Hubble in the crosshairs
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Is Russian developing an airborne laser anti-satellite weapon? Dwayne Day examines the history of a curious Russian aircraft that may be fitted with a laser, and its implications for a potential ASAT arms race.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1865/1
Skylon: ready for takeoff?
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The British Skylon RLV concept has received some recent attention after an ESA study found no showstoppers with its design. Jeff Foust explores the work on Skylon performed to date and identifies some challenges, both engineering and business, that it has yet to overcome.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1864/1
The irreplaceable Space Shuttle
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After next month's launch of Atlantis, the Space Shuttle program will come to an end. Taylor Dinerman looks back on what the shuttle did and did not achieve.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1863/1
Roswell that ends well, part 2
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Dwayne Day follows up on a critique of a new book about Ares 51 with an analysis of the research that went into that book, and the flaws associated with it.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1862/1
If you missed it, here's what we published in our previous issue:
Human spaceflight for less: the case for smaller launch vehicles, revisited
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As NASA, Congress, and industry debate what the new Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket should be, some argue that such a rocket isn't necessary at all. Grant Bonin makes the case for exploration architectures that use larger numbers of smaller, less expensive rockets.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1861/1
New strategies for exploration and settlement
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For many space advocates, space settlement has long been the ultimate goal of spaceflight, but one that has seen little progress in the last few decades. Jeff Foust reports on two recent speeches that offer similar, if slightly differing, takes on new approaches that could make settlement a reality.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1860/1
Bring home the sample
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A Mars sample return mission remains a high priority for scientists, but one that is technically and financially difficult to carry out. Lou Friedman discusses the importance of sample return and the role that international cooperation can play to further it.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1859/1
NASA's new robot challenge
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Draft rules for a new NASA prize competition involving sample return technology were quietly released last month. Ben Brockert reviews the rules and discusses some potential issues with the planned competition.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1858/1
The last shuttle crew
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Next month the final shuttle mission will lift off with a four-person crew. Anthony Young reflects on this final crew and the future of human spaceflight.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1857/1
Until next week,
Provided by This Week in The Space Review
