Sunday Space Reads
Because we all need a little space on Sunday.
In the expanse of Chile’s Atacama Desert, a colossal dome towers high above the sand, reminiscent of something from a Frank Herbert novel. This is the world’s largest telescope, which is preparing for its 2028 debut. And because the space community can’t always be creative with its acronyms, the project is known as the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). That it is…that it is.
To minimize the risk of space junk collisions, satellite operators are told to send retired spacecraft to their fiery death at the threshold of Earth’s atmosphere. But this method of satellite disposal is not without its own risks. The MIT Technology Review examines a study of how satellite ash might affect the ozone.
As it turns out, the number 21 does not only represent the age of your first legal mojito – it also characterizes a very special radio wavelength. Why is the "21-cm signal" so special? It’s less affected by the universe’s expansion compared to visible light and can hence reveal previously diluted details about the early universe.
This edition of Sunday Space Reads is brought to you by the Space Resources program at the Colorado School of Mines.
The COVID-19 pandemic is still rearing its ugly head when it comes to the supply chain, and the US defense industry is tired of waiting. But beyond hardware delays, the Space Development Agency (SDA) explains its efforts around sourcing its software locally, as foreign writers could pose a national security risk.
Sometimes, it’s hard to let things go. In the case of NASA’s Genesis spacecraft, which collected samples of solar wind particles before crashing in 2004, researchers were not willing to give up on potential scientific discoveries. It only took twenty years of sorting through the rubble to finally unearth data “not just on solar wind, but space weathering and how things change due to the radiation damage,” according to one of the project scientists.
Speaking of not letting things go, NASA engineers have spent nearly a year studying the crash of Ingenuity, the agency’s helicopter surveyor of the Red Planet. Finally, we have some answers on what went down.
To round us out this weekend, please enjoy this space-themed virtual fireplace to throw up on your television screen at your next holiday gathering. Because burning wood is far too rustic for the 21st century, these flames come from NASA’s SLS engines. It’s a great backup gig, anyway, if Starship swoops in to take the rocket’s Artemis glory.
Sunday Space Jam:
This edition of Sunday Space Reads is also supported by the Open Lunar Foundation. Open Lunar's work sets precedents, creates pathways, and builds projects that enable a peaceful, cooperative lunar presence. Learn more about Open Lunar's work by joining their upcoming events.
