Dr. Tanya Harrison

LOS ANGELES, April 20 (Reuters) – The spectacular explosion of SpaceX’s new Starship rocket minutes after it soared off its launch pad on a first flight test is the latest vivid illustration of a “successful failure” business formula that serves Elon Musk’s company well, experts said on Thursday.

Rather than seeing the fiery disintegration of Musk’s colossal, next-generation Starship system as a setback, experts said the dramatic loss of the rocket ship would help accelerate development of the vehicle.

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Planetary scientist Tanya Harrison, a fellow at the University of British Columbia’s Outer Space Institute, said clearing the launch tower and ascending through a critical point known as maximum aerodynamic pressure were major feats on the first flight of such a large, complex launch system.

“It’s part of the testing process,” she said in an interview. “There are a lot of accidents that happen when you’re trying to design a new rocket. The fact that it launched at all made a lot of people really happy.”

She said the risks of a single flight test were small in comparison to the ambitious gains at stake.

“This is the biggest rocket that humanity has tried to build,” she said, adding that it is designed to carry “orders of magnitude” more cargo and people to and from deep space than any existing spacecraft.

Whereas NASA is working on a mission to retrieve samples of Martian soil and minerals measured in kilograms being collected by the Mars Perseverance rover, Starship will carry back many tons of rock, as well transport dozens of astronauts and entire lab facilities to and from the moon and Mars, Harrison said.

Read more: SpaceX rocket explosion illustrates Elon Musk’s ‘successful failure’ formula by Steve Gorman and Arlene Eiras

SpaceX’s massive Starship vehicle, meant to provide a way for astronauts to visit the Moon and Mars, is preparing to launch for the first time. If successful, the flight will make Starship the most powerful rocket ever to leave Earth’s surface. No people will be on board for the first full test, which was scheduled for 17 April but has been delayed for at least 48 hours because of a frozen pressure valve.

Scientists say that as well as ferrying astronauts into deep space, Starship could enable new types of astrophysics and planetary science — because it can launch scientific payloads, such as telescopes and interplanetary spacecraft that are heavier than other space vehicles can manage.

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Scientific missions using Starship could include robotic spacecraft to map ice beneath the Martian surface as a resource for future explorers, or instruments that are designed to search for signs of life on Mars, says Jennifer Heldmann, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. “We could do those quickly and take advantage of Starship’s capabilities,” she says.

Starship could also pull off endeavours such as bringing rocks back from Mars, which NASA and the European Space Agency are currently planning to do with several spacecraft in a complex system over many years. “Starship could enable you to do that in one go,” says Tanya Harrison, a planetary scientist at the Outer Space Institute who is based in Seattle, Washington. “It’s really a whole new way of being able to think about the possibilities of what you could do on Mars.”

Read more: Mega rocket Starship could enable new types of astrophysics by Alexandra Witza

The possibility of life on other planets has been a subject of fascination for centuries. As we explore the universe and search for signs of life on other planets, the question of whether there is sea salt on Mars has become an intriguing topic for researchers.

Sea salt is a common substance found on Earth, and it plays a significant role in our lives. It is used in food preparation, as a preservative, and as a key ingredient in many skincare products. But is there sea salt on Mars?

Some researchers believe that there may be traces of sea salt on Mars, based on data from the Curiosity rover. In 2013, Curiosity discovered evidence of a dry lakebed on the surface of Mars that contained deposits of salts, including calcium sulfate and sodium chloride. While these salts are not the same as the sea salt found on Earth, they are an indication that there may be a history of water on Mars.

To gain more insight into the presence of sea salt on Mars, we reached out to Dr. Tanya Harrison, a planetary scientist and expert in Martian geology.

Read more: Exploring the Salty Secrets of Mars: Insights from Planetary Scientist Dr. Tanya Harrison by Tidal Salt

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Explorers Club today unveiled its annual list of the 50 People Changing the World That the World Needs to Know About – scientists, educators and conservationists whose work will unlock the secrets of the oceans, advance conservation efforts, protect rare and endangered species, and take us further into space. 

The Explorers Club 50 (EC50) was established in 2020 to amplify the communication of science so that it is more inclusive and represents the many diverse voices in the global scientific community.

“We’re hoping to find or inspire the next Buzz Aldrin, Jane Goodall, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, or Kathy Sullivan. We see our EC50 members as being the next generation of individuals who will take us further into space, conserve our earth and oceans, and protect at-risk species worldwide,” said Richard Garriott de Cayeux, president of The Explorers Club. “At a time where science is often under attack, we need to ensure that this next generation of scientists and educators are given as many platforms and resources as possible to conduct and promote their work,”

Among this year’s new EC50 members are:

Dr. Tanya Harrison a scientist and mission operations specialist on multiple NASA missions to Mars, including the Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance Rovers, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Read more: The Explorers Club Unveils “50 Individuals Changing the World” by Yahoo! Entertainment