Mankind could travel at 99% the speed of light thanks to this revolutionary engine
NASA engineer, David Burns, produced an engine concept that, he says, could theoretically accelerate to 99 percent of the speed of light.
The Brighter Side of News features good news, compassionate news and inspirational news from around the world
Sign up for the Brighter Side of News newsletter
Joseph Shavit
- Oct 23
Breakthrough rocket engine could travel at 99% the speed of light
When it comes to space, there's a problem with our human drive to go all the places and see all things. A big problem. It's, well, space.
Joseph Shavit
- Jul 19
What is space debris and what can humanity do about it?
How much debris is there in space? Currently, there are about 2,000 active satellites orbiting Earth, but there are also 3,000 dead ones.
Joshua Shavit
- Jul 17
A little piece of Washington state blasted into space this week
A tiny piece of rural Washington state—and some of its “inhabitants”— blasted off into space from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Joseph Shavit
- Jul 5
Bacteria for blastoff: Using microbes to make supercharged new rocket fuel
Researchers develop a totally new type of fuel that has projected energy density greater than the most advanced heavy-duty fuels used today.
Joseph Shavit
- Jul 2
Flying into space on a microwave-propelled rocket
A research team from Japan has investigated the viability of using such microwave-powered propulsion for real-world applications.
Joseph Shavit
- Feb 25
Low-power lasers could propel probes to the outer solar system
Traveling to Proxima Centauri b, the closest habitable planet to Earth, would require thousands of years with even the biggest rockets.
Joseph Shavit
- Dec 22, 2021
MIT Engineers Test An Idea For A New Hovering Rover
Aerospace engineers at MIT are testing a new concept for a hovering rover that levitates by harnessing the moon’s natural charge.
Joseph Shavit
- Nov 27, 2021
Plastic waste-powered rocket could sustainably take humanity to Mars
A nuclear fusion company with lofty aspirations around sustainable space travel, has test-fired a rocket engine powered by plastic waste.
Joseph Shavit
- Nov 8, 2021
To find life on other planets, NASA rocket team looks to the stars
A NASA sounding rocket will observe a nearby star to learn how starlight affects the atmospheres of exoplanets in the hunt for life.
Joseph Shavit
- Oct 28, 2021
Making Martian rocket biofuel on Mars
Researchers have developed a concept that would make rocket fuel on Mars, that could be used to launch future astronauts back to Earth.
Joseph Shavit
- Oct 8, 2021
NASA's Lucy mission: A journey to the young solar system
NASA's Lucy spacecraft will launch in October 2021 on a 12-year journey to Jupiter's Trojan asteroids and will include three gravity assists
Joseph Shavit
- Oct 7, 2021
Predicting harmful solar flares -- NASA rocket mission to measure the sun's magnetic field
Measuring a magnetic field isn't so hard if you're inside of it. Measuring a magnetic field remotely is an entirely different story.
Joseph Shavit
- Oct 1, 2021
Lunar landers could spray instant landing pads as they arrive at the moon
The retrograde rockets needed to land on the moon's surface will also kick dust and rock up into the air potentially damaging the lander.
Joshua Shavit
- Sep 24, 2021
NASA Introduces Radical Electric Propulsion System for Psyche Spacecraft
This form of propulsion starts with large solar arrays that convert sunlight into electricity, providing the power source for the spacecraft
Joseph Shavit
- Aug 28, 2021
Two experiments to help humans "go farther / stay longer" in space
When the Space X23 rocket launches to resupply the International Space Station, it will carry two experiments designed to sustain humans
Joseph Shavit
- Aug 28, 2021
Unveiling vehicles and technologies for future space transportation
FLPP oversees system studies and research activities to foster new and disruptive technologies which have the potential to reduce cost.
Joshua Shavit
- Aug 5, 2021
Microwave-powered rocket propulsion gets a boost
Researchers led by the University of Tsukuba explore the possibility of launching rockets using a high-power beam of microwave radiation.
Joseph Shavit
- Jul 18, 2021
New plasma rocket engine could propel astronauts to Mars and beyond
What should future spacecraft engines be able to do? One major goal would be for it to allow spacecraft to travel through the solar system