Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Looking Back At Space Industry In 2012 Means Looking Ahead

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


Lee Rannals for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online

2012 has been an historical year in the space industry, and the beauty of this past year is that it is just paving the way for the best that is yet to come.

During the past year, we have seen NASA encounter the Red Planet with their latest piece of technology, and have seen great strives made by the commercial space industry.

Last year, we ended the year on a bit of a sour note, but with hopeful dreams that the United States would soon be back at its former glory. We saw a space shuttle program ended after 30 years, and a hopeful future, but no tangible evidence that the future was as bright as one would hope.

This year, however, we have seen that tangible future come into play, along with the space agency with the household name making a full come back in the media spotlight.

During 2012, NASA accomplished a feat that no other space agency has ever accomplished with its successful landing of the Mars Curiosity mission. I witnessed NASA engineers at Jet Propulsion Laboratory complete a task so unreal that I had to pinch myself to ensure that it wasn’t in a science fiction movie playing out before my hallucinogenic eyes.

NASA took the most complex rover ever dreamed-up and sent it over 300 million miles to our neighboring planet on a mission to look into the past for the presence of extraterrestrial life. In order to accomplish this mission, Curiosity had to be equipped with such complicated scientific instruments, that a new way of landing a rover on Mars had to be invented in order to ensure the safety of the multi-million dollar equipment.

JPL engineers went with a wild-hair idea to go ahead and send Curiosity down towards the Martian surface via a “Sky Crane” technique, which was essentially a hovering elevator capable of helping to bring the rover from a 20,000 mph velocity to nearly 0 in a matter of seven minutes. The adventure became known as the “seven minutes of terror.”

Not only did NASA find success in its crazy idea, but also the space agency saw itself spreading inspiration across America for different types of entrepreneurship in the space industry.

Since the space shuttle retirement, U.S. commercial companies have been working on ideas to try and relieve America’s dependence on Russia for rides to the International Space Station, as well as furthering ourselves as a dominant member of the space community.

In doing that, the U.S. has accomplished a task that no other country has ever done, by having SpaceX, during a resupply mission, become the first private company to ever dock with the International Space Station.

SpaceX created its Dragon capsule with a couple of purposes in mind. The first was being able to help resupply astronauts on the ISS, and the second being the ability to send astronauts to orbit and fulfill a void left by the cancellation space shuttle program.

The Elon Musk founded company saw its first steps become reality earlier this year as its Dragon capsule docked with the ISS during the first of 12 NASA contracted resupply missions to the orbiting laboratory.

For the next few years, not only can we wait for NASA to lay out some ambitious plans to reach an asteroid and maybe Mars with human feet, but we will also be seeing U.S. companies become more dominant players in the space industry. We can look forward to new endeavors from visionaries such as Musk, who wish to eventually establish a thriving space tourism industry. But until that day comes, we can always remember 2012 as a milestone;  not only human exploration, but a stepping stone into the future of the U.S. space industry.

redOrbit.com
offers Science, Space, Technology, Health news, videos, images and
reference information. For the latest science news, space news,
technology news, health news visit redOrbit.com frequently. Learn
something new every day.\”


Source:


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.