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Space Exploration

Starship could make its first orbital voyage in December thanks to SpaceX

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The initial test orbital flight of the Starship has previously been postponed numerous times.

The first test orbital flight of the Starship might occur as soon as next month. The information was disclosed by Mark Kirasich, a senior NASA official in charge of the Artemis moon program’s development, during a live-streamed NASA Advisory Council meeting. Reuters reported that Kirasich stated NASA keeps tabs on four significant Starship flights, the first of which is scheduled to take place in the first part of December.

According to the previously disclosed plans, SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility in Texas will serve as the launch site for the Starship spaceship and its Super Heavy launcher. Three minutes into the journey, the launcher will separate and splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, while the Starship vehicle itself will enter orbit before reentering the atmosphere and landing on the ocean close to Hawaii. The test flight’s total duration is anticipated by the business to be 90 minutes.

Since the middle of 2021, SpaceX has been planning Starship’s first orbital voyage, but it kept getting postponed for various technical and legal reasons. For instance, the environmental evaluation for the launch facility owned by the space business in Boca Chica was just just approved. Even so, the FAA demanded more than 75 adjustments from the corporation before approving a launch license for the site to lessen the impact of its flights on the environment.

The FAA will issue the business a launch license “only when SpaceX produces all outstanding information and the agency can fully review it,” a representative for the organization told Reuters. Prior to the flight, SpaceX must also carry out and pass further tests, including a static fire test of all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster, according to SpaceNews.

The Starship’s static fire test in July went horribly wrong when propellants under the booster caught fire. The company’s subsequent effort in August was successful, however only one Raptor engine was ignited on the Super Heavy. Starship also needs to go through a full wet dress rehearsal, which involves a rocket that is loaded with propellants going through the launch countdown but not really lifting off.

 

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Space Exploration

America is currently constructing two massive telescopes, but unfortunately, there is only enough funding to complete one of them

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Three enormous optical telescopes are currently being constructed, surpassing anything we currently possess in terms of size. These three discoveries have the potential to provide answers to some of the most profound mysteries of the universe, which have remained elusive to current scientific instruments. Nevertheless, the proposed budget cap from the National Science Foundation (NSF) jeopardizes one aspect of the equation.

Even though the JWST has uncovered incredible discoveries, the future of astronomy extends beyond just space exploration. Building larger telescopes on the ground offers several advantages over their space-based counterparts. Not only are they easier to repair, maintain, and upgrade, but they also provide greater flexibility for scientific exploration. Future plans include the development of a telescope on the Moon, along with a base.

Scientists have high expectations for several ambitious projects in the field of astronomy. These include the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), the Thirty-meter Telescope (TMT), and the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). Additionally, there are other telescopes, like the Square Kilometer Array, that operate at wavelengths beyond the range of human vision. Interestingly, all three of these telescopes are sometimes collectively referred to as extremely large telescopes. Despite the presence of the atmosphere, both options would provide significantly higher resolution than the JWST.

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However, a new proposal suggests eliminating one of the initial two options.

Collaboration is a key aspect of astronomy, with many individuals and organizations working together towards common goals. In this context, it may not be of great concern to some who will be responsible for building and owning certain projects. It is important to note that while the third project is a collaboration between European and South American nations, the TMT and GMT projects are both run by American organizations. That provides the ELT with a certain level of protection in the event of budget reductions. None of the consortium partners want to compromise their reputation by failing to fulfill their commitments. The work on the ELT began in 2017. Building something of this magnitude, which requires both size and precision, is a time-consuming process. As a result, the first light is anticipated to happen in 2028. Despite potential delays, there is little doubt that it will eventually occur.

Both the TMT and the GMT are American projects, with the latter being located in Chile. The funding for the GMT primarily comes from the USA’s NSF, with support from several universities and scientific institutions. Additionally, six other countries are also contributing to the project. The TMT project, although involving Indian, Japanese, and Canadian participation, originated at two California universities and is intended to be located in Hawaii.

However, the National Science Board, which advises the NSF, has suggested a limit of $1.6 billion for NSF funding for giant telescopes. That’s a lower cost compared to either of the two projected expenses individually, although considering the other factors, it should be sufficient for one.

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The statement issued by the board indicates that they have no intention of merely postponing the costs and waiting for additional funding. Furthermore, it suggests that the NSF should engage in a discussion with the Board in the upcoming May 2024 meeting regarding their strategy for choosing between the two potential telescopes to support. This discussion should encompass estimated costs and a timeline for the project.

There is a chance that the NSF might reject the recommendation, or even that Congress could allocate an additional billion and a half towards astronomy due to its perceived significance. So far, that is the current focus of each team’s representatives, at least publicly, instead of engaging in arguments about who should be given priority. It is unlikely that new funds will be available, especially considering the current political climate characterized by partisan conflicts that hinder budget allocations.

In theory, it is possible for other contributors to increase their shares. However, according to John O’Meara, the chief scientist at Keck Observatory, neither telescope currently has a viable future without investment from the NSF.

Scientists have been expressing their concern and highlighting the importance of both.

Others in different scientific fields may not be very understanding; they might even quietly make fun of those who expected to receive two new toys but had to settle for just one. However, the two instruments have been carefully crafted to function in perfect harmony. Every spot on our planet has its limitations when it comes to observing the sky. To achieve comprehensive coverage, it is necessary to have at least one instrument in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern Hemisphere. Every design has been optimized to enhance specific capabilities, with the expectation that other areas will be compensated by alternative designs.

