SpaceX reaches for milestone in spaceflight – a private company launches astronauts into orbit

SpaceX's launch of astronauts to the International Space Station will make it the first private company to launch humans to space. The effort has ramifications for NASA and spaceflight in general.

Wendy Whitman Cobb, Professor of Strategy and Security Studies, US Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies • conversation
May 22, 2020 • ~7 min

Tags:  space  nasa  space-shuttle  space-travel  international-space-station  spacex  iss  space-tourism  boeing  elon-musk  virgin-galactic  blue-origin  project-artemis

To safely explore the solar system and beyond, spaceships need to go faster – nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer

An update of 50-year-old regulations has kickstarted research into the next generation of rockets. Powered by nuclear fission, these new systems could be the key to faster, safer exploration of space.

Iain Boyd, Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
May 20, 2020 • ~10 min
Tags: space nasa mars donald-trump space-shuttle moon apollo-11 space-exploration voyager future rockets darpa nuclear-fission

7 lessons from 'Hidden Figures' NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson's life and career

NASA scientist Katherine Johnson was instrumental in getting people to the moon. Here are some of the lessons one mathematics professor believes she taught us all.

Della Dumbaugh, Professor of Mathematics, University of Richmond • conversation
Feb. 26, 2020 • ~7 min

Tags:  mathematics  space  feminism  nasa  science  space-shuttle  apollo-11  moon-landing  race  racism  civil-rights  segregation  scientist  hidden-figures  katherine-johnson

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