Deep Space & Spaceflight Technologies

Deep space research is the branch of science, astronautics and outer space research which is engaged in exploring the remote areas of space. But, there’s little agreement on the exact meaning of “remote”. In some contexts, it’s used to describe giant vacuums beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. In other contexts, it refers to a region where there are no visible objects to our eyes or even detectable gases floating around. It could also mean an area where we may someday find alien life forms.

The ultimate aim of deep space exploration is to seek out life forms in the unknown and possibly to establish contact with alien beings. Some of the technologies that are being used in today’s deep space exploration can be applied in future missions to the Moon, Mars, and the asteroid belt. Some notable technologies that have been developed are the use of robotic and manned probes to explore these remote space resources and the utilization of technology for propulsion by solar and/or wind power. Although all this sounds like science fiction, many scientists are looking forward to studying such possibilities in the next decade or so. There is much interest in the prospects for finding life in our cosmic backyard and there’s no telling what might be discovered.

One emerging theory concerning the search for life in the deep space environment surrounds the idea of using solar and/or wind power to propel a probe to these remote regions. If successful, this would represent one of the key technologies for reaching and staying in a place where it was necessary to use up precious cargo space, launch and repair. The prospects for the next ten years will be particularly exciting as this technology is developed, tested and begins to be put to use. It has been said that NASA may be able to send people to Mars by 2040.