#mars_colonization

It is now expected on November 18th The American company SpaceX announced the postponement of the launch of the prototype of the super-heavy spacecraft Starship for technical reasons. Earlier it became known that the company received permission from the Federal Aviation Administration for the launch, which was planned to take place today, November 17. “We need to replace the grid stabilizer drive, so the launch has been postponed to Saturday,” SpaceX said on social network X (formerly Twitter). [caption id="attachment_82668" align="aligncenter" width="444"] Starship spacecraft[/caption] Didn't take off: the launch of the huge Starship spacecraft was postponed for technical reasons In April, we recall, SpaceX carried out the first successful launch of a rocket with an installed prototype of the Starship spacecraft. The rocket reached an altitude of 39 km. A few seconds after launch, it became known that 5 of the 33 Raptor engines installed on the Super Heavy launch vehicle had failed. As a result, after a little over a minute, the rocket began to collapse and rotate, straying from the correct course. After which the remote destruction system was activated.

Approval will be received by Friday Elon Musk has confirmed that SpaceX will receive approval to launch the Starship rocket by the scheduled date of November 17. I have just been informed that approval to launch is due in time for launch on Friday. The space company SpaceX previously announced the exact date of the second Starship launch. But then it was reported that the company was still awaiting final approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). [caption id="attachment_81961" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Starship rocket[/caption] Confirmed: the huge 122-meter Starship rocket will launch on November 17 On its first launch, the rocket rose high and flew for more than three minutes, but lost several engines, caused serious damage to the launch pad and entered a dive, after which it was remotely  destroyed . After the launch, a crater appeared in the ground, concrete pieces scattered across the area, and the environment was damaged, some species of wildlife of which are in danger of extinction. The launch also caused a fire of approximately 16,000 m2 within  the state park.

Scientists are looking forward to studying carbonate rocks on Mars and unlocking their secrets. Mars 2020 Mission scientists are filled with excitement this week as Perseverance approaches a special geological layer that was instrumental in selecting the landing site for exploration in the Jezero Crater region. This layer is found in a narrow band along the inner rim of the crater's western rim and exhibits strong carbonate mineral characteristics. [caption id="attachment_69193" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Mars[/caption] On Earth, carbonates typically form in shallow waters of fresh or alkaline lakes. The hypothesis is that the carbonate layer on Mars could have formed in the same way - more than 3 billion years ago, the waters of the lake in the Eezero crater may have flowed onto its shores, depositing this carbonate layer. An alternative hypothesis is that carbonates form through mineral carbonation when silicate minerals (such as olivine) react with CO? and turn into carbonates. It can tell about the past atmosphere and life on Mars Carbonates are of interest for several reasons. First, they can provide insight into Mars' former atmosphere. These minerals are formed through a sequence of chemical reactions that begin with the interaction of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with liquid water. Thus, by studying the amount and isotopic composition of these carbonates, scientists will be able to conclude the past content of CO2 in the atmosphere of Mars. and gain insight into its climate history. Secondly, carbonate minerals are an excellent medium for preserving traces of ancient life, if they existed. When carbonates are deposited early in rock formation, they can trap the resulting environment, including signs of microbial life. On Earth, carbonate minerals have been observed to form around microbial cells, enclosing them and rapidly turning them into fossils. This is especially valuable because a microorganism that is “sealed” in carbonate can persist for a very long time. Another example of fossil carbonates on Earth are stromatolites, layered structures created by growing microbial colonies in mineral-saturated waters. Stromatolites provide some of the earliest records of life on Earth. While we don't yet know exactly how the boundary rocks and the carbonates within them formed, the team is looking forward to getting into these rocks and unlocking their secrets.

The launch was originally planned for 2022 Elon Musk, the head of SpaceX, said that the company will be able to land the Starship spacecraft on Mars in three to four years. He spoke about this via video link during the International Astronautics Congress in Baku. "I think it's entirely possible to have a test unmanned landing there within the next four years," Musk told Clay Mowry, president of the International Astronautical Federation. When Musk unveiled Starship in 2016, he said SpaceX's first unmanned landing on the Red Planet would occur in 2022, and its first human flight would take place in 2024. In April, there was one Starship test flight that went out of control, after which the order was given to blow up the ship minutes after launch. The second ship is technically ready for launch, but the Federal Aviation Administration has not yet issued a license. Starship's flight to Mars has been announced, but first Elon Musk promised to catch the Super Heavy launch [caption id="attachment_64108" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Elon Musk[/caption] Musk said this week that SpaceX plans to fire the second stage engines before the spacecraft's stages fully separate: "I would say that's the riskiest part of the flight. If the engines work and the ship doesn't explode, then I think we have a decent chance of reaching orbit." Musk also predicted when the launch tower would first try to catch Super Heavy upon landing. He said there was a "decent chance" of catching the launch vehicle within the next year and possibly removing the spacecraft from orbit before the end of next year.

The first launch is planned for 2026 Satellite operator Telesat and SpaceX announced the signing of a multi-launch agreement to deliver the Telesat Lightspeed constellation of satellites into low Earth orbit. Telesat has contracted for 14 launches of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, the world's most reliable and only reusable orbital rocket, which will carry up to 18 Telesat Lightspeed satellites into low-Earth orbit per launch. The launch campaign is scheduled to begin in 2026. Telesat has decided to take advantage of SpaceX's high launch frequency to rapidly deploy its own satellites, allowing Telesat to begin providing global services in 2027. Launches under the campaign will take off from SpaceX launch complexes in California and Florida. SpaceX will launch 14 rockets to deliver all the satellites of its competitor [caption id="attachment_55206" align="aligncenter" width="780"] SpaceX[/caption] Telesat promises a reliable network for enterprise and government users with multi-Gbps speeds and highly secure, resilient, low-latency broadband connections anywhere in the world. “SpaceX has been a reliable and efficient launch provider for Telesat across our geostationary satellite programs, and I am pleased that they will support us with their highly reliable Falcon 9 rocket to deploy the Telesat Lightspeed constellation, the most ambitious program in Telesat’s 54-year history,” said Dan Goldberg, President and CEO of Telesat. “Given the dedication and professionalism of the SpaceX team, as well as their outstanding track record of reliability and demonstrated high launch frequency, I have every confidence that they will be an outstanding partner in helping us bring Telesat Lightspeed into service on time and with minimal risk.”