What are the health concerns when traveling to Mars?

Space is a hostile environment. This – in addition to the vast distances – makes manned space travel pretty difficult. Central problems include weightlessness and exposure to cosmic radiation. Anyone planning long-duration journeys through the universe needs to be aware of and fully...

Surfing back to earth

A capsule full of material samples on its way back to Earth. Exposed to centrifugal forces of up to 12 G and temperatures from -270 to 5,000 degrees Celsius at its shell. The capsule has to brave it all to bring back an answer to an existential question: What is the origin of life on...

Little Helper in Space

The aerospace division of Airbus has developed the first artificial assistant for astronauts named CIMON. It has been supporting the crew of the International Space Station ISS in several experiments since June. The little helper's suitability for more significant tasks in the future is...

Is there seismic activity on the Red Planet?

When SEIS reaches its destination at the end of November, the most sensitive seismometer that has ever been built will begin its work on Mars. Six FAULHABER stepper motors with planetary gearheads are currently on their way through space and, after the instrument has landed, will have...

The 3D view of Mars

2020 is the year of the next Rover mission to Mars. The main payload of the Russian Proton rocket: the ExoMars Rover, developed by the European and Russian Space Agencies (ESA & Roskosmos). The plan is for the vehicle to be equipped with nine measuring instruments. Including one that...

Light as air

In 2011 there were 15,556 passenger planes and almost as many private jets in operation worldwide. If predictions prove correct, this figure is set to double in the next fifteen years. At the same time there is a marked trend towards equipping aircraft cabins with additional features...