Latest news with #SLS
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
Blocks all stacked for NASA's future Artemis tower at KSC
There's still more than a year's worth of work to do on NASA's future Artemis launch tower at Kennedy Space Center, but all of the big pieces have been put in place. The last of seven modular steel blocks that make up the bulk of the tower's height was put into place on July 2 by the tower's contractor Bechtel. The block called Mod 10 brings it to 377 feet tall from the base structure. "This achievement underscores our ongoing partnership with NASA and local unions, and the team's steady progress toward safe delivery of this critical infrastructure," the company said in an emailed statement. Progress has been tracked on the company's website with the latest addition dubbed "Reaching the Top." Mod 4 was the first of the seven blocks put in place on Jan. 3, growing the structure 272 feet in less than six months. Mod 10 will support the Crew Access Arm for ML-2, which is among the parts that have yet to be assembled before the company's deadline of November 2026 for delivery to NASA. ML-2 is designed for use on a larger version of NASA's Space Launch System rocket, which won't fly until at least the Artemis IV mission on NASA's roadmap in late 2028. The first three Artemis missions have or will use the ML-1, which was converted from use from NASA's defunct Constellation program. Artemis I was the first launch of SLS, an uncrewed test flight that sent Orion out to the moon and back. Artemis II will be the first crewed flight of Orion, looking to send four astronauts on a trip around the moon without landing no later than April 2026. Artemis III looks to return humans to the moon for the first time since the end of the Apollo program in 1972. That mission, which is reliant on the completion of SpaceX's in-development Starship as a human landing system as well as new spacesuits from Axiom Space, is targeting launch by summer 2027. Whether or not ML-2 would ever be used was in question as President Donald Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 sought to end the SLS rocket program as well as the Orion spacecraft, Gateway lunar space station and NASA's Exploration Ground Systems team based at KSC after the flight of Artemis III. But Congress, led by an effort from Sen. Ted Cruz, was able add more than $10 billion in this year's "Big, Beautiful Bill" to save SLS for both the fourth and fifth launches of Artemis as well as set aside money for Orion and Gateway. Both versions of the Senate and House budget bills for 2026, moreover, look to keep funding for Artemis' existing programs in place. Congress is the ultimate decider of what the federal budget will look like, although without an agreement, it's possible NASA will simply continue with funding based on current levels with continuing resolutions. Still, with funds already set aside, work continued in earnest to get ML-2 ready for the fourth Artemis flight. It's supposed to fly the first part of the Gateway station, and would use the larger version of SLS called the Block 1B that has more payload capacity. It too would feature a rendezvous and moon landing with Starship. The Artemis V mission is supposed to be the first flight to use Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander instead of Starship. NASA will still need to perform about a year's worth of tests and added work after Bechtel hands it off in 2026. The ML2 project, which was initially a $383 million contract awarded in 2019, had an original delivery date of 2023. A NASA Office of Inspector General audit released in August 2024 said the costs had already nearly tripled to more than $1 billion with the delivery date pushed into late 2026. It's part of the growing costs and delays associated with all facets of the Artemis program. In 2023, the OIG said by the time Artemis III flies, the program will have topped $93 billion in costs since it was originally announced in 2012. -------------- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Vogue Singapore
8 hours ago
- Health
- Vogue Singapore
Should you be using a shower head filter?
