Starshade https://refractor.io/tag/starshade/ Starshade en-AU Wed, 26 Mar 2014 09:52:47 GMT JPL develops space flowers to help find Earth-like planets https://refractor.io/space/jpl-develops-space-flowers-to-help-find-earth-like-planets/ Starshade and its space telescope (Image: NASA)

Apparently NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, thinks that what space exploration in the 21st century needs is spacecraft that are a bit more botanical. The center has released a video showing off its starshade spacecraft that opens up like a blossom. Bearing a resemblance to a cosmic sunflower, it’s designed to help astronomers to directly study exoplanets, including taking the first actual pictures of planets beyond our Solar System.

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]]> Wed, 26 Mar 2014 09:52:47 GMT https://refractor.io/space/jpl-develops-space-flowers-to-help-find-earth-like-planets/ David Szondy