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The seventh test flight of SpaceX’s Starship rocket ended with an explosion over the Atlantic Ocean, as confirmed by sources. Launched from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas on January 16, 2025, the 403-foot-tall spacecraft marked another significant step in SpaceX’s efforts to advance reusable rocket technology. The test featured successful stage separation and a return of the first-stage booster, Super Heavy, which was safely caught by the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms in a controlled descent. However, communication with the upper stage was lost roughly eight minutes into the flight, leading to its eventual disintegration.

Details of the Incident

As per a report by Space.com, the upper stage, known as Ship, exploded over the Atlantic Ocean near the Turks and Caicos Islands approximately 8.5 minutes after launch. Visuals of the event, described by witnesses as a dramatic sky show, were shared widely across social media platforms, adding to the visibility of the anomaly. SpaceX referred to the explosion as a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” and stated that data from the test would be analysed to identify the root cause.

Statements and Outcomes

In a statement issued on X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX noted that while the upper stage failed, valuable insights were gained from the test. Emphasis was placed on improving the reliability of Starship in future iterations. Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX, has consistently highlighted the importance of learning through frequent testing, an approach that has been fundamental to the company’s progress.

This flight also marked a second successful recovery of the Super Heavy booster using the “chopstick” system, following the initial demonstration during Flight 5 in October 2024. The development of such recovery methods remains central to SpaceX’s goal of creating fully reusable launch systems for both stages.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to review the flight data, with future launches aimed at addressing identified issues as per reports by space.com. The incident underscores the challenges inherent in developing new space technologies while demonstrating significant milestones in the ongoing advancement of the Starship programme.

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Science

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Successfully Reaches Orbit on First Flight

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January 18, 2025

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Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Successfully Reaches Orbit on First Flight

Blue Origin achieved a significant milestone with the maiden launch of its New Glenn rocket. The vehicle lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 2:03 a.m. EST on January 16, 2025. Designed as a reusable orbital-class rocket, it marked a pivotal moment for the company’s ambitions in the spaceflight sector. The mission’s primary goal of reaching orbit was successfully accomplished approximately 12.5 minutes after launch, marking a significant achievement for the NG-1 test flight.

About the New Glenn Rocket

According to reports from Blue Origin, as reported by space.com, The New Glenn rocket, which is 320 feet tall, represents years of development. Initially targeted for a 2020 debut, its timeline was extended due to delays in producing its BE-4 first-stage engines. Blue Origin highlighted that the rocket’s reusable first stage underwent rigorous testing during this launch, including an attempt to land on a recovery ship named Jacklyn in the Atlantic Ocean. Although the booster did not successfully land, it executed planned reentry burns, providing valuable data for future missions.

Capabilities and Future Missions

The rocket is engineered to carry payloads of up to 50 tons to low Earth orbit. Comparisons are frequently drawn between New Glenn and SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, with the latter boasting a slightly higher payload capacity. New Glenn’s reusability, aimed at up to 25 launches per booster, is expected to enhance cost efficiency.

As reported by space.com, Blue Origin has secured contracts with NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and private telecommunications companies. Among its upcoming missions is the deployment of Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband satellites. NASA has also scheduled its ESCAPADE Mars mission for 2025 aboard New Glenn, contingent on the rocket proving reliable.

Test Payload Validated

On this flight, a prototype of Blue Origin’s Blue Ring spacecraft was carried to validate key communication and tracking technologies. This system is being developed under the Defense Innovation Unit’s Orbital Logistics Program to transport payloads to various orbits. The launch has been described by Blue Origin as a critical step towards expanding its role in commercial and governmental space missions.

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The Future of Armour? New Chainmail-Like Material Shows Promise

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January 18, 2025

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The Future of Armour? New Chainmail-Like Material Shows Promise

A new two-dimensional (2D) material that combines exceptional strength with flexibility has been created by a team led by Northwestern University. Described as resembling interlinked chainmail, this innovative material is lightweight and holds potential for applications such as advanced body armour and other high-performance uses. The breakthrough is credited to the development of a scalable polymerisation process that creates densely packed mechanical bonds, reportedly achieving a record-breaking 100 trillion mechanical bonds per square centimetre.

Structure and Development Process

According to the research published in Science, this material is the first of its kind—a 2D mechanically interlocked polymer. The team utilised X-shaped monomers, arranging them in a crystalline structure to facilitate the formation of mechanical bonds. William Dichtel, Robert L. Letsinger Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University, noted in a statement, as reported by phys.org, that this novel polymer structure offers unique resistance to tearing.

He explained that the material can dissipate applied forces in various directions due to the freedom of movement within its mechanical bonds. Madison Bardot, a doctoral candidate and the study’s first author, reportedly devised the concept for the material’s formation. Describing the process as “high-risk, high-reward,” Dichtel attributed the success to rethinking traditional approaches to molecular crystal reactions. Layers of the resulting interlocked polymer sheets are said to provide both rigidity and flexibility, while their structure has been confirmed using advanced electron microscopy techniques by researchers at Cornell University.

Enhanced Properties and Applications

The material’s inherent strength inspired researchers at Duke University, led by Matthew Becker, to incorporate it into Ultem, a robust polymer used in extreme conditions. A composite containing just 2.5 percent of the new material reportedly increased Ultem’s toughness significantly. Dichtel suggested that the polymer could serve as a specialised material for ballistic fabrics and lightweight, protective gear.

The study was dedicated to the late Sir Fraser Stoddart, who pioneered the concept of mechanical bonds and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016 for his contributions to molecular machines.

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James Webb Space Telescope Unveils Hidden Interstellar Wonders of Supernova Cassiopeia A



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James Webb Space Telescope Unveils Hidden Supernova Cassiopeia A

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January 18, 2025

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James Webb Space Telescope Unveils Hidden Supernova Cassiopeia A

A centuries-old supernova in the constellation Cassiopeia has been illuminated by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), unveiling intricate interstellar structures around 11,000 light-years away. The telescope’s infrared capabilities captured glowing gas and dust in the aftermath of the supernova’s explosion, offering astronomers a rare glimpse into the otherwise hidden dynamics of interstellar material. The event provided unprecedented insights into how these diffuse clouds behave and interact with light from stellar phenomena.

Revelations From the Cassiopeia A Supernova

According to findings presented at the 245th American Astronomical Society (AAS) conference, the observations focused on Cassiopeia A, a remnant of a massive star’s explosive death. Jacob Jencson, a scientist at the California Institute of Technology, explained that the supernova’s light pulse, known as a light echo, was reflected off the surrounding gas and dust. The event revealed complex patterns and three-dimensional structures within the interstellar medium, enabling researchers to infer details about the star’s explosive demise.

Never-Before-Seen Patterns in Interstellar Medium

Images captured by JWST have been likened to medical CT scans for their ability to expose the internal structures of dense interstellar regions. According to Josh Peek, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland, the findings unveiled sheets of gas hosting intricate small-scale structures, as well as isolated magnetic knots resembling knots in wood grain. Peek highlighted the significance of these observations in understanding the processes within dense, dusty regions of space that were previously inaccessible.

Impact on Future Research

Scientists anticipate that the detailed mapping of these enigmatic structures will deepen understanding of the interstellar medium’s physics, including the role magnetic fields play in star formation. Peek noted that these observations have rapidly advanced the study of the interstellar medium, shedding light on processes that were long considered perplexing. The JWST’s ability to reveal these structures marks a significant step in unravelling the mysteries of space.

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