In the big, wide world of wellness, even the most innocuous of objects may prove to be hazardous to your health. In recent times, it seems even water is not spared from scrutiny—with health buffs speaking up on the negative effects it imparts on an individual's skin and hair. The solution, it seems, arises in the form of a shower head filter. Imagine a built-in sieve designed to reduce the presence and amount of irritating substances, where it is able to weed out nasties in the vein of lead and microplastics. The question, however, remains: is there any accuracy to this accusation? Funnily enough, the short answer is yes. 'Water does contain disinfectants such as chlorine and chloramine,' elaborates Dr Evelyn Tay, founder and consultant dermatologist at Lumine Dermatology and Laser Clinic. However, that's not to say it's detrimental to your overall wellbeing. 'While chlorine is a potential skin irritant, the role of chlorine on the skin, for example, in atopic eczema is unknown. Studies have not shown an inconsistent association between exposure to chlorine from swimming in childhood with the incidence of atopic eczema. In fact, the effects of chlorine on skin barrier dysfunction is less profound than the hardness of water.' What does hard water actually mean? 'Minerals such as calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate are found in our water. It also determines the hardness of the water,' states Dr Tay. 'This is often determined by the geography of where the water is obtained from. Removing calcium and magnesium carbonate from water has been shown to reduce the deposition of irritative substances such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) that is left on the skin post shower,' she goes on to add. 'In general, hard water is more alkaline. A higher pH on the skin is associated with an increase in breakdown of natural lipids in the skin, which play an important role in supporting skin barrier function. Hard water has also been shown to thin and weaken the hair shaft, as compared to deionized water. So, does a shower head filter help with this situation? Not according to Dr Tay. 'A shower head filter mainly removes minerals such as chlorine from water. You see, chlorine is often added to water as part of the disinfection process in water plants. However, a shower head filter does not change the hardness of water; a factor which is accounted for by the concentration of calcium and magnesium in water.' Are there any ways to go about reducing the hardness of water, then? There are water softener systems and devices out there that do the trick. Homeware brand, 3M, for instance, touts a version which claims to produce brighter clothing, cleaner dishes, as well as less detergent consumption. 'Removing hard minerals like calcium and magnesium will, essentially, better improve the pH of water and reduce irritation risk from shower materials such as SLS,' Dr Tay further explains. 'It may also improve the hair quality in those who have brittle and dry hair.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nécessaire (@necessaire) Does this mean that there are no proven benefits for using a shower head filter? Not exactly. While a shower head filter won't do as much in improving the complexions of individuals with normal skin types, Dr Tay is quick to point out that it is still beneficial for those with more dry, sensitive skin, particularly if they experience flare-ups after swimming. 'Incorporating a shower head filter into your regime does reduce chlorine concentration in bathing water, and it is proven that chlorine can potentially irritate the skin of those who have atopic dermatitis,' she says. 'It also has a potential drying effect by affecting the ability of the stratum corneum—that is, the outer layer of the skin—to retain water.'
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dan Rivera's death: Paranormal investigator Zak Bagans' haunting experience with the Annabelle doll is still creeping people out
Dan Rivera's death: Paranormal investigator Dan Rivera, 54, has died suddenly while touring with the infamous Annabelle doll, believed by many to be haunted. His unexpected death has left everyone in shock. As news of his passing spreads, many are recalling a chilling account shared by American paranormal expert Zak Bagans, who once described the disturbing impact touching the doll had on him. Here's what he said. Zak Bagans' haunting experience with the Annabelle doll Back in 2017, Zak Bagans took to his Facebook account to address the backlash he received for touching the haunted Annabelle doll. In response to the outrage, he shared a detailed account of how he felt in the doll's presence and described the unsettling experience he had during that time. Responding to criticism, Bagans emphasized that many viewers simply don't understand what it's like to be in such intense paranormal situations. He explained that he is a 'sensitive' not a psychic medium but someone who has always been highly receptive to energies, whether from living beings, objects, or spirits. He described his experiences around Annabelle as overwhelming, explaining that the doll was infused with a complex mix of layered energies. According to Bagans, a dark entity had latched onto the doll, using it as a host to influence and manipulate the living. He also believed that both past and present owners had contributed their own energies, both good and bad, to the doll. Its long stay in a cursed and