Space technology
6 questions tagged Space technology — spanning every one of the seven Ws.
When was the first satellite altimetry map of the oceans produced?
The first global ocean-height maps from satellite altimetry were produced in the early 1990s, after the launch of Topex/Poseidon in 1992. They transformed how scientists studied sea-surface height and ocean circulation.
Where is the world's biggest research center for high-energy astrophysics instruments?
CERN in Switzerland is a key center for particle detectors, but ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre in Noordwijk, Netherlands, is a major hub for space-instrument development. It supports physics missions and advanced detector technology.
How do spacesuits keep astronauts alive outside a spacecraft?
A spacesuit is a personal spacecraft that supplies oxygen, pressure, temperature control, and protection from micrometeoroids. Without it, body fluids would begin to boil in the vacuum of space.
What is a solar sail?
A solar sail is a spacecraft propulsion system that uses sunlight pressure instead of fuel. Thin reflective sheets can slowly accelerate in space.
Which telescope has the largest single primary mirror in space?
The James Webb Space Telescope has the largest single primary mirror in space, with a 6.5-meter segmented mirror. It launched in 2021.
How do rockets change direction in space?
They use small thrusters and reaction wheels, relying on conservation of momentum instead of air or road contact. In space, even a tiny push can gradually change a spacecraft’s orientation or path.