NASA is pursuing next cosmic exploration with some rather unexpected whimsy . Occasionally fantastical but always backed by concrete science , here are 10 of the most awesomely strange projects NASA ’s scientist are cooking up .
10. Dextre
We ’ve all consider footage of spacewalks — when astronauts drop precariously off the side of the International Space Station , just beg to be hit by ultrasonic space debris . But all that danger should soon be altogether extinguish by the lankiest robot NASA ever did build up : Dextre , the mechanical handyman . The dexterous manipulator ( as it ’s formally term ) is now permanently affixed to the ISS to execute sustenance and keep mankind safe .
Originally designed by the Canadian Space Agency ( CSA ) , Dextre is quite large . It stands 3.5 meters ( 12 ft ) tall , has prehensile limb that are closely as long , and weighs 1,700 kilograms ( 3,700 lb)—though that should n’t derange the ISS too much , as the place weighs 410 metrical tons ( 450 tons ) . The robot can be controlled remotely by the astronauts aboard the station , but current protocol dictate that Dextre ’s commands arefed from Earth , with joint ascendence from NASA and the CSA .
So long as Dextre performs its duties without trouble , astronautswon’t have to risk their livesto fix a loose screw or frayed conducting wire . Plus , they ’ll have extra time to dabble in all that space science .
9. Supersonic Bidirectional Flying Wing
The Supersonic Bidirectional Flying Wing is a ridiculously suave aircraft that looks like it could cut you just for look at it haywire . Its the creation of Gacheng Za , a professor at the University of Miami . And it offend NASA ’s interest because Za ’s concept allows the craft to excel at an unprecedented range of ALT and focal ratio .
For aircraft in general , the initial phase of flight requires a prominent airfoil sphere to bring forth lift . That ’s why airplanes have large wings . But once the craft is comfortably up in the air , the increased surface expanse produces extra drag and therefore slowing . This dichotomy of flowing efficiency is never to the full satisfied , but NASA hopes to parry the issue with the bidirectional design , awarding $ 100,000to further realize this crazy concept .
This giant backstage is truly versatile . It use a all-inclusive figure to easy get airborne . Then to attain ultrasonic speed , it shoots to higher height androtates 90 degrees , producing the sleekest visibility possible to slit through atmosphere .
8. Veggies In Space
Feeding current cosmonaut is n’t a problem because now because it ’s relatively easy to restock the ISS ’s powdered enchilada reserve on regularly schedled visits . But restocking would be out of the interrogative on ( what will hopefully be ) the stretch spacefaring adventure of the hereafter . So why not have a space farm ?
That ’s what NASA wants to bump out , and factor for the firstastroponic vegetableswere delivered to the ISS in April 2014 . An raiment of light-emitting diode lights cover the babe lettuce , with red romaine so far the only thing on the menu . The boodle unit holds six package ( “ pillows ” ) hold seed , fertiliser , and Lucius Clay .
The mature plants willbe newsflash - frozen and shipped back to Earthaboard a Dragon capsule . But if they ’re deemed safe for consumption after a assault and battery of trial , crop of all sorts could be cultivated in microgravity , in earnest diversify food for thought choices .
7. Super Ball Bot
“ Tensegrity ” might sound like an ’ 80s prog - rock band , but it actually stands for “ tensional unity . ” Using this concept , NASA has developed a elastic , physically durable , segmented testicle dub the Super Ball Bot .
The ball ’s configuration allows efficient mobility and peachy shock - plunge timbre because it transfer force evenly throughout the structure , much like the human soundbox . It ’s so long-lasting that NASA plans to devolve these balls direct onto Saturn ’s moonlight Titanwithout a parachute . Its odd squishiness act as a damper , replacing the need for landing gear .
It look like a higgledy-piggledy kettle of fish of tent celestial pole . However , this thin gadget is actually quite stable and could dish out as transport on Titan — show an army ofrolling metal tumbleweeds . NASA will use this as a shell to augment the rovers and landers of the future . The tensegrity cocoon will cushion vehicle . The ball will get around more easily than anything with wheels , roll out over sand , rocks , and other unfriendly terrain .
6. Europa Drill
As a chancellor terminus in the hunting for aliens , the saltwater ocean of Jupiter ’s moon Europa has astronomers salivating uncontrollably . Yet it ’s pig-headedly protect by a 30 - kilometer - thick ( 20 mi ) shell of chalk . probe these depth is an unprecedented task even on Earth , so imagine the numerical gymnastics necessary to achieve thishalf a billion mile from home .
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Jup_Europa
However , such a labor might be closer to fruition than you might think . President Obama has already apportion $ 15 million of NASA ’s annual allowance account for Europa exploration , and this historic mission could begin as soon as 2022 . NASA has already get radical new drilling technology , custom - built to perforate through Europan ice crust — anuclear - powered methamphetamine hydrochloride shank .
examination is afoot on Alaska ’s Matanuska Glacier , where the VALKYRIE is being prepped for its eventual use elsewhere in the solar system . Conventional boring peter could never puncture such a mighty ice crust , and maintaining a gargantuan drill bit is a logistic nightmare . So VALKYRIE use a atomic core to producescorching jets of waterto cut through the ice .