haunted occult museum, surrounded by other possessed artifacts, only intensified the entity's strength. On top of that, the doll's Hollywood fame had brought greed, lawsuits, and negativity, further fueling the energy surrounding it. So many of you in outrage because I touched "Annabelle" so here's my response. While so many viewers think they know... Initially skeptical of Annabelle, Bagans said his doubts vanished once the doll arrived and his team began documenting significant evidence using various pieces of paranormal equipment. He and his colleagues, Billy and Aaron, felt extraordinary sensations around and beneath the doll. They captured spirit box voices saying "Annabelle," "Anna," and 'Grab leg,' among other messages. SLS camera evidence reportedly showed two figures entering Bagans when Annabelle's figure would leave the doll's body and go into his. How touching the Annabelle doll affected him He recounted becoming emotionally affected during the encounter, feeling inexplicably sad as the spirit box emitted phrases like 'you' and 'us,' which he interpreted as signs that the entity within Annabelle was attempting to manipulate him. He described going into a trance-like state, feeling freezing cold, while one of his team members was drenched in sweat. The event even stunned Tony Spera, curator of the Warren Occult Museum and the doll's custodian, who witnessed the evidence firsthand. Bagans admitted to touching Annabelle but claimed it was not a stunt for television. He said he felt compelled, as though something had taken hold of him. He expressed regret for upsetting Tony Spera and the late Lorraine Warren, acknowledging that the act of touching the doll seemed to trigger a series of strange events in his life. Despite the risks, he stood by the investigation, proud that his team was the first to investigate Annabelle on television and that they had captured what he described as 'incredible evidence.' What investigators have to say about Dan Rivera's death As reported by the New York Post, Dan Rivera, a U.S. Army veteran and paranormal investigator, passed away suddenly while on his sold-out "Devils on the Run Tour" in Pennsylvania. The incident occurred on Sunday, shortly after he concluded a three-day event in Gettysburg, hosted by "Ghostly Images of Gettysburg Tours" at the historic Soldiers National Orphanage, according to the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR). Rivera had been touring the country with the reportedly haunted Annabelle doll, visiting various paranormal sites. Emergency responders, including firefighters and medics, were called to his Gettysburg hotel that evening following a report of CPR in progress. However, by the time they arrived, Rivera had already passed away.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Increasing Demand for Bio-based Grades and Growing Penetration of Reinforced 3D Printing High-Performance Plastics
The 3D printing high-performance plastics market is set to grow significantly from USD 0.18 billion in 2025 to USD 0.45 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 20.4%. This growth is fueled by the rising demand for polyamide-based plastics, crucial in medical, automotive, and aerospace applications. Polyamides are favored for their mechanical and thermal properties, enhancing technologies like Selective Laser Sintering for efficient additive manufacturing. North America is projected to lead the growth, driven by industrial adoption and innovative applications. Key players, including Evonik and Arkema, are pivotal in this advancing market. 3D Printing High-Performance Plastic Market Dublin, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "3D Printing High-Performance Plastic Market by Type, Form, Technology, Application, End-use Industry, and Region - Global Forecast to 2030" has been added to offering. The 3D printing high-performance plastics market is poised for significant growth, with projections jumping from USD 0.18 billion in 2025 to USD 0.45 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 20.4%. The driving force behind this surge is the escalating demand for polyamide-based high-performance plastics, valued for their mechanical, thermal, and processing prowess. Market leaders and new entrants will benefit from this report by understanding revenue approximations and market subsegments. Stakeholders will gain a clearer understanding of the competitive landscape and strategic insights to effectively position their businesses. The analysis provides data on market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. Polyamides are highly compatible with powder bed fusion (PBF) technologies like Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), recognized for their capacity to economically produce complex, lightweight, and sturdy components with minimal material waste. In the realms of medicine and healthcare, 3D-printed polyamide applications extend to surgical tools, bespoke prosthetics, orthopedic implants, and anatomical models, thanks to their biocompatibility and ability to withstand sterilization, allowing customization for patient-specific needs. The automotive and aerospace sectors are increasingly reliant on polyamide-based materials to achieve rigorous performance and efficiency targets. These materials, with high strength-to-weight ratios, enable the crafting of components that support fuel efficiency and emission reduction while retaining structural integrity under intense conditions. This