Space (Page 23)

Sending craft out from the earth to explore space is an expensive proposition, and one of the most expensive parts of it is the rocket fuel needed to escape gravity. If we could set up a space station on the moon or on another planet (such as Mars) it would be much easier to escape gravity. It would be especially cost effective if we could manufacture the FUEL needed on that planet as well (and we’re not talking about watermelon hooch, either)!

Scientists are working her on earth to develop just such a fuel and they think they’ve come up with one. It has the “consistency of toothpaste” and is less damaging to the environment. Made of aluminium powder and ordinary ice, it’s known as Al-ice, or ALICE.
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…and pee problems in space – Outer space is a busy thoroughfare of satellites operated by many nations. Earth orbits are crowded with active spacecraft, as well as dead or dying satellites. We’re even littering there! There is also the problem of?peeing in space (and they have much more important things to concern them up there).
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The next step in space? A manned, reusable Russian-European space ship!

Both ESA (European Space Agency) and Russian technology will be used. This ship was originally designed by the Russians to transport 4 people to the moon. It can make a soft landing on any planet, meaning it can be reused. In BBC News, Paul Rincon quotes Anatoly Zak, the Russian designer of the ship, as saying, “If ESA and the Russian Space Agency reach agreement, Europe will supply the service module of that co-operative spacecraft.” That includes the propulsion systems. Russia, in turn, will provide the launcher and the launch site, which will be somewhere in Russia.
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A lot of it will be tourist traffic – There will soon be so much traffic in space?much of from tourists?that traffic jams are expected. Some people want to set up some traffic laws NOW, before it’s too late.

Work is progressing on a Code of Conduct for Space, and just like on highways here on earth, one rule should be: NO littering! Futurist Ray Williamson says, “We look at this important work on a Code of Conduct for Space as also a first step in developing a well-defined piece of space traffic management.”

Drafting a code for space is no easy task. Work is required on deliberating what constitutes “no harmful interference” of space objects, as well as clarifying what are space weapons, such as anti-satellites (ASATs).
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