From Earth to space, the year 2022 has been full of scientific achievements, especially in the fields of aviation and space. On a cloudy Christmas morning last year, a rocket carrying the most powerful space telescope ever took off from a launch pad in French Guiana. No one expected that we would be able to change the course of an asteroid heading towards Earth, so this idea was considered a doom for humanity if it happened. But “NASA” proved otherwise. Back on Earth, innovation also reached new heights in aviation: a unique electric aircraft took off and the “Black Hawk” helicopter flew by itself without the need for a pilot.
Below, we will present with you the best innovations of the year 2022 in space science and aeronautics:
The James Webb Space Telescope: a new instrument for a better view of the universe
After more than two decades and $9.7 billion in manufacturing costs, the James Webb Telescope was launched on December 25, 2021. Since February of this year, the telescope’s vibrant images have captured the world’s attention.
James Webb can see deep into star formation fields. He can peek at the outer planets and see them directly. He could teach us how those stars and galaxies formed from primordial matter, something the Hubble Telescope couldn’t help but glimpse.
All of this is just an introduction to the James Webb Telescope. And because the telescope used less fuel than originally expected when it reached its position, the instrument may have enough to make it through its predicted 10-year window.
Eviation’s Alice: an all-electric passenger plane
Airplanes are among the biggest producers of carbon emissions. One of the solutions to this problem is to run airplanes on electric power and only use them for short trips. That’s what Eviation aims to do with the Alice, which is powered by 8,000 pounds of batteries in the belly of the plane to give its twin engines the power they need to fly.
The aircraft made its maiden flight in September, despite being short-hauled, but managed to fly for eight minutes in the air. As battery technology improves, the company hopes it can carry nine passengers up to 200 miles away.
Sikorsky OPV Black Hawk: a self-flying military helicopter
It is customary for two pilots to sit in the front of the Army “Black Hawk” helicopter. But what if the helicopter could be operated without them, especially in dangerous missions?
This is exactly what the UH-60 can do. The self-flying helicopter made its maiden flight in February and then took off again in October, also carrying 2,600 pounds of weight underneath.
Zipline’s “Spot and Avoid” drones that can listen for obstacles in flight
With drones and other small aircraft still dotting the skies, all parties involved have an interest in avoiding collisions. But figuring out the best way for a drone to detect potential obstacles isn’t an easy problem to solve.
Drone delivery company Zipline has turned to sound, not sight, to solve this conundrum. Eight microphones on the plane’s wing listen for traffic and can proactively change the plane’s lane to move before the collision. The integrated GPU and AI also help get the job done.
The “DART” mission of NASA and the Johns Hopkins Laboratory of Physics: collision with an asteroid
Earthlings who look up to the sky in fear that a space rock might fall and destroy our world can now breathe a sigh of relief.
On Sept. 26, a 1,100-pound spacecraft deliberately collided with a 525-foot-diameter asteroid at more than 14,000 miles per hour. NASA confirmed on Oct. 11 that the effect of the asteroid reorientation test was that it changed its orbit more than expected. Thanks to DART, humans have redirected an asteroid for the first time.
This experiment gives astronomers hope that they can repeat it to avoid the end of the world.
SLAC’s LSST / Vera C. Rubin Observatory: 3200 MP camera
Very soon, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the high desert of northern Chile will provide astronomers with what will be a near-live view of the Southern Hemisphere sky. To do so, it will rely on the world’s largest camera with a 5-foot-wide lens that will be capable of capturing stunning 3,200-megapixel images.
Boeing’s Starliner: a new way to reach the International Space Station
After years of budget problems, technical delays and failed tests, the long-awaited ‘Starliner’ crew capsule has finally taken to the skies, arriving at its destination. The spacecraft completed a successful uncrewed test launch in May, docked with the International Space Station, and then landed back on Earth.
Now, Boeing and NASA are preparing for the first manned test of the Starliner, scheduled for launch in 2023.