5. Tiny Satellites
exposure credit : University College London
NASA ’s new generation of satellite depart radically from current models . The gawky machines we ’re used to are being replaced by more and more smaller devices , some of which could comfortablyfit in your deal .
One of these new nanosatellites is the CubeSat . As its name implies , it ’s simply a lowly cube , 10 centimeter ( 4 in ) farseeing and weigh a paltry 1.3 kilograms ( 3 lb ) . These satellites are highly customizable and easy to enrapture , which is why NASA is currently allowing students and schooltime to submit their own designs . The chosen sats will then be launched into space . They ’re so low that they can easy be carry as warhead on previously schedule charge .
But they get even smaller . A serial of stamp - sized satellite was launched into blank in 2011 onboard the bird Endeavour to be affixed to the ISS . These are entirely invisible and scarcely larger than your thumbnail . And if examination goes well , NASA plans to found these tiny stamps en masse shot . Once in space , the lightweight chips woulddrift about like specks of detritus , replace today ’s much more expensive and British Labour Party - intensive satellite production .
4. Mouse Astronauts
To contemplate the effect of prolonged exposure to microgravity , NASA is station its most adorable astronauts ever into space . nickname “ mousetronauts ” by billionaire space - humans Elon Musk , the gnawer have an average life expectancy of about two class , work them the unadulterated animal to study aboard the International Space Station .
The mice will drop six month aboard the ISS , effectively a quarter of their life or the equivalent of over 20 years for a human . NASA will observe the mice at different stage of life , observe the differences between a space - reared mouse and its terrestrial brethren . mouse have previously flown on quad missions , yet this will be the longest and most involved of such studies .
They ’ll be put in in “ modules , ” or artificial black eye habitat . Everything necessary for comfy living is supply , include company , as each module can meet up to 10 mouse ( or six rats ) . Physiologically , we mammals are all pretty alike , so this experiment can reveal a tidy sum about how humans reply to long - term micro - gravity .
3. Traveling Without Fuel
Photo credit : EmDrive.com
Newly developed blank space engines examined by NASA cancreate thrusting without propelling fuelin the polar direction . To a layperson , this engine seems to blatantly go against Newton ’s Torah of movement and the momentum preservation principle , yet it appear to work .
The Cannae Drive uses its distinctive cone in conjunction with microwave oven radiation to motivate itself across distance . alternatively of using fuel to boost itself along , its bulging nose direct microwave - produce pressure away from itself , producing a tiny push . A similar railway locomotive , phone the EmDrive , has been produce in Britain .
So , far the energy generated is on the order of micronewtons , about as powerful as a butterfly sneeze . But it imply that NASA may eventually originate a whole new stock of engine — one that will eliminate fuel price and makedeep - space voyagesan exponentially more viable pick .
2. OSIRIS-REx
NASA ’s New Frontiers curriculum is a triumvirate of planned foreign mission focused on our own solar system of rules . The Juno mission will allow Modern insights on Jupiter . New Horizons will give us our first real image of Pluto . The OSIRIS - REx might be the most challenging , as it draw a bead on to impart an asteroid sample to Earth .
A primitive , nearby asteroid calledBennuis the object , and samples return could offer hints about the formation of the solar system . This ancient chunk is a remnant from the dust domain that coalesced billions of years ago to form the planets and the Sun . Itfloated around untouchedfor over four billion year .
NASA ’s OSIRIS - REx — slated for launch in 2016 — will stab into Bennu with an cartridge extractor perch . That ’s quite a feat , considering that the asteroid ’s diameter is only about the length of four football fields , and it zips through the solar system like a cosmic bullet . Bennu has a high chance ofstriking Earth in the 22nd 100 , so this delegation might just be important for cumulate data on the make-up of the asteroid — just in event , perhaps , we need to blow it to smithereens .
1. Air Traffic Control For Commercial Drones
Photo credit : Frankhoffner / Wikimedia
NASA has initiate a collaborative effort to develop a control organization for thousands of drones that will live our metropolis .
Early new drones will be tasked withmonitoring crops and pipelinesin rural area , but succeeding program are sempiternal . The FAA approved the first commercial monotone in the United States in June 2014 , and NASA ’s control system would get to the gates for a great many other machines . Initial examination will be carry out forth from centers of civilisation , keeping the cities spare of flaming debris falling from the sky .
Theselow - EL deviceswould zip up 120–150 meters ( 400–500 ft ) above our head . However , we probably wo n’t see a fleshed - out version of this system for at least four old age twelvemonth , since NASA must consider a immense bit of variables before filling our sky with fly robots .
This articlehas been reposted with permit fromListverse . To read in its entirety , manoeuvre here . For more from Listverse , you may head hereorLike them on Facebook here .
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