Author Archives: asteitel

About asteitel

Space historian, blogger, and writer.

Landings and Launches

Posted on April 5, 2011

Landing a spacecraft isn’t easy, especially when you’re landing on another planet. Aside from the challenges of a remote landing (i.e. landing without astronauts on board) are the challenges presented by the target planet’s environment.  Mars is a great example. … Continue reading →

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Not exactly Rocket Science

Posted on March 13, 2011

Before computers could generate predictions of how various spacecraft designs would fare, say, during a fiery reentry from space, NASA used some more basic methods. In selecting the ultimate design for the Mercury capsule, engineers used now-antiquated techniques. They dropped … Continue reading →

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The Space Shuttle Era, Winding Down

Posted on February 27, 2011

The space shuttle Discovery is currently on its final mission. Only two more flight remain for the shuttle program as a whole – it will, in all likelihood, be finished by the end of the year. NASA anticipated great things … Continue reading →

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Old Concepts of Life on Venus and Mars

Posted on February 14, 2011

I’ve recently posted about the pre-space age exploration of Venus and Mars. Both planets have an interesting history in the larger picture of man’s  understanding of the cosmos. The Victorian era is especially interesting – telescopes could discern surface features and increased knowledge of … Continue reading →

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A Second Earth, Cosmonauts, and a Podcast

Posted on February 3, 2011

If you thought the proposals for a one-way trip to Mars were bizarre, what about proposals to terraform Mars – to turn it into a second Earth? More science fiction than fact? Perhaps. But the Canadian Terraforming Society has a … Continue reading →

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A One-Way Ticket to Mars?

Posted on January 25, 2011

Men have long been fascinated with Mars. Historically, it has been thought of as a dead world, a planet teeming with life, as well as a dying world with little left save the vestiges of an intelligent and cooperative civilization. … Continue reading →

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Sailors, Ships, and Splashdowns

Posted on January 14, 2011

I’ve previously posted on some of the main reasons why splashdowns were not a long-term solution to the problem of how to bring men home from space. One of the factors that incited NASA to pursue a land landing system … Continue reading →

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Two Sides of the X-15

Posted on January 10, 2011

I recently published a two-part post exploring the X-15′s dual nature. It was at once the first space plane and a research aircraft. First proposed in 1954, the X-15 program’s primary goal was to gather data on the aerodynamics, structural … Continue reading →

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Of Machines and Men

Posted on December 14, 2010

I recently published a post about the qualities that make up the perfect astronaut – the most physically and mentally fit men were the desired qualities of America’s first astronauts. The “strapping young Presbyterian lad” is certainly not the ideal … Continue reading →

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Landings, NASA, and the Soviet Space Program

Posted on December 2, 2010

After publishing my previous post about NASA’s choice of using exclusively splashdowns landings during the space race, I realized that I had only told half the story. Part of what makes the NASA “splashdown v. land landing” story an interesting … Continue reading →

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