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Writer Fuel: Start-Up Proposes Nuclear Space Tugs

space tugs - Pulsar Fusion

A U.K. start-up has shocked the space exploration community after unveiling plans to use a novel nuclear fusion propulsion system to power an orbital fleet of reusable “alien-like” rockets, known as Sunbirds, which the company says could revolutionize how we explore the solar system — and beyond. The technology behind this ambitious project will begin … Read more

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Writer Fuel: Four Tiny Earth-Like Planets Surround one of Our Nearest Neighbors

red dwarf and planet - deposit photos

A quartet of Earth-like worlds, each about 20% to 30% the size of our planet, circle one of our closest stellar neighbors, a new study reveals. The rocky alien worlds are close enough that future generations of humans may be able to visit them with futuristic rocket propulsion technology. However, it is unlikely that we … Read more

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Writer Fuel: A Black Hole the Size of 36 Billion Suns?

Cosmic Horseshoe Black Hole - NASA

Astronomers have discovered an enormous black hole the size of 36 billion suns lurking within the “Cosmic Horseshoe.” The behemoth object is one of the largest black holes ever detected. First discovered in 2007, the Cosmic Horseshoe is a system of two galaxies located in the constellation Leo. Images of the system show a halo … Read more

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Writer Fuel: New Study Sheds Light on Origin of Mars’ Red Color

Mars - Deposit Photos

We may have been wrong about how Mars got its characteristic red hue, a new study reveals. The Red Planet owes its ruddy complexion to rusted iron minerals, dispersed across billions of years by winds, throughout the planet’s dust. Past spacecraft observations of Martian dust led scientists to believe that this rust emerged in dry … Read more

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Writer Fuel: Did an Interstellar Visitor Warp the Course of Four of Our Planets?

solar system - deposit photos

A planet-size object that possibly once visited the solar system may have permanently changed our cosmic neighborhood by warping the orbits of the four outer planets, a new study suggests. The findings may shed light on why these planets’ paths have certain peculiar features. For decades, astronomers have debated how the solar system’s planets formed. … Read more

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Writer Fuel: Planned Chinese Solar Array in Space Could Capture More Energy Than All Oil On Earth

solar array in space - deposit photos

Chinese scientists have announced a plan to build an enormous, 0.6 mile (1 kilometer) wide solar power station in space that will beam continuous energy back to Earth via microwaves. The project, which will see its components lofted to a geostationary orbit above Earth using super-heavy rockets, has been dubbed “another Three Gorges Dam project … Read more

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Writer Fuel: Why Do Some Planets Have Hundreds of Moons?

moons - deposit photos

On Earth, you can look up at night and see the Moon shining bright from hundreds of thousands of miles away. But if you went to Venus, that wouldn’t be the case. Not every planet has a moon — so why do some planets have several moons, while others have none? I’m a physics instructor … Read more

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Writer Fuel: The Moon Had Active Volcanoes 2.8 Billion Years Ago

Nasa Moon Gravity Map

The first analysis of lava samples from the moon’s far side reveals that volcanoes were erupting there 2.8 billion years ago. The moon is tidally locked with Earth, meaning the same side always faces our planet. The far side is less explored than the near side. Only two landers, both from China, have made it … Read more

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Writer Fuel: The Wooden Satellite

wooden satellite - deposit photos

This new spaceflight tech has a very retro feel. The world’s first wooden satellite, a tiny Japanese spacecraft called LignoSat, arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday (Nov. 5) aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule. LignoSat measures just 4 inches (10 centimeters) on each side, but it could end up having a big … Read more

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Writer Fuel: Age of Moon’s Oldest Impact Site Finally Pinned Down

Moon's south pole impact basin - NASA/GSFC/University of Arizona

You don’t need a telescope to see that the moon is riddled with craters. For billions of years, our celestial neighbor has been absolutely bombarded by asteroids and comets, and the assault has left behind a heavily pockmarked lunar surface. The largest and oldest-known impact site on the moon is the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin, … Read more