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Upon initial observation, the TMT would seem to be the most reasonable choice. Given its location in the Northern Hemisphere, it has the potential to work in collaboration with the ELT. Additionally, a suggested location in the United States could provide a group of supporters to advocate for it.

Nevertheless, there has been discussion about relocating the TMT to the Canary Islands, a northern region under Spanish jurisdiction, due to the significant opposition it faces from Native Hawaiians. In addition, discarding either project would result in a significant loss of the funds invested thus far. The GMT, being more advanced than the TMT, would incur a greater financial setback.

There are numerous valuable applications for $1.5 billion, such as medical research to combat diseases, scientific endeavors addressing global crises, or even non-scientific pursuits. However, basic research has a rich history of yielding unforeseen benefits over time. Constructing both telescopes would result in an additional $5 in taxes for every American, not on an annual basis but as a one-time payment. Their total cost will be significantly lower than that of the JWST, and each one will have a much longer lifespan.

Allocating budgets can be a challenging task, especially when comparing the potential benefits, which vary greatly. In this situation, one must consider the value of knowledge for its own sake versus options that offer practical but uncertain payoffs. In contrast, the NSF may find it relatively easy to choose between two instruments with different, but overlapping, capacities.

 

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Space Exploration

SpaceX’s Starship has achieved a successful orbit and safely reentered the Earth’s atmosphere, ultimately disintegrating over the Indian Ocean

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The third test flight of Starship was a resounding success. The spacecraft and its booster were launched into space and achieved the primary objectives of this test. Although there were some deviations from the plan, it is worth noting that both components remained intact, which represents progress compared to the previous two flights.

A Starship was launched from SpaceX’s Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, at 8:26 am local time on March 14. This is the most distant and swiftest that Starship has ever flown. The objective of this experiment was to showcase the effective ascent burn of both the Starship and Super Heavy stages. Regarding Super Heavy, the team initially intended for a gentle splashdown. However, it seems that the descent was a bit too rapid, resulting in a forceful impact comparable to that of an F1 car colliding into the Gulf of Mexico.

Starship successfully entered into orbit and executed a series of complex maneuvers, demonstrating its capabilities in space. These included the precise opening and closing of its payload door, transferring propellant, and achieving the remarkable feat of relighting a Raptor engine while in space for the very first time.

Starship also experienced a failure towards the end, resulting in it burning up during reentry instead of executing a controlled splashdown. In this test, SpaceX did not have plans to recover either Super Heavy or Starship, despite their reusability as space vehicles.

 

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Space Exploration

Today marks SpaceX third attempt to launch the Starship, a highly anticipated event for space enthusiasts!

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Thursday, March 14 (Pi Day) has been chosen as the launch date for SpaceX Starship’s third attempt at a successful launch, flight, and return. This vehicle plays a crucial role in the success of the test, as it will serve as the landing system for the Artemis astronauts, enabling them to transition from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon.

Some achievements and major explosions
The initial launch occurred in April 2023, and it has been deemed a partial success. The Starship was intended to travel a portion of the Earth’s distance following its separation from the launch vehicle. However, the separation did not occur, prompting SpaceX to intentionally detonate the rocket in order to prevent it from deviating from its intended trajectory.

Many individuals believed that the launch was hurried due to the influence of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who was eager to make a humorous reference to cannabis regarding the launch, which took place on 4/20. Many people have noted that there were obvious safety precautions missing during the launch, which caused damage to Starbase. The launch platform suffered significant damage, with a chunk of concrete being blown out from beneath its orbital launch mount and debris falling in the surrounding area.

The second launch occurred in November, and it achieved a partial success, similar to the previous one. The Super Heavy Booster experienced an unfortunate explosion, which occurred subsequent to its separation from Starship. Regrettably, communication with Starship was severed after a mere 9 minutes, resulting in a catastrophic explosion of the onboard computers.

How can I observe the third launch of Starship?
Building on the knowledge gained from the previous two flight tests, the third one is set to push boundaries in terms of altitude and distance covered. The ship is scheduled to splash down in the Indian Ocean instead of near Hawai’i.

The live stream will be accessible on the SpaceX website and on X (formerly known as Twitter) and is anticipated to commence at 7:30 am ET (11:30 am GMT), followed by a launch 30 minutes later.

SpaceX is working towards showcasing the successful ascent burn of both stages—Starship and Super Heavy—along with the opening and closing of Starship’s payload door. They are interested in conducting a propellant transfer demonstration during the upper stage’s coast phase, along with attempting to re-light a Raptor engine while in space for the first time. Lastly, they are seeking a controlled reentry into Starship.

This is the largest and most powerful rocket ever constructed
The Starship upper stage and the Super Heavy first stage booster form an impressive combination, making them the largest and most powerful rocket ever constructed. When fully stacked, the entire setup stands at a towering height of 122 meters (400 feet), surpassing the height of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which measures 98 meters (322 feet) in total. The SLS has the potential to transport astronauts to lunar orbit and potentially even further destinations.

As a scientist, it is crucial to note that the achievement of Starship holds immense importance in NASA’s mission to send humans back to the Moon. SpaceX will utilize the rocket to transport astronauts to and from the Moon for the Artemis III and Artemis IV missions. The scheduled launch of Artemis III in 2026 is facing potential delays due to ongoing issues with the Starship spacecraft.

We eagerly anticipate the success of the launch, as witnessing a moon landing would be truly remarkable. Do you believe it will be able to fly?

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