Welcome to our March special focus space edition, which explores a number of the solutions and innovations that are helping to keep our planet safe and functioning efficiently.
From the growing network of satellites quietly mapping the health of our planet to new generations of spacecraft propulsion promising faster and more efficient journeys, the space sector is a complex system of interconnected components working together to improve our planet and the lives of those who inhabit it.
An extensive map of the Galaxy
Leading the issue, we take a look at the European Space Agency’s Gaia science mission. Aiming to deepen our understanding of how the Milky Way functions and evolves, Gaia maps around 2 billion stars and other objects, creating an extensive data collection that allows us to extrapolate information about the entire Galaxy. To find out more, we spoke to Johannes Sahlmann, Project Scientist at ESA.
New innovations at NASA
Delving further into the logistics behind the missions, we spoke to NASA about the vast potential of plasma propulsion technology. Plasma propulsion uses electric and magnetic fields to ionise a propellant into plasma which is then accelerated to extremely high velocities, far exceeding chemical rockets. This solution offers a range of benefits for space missions, including increased efficiency and reduced costs. To find out how NASA is using plasma propulsion to improve its missions, we spoke to John W Dankanich, In-Space Transportation Systems Capability Lead at NASA.
A key focus for NASA at present is the launch of the Artemis II crewed lunar spaceflight mission. With preparations well underway and a launch date imminent, Christophe Bosquillon and Giuseppe Reibaldi from the Moon Village Association discuss the implications that a successful human return to the Moon could have for lunar exploration and beyond.
The future of space research
This is just a glimpse of the broad range of thought-provoking topics featured across our pages. As these pieces illustrate, the space sector is advancing at remarkable speed, driven by collaboration, scientific curiosity, and a shared commitment to solving challenges both on and beyond Earth. From mapping our Galaxy to developing the propulsion systems that will carry future missions deeper into space, the innovations highlighted in this edition demonstrate how space research continues to expand our knowledge while delivering tangible benefits for life on our own planet.
I hope you enjoy this special focus issue and find inspiration in the ideas, technologies, and ambitions shaping the future of space exploration.
Georgie Purcell
Editor
The Innovation Platform
Maddie Hall
Editor
The Innovation Platform
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