Short Takes – 10-9-24

Spacecraft launches towards asteroid knocked off course by Nasa. BBC.com article. Pull quote: “But scientists warn that even though Nasa has proved it is possible to alter one asteroid’s course, it does not mean it can easily be done on all space rocks. Intercepting an asteroid before it hits Earth also relies on being able to spot the incoming hazard in the first place.”

Gaining confidence in new launch vehicles. TheSpaceReview.com article. Pull quote: “While Vulcan now has two launches in the book, another new launch vehicle is gearing up for its second flight. In July, Europe’s Ariane 6 made its long-awaited, long-delayed debut. Getting the vehicle off the pad and into orbit was cause for celebration among space agency and industry officials, ending a “launcher crisis” that effectively deprived Europe of independent access to space since the Ariane 5 retired a year earlier.”

Covid-19 may increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths for three years after an infection, study suggests. CNN.com article. Pull quote: “There was some hopeful news in the study, too. People who were hospitalized for Covid but who were also taking low-dose aspirin had no increase in the likelihood of a subsequent heart attack or stroke. That means the risk can be mitigated, Hazen said.”

Hazard Communication Standard. Federal Register OSHA direct final rule. Summary: “OSHA is correcting several inadvertent errors in its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) which were published in the Federal Register on May 20, 2024. The agency has identified several errors in the regulatory text and appendices to the HCS which pertain to the classification of hazardous chemicals and information presented on labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs). The agency believes these errors, although minor and primarily typographical in nature, should be addressed expeditiously to avoid confusion or unnecessary costs in the regulated community due to incorporation of errors on labels and SDSs. OSHA is continuing its review of the regulatory text and will issue another correction document to address additional minor errors at a later date.” Correction summary here.

Radian Single Stage to Orbit Space Plane. NextBigFuture.com article. Pull quote: “The spaceplane is designed to be fully reusable for up to 100 missions. They plan a 48-hour turnaround time between flights and a 90-minute on-demand launch capability, significantly reducing costs and increasing mission flexibility.”