In the latest space science news, developments from Blue Origin, China’s manned space program, and ATLAS comet are making headlines.
Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, has announced that the maiden flight of its New Glenn rocket will be delayed until the fourth quarter of 2022. Previously, the launch was planned for 2021. This delay is attributed to the loss of a significant military contract. The rocket, named after astronaut John Glenn, is a reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to carry people and payloads to low Earth orbit and beyond. The New Glenn is a crucial part of Blue Origin’s ambition to create a future where millions of people can live and work in space.
In other news, China’s manned space program has seen a significant triumph as three astronauts returned safely to Earth after a 90-day mission aboard the Tiangong space station. This mission marks China’s longest manned space flight to date and is a significant step towards the country’s goal of establishing a long-term human presence in space. The astronauts conducted a series of technical tests, maintenance, and spacewalks during their stay at the space station. The successful completion of this mission will pave the way for more crewed missions in the future, gradually increasing the duration of stay and the complexity of tasks performed.
Meanwhile, astronomers were taken by surprise when a previously unknown “other” ATLAS, also known as ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System), exploded. ATLAS is a system of high-resolution telescopes that scan the sky for near-Earth objects. The explosion of this “other” ATLAS, which was an outburst of a comet, was unexpected as comets are typically very stable. The ATLAS project, funded by NASA, has discovered more than 40 new comets since its initiation in 2015. It uses powerful telescopes to detect small objects that approach Earth, with a primary goal to provide an early warning system for potential catastrophic impacts.
These updates highlight the ongoing advances in space science and exploration, reflecting continued global interest and investment in this field. As space exploration technologies continue to evolve, we can expect further exciting news about our understanding and exploration of the cosmos.
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