The Space Review

Articles, essays, and commentary about all facets of space exploration

There is a better way forward (part 2) - May 27, 2008

NASA's current exploration architecture, including the Ares 1 and 5 rockets, has come under criticism from some corners because of technical, financial, and schedule issues. In the conclusion of his two-part article, Stephen Metschan discusses one alternative to the current approach as well as why his team continues to press ahead with the concept.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1135/1

The losing hand: tradition and superstition in spaceflight - May 27, 2008

The high-tech world of spaceflight would seem to have little room for rituals and superstitions, but that turns out to be far from the case. Alan Murphy examines some of those traditions and why they're adopted.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1137/1

Another headache the ISS doesn't need - May 27, 2008

NASA and its international partners on the ISS have been trying to deal with a problem with a critical joint that rotates some of the station's solar panels. Taylor Dinerman reviews the problem and examines its implications for the future of the orbiting outpost.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1136/1

Announcing the 2008 Space VidVision Contest - May 27, 2008

Getting people to express their opinions about space sometimes requires embracing new approaches and techniques. Greg Zsidisin announces a new contest for people to create online videos about the future of human spaceflight.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1134/1

A second chance at Mars - May 27, 2008

Mars can be a hostile world, and getting spacecraft to that planet has never been an easy task. However, as Jeff Foust reports, the recent successful landing of Phoenix demonstrated that sometimes even on Mars there are second chances.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1138/1

"Space World" remembered - May 19, 2008

Although there are still a number of space magazines being published today, there are others no longer in existence that left a legacy. Thomas J. Frieling recounts the history, and the demise, of one such publication.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1131/1

Reassessing scramjets and spaceplanes - May 19, 2008

To some, scramjet technology offers few near-term prospects for developing low-cost reusable spaceplanes. Ajay Kothari argues that the issue is not with scramjets themselves, but in the types of vehicles they're used.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1129/1

ATV Evolution: is Europe ready - May 19, 2008

Last week European officials proposed converting the Automated Transfer Vehicle into a spacecraft capable of carrying people to and from the ISS. Irina Kerner describes the obstacles, as much political as technical, this concept faces.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1132/1

There is a better way forward (part 1) - May 19, 2008

NASA's current exploration architecture, including the Ares 1 and 5 rockets, has come under criticism from some corners because of technical, financial, and schedule issues. In the first of a two-part article, Stephen Metschan argues that the root of these problems is that Ares does not take enough advantage of existing shuttle infrastructure.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1133/1

Tom Swift, where are you - May 19, 2008

In the early years of the Space Age one source of inspiration for would-be rocket scientists was a new series of Tom Swift books. Anthony Young recalls the effects those books had on him, and the need for something similar today.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1128/1