Above the atmosphere is space. It’s called that because it has far fewer molecules, with lots of empty space between them.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel to outer space — and then keep going? What would you find? Scientists like me are able to explain a lot of what you’d see. But there are some things we don’t know yet, like whether space just goes on forever.

Planets, stars, and galaxies.

The recovery ships “Bob” and “Doug” are named after the first crew SpaceX launched for NASA.

SpaceX’s new recovery ships “Bob” and “Doug” sailed into Port Canaveral this month and are named for NASA astronauts.

Source: SpaceNews Date Published: 09/10/2021.

SpaceX is gearing up for its first purely commercial human spaceflight, but many details about the mission remain unclear.

Liquid-fuelled rocket engine design has largely followed a simple template since the development of the German V-2 rocket in the middle of World War 2. Propellant and oxidizer are mixed in a combustion chamber, creating a mixture of hot gases at high pressure that very much wish to leave out the back of the rocket, generating thrust.

However, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has recently completed a successful test of a different type of rocket, known as a rotating detonation engine. The engine relies on an entirely different method of combustion, with the aim to produce more thrust from less fuel. We’ll dive into how it works, and how the Japanese test bodes for the future of this technology.

The new launch window opens Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. EDT.