From heaven to earth… Here are the most prominent achievements in the field of space and aviation for the year 2022

by time news

From Earth to space, the year 2022 was full of scientific achievements, especially in the field of aviation and space. On a cloudy Christmas morning last year, a rocket carrying the most powerful space telescope ever lifted off from a launch pad in French Guiana. No one expected that we would be able to change the course of an asteroid heading towards Earth, so this idea was considered a doom for humanity if it occurred. But “NASA” proved the opposite. Back on Earth, innovation also reached new heights in the aviation industry. A unique electric plane took off, and the “Black Hawk” helicopter flew by itself without the need for a pilot.

In the following, we will present with you the best innovations of the year 2022 in space and aviation science:

The James Webb Space Telescope: A new tool for a better view of the universe

After more than two decades, and $9.7 billion in manufacturing costs, the James Webb Telescope was launched on December 25, 2021. Since February of this year, the telescope’s vibrant images have captured the world’s attention.

James Webb can see deep into the fields of star formation. He can peek at the outer planets and see them directly. It could teach us how those stars and galaxies came together from primordial matter, something the Hubble telescope couldn’t help but glimpse.

All of this is just an introduction to the James Webb Telescope. And since the telescope used less fuel than initially expected when it reached its location, the instrument may have enough to make it through its expected 10-year window.

The Alice from Eviation: an all-electric passenger plane

Airplanes are among the major producers of carbon emissions. One of the solutions to this problem is to operate aircraft with electric power, and to use it for short trips only. That’s what Eviation aims to do with the Alice, which is powered by 8,000 pounds of batteries in the belly of the plane to give its two engines the power they need to fly.

The plane made its first flight in September, despite being short-range, but managed to fly for eight minutes in the air. As battery technology improves, the company hopes to be able to carry nine passengers up to 200 miles away.

Sikorsky OPV Black Hawk: A self-flying military helicopter

It is customary for two pilots to sit at the front of the Army’s “Black Hawk” helicopter. But what if the helicopter could be used without them, especially on dangerous missions?

This is exactly what the UH-60 can do. The self-flying helicopter made its first flight in February and then took off again in October, even carrying 2,600 pounds of weight underneath.

Zipline’s “Spot and Avoid”: Drones that can listen for obstacles in flight

With drones and other small aircraft still dotting the skies, all parties involved have an interest in avoiding collisions. But figuring out the best way for a drone to detect potential obstacles is not an easy problem to solve.

Drone delivery company Zipline has turned to sound, not sight, to solve this conundrum. Eight microphones on the wing of the plane listen in for traffic, and can proactively change the plane’s lane to move out of the way before collision. The built-in GPU and AI help get the job done, too.

The “DART” mission from NASA and the Johns Hopkins Laboratory of Physics: colliding with an asteroid

Earthlings who look up at the sky with fear that a space rock might fall and destroy our world can now breathe a sigh of relief.

On September 26, a 1,100-pound spacecraft deliberately collided with an asteroid 525 feet in diameter at more than 14,000 miles per hour. NASA confirmed on October 11 that the effect of the asteroid’s reorientation test was that it changed its orbit more than expected. Thanks to DART, humans have redirected an asteroid for the first time.

This experiment gives astronomers hope that they can do it again to avoid the end of the world.

LSST by SLAC / Vera C. Rubin Observatory: 3200 MP camera

Very soon, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the high desert of northern Chile will provide astronomers with what will be an almost live view of the Southern Hemisphere sky. To do this, it will rely on the world’s largest camera with a 5-foot-wide lens that will be able to capture stunning 3,200-megapixel images.

Boeing’s Starliner: A New Way to Get to the International Space Station

After years of budget issues, technical delays, and testing failures, the long-awaited “Starliner” crew capsule has finally taken to the skies, arriving at its destination. The spacecraft successfully completed an unmanned test launch in May, docked at the International Space Station, and then landed again on Earth.

Now, Boeing and NASA are preparing for the first test of the human-crewed Starliner, which is scheduled to launch in 2023.

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