Spaceflight Insider

News Archive / Author: Mackenzie Kane

Mackenzie Kane is currently working towards receiving her Bachelors degree in Planetary Sciences and Physics at the Florida Institute of Technology. For the past several years, Kane's area of active research has been with NASA's Kepler Space Telescope mission and its search for extrasolar planets. Kane has a deep love of learning about the mysteries that space holds through the ever-growing technology that is launched into orbit. My goal upon graduation is to continue writing about the exciting research and technology furthering our presence in space and delivering it to the public in easily accessible ways. Kane was accepted as the second intern from Florida Tech to write for SpaceFlight Insider and our outlet will now work to provide her with access and experience.

Articles By Mackenzie Kane

  • Orion update: progress and setbacks in February 2017

    March 13th, 2017

    NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Hensel Phelps Construction Co. successfully completed the modifications to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in early February, making room for the new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

  • Orion update for January 2017

    January 18th, 2017

    Before the end of 2016, progress on NASA's Orion capsule for Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) took some significant leaps forward. The coming year looks to be no different – with the crew-rated spacecraft being prepared for its first flight atop SLS.

  • Orion mission update for October 2016

    November 4th, 2016

    The idea of a humans setting foot on Mars within the next 15 years has never seemed more possible. Elon Musk and SpaceX have revealed their plan to make humans a "multiplanetary species" by the 2020s. This set the stage for scientists and engineers to continue to develop the technologies needed to get to the Red Planet. The Orion spacecraft is one of them.

  • A first look at Jupiter through the eyes of Juno

    October 29th, 2016

    As NASA’s Kepler spacecraft has taught us, finding planets around other stars is not uncommon – it is actually expected. However, what continues to puzzle scientists to this day is how the Solar System formed with terrestrial planets closest to the Sun and icy gas giants farther away, separated by an asteroid belt of planetary debris.

  • We Are Go Florida – Becoming a Vacationaut

    October 25th, 2016

    When your average family or traveler finds their way to the Sunshine State, their first thoughts are, typically, which theme park to tackle first, or which beaches to visit before returning home. But what if there was something just as awe-inspiring as an immense theme park or white sandy beaches?

  • Orion Mission Update for September 2016

    October 1st, 2016

    CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — As NASA’s Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) approaches, its science and technology are being tested and prepared across the country. EM-1 is set to launch the Orion capsule aboard the new Space Launch System (SLS) out past the Moon, crewless, for systems testing.

  • Our SpaceFlight Heritage: JWST – the once and future thing

    September 18th, 2016

    Conceived in 1989 by the Space Telescope Science Institute and backed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the Next Generation Space Telescope, predecessor to the James Webb Space Telescope, was to succeed the Hubble Space Telescope. The journey that the JWST would take has been a long and winding one.