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Webb Finds Water on WASP-18b, Crew-13 Delay & China's Lunar Network
Audio is available on Spreaker — see link below.
Webb Space Telescope has detected water vapor on an ultra-hot Jupiter, while a nitrogen tetroxide leak delays SpaceX's Crew-13 mission by weeks. Plus Roman's commissioning milestones, China's cislunar radiation network, and two more launches to track.
Audio is available on Spreaker — see link below.
NASA's Roman Space Telescope is in space. The Falcon Heavy launched it on August thirtieth, and the spacecraft has already deployed its solar panels, antenna, and aperture cover.
While Roman begins its journey, the Webb Space Telescope keeps delivering from where it already is. Webb's NIRISS instrument has detected water vapor in the atmosphere of WASP-18b, an ultra-hot Jupiter sitting four hundred light-years away.
The harder news this cycle involves Crew-13. SpaceX's Dragon capsule has developed a nitrogen tetroxide leak in its propulsion system, and the mission is now delayed by an estimated two to four weeks.
China is moving ahead with something that doesn't get enough attention. Its C3 programme plans to deploy thirty CubeSats through cislunar space to provide real-time solar particle monitoring for crewed lunar missions.
Two more items. Russia's Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft is set to launch Tuesday, September ninth, delivering supplies to the ISS.
The near-term watchpoints are clear. Roman's commissioning milestones over the next several weeks.
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