propels polyamide's prominence within the high-performance 3D printing arena. The aerospace & defense industry is set to be one of the quickest-growing sectors during the forecast period. The sector is invigorated by the demand for materials that deliver durability, thermal resistance, and efficiency. High-performance plastics like PEEK, PEKK, and PEI offer superb strength-to-weight ratios, facilitating the replacement of traditional metal parts with lighter alternatives, without sacrificing performance. Additive manufacturing enhances these materials' benefits by enabling intricate designs, minimizing assembly complexity, and optimizing part functionality - immensely beneficial in aerospace and defense domains. North America is anticipated to register the highest growth rate in this market during the forecast period. Propelled by robust industrial adoption and continuous innovation, North America stands at the forefront of 3D printing advancements. The region's key industries, including aerospace, automotive, and healthcare, increasingly exploit 3D printing for both prototyping and large-scale production involving high-performance plastics such as PEEK, PEKK, and PEI. Manufacturers in North America embrace additive manufacturing to bolster design flexibility, shorten lead times, reduce material waste, and promote on-demand, localized production. This not only aligns with agile manufacturing strategies but also bolsters supply chain resilience, placing the region at the cutting edge of global technological progress. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 335 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $0.18 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $0.45 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 20.4% Regions Covered Global Market Dynamics Drivers Increasing Applications in Medical & Healthcare, Aerospace & Defense, and Automotive Industries Development of Application-Specific Grades for 3D Printing High-Performance Plastics Government Initiatives to Support Adoption in Different Industries Rising Investments and Favorable Policies for Sustainable Solutions Restraints Environmental Concerns Regarding Disposal of 3D-Printed Plastic Products Skepticism About Acceptance of New Technologies in Emerging Economies Opportunities Increasing Demand for Bio-based Grades of 3D Printing High-Performance Plastics Growing Penetration of Reinforced 3D Printing High-Performance Plastics in Manufacturing Functional Parts Challenges High Manufacturing Cost of Commercial Grades of 3D Printing High-Performance Plastics Prolonged Lead Time Case Studies to Develop Materials for Aerospace and Automotive Industries to Produce Good-Quality Complex Parts at Rapid Pace Lockheed Martin and High-Performance Thermoplastics Evonik Introduced World's First Pa12 Powder for 3D Printing Based on Bio-Circular Raw Material Trends and Disruptions Trends and Disruptions Impacting Customer Business Company Profiles Evonik Industries Arkema Lehmann&Voss&Co. Nano Dimensions (Markforged) Oxford Performance Materials Eos GmbH Solvay Sabic Forward Am Technologies GmbH Impossible Objects Apium Additive Technologies GmbH Ensinger Victrex PLC Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation Toray Industries, Inc. Proto Labs 3Dxtech Zortrax Treed Filaments Formlabs Eplus3D Junhua Peek Sculpteo Peekchina For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment 3D Printing High-Performance Plastic Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New NASA contractor retains nearly all Michoud staffers that faced layoffs
NASA's Ground Transportation team guides NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket's completed core stage from NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to the agency's Pegasus barge on Jan. 8, 2023. (Tyler Martin/NASA). NEW ORLEANS – Nearly all of the employees of a NASA contractor at the Michoud Assembly Facility and Stennis Space Center that faced layoffs at the end of June have been hired by the company that's been awarded a similar contract. Syncom Spaces Services, a Fort Worth, Texas-based joint venture, gave official notice to state labor officials in May that it would lay off 296 employees once its contract with NASA expired at the end of June. Several positions were impacted, including construction personnel, electricians, maintenance workers and engineers in multiple disciplines. Nova Space Solutions was awarded an $823 million NASA contract last year to provide many of the same services as Syncom, and it has absorbed nearly all of the Michoud and Stennis staff that had worked for Syncom. CJ Loria, Nova's president and general manager, said in a statement to the Illuminator that its contract does not cover some of the functions at Stennis that were split off into separate contracts. They include security services, the Stennis Fire Department and rocket testing, 'We hired roughly 95% of the incumbent … workforce that were not on the other three previously mentioned contracts,' Loria said. Nova now employs 518 people at the two sites, with 260 of those at Michoud and 258 at Stennis. Nova Space Solutions is a joint venture between Chugach Government Solutions of Anchorage, Alaska, and Amentum, a major government contractor based in Virginia. Amentum was also a partner in the Syncom contract, having partnered with BWXT, a multi-industry government services provider also based in Virginia. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
