A major milestone in spaceflight was reached by SpaceX on Wednesday (November 27) with the successful launch of 24 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The mission, conducted from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, began at 11:41 pm EST (10:11 am IST, November 28) and marked the Falcon 9’s 400th successful mission since its debut in 2010. The satellites were deployed into low Earth orbit approximately 65 minutes after launch, according to SpaceX’s announcements on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Booster Recovery Highlights Reusability

The first stage of the Falcon 9 returned to Earth approximately eight minutes post-liftoff, landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This achievement represented the 375th successful recovery of a Falcon first stage.

Details shared in a mission description confirmed that the booster used in this launch had completed 15 flights, 11 of which were dedicated to Starlink deployments.

Starlink Network Expansion Intensifies

Reports indicate that SpaceX has launched 117 Falcon 9 missions in 2024 alone, with 81 focused on expanding the Starlink satellite constellation. Five such missions have taken place within the past eight days, underlining the company’s accelerated efforts to build out the Starlink network. Astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell has estimated that nearly 6,700 Starlink satellites are currently active in orbit.

Context and Future Prospects

The Starlink network, the largest satellite constellation in history, is being developed to provide global internet coverage. These launches demonstrate the scalability of SpaceX’s reusable rocket technology, which has significantly reduced the cost of accessing space. Falcon 9 has become a cornerstone of SpaceX’s operations, with each successful mission reinforcing its position as a reliable workhorse for orbital payload delivery. The milestone further cements Falcon 9’s pivotal role in modern space exploration and satellite deployment.

A study published in Nature has provided new insights into the environment during the time when dinosaurs began to dominate the Earth. The analysis, conducted on samples of fossilised feces, or coprolites, has revealed undigested remnants of food, plants, and prey, offering evidence of the dietary habits and ecological role of dinosaurs approximately 200 million years ago. The findings address a 30-million-year gap in understanding the evolutionary rise of dinosaurs during the Late Triassic period.

Key Discoveries from Coprolite Analysis

The research focussed on the northern regions of the supercontinent Pangea, with material gathered over 25 years. Advanced imaging techniques were utilised to examine the internal structures of coprolites, revealing well-preserved remains of fish, insects, and larger prey. Notably, evidence was found of bones consumed and digested by predators into salts and marrow, mirroring behaviours observed in species like hyenas today.

Coprolites from herbivorous dinosaurs, such as early sauropods, were found to contain tree ferns and other plants. Researchers were intrigued by the discovery of charcoal in these samples, suggesting these dinosaurs ingested it to neutralise toxins found in certain ferns.

Adaptability as a Survival Mechanism

In the study, the dietary diversity of these early dinosaurs was highlighted as a significant factor in their evolutionary success. Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki, co-author of the research, told in a statement that the ability to adapt to changing environments through plant consumption was crucial for their survival. According to the findings, these herbivorous dinosaurs displayed a preference for fresh plant shoots, which enabled them to endure environmental upheavals during the Late Triassic.

The study contributes to understanding how adaptability in diet and behaviour allowed dinosaurs to thrive amidst climatic challenges, paving the way for their dominance on the planet.

NASA has confirmed in a press release that a contract valued at approximately $20.5 million (173.2 crore) has been awarded to the Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland. The contract, which was issued on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), encompasses the development of two Suprathermal Ion Sensor instruments for the Lagrange 1 Series project under NOAA’s Space Weather Next Programme. According to the space agency, the performance period for the contract is expected to extend until January 31, 2034.

Project Objectives and Responsibilities

The contract includes a broad scope of responsibilities such as designing, analysing, fabricating, integrating, and testing the Suprathermal Ion Sensors, as per reports. The instruments are intended to support NOAA’s satellite operations by supplying critical data for space weather forecasting. Post-launch operations and maintenance of ground support equipment are also part of the agreement.

Work will be conducted at APL’s facility in Maryland, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, and the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Critical Role of Suprathermal Ion Sensors

The instruments being developed are designed to monitor ions and electrons across an extensive energy range. Sources have stated that this data will assist NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Centre in issuing forecasts and alerts to mitigate the effects of space weather phenomena such as power outages and disruptions to communication and navigation systems.

The sensors will also help detect and analyse coronal mass ejections, co-rotating interaction regions, and interplanetary shocks, which are vital for estimating the impact of solar wind shocks.

NOAA and NASA Collaboration

The Lagrange 1 Series project is overseen jointly by NOAA and NASA, with NOAA managing the programme, funding and dissemination of data products. NASA, alongside its commercial partners, is tasked with the development and launch of instruments and spacecraft. This collaboration aims to strengthen early warning systems and enhance space weather prediction capabilities.

This development has been seen as a significant step forward in advancing the tools required for understanding and responding to space weather events effectively.