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spaceplane

Human Exploration

Virgin set to go Galactic?

Humans have been exploring mysterious lands and faraway civilizations for hundreds of years ever since they had the ability and knowledge to do so.  A curiosity and a desire to investigate the unknown has helped humans learn more about the world around us. Technology today has also developed to allow Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 yearsOctober 30, 2014 ago
Concept Spacecraft

XS-1: Spaceplane of the Future?

The good news first: a major aerospace contractor is researching how to build a reusable spaceplane that could dramatically cut the cost of accessing low Earth orbit. Now the bad news: it is purely for military users and cannot carry people.     Aerospace giant Northrop Grumman has won a Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 yearsAugust 20, 2014 ago
Human Exploration

Dreamchaser: Everything You Need to Know About the Mini-Shuttle

It is almost three years since NASA’s Space Shuttle program flew its last mission in July 2011, after providing a mode of transport into space for various crews over a 30 year career. The retired fleet of four orbiters (Challenger, Endeavour, Discovery and Atlantis) are now pride of place in Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 9 years ago
Human Exploration

Cleaning Up the Final Frontier

Our attempts to reach out into space and learn as much as we can about our Universe and also learn much more about the workings of our beautiful Blue Planet has come at a cost and the space agencies around the world have not ignored the growing space “graveyard” encompassing Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 10 yearsNovember 29, 2013 ago
Concept Spacecraft

Flying Saucers From NASA

Spacecraft with a lenticular design (that is, shaped like a biconvex lens) were actively studied by NASA and US industry in the late 1950s and early ‘60s. A craft of such a shape would experience lower heating on re-entry than a winged layout as the heat would be spread over Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsSeptember 10, 2012 ago
Rockets

Wings into Orbit: the Skylon Spaceplane Project

I’m sure you’ve heard the one:what do you get if you cross a sheep and a spacecraft?Or what about:what do you get if you cross a plane and a spaceship?Well to see if you come up with the same answers as me, read on… Over the years comic book illustrators Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsAugust 17, 2012 ago
X-37 artist impression
Rockets

X-37: Speculation, Secrets and Espionage?

The Boeing X-37, also called the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), is an unmanned American spacecraft.  Its first orbital mission was on 22 April 2010 returning back to Earth on 3 December 2010.  A second X-37 was launched on 5 March 2011 and has not yet returned to Earth at time Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsMay 10, 2012 ago
Rockets

Image of the Month: Rockets Then and Now

Once upon a time rockets were exciting symbols of a glorious and exciting future when everyone would get their chance to have a holiday on the Moon.  Well the future is now and the lunar resorts are still not here. Launch vehicles are another dull but necessary piece of civilisation’s Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 11 yearsMarch 9, 2012 ago
Rockets

Space Tourism: the Frightening Truth

Back in December 2009, with great fanfare, space tourism company Virgin Galactic unveiled the vehicles their fare-paying passengers will ride in as they ascend into space. Built by the Spaceship Company (a coventure of Virgin and that supremely adventurous aircraft manufacturer Scaled Composites), the pair are engineering marvels. The huge Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsOctober 6, 2011 ago
Colin Johnston

The Shuttle and Me

NASA’s final Shuttle flight is due this week, in this article Colin Johnston reveals what this historic space project has meant to him.   (This article is a sequel to Apollo and me which appeared in the July 2009 issue of Astronotes. It’s another indulgent wallow in shameless nostalgia so Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsJuly 7, 2011 ago
Concept Spacecraft

Nazis in Space: The Truth about Hitler’s Space Program

Has lurid fiction like the movie Iron Sky any basis in fact?  Everyone knows that WW2 Germany developed rockets far in advance of the Allies, but some argue that in 1945 the Third Reich was on the verge of developing a space program!   Ever since Adolf Hitler’s ‘Thousand Year’ Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsJune 23, 2011 ago
Image of C-1057 concept
Concept Spacecraft

10 Space Shuttles which never flew

NASA’s Space Shuttles have become a familar sight in their thirty years of service, but there have been other shuttle designs which never left the ground.Some were ingenious alternative concepts to the vehicle which is shortly to be retired, some were potential replacements and there was even a couple of Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsMay 12, 2011 ago
Image of shuttle from above
Human Exploration

Space Shuttle: A thirty year history of tragedy and triumph

This year will see both the end of space flights by NASA’s Shuttle fleet and the thirtieth anniversary of the first orbital mission by this historic spacecraft. Our coverage of these milestones begins with an overview of the project’s chequered history.   In the glory days of the Space Race, Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsApril 7, 2011 ago
Image of X-37
Rockets

X-37: Secrets of the Pentagon’s spaceship

X-37: a spaceplane developed in secret for classified missions in Earth orbit. It sounds like something from a Cold War techno-thriller novel but the United States Air force’s X-37B is a real project and it is flying today. Tracy McConnell reveals the truth. (For more up to date information on Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 12 yearsApril 5, 2011 ago
Rockets

Richard Branson’s SpaceShip Enterprise boldly goes

  Virgin Galactic, the space tourism company founded by Richard Branson, is celebrating the first glide test of its SpaceShipTwo spaceplane this weekend. Piloted by Pete Siebold and Mike Alsbury, the VSS Enterprise was released from its WhiteKnightTwo mothership at an altitude of 13.7km (45 000 ft) for a unpowered Read more…

By Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, 13 yearsOctober 11, 2010 ago
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RSS Intergalactic Craic
  • S3Ep4 - Wee Bitta Craic: Bout Ye Alice?
    This month is the final 'getting to know you' episode of Intergalactic Craic: Wee Bitta Craic. Ethan and Zuri interview Alice and ask her all about how she came to be doing her PhD at AOP. Find out this and more in this info packed episode!
  • S3Ep3 - Wee Bitta Craic: Bout Ye Ethan?
    In Wee Bitta Craic this month, Zuri and Alice ask Ethan all about his PhD and how he came to be at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium. Find out more about his research and laugh along as the guys have some more quality craic. If you love listening to our students, then you can help […]
  • S3Ep2 - Wee Bitta Craic: Bout Ye Zuri?
    In the latest Wee Bitta Craic episode, Alice and Ethan ask Zuri all about how she came to be at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium doing her PhD. Find out more about Zuri's journey to get to where she is today, and laugh along as the guys have quality banter. If you love listening to our […]
Welcome to Astronotes

Hello and welcome to Astronotes, the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s official blog. Here you will find the latest news and views from all those who work in our organisation, from the fascinating worlds of astronomy and space exploration. We hope you will come here to learn what is hot and exciting, profound or even weird from worlds beyond ours . So that's the introduction out of the way, now on with the Universe!

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