‘Very serious’ setback for James Webb mission

Plus: BAE's new bullet-like drone can reach 0.75 Mach and carry 1,100 pounds Jul 19, 2022 [Blueprint]( The history-making James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) [hit a ‘very serious’ bump in the road]( this week. NASA officials are said to have feared the mission was doomed, meaning we may never see the first (and much talked about and anticipated) scientific images we’ve heard so much about. NASA Mission Operations Manager Carl Starr said the JWST mission control team waited for a crucial alert that basically didn't come. → But all is not lost — thankfully, operations are nominal, meaning we can expect a lot more from James Webb in the very near future. ...To infinity, and beyond! If all this talk of space travel feels a little too high octane for you though, how about we bring you back down to Earth with 20 lanes of traffic? Yes, that’s right, do not adjust your varifocals: in [this video]( you’ll see a road-rage inducing 20 lanes of traffic in China. Imagine. In fact, don’t – [watch the video]( and see for yourself. Good morning. I’m Alice, an editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s get started. Be the first to know when IE+ launches IE+ will feature exclusive interviews, deep dives that go beyond the headlines, premium features, and more. Launching July 14 — don't miss out. [Claim your one-month free trial here]( [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Video shows China’s labyrinth-like interchange that packs 20 lanes.]( [China’s 20 lanes of traffic]( China’s 20 lanes of traffic. [Must Read]MUST READ [James Webb official describes ‘solemn’ mood during ‘very serious’ early setback.]( [James Webb setback.]( The last thing in the universe you want to hear from the hugely talked-about, anticipated, history-making James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) mission, are the words ‘very serious setback’ and ‘solemn mood’. But that’s exactly [the news that came out of NASA this week](. Its Mission Operations Manager Carl Starr described in an interview with [Yahoo]( how the most powerful space observatory to date features sun shield covers. These were meant to roll back and hit a switch, notifying the team on Earth that the unfolding was successfully completed – but they didn’t. The $10 billion space observatory's sun shield stops its instruments from overheating due to the constant sunlight exposure at its locations orbiting Lagrange Point 2, roughly 1.5 million kilometers (one million miles) from Earth. So fairly crucial. Thankfully, it turned out the issue with the sun shield was, actually, more of an issue with the alert switch itself, so all is in fact under control once more. I think I speak for space fans across the world when I say, phew! [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [BAE's new bullet-like drone can reach 0.75 Mach and carry 1,100 pounds.]( Defense contractor BAE Systems [has unveiled designs]( of two new drone systems at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RAIT), the U.K. Royal Air Force's annual air show event. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Science - Scientists aim to [grow billions of stem cells]( the International Space Station. - Chinese [researchers develop a new way]( to mass produce lab-grown meatballs. - Declassified nuclear test footage is a [dark testament]( to the terror of war. [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [SpaceX's latest Starlink launch reached a major Falcon 9 reusability record.]( On Sunday, [SpaceX launched]( of its Falcon 9 first-stage rocket boosters for a record-equaling 13th time. SpaceX has launched more than 2,800 Star satellites so far and has permission to launch a further 12,000 satellites into low Earth orbit. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Innovation - These [bacterial microrobots can kill cancer]( without causing any pain or tears. - 10 different [types of clouds]( how to tell them apart. - Stressed-out plants [produce their own aspirin](. Here’s how. [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS ‘Very serious’ early setback reported by the team behind the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Do you think the JWST mission will hit the rocks? [No, I really hope not and am keeping everything crossed]( [Not unless there’s another setback]( [Hopefully they can achieve some of what they want to]( [Yes, I believe everything will be ok]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you if you think industry heavyweights would change their processes if it would have a huge environmental impact. And a cynical (or realistic?) 56% of you said, only if it made them money. 56% Only if it made them money 22% They might phase it in over time 11% Yes, the world is becoming a much greener place 10% They should, but they probably wouldn’t [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY “The grand aim of all science [is] to cover the greatest number of empirical facts by logical deduction from the smallest possible number of hypotheses or axioms.” Albert Einstein 1879–1955 German-born theoretical physicist: Lincoln Barnett The Universe and Dr Einstein (1950 ed.) [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [Razer Anzu Smart Glasses]( [image]( [Steel Series Arctis 7X]( [image]( [Accvi Water Dispenser]( [image]( [Jeco Glenville Fountain]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - A novel synthetic antibiotic can [kill even drug-resistant bacteria](. - Underground [heat pollution could be tapped]( to mitigate climate change. (Science News) - When will electric cars get cheaper? [Elon Musk reveals plans]( to reduce Tesla price. - In Utah, researchers are trying to [unlock Earth’s heat]( make geothermal energy a reality. (Science.org) - Biogas made from cow manure will [power an electricity plant]( in Japan. - [Did nature heal]( during the pandemic ‘anthropause’? (New York Times) - Is 10K or 30K [Bitcoin's next level]( Surveys look for an answer. Prepared by Alice Cooke Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. Was this email forwarded to you? [Join Free!]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here](. © Copyright 2022 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 201 Spear Street, Suite 1100 San Francisco, CA 94105 | All Rights Reserved [Interesting Engineering]