Scientific Adventures: SpaceX and Blue Origin are going to infinity, and beyond
Just because it was winter holidays
for students doesn’t mean the
world of science took a break as
well. Here is what you may have
missed while you were busy with
turkey dinners and too many desserts
to count.
New elements confirmed
Four new elements were officially introduced into the periodic table by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
Releasing a press statement on Dec. 30, the federation responsible for upholding chemical naming standards stated the seventh row of the periodic table of elements had been filled by elements 113, 115,117 and 118.
Element 113 was discovered by Japanese scientists, while 115, 117 and 118 were found by a joint Russian- U.S. research team.
The elements were made when the nucleus of lighter elements were slammed together, resulting in stable new elements. Research will now focus on the isotopes that emerged after the elements broke down, or decayed.
Now that IUPAC has officiated the elements, it’s up to the original researchers to determine a name, who can choose from a number of categories including mythological concepts, minerals, places and even scientists’ names. For now though, the world welcomes ununtrium, ununpentium, ununseptium and ununoctium.
InSight to remain grounded
NASA has determined the In- Sight probe that was to be launched towards Mars in March 2016 will have to be delayed until at least 2018. The probe will eventually be sent to measure the crusts past and present composition, as well as any possible changes to the Martian interior including lava flows and seismic events.
The Interior exploration using Seismic Investigations Geodesy and Heat Transport lander was grounded on Dec. 22 after its Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) seismometer failed to withstand sub-zero temperatures.
A vacuum seal is required for the instruments three main sensors to continue working with extreme precision while enduring Mars’ average negative 50 degrees Celsius nights. The instrument failed because it was only being tested at negative 45 degrees Celsius.
The December test was required after a previous leak was found earlier in 2015. Now, officials have decided there wasn’t enough time to fix the instrument while completing the remaining work and safety checks before their March 30 deadline.
Mars and Earth line up for the complex manoeuvres required when launching rockets between the two planets every 26 months, even then the perfect window only lasts a few weeks. This year that window ends March 30, too close for NASA’s comfort.
Despite the setback, more time can now be taken to rigorously test the SEIS module and the rest of InSight before the next anticipated launch window in 2018.
Billionaires’ rocket club has first feud
Back in November, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket successfully launched 100.5 kilometres upwards to the edge of space, into the Kármán Line, where space begins.
On top of the rocket, was a capsule designed to carry passengers. Eleven minutes after the rocket was launched, the capsule returned back to Earth with the help of parachutes.
The operation is significant to the space travelling community because it marks a successful step to send humans to space in a reusable rocket.
This successful mission took the highly coveted title out of another billionaire’s hands, Elon Musk.
After his rocket company SpaceX had tried to land their Falcon 9 first stage booster on ocean barges and failed twice, there were some heated tweets between the two billionaires. Finally, Musk decided enough was enough.
On Dec. 21, SpaceX went and achieved the same feat as Blue Origin, albeit with a much more impressive show.
The Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched, streaking past the Kármán Line and delivered a payload of 11 Orbcomm satellites into low earth orbit, and returned to earth’s surface in a successful landing, taking the title out of Origin’s hands.
Musk has stated the booster is ready for ground tests after being looked over for damage, and hasn’t completely ruled out the option of launching the historic vehicle again.
While both Musk and Bezos were taking swipes at each other over who “won”, many scientists have pointed out the success of both isn’t comparable.
While Blue Origin is meant for four-minute weightlessness tourism, SpaceX is focusing on sending humans into orbit for extended periods of time. Despite the difference, it’s safe to say humanity’s about to enter a whole new era of space travel.
Between brand new elements and a billionaire space race, last year was a blast – but 2016 is sure to be teeming with exciting scientific discoveries.
New elements confirmed
Four new elements were officially introduced into the periodic table by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
Releasing a press statement on Dec. 30, the federation responsible for upholding chemical naming standards stated the seventh row of the periodic table of elements had been filled by elements 113, 115,117 and 118.
Element 113 was discovered by Japanese scientists, while 115, 117 and 118 were found by a joint Russian- U.S. research team.
The elements were made when the nucleus of lighter elements were slammed together, resulting in stable new elements. Research will now focus on the isotopes that emerged after the elements broke down, or decayed.
Now that IUPAC has officiated the elements, it’s up to the original researchers to determine a name, who can choose from a number of categories including mythological concepts, minerals, places and even scientists’ names. For now though, the world welcomes ununtrium, ununpentium, ununseptium and ununoctium.
InSight to remain grounded
NASA has determined the In- Sight probe that was to be launched towards Mars in March 2016 will have to be delayed until at least 2018. The probe will eventually be sent to measure the crusts past and present composition, as well as any possible changes to the Martian interior including lava flows and seismic events.
The Interior exploration using Seismic Investigations Geodesy and Heat Transport lander was grounded on Dec. 22 after its Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) seismometer failed to withstand sub-zero temperatures.
A vacuum seal is required for the instruments three main sensors to continue working with extreme precision while enduring Mars’ average negative 50 degrees Celsius nights. The instrument failed because it was only being tested at negative 45 degrees Celsius.
The December test was required after a previous leak was found earlier in 2015. Now, officials have decided there wasn’t enough time to fix the instrument while completing the remaining work and safety checks before their March 30 deadline.
Mars and Earth line up for the complex manoeuvres required when launching rockets between the two planets every 26 months, even then the perfect window only lasts a few weeks. This year that window ends March 30, too close for NASA’s comfort.
Despite the setback, more time can now be taken to rigorously test the SEIS module and the rest of InSight before the next anticipated launch window in 2018.
Billionaires’ rocket club has first feud
Back in November, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket successfully launched 100.5 kilometres upwards to the edge of space, into the Kármán Line, where space begins.
On top of the rocket, was a capsule designed to carry passengers. Eleven minutes after the rocket was launched, the capsule returned back to Earth with the help of parachutes.
The operation is significant to the space travelling community because it marks a successful step to send humans to space in a reusable rocket.
This successful mission took the highly coveted title out of another billionaire’s hands, Elon Musk.
After his rocket company SpaceX had tried to land their Falcon 9 first stage booster on ocean barges and failed twice, there were some heated tweets between the two billionaires. Finally, Musk decided enough was enough.
On Dec. 21, SpaceX went and achieved the same feat as Blue Origin, albeit with a much more impressive show.
The Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched, streaking past the Kármán Line and delivered a payload of 11 Orbcomm satellites into low earth orbit, and returned to earth’s surface in a successful landing, taking the title out of Origin’s hands.
Musk has stated the booster is ready for ground tests after being looked over for damage, and hasn’t completely ruled out the option of launching the historic vehicle again.
While both Musk and Bezos were taking swipes at each other over who “won”, many scientists have pointed out the success of both isn’t comparable.
While Blue Origin is meant for four-minute weightlessness tourism, SpaceX is focusing on sending humans into orbit for extended periods of time. Despite the difference, it’s safe to say humanity’s about to enter a whole new era of space travel.
Between brand new elements and a billionaire space race, last year was a blast – but 2016 is sure to be teeming with exciting scientific discoveries.
