due to events last Thursday, Sept 4, 2014. Because that’s when one of the astronauts noticed the Pod Bay, erm, I mean the ISS Cubesat launcher doors were open. The actual name […]

The Safe Way to Observe a Volcano

I suppose it isn’t ironic to anyone that Iceland is home to some hot attractions, such as volcanoes. On August 28, 2014, their Bardarbunga (sounds like something out of Ninja Turtles) volcano erupted a bit. All sorts of tools have been used to observe the angry mountain: webcams, helicopters, cars, and planes. Of course, most […]