In today’s episode, the international space industry is witnessing important events: The International Space Station (ISS) is facing a serious leak, China is preparing for a breakthrough in its moon landing program, and its asteroid exploration mission is in the final stages before launch. At the same time, the US private space company Blue Origin is getting closer to launching its giant New Glenn rocket.
**1. Leak at the ISS: **
NASA has just confirmed that the International Space Station (ISS) is experiencing a major problem related to air leakage. The Russian PRK module, installed in 2000, began leaking air years ago, but the situation is getting worse. The latest report from NASA on September 26, 2024, said that the leakage rate has doubled since 2022, and is currently at 3.7 pounds/day.
Despite efforts by engineers from NASA and Roscosmos (the Russian space agency), the problem continues to worsen. If left unchecked, scientists predict the module will have to be quarantined or shut down entirely. Experts fear the problem could impact the long-term viability of the ISS, especially as international cooperation may be hampered by political tensions between nations.
**2. China and its plans to conquer the moon:**
China has announced the latest advances in its ambitious lunar exploration program. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has unveiled a design for a special spacesuit that will be used for a lunar landing mission scheduled for later this decade. The suit is designed to protect astronauts from the moon’s extreme environment, including extreme temperature swings and dangerous dust particles.
The suit also incorporates advanced technology such as a panoramic vision system and surveillance cameras, allowing astronauts to easily navigate and perform complex operations on the lunar surface. China is aiming to become the second country in history to successfully land humans on the moon, with the vision of building a long-term research base on its surface.
**3. Tianwen-2 mission and the Camo Oa asteroid: **
In addition to preparing for a lunar landing, China is also stepping up efforts in the field of asteroid exploration. CNSA has completed final preparations for the launch of the Tianwen-2 probe, scheduled for 2025. Tianwen-2 will approach the Camo Oa asteroid, a near-Earth asteroid.
The probe will collect samples from the asteroid’s surface and return them to Earth for study, similar to what Japan and NASA have done in previous missions. However, Tianwen 2’s mission does not stop there. After completing its sample collection from Camo Oa, the spacecraft will continue its journey to comet 311P Pan-STARRS, where it will conduct further studies on the composition and structure of objects in the Solar System.
**4. Blue Origin and the New Glenn rocket: **
While China is accelerating its space missions, in the US, the private space company Blue Origin, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is also making great strides in developing the New Glenn rocket – a heavy-lift super rocket capable of launching large masses into Earth orbit and beyond. Blue Origin successfully tested the New Glenn’s upper stage engine, a key part of the rocket, during a test at the Cape Canaveral launch site in Florida.
The New Glenn rocket is expected to be a serious competitor to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, with the ability to carry tons of payload, including satellites and large spacecraft. Blue Origin plans to conduct the first test flight of New Glenn in late 2024, ushering in a new era in the commercial space race.
