World’s most powerful rocket will soon take astronauts to the Moon


Sarwat Nasir
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US space agency Nasa is preparing to roll out the world’s most powerful rocket to a launch pad, part of a pre-launch test for its first Artemis mission to the Moon.

The agency is prepping the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis 1 launch, which will involve a three-week, un-crewed test flight to the Moon.

The 101-metre tall rocket weighs 2,608 tonnes and will generate 3,991 tonnes of thrust when it lifts off.

Nasa plans to launch the first mission on February 12 from Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre Launch Complex 39B.

“During this flight, the spacecraft will launch on the most powerful rocket in the world and fly farther than any spacecraft built for humans has ever flown,” the agency said on its website.

“It will travel 280,000 miles (450,616 kilometres) from Earth, thousands of miles beyond the Moon, over the course of about a three-week mission.

“Orion will stay in space longer than any ship for astronauts has done without docking to a space station and return home faster and hotter than ever before.”

During the roll-out test, the rocket will be loaded with more than three million litres of super-cold propellants.

The team will run through the launch countdown sequence that will end before the engine ignites.

After the test, the rocket and spacecraft will be placed back in the vehicle assembly buildings for final checks before launch.

The Artemis programme aims to build a sustainable human presence on the Moon, including a lunar-orbiting station, called Gateway, capable of accommodating astronauts.

Artemis 2 launch is planned for 2024 and includes a crewed mission that will orbit the Moon.

Artemis 3, the first human lunar mission under the programme, has been delayed until 2025.

During Artemis 1, the Orion spacecraft will fly 100 kilometres above the Moon’s surface and then use its gravitation force to get captured into an opposite orbit about 70,000km from the Moon.

It will stay there for about six days to collect data and to allow mission control to measure the spacecraft’s performance.

For its return trip to Earth, Orion will perform another close fly-by of the Moon, before firing its engines to accelerate back towards Earth.

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Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

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5.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Al Battar, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer).

6.05pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Good Fighter, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

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8.25pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Mayadeen, Connor Beasley, Doug Watson.

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Famous left-handers

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- Jimi Hendrix

- Leonardo Di Vinci

- David Bowie

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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The biog

Place of birth: Kalba

Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren

Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken

Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah

Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”

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The bio

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France

Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines

Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.

Favourite Author: My father for sure

Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst

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Updated: November 22, 2021, 11:57 AM`