in Andromeda breedMichael Krishton wrote about strange killer space crystals that (in the event of a spoiler alert) ultimately through the expansion of the Earth’s pH values. In fact, crystals that are planted in space can be a key to a new generation of cancer control treatments that save and not threaten lives.
The Colorado -based Sierra Space is ready for almost ready to launch a reusable space plane, A dream of chasing. It was seized on pregnancy in the orbit of a 3D printed unit designed by the engineers on Pharma giant Merck. If the test goes well, and if Dream Chaser’s gentle re -entry process maintains these sensitive goods, this may be the beginning of a big thing – although those crystals are microscopic.
A brief history of space crystals
Space crystals look like something that would hang the astrology on their bed to help them sleep, but there is a real science here. According to ISS National LaboratoryThe crystals that are planted in space are simply better: “Scientists assume that these allocated benefits are caused by a slower and more consistent movement of molecules to crystalline poetic in the minor gravity.”
Research in unilateral antibodies indicates crystallization as a key to developing more stable delivery mechanisms. In theory, expensive chemotherapy sessions can be replaced by the injection that the patient can run at home.
They are science fiction things – and in the case Andromeda breedLiterally – but the truth is closer to that Back to the future. Crystal space research has already started in The early eightiesFirst, on one -time missile flights and eventually on the space shuttle.
Crystal space research has already started in the early eighties
There was a lot of hope (and noise) about technology at the time, but it was eventually young by two things. The first is the cost. It was assumed that the orbit of the conveyor conveyor is the low -cost tropical research in America, but that was unprecedented. NASA costs for the word for each trip around it $ 1.5 billion. This is simply very expensive, even in the pharmaceutical industry, as it often requires seven or more.
The height of the Spacex and its competitors significantly reduced these costs, which reduced the cost of obtaining goods to an area to 2000 dollars per kg. But this still leaves the other problem: shock.
If you are walking along the way to orbit just to develop some super structures, you do not want to insert them into cutting on the path of retreat.
Dr. Tom Marsbren said about the experience of landing in a capsule like dragon. He knew. Marshbern is the chief astronaut in Sierra and the vice president of the company from human factors engineering, but before that he was the NASA astronaut. It flew on the shuttle, Soyuz, and Dragon.
Cira and her rescue -reusable plane chase is preparing to fix both problems, cost and shock, in one blow.
Those of us of a certain age are likely to feel a kind of illogical rapprochement of Dream Chaser at first glance. Black and white color scheme and simple body design, given strong Space shuttle orbit Feelings, but this is not a reactionary design aimed at gaining exhaustion. Dream Chaser has some main advantages on shuttle.
For one thing, it’s much smaller, about a quarter of length. Fitting accurately inside the net load cabin Ula (United Launch Alliance) Vulcan The missile, does not require a messy mixture of tanks, liquid fuel reinforcements, and endless specialized devices that have prepared any hope that the space shuttle will be profitable.
Also, it does not require a three -miles lounge like shuttle. “You can do a precise decline anywhere in which 737 can land,” said Dr. Marshbren.
“It can do the exact landing anywhere in which 737 can land.”
The biggest change, however, is that he will not fly with the crew on board. Now, at least. Dream Chaser was born of the CCTCAP transmission, a competition that also included a Dragon’s Dragon’s Spacex and Starliner’s Capsule capsule. NASA chose winners, and Sierra Space was fortunate in third place.
However, when seeing the capabilities, NASA has provided enough tropical merchandise contracts to make the Dream Chaser restarting attention. It will launch a skillful and leaked spacecraft as it is planned, just minus people.
Why did NASA want to keep the Sierra space in the episode? Dream Chaser’s design provides some real benefits, especially as we enter the era of space manufacturing. “A capsule is like a dragon, through the nature and shape of physics outer spaceThe capital investment fund in the early stage with a focus on the commercial space. “The space plane has opposite physics, and it can decrease twice as it takes.”
The perfect tropical transportation network, then, has a mixture of two.
These are the capabilities. Currently, the project with Merck is a sign of the concept, which is a 3D printed unit that contains a series of tubes, roads and capsules. Once she reaches ISS, a astronaut will turn some valves in the sequence, then the resulting fabrication is returned to the ground until a person in Merck examines them.
And they will be able to do this quickly. Dr. Marsbren said that traditional re -entry capsules such as dragon or Soyuz spend days often on boats or trucks before recovering their shipment. Dream Chaser is designed to empty Cargo within an hour after its wheels stop.
The MERCK unit will test this rapid retrieval, as well as a soft landing, ensuring the possibility of this type of crystal growth in space. And in spite of ISS is to be turned out by itself by the end of the contractSierra Space puts it in its own position Black tropical units As a commercial alternative, free from policy and supervision of ISS.
Cruford of the Space Fund said the economy is sound, and the evidence for the number of players trying to benefit from the space plane market. Emerging companies such as Venus Aerospace, Radian Aerospace, Dawn Aerospace and Virgin Galactic have their own development aircraft, with targets ranging from goods to space tourism.
The development of space drug has the ability to be a tremendous promise, but Sierra has some other stocks in a quiet. It’s a partnership with Honda to get a file Fuel cell from the next generation in spaceAnd those who yearn smaller and better treatments can also be lucky. An emerging Forge space Plans to develop the pillars of the processor in the orbit, which is another area where gentle landing processes are the key. In destroying the costs of the task cost today, Sierra Space may only be blown through the semiconductor nanometer.
There is hope to get out of these tasks. Currently, Dream Chaser has been landed to transport goods only, however Starliner program pitfalls It can reopen the door to withdraw humans.
“You see a winged body and of course, astronauts, especially the pilot testing, we want to be in that,” said Dr. Marsbren. “At any time, we will be able to take advantage of the work that has been already done to get it.”
If this happens, it will take some time. Perseverance, the first dream chase, pass by it NASA final checksWaiting for her opportunity to go to ISS later this year. The second, reverence, is currently undergoing production.
In other words: Watch this space.
