This summer, three unmanned spacecraft—the Perseverance (US), Tianwen-1 (China) and Hope Orbiter (United Arab Emirates)—are making the journey to Mars in order to explore. Helicopters, rovers, infrared spectrometers, cameras and other equipment aboard each craft will be controlled from Earth and all the data gathered will add to our ever-growing understanding of the red planet. The New York Times, via NASA, provides graphics for each …
Celebrating 20 years of the International Space Station (the largest spacecraft ever built), LEGO has created an 864-piece set based on the beloved vessel. In addition to its impressive details, the model kit comes with a buildable NASA space shuttle and three cargo spacecraft, as well as a stand for display and a helpful 148-page booklet with instructions and facts about the ISS. Intended for …
While it’s common to think of the universe as dark, mysterious and infinite, it’s less often that we consider all the human-made space junk floating around nearby. The cosmos is a graveyard of spacecraft—each with its own story. These defunct vessels “glide silently in Earth’s vicinity” with “their mission to chronicle the wonders of the universe long ended.” The Kepler, for instance, trails our planet since running …
