Space exploration has always been associated with human ambition, curiosity, and ingenuity. Our capacity to explore space has advanced considerably from the early days of the Space Race to the present era of international collaboration and commercial ventures. A new epoch of space exploration is currently emerging, driven by state-of-the-art technology that is setting new standards for human achievement. With determination, we cast our eyes to the stars, raising the question, “What are the newest technologies that are taking us closer to the final frontier?”
- THE WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE The Webb Space Telescope was launched on December 25, 2021. It took 30 years and $10 billion to build. But what makes it so special? The Webb Space Telescope is the most powerful space telescope ever made- and the most complex one yet designed for a variety of compelling reasons. One important factor is the size of the telescope. When compared to its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope, the Webb telescope is considerably larger. This increase in size was necessary to enhance its ability to capture more light and collect more precise data from the farthest points of the universe. The primary mirror measures over 6.5 m and the engineering applied to the Webb telescope’s sunshield is remarkable. The five layers of a distinct material work together to maintain an extremely low temperature of the telescope’s instruments by blocking solar heat. The sunshield, measuring approximately a tennis court’s size, must unfurl effortlessly and flawlessly in outer space. With a collection of photos, we can finally witness the first glimpse of its power after it has traveled over 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth. With a minimum five-year mission and a maximum ten-year mission, Webb was built for endurance. Nevertheless, the Webb team concluded that the observatory should have enough propellant to support science operations in orbit for more than 20 years following a successful launch and the completion of telescope commissioning
- ILLUMA-T NASA plans to replace the current radio communications system on the International Space Station (ISS) with optical communication technology. The use of laser beams in optical communication systems offers significantly faster data transfer between the spacecraft and Earth than radio-frequency systems. The payload showcases the potential benefits of laser communications and its applications in space. The launch provides an opportunity to test the reliability and efficiency of this technology for future space missions. So how it works? The two-axis gimbal and telescope that make up ILLUMA-T’s optical module enable LCRD tracking and pointing in geosynchronous orbit. At a speed of 1.2 gigabits per second, ILLUMA-T will transmit data from the space station to LCRD, which will subsequently transmit it to optical ground stations located in Hawaii or California. The data will be transmitted to the LCRD Mission Operations Center, which is housed at NASA’s White Sands Complex in Las Cruces, New Mexico, after it arrives at these ground stations. Following this, the information will be forwarded to the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, ILLUMA-T ground operations teams. There, engineers will assess the accuracy and caliber of the data transmitted via this end-to-end relay process. For Earth scientists conducting science and technology research on the space station, laser communications could be a game-changer. In the orbiting laboratory, scientists study a variety of topics for the good of humanity, including technology, Earth observation, and biological and physical sciences. For these experiments, ILLUMA-T could offer improved data rates and simultaneously transmit more data back to Earth. Indeed, ILLUMA-T can transfer as much data as a typical movie in less than a minute at 1.2 Gbps.
Even though implementing these innovations has many advantages, it’s important to consider the limitations and implications of such advancements. For instance high cost of distribiution and developing new technologies can reduce countries in participating fully. This could limit equal distribiution of benefits and opportunities. Moreover as technology progresses the potential for militarization of space also increases, potentially leading to conflicts and weaponizing of cosmos. Finally space exploration is dangerous for astronauts. They are at risk from sun’s radiation, lack of gravity might affect their physical state, and they are at risk from equipment failure.
However in the years to come, we will witness the continued evolution of these technologies, along with the emergence of novel solutions that will redefine our understanding of space. Gazing up into the sky, we are inspired not only by the heavenly treasures we wish to discover, but also by the clever technologies that enable those expeditions. Space exploration has a bright future because of the creativity and commitment of scientists, engineers, and explorers who aren’t afraid to aim high and dream big.
Sources:
https://www.ll.mit.edu/r-d/projects/illuma-t
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/spacecraftoverview/
Read more about it:
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/science-overview/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135420303249