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2 years ago

Travel to Exotic Destinations in our Galaxy!

The planets beyond our solar system – exoplanets – are so far away, often trillions of miles, that we don’t have the technology to truly see them. Even the best photos show the planets as little more than bright dots. We’ve confirmed more than 5,000 exoplanets, but we think there are billions. Space telescopes like Hubble aren’t able to take photos of these far-off worlds, but by studying them in different wavelengths of light (colors), we’ve learned enough about conditions on these planets that we can illustrate them.

A travel poster for the exoplanet 55 Cancri e. This bright, colorful poster is done in pinks, purples and orange hues. Two people are seen floating in a giant bubble behind a craft zooming across an ocean of hot lava. The purplish sky is filled with thick clouds of darker purples and grays with sparkles shining throughout. A planet appears in the sky like a crescent moon. The poster says, ‘’Lava life: Skies sparkle above a neverending ocean of lava.’’

We know, thanks to the now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope, that there is a thick atmosphere on a planet called 55 Cancri e about 40 light-years away. And Hubble found silicate vapor in the atmosphere of this rocky world. We also know it’s scorching-close to its Sun-like star, so … lava. Lots and lots of lava. This planet is just one of the many that the James Webb Space Telescope will soon study, telling us even more about the lava world!

You can take a guided tour of this planet (and others) and see 360-degree simulations at our new Exoplanet Travel Bureau.

Travel to the most exotic destinations in our galaxy, including:

Kepler-16b, a planet with two suns.

A vintage looking travel poster shows a human figure from behind, standing beneath two big and bright suns. The smaller one of the pair is bright orange and the larger one is yellowish white. The person is casting two shadows because of the two stars. The person is looking toward rock formations that look like those found in the Southwest US. The poster is done in red, orange and white colors and says, ‘’Relax on Kepler-16b, where your shadow always has company.’’

Then there’s PSO J318.5-22, a world with no sun that wanders the galaxy alone. The nightlife would never end on a planet without a star.

A travel poster for the exoplanet PSO J318.5-22 shows a man and a woman in the foreground in futuristic party clothes and elegant space helmets. Behind them is a giant planet with advanced looking technology and hardware on spaceships floating nearby. A group of partygoers are behind the man and the woman and all are standing on an outside deck like the ones seen surrounding the background spaceships. All of the partygoers are in fancy dresses, tuxedos and slim space helmets. The text on the poster says, ‘’Visit the planet with no star. PSO PSO J318.5-22, where the nightlife never ends.’’

TRAPPIST-1e, which will also be studied by the Webb Space Telescope, is one of seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a star about 40 light-years from Earth. It’s close enough that, if you were standing on this exoplanet, you could see our Sun as a star in the Leo constellation! You can also see it on the poster below: look for a yellow star to the right of the top person’s eye.

A travel poster for the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1e. A woman and children are gathered around a train window looking out excitedly. Through the window you can see six large exoplanets in the sky like giant moons. The inside of the train car is dark to better show the view outside, where everything is bathed in the red light from its red dwarf star. The sky is also filled with stars including the three-star line of Orion and the Leo constellation, which contains our yellow sun as a star. The poster says, ‘’Planet hop to TRAPPIST-1e, voted number1 habitable zone vacation spot.’’

We haven’t found life beyond Earth (yet) but we’re looking. Meanwhile, we can imagine the possibility of red grass and other plants on Kepler-186f, a planet orbiting a red dwarf star.

A travel poster for the exoplanet Kepler-186f shows two humans standing amid abundant plant life. There are trees and grasses, most of them colored red. There is also grass colored green. The two people stand in front of a white picket fence that cuts across the poster that says, ‘’Kepler-186f, where the grass is always redder on the other side.’’

We can also imagine what it might be like to skydive on a super-Earth about seven times more massive than our home planet. You would fall about 35% faster on a super-Earth like HD 40307g, making for a thrilling ride!

