An annually held NASA program has chosen eight new concepts for funding. The program is aimed to inspire further space research. The chosen concepts will receive up to $500,000 of funding. Is NASA funding alien communication concepts? The space race to Mars is heating up. NASA is hoping to beat the rest of the world. And they just may succeed with the help of these newly funded projects. And of course with the help of SpaceX. NASA noted that each of these eight concepts has the ability to change the possible. The space agency is hoping to make space exploration easier. This would include Mars. And possibly a side mission for alien communication. Some of the concepts have a sci-fi futuristic feel. Concepts like a magnetic force field and deep sleep chamber for long space travel can be found in almost every space movie ever made.
Alien Rest Stops for Space Travel
To accommodate astronauts on long space journeys, NASA is funding a space rest stop concept. The Growth-Adapted Tensegrity Structures will essentially serve as resting points between Earth, and let’s say, Mars. This could be convenient for manned missions to Mars. Since a one-way trip to the Red Planet takes roughly 8 months. The starting point for these space-inspired rest stops will be aimed at the lunar orbit. This may serve as a meeting point for aliens as well. An alien needs to pee too, I think?
NASA Magnetic Force Field
If NASA hopes to land humans on Mars, it will need some help. Landing on the Red Planet is a challenging task. Maybe not for an alien UFO. But for us primitive humans, it could result in crashing. The Magnetoshell concept sounds like an X-Men accessory. However, it is an actual concept that came from someone’s brain. In theory, the Magnetoshell will act as a cushion between a spacecraft and Mars during landing. Could be useful for manned and unmanned missions.
Astronauts Dreaming of Mars
Astronauts could literally dream their entire journey to Mars with this next concept. The Vision System Torpor Habitat Design is aimed at keeping astronauts resting during long space hauls. This could significantly improve astronaut health while in space for such long durations. Many of us wish we could get paid to sleep for eight months and then land on Mars to colonize it. This sounds like a SpaceX project. Sleeping astronauts would significantly decrease alien contact, however.
Which new space concept are you excited about?
