September, 2022

Plane Crash Lead

Five people aboard a TWA jet were killed after crashing during takeoff at Kennedy International Airport.

Forty-five passengers and crew members were aboard the TWA Jet. Two of the passengers were an associate professor of rural sociology John Dumont and associate professor of English George Johnson, both from Backwater State University. The Backwater State University professors escaped injury. While others suffered from injuries and five were killed.

Article #1 Final

NASA’s Artemis 1 mission to launch the Space Launch System (SLS) is delayed after facing issues with a leak in a hydrogen fuel line. 

On August 29, SLS was scheduled to launch, but at 11:17 am the launch was called off. A New York Times article explained, “A sensor reported that one of the rocket’s four core-stage engines was not sufficiently chilled, part of the preparations needed before ignition”. A warm engine could have caused the launch to shut down during liftoff.  Engineers are currently working to fix this issue. 

NASA is hopeful to try lifting off on September 5-6, but that is only if the weather is favorable. If Artemis 1 is forced to reschedule it may go into the Vehicle Assembly Building until late September- October.

The New York Times explains that “NASA officials argue that the moon missions are central to its human spaceflight program and not simply a do-over of the Apollo moon landings from 1969 to 1972”. 

Humans will not be on this trip. Instead, three high-tech manikins (Helga, Zohar, and Moonikin Campos) are filled with sensors that will test how the human body responds to space travel. An article on Vox.com explained in their article that “Helga and Zohar are designed to measure the effects of radiation on women’s bodies in space, and Moonikin Campos will sit in the commander’s seat to track just how bumpy a voyage to the moon might be for future human crew members”. 

Artemis 1 is set into place to explore the possibility of astronaut treks across the moon, lunar human habitat, and a new space station called Gateway. Water Ice located on the moon could serve to give astronauts oxygen and water to then explore deeper into the galaxy.

Artemis 1 is Nasa’s attempt to launch the SLS (NASA’s most powerful rocket), carrying the Orion spacecraft designed to travel past the moon and beyond before returning to earth (New York Times).  

If Artemis 1 Is a successful trip it will prepare NASA for other Artemis missions: “Artemis 2 is scheduled to send humans on a similar trip around the moon in 2024, and Artemis 3 will make history by landing the first woman and the first person of color on the lunar surface sometime in 2025, at the earliest”, explained Vox.com. 

According to Vox.com, Artemis 1 will not be returning to Earth but will be launching 10 miniature satellites, called CubeSats. 

Nasa will continue by preparing a fuel test to check if the SLS rocket’s hydrogen lead is fixed, according to Space.com. This test is scheduled to occur Saturday, Sep 17. “This demonstration will allow engineers to check the new seals under cryogenic, or super cold, conditions as expected on launch day and before proceeding to the next launch attempt,” NASA wrote. 

There is a possibility to launch on September 27 if the rocket passes the testing. 

https://www.vox.com/recode/2022/8/27/23323463/artemis-1-moon-orion-sls-nasa-kennedy-space-center-florida

https://www.space.com/artemis-1-moon-rocket-leaky-seals-replaced

News Comment #2

In the article “New Titanic Footage Heralds Next Stage in Deep-Sea Tourism” we see two different perspectives on tourism to the titanic.

Tourists paid 250,000 to view the Titanic. Although nothing was retrieved from the sight, there was several footage taken. OceanGate is the organization that put together this trip. OceanGate justify their tours as a way of allowing others an experience while collecting valuable data on the decay of the ship.

Paul F. Johnston was relieved that OceanGate did not retrieve any artifacts but was critical of the observed about of money charged to see this sight. The article mentioned how the sight is potentially a graveyard for all those who did not make it, and how that raises ethical questions.

This article is news because it raises a controversial conversation on whether tourists should be able to visit the Titanic. The article gives two different perspectives on the subject allowing the audience to choose which side they agree with. The author did a good job of remaining objective.

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