A travel poster for the exoplanet HD 40307g shows a skydiver high above a blue planet. It says, ‘’Experience the gravity of a super earth.’’ The poster is done in greens, blues and yellows. The blue sky is peeking out behind jagged gradients of yellow. The skydiver is wearing a futuristic suit with a parachute on their back. There are gradients of yellow colors surrounding the giant planet with streaks of light streaming toward the planet.

Any traveler is going to want to pick up souvenirs, and we have you covered. You can find free downloads of all the posters here and others! What are you waiting for? Come explore with us!

A traveler is seen on a travel poster for the first exoplanets. The person is sitting at a table covered in postcards overlooking a window filled with a view of a star filled sky. One of the postcards says 51 Pegasi b, which was the first exoplanet discovered orbiting a sun-like star. The poster says, ‘’Greetings from your first exoplanet.’’

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Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A Beginner’s Guide to Sustainable Aviation

Do you dream of catching a short flight between cities or journeying across the globe? The aviation industry currently makes up 2-3% of all carbon emissions, but the shift toward electric and hybrid aircraft will help tackle climate change and minimize the environmental impacts of commercial aviation.

Sustainable flight will revolutionize the way we travel. From battery-powered aircraft that reduce fuel consumption, to new lightweight materials that can improve safety and efficiency during flight, here are a few important things to know about the world of sustainable aviation, and what it takes to make air travel cleaner and safer for our planet.

What is Electrified Aircraft Propulsion?

A Beginner’s Guide To Sustainable Aviation

Similar to electric or hybrid-electric cars, sustainable aircraft designs feature electric powertrain systems – the system of components that help propel an aircraft during flight – to help reduce fuel use and emissions. Electrified Aircraft Propulsion (EAP) systems let aircraft work using electric motors, and alternative fuels, rather than relying solely on traditional jet engines burning fossil fuels. At NASA, we’re developing innovative EAP technologies ranging from advanced electric machines designed to increase power and performance to new aircraft materials developed to minimize weight and reduce fuel usage.

What are the challenges with electrifying flight?

Unlike electric vehicles on the ground, electrified aircraft face greater challenges when managing weight and heat while they’re running. In order to ensure maximum efficiency and safety, aircraft components must be designed with minimal weight to help reduce the amount of drag slowing the plane down and causing excess fuel burn. Electrified aircraft must also have advanced thermal management systems to help transfer heat effectively, and ensure onboard systems are kept cool to avoid damage.

Our research and development of EAP technologies offer innovative solutions to these challenges. Designed to keep weight at a minimum, aircraft components such as the High Efficiency Megawatt Motor feature advanced technology that enable increased power and efficiency with three times less heat loss and weight than traditional aircraft motors. New material technologies such as electrical insulation also help transport heat more effectively to minimize heat buildup and are made of lightweight materials to ensure efficiency at high altitudes.

What are the benefits of sustainable aviation?

From an environmental perspective, aircraft electrification offers unique opportunities to lower global emissions and minimize reliance on fossil fuels. The introduction of hybrid- or fully electric aircraft will significantly reduce overall fuel consumption by generating power and thrust via electricity and electric motors. Lightweight EAP systems and components can also help improve aircraft efficiency and reduce fuel burn, while using non-conventional, alternative fuels can help reduce harmful emissions. From an economic standpoint, EAP technologies could help strengthen commercial airliner markets with aircraft designed for around 180 passengers. Green technologies can also benefit both airline companies and you when you fly by potentially reducing aircraft maintenance and in-flight energy costs, making air travel more affordable.

When will sustainable flight take off?

To help turn visions of eco-friendly air travel into reality, we’re teaming up with industry to test EAP technologies on aircraft and introduce them to the U.S. commercial aviation fleet no later than 2035.

Under our Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project, we will conduct ground and flight tests using existing aircraft modified with EAP systems to assist in transitioning these technologies into commercial products. Flight demonstrations will also enable us to identify key risks and barriers associated with integrating new EAP systems into commercial airliners and develop new standards for future EAP aircraft as they take to the skies within the next decade.

There you have it: a quick glimpse into the world of sustainable aviation, and the shift towards keeping our skies cleaner and safer. As we embark on this journey, climb aboard and stay up to date on our latest technology developments and future flight demonstrations.

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