The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a U.S. government agency that conducts research on space technology and aeronautics.
NASA possesses the most advanced technology among existing space-related departments.
Therefore, NASA is developing various technologies that we can see in science fiction. This article aims to describe some of the technologies NASA is developing.
Firstly, through the project named Reconstituting Asteroids into Mechanical Automata (RAMA), NASA is devising technology to utilize asteroids as spacecraft.
This concept involves installing space observation equipment on asteroids that are not far from Earth. Since asteroids naturally orbit the Sun, more detailed and accurate space exploration is possible.
Secondly, the human body is exposed to various risks in space, such as radiation and the loss of gravity, which adversely affect the body.
To address this, NASA is developing artificial gravity ships. If these ships are developed, humans will be able to walk and move in space just as they do on Earth’s surface.Â
Additionally, these ships would better ensure the safety of astronauts.
Thirdly, if astronauts begin to explore regions between Mars and Jupiter, it will take at least six months.
Many astronauts might feel bored during this period. Therefore, NASA is developing hibernation capsules to make astronauts’ journeys more comfortable.
Using these hibernation capsules, astronauts can experience restful sleep. As a result, astronauts will be able to conduct their explorations more actively due to efficient rest.
Fourthly, launching satellites using rockets incurs enormous costs. Furthermore, satellites can malfunction in space, theoretically requiring engineers to continuously repair them.
However, in reality, it is almost impossible for engineers to repair launched satellites. To solve this problem, NASA is researching replacing existing satellites launched by rockets with satellite gliders.
The biggest advantage of satellite gliders is that they can receive the necessary energy from solar and wind power.
Therefore, no additional maintenance is needed, and significant cost savings are expected in the launch process.
Lastly, NASA is also developing another technology with a similar concept to satellite gliders. This is the laser propulsion probe.
This technology allows astronauts to easily analyze materials on planets without landing directly on them.
The principle of this technology is to amplify and fire a laser, then use spectrometer technology to create a spectrum by dividing the light according to its wavelength.
This would allow the exploration of gases and resources on planets. This technology is also expected to save significant costs in space exploration.
In this way, NASA is developing various technologies for more efficient space exploration. Most importantly, we believe that future technologies can answer many unresolved questions about space.
Therefore, we hope that NASA’s technological development will be a stepping stone for us to better understand space.