Short Takes – 2-9-24

'We were very surprised': Magma under Reykjanes Peninsula rushed into Grindavík dike at a shockingly fast rate. LiveScience.com article. Pull quote: “"We were very surprised," lead author Freysteinn Sigmundsson, a geophysicist at the University of Iceland, told Live Science in an email. During the three previous eruptions in the region that took place between 2021 and 2023, magma flow into the dike [a near-vertical tunnel running from the magma chamber beneath] was estimated to be less than 3,500 cubic feet per second (100 cubic m per second). "For the Grindavík dike it was almost 100 times higher," Sigmundsson said.”

Cybersecurity in Control Systems Engineer PE Exam. IndustrialCyberForce.org blog post. Pull quote: “Specifications for the other exams (where we might be less expecting to find it): Agriculture and Biological, Architectural, Chemical, Civil, Environmental, Fire Protection, Mechanical, Metallurgical, Mining and Mineral Processing, Naval Architecture and Marine, Nuclear, Petroleum, and Structural do not mention cybersecurity despite its cross-cutting implications.”

Senate to work Super Bowl weekend after Paul vows to delay Ukraine funding. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: “Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) informed Senate colleagues they will vote on a procedural motion to begin debate on the bill at 7 p.m. Friday. He said senators will stay in session until the bill passes, even though the Senate was previously scheduled to take a two-week recess starting Saturday.”

Collins performs tests of new space station spacesuit. SpaceNews.com article.  Pull quote:““We need to understand what the suit can do for a yet-to-be-determined space station,” he said. “Regardless of who gets there first or which system it is, we want to be able to operate in that environment.” He added that Collins has been in discussions with the companies involved in NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations program that is supporting development of those commercial stations.”

Beijing government releases commercial space action plan. SpaceNews.com article. Beijing municipal government plan. Pull quote: “Measurable goals include attracting and nurturing more than 100 high-tech enterprises, over 50 specialized and innovative companies, and at least five so-called unicorn companies. The latter refers to a company with a valuation of at least $1 billion.”

SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn orbital mission delayed to summer 2024. Space.com article. Pull quote: “Polaris Dawn will be the first of three missions in the Polaris Program, which Isaacman wants to help push the boundaries of private spaceflight.”

Ax-3 private astronaut mission splashes down. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “The Ax-3 mission lifted off Jan. 18 on a Falcon 9. It was commanded by former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría, who also commanded Ax-1 in 2022. Walter Villadei, an Italian Air Force officer, was pilot. Alper Gezeravcı of Turkey and Marcus Wandt of Sweden served as mission specialists, with Wandt representing the European Space Agency as its first short-term “project” astronaut. The four conducted research and outreach activities during their more than two weeks on the station.”