this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2023
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Space drugs factory denied reentry to Earth (gizmodo.com)
submitted 11 months ago by Wilshire@lemmy.world to c/nottheonion@lemmy.world
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[–] WarmSoda@lemm.ee 107 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (4 children)

This is actually pretty interesting.

On June 30, its first drug-manufacturing experiment succeeded in growing crystals of the drug ritonavir, which is used for the treatment of HIV, in orbit. The microgravity environment provides some benefits that could make for better production in space, overall reducing gravity-induced defects. Protein crystals made in space form larger and more perfect crystals than those created on Earth, according to NASA.

Unfortunately there's no info on why it's being denied reentry. (But my money is on the long standing secret policy of the dark world government lizard cat people to not cure space aids)(I also don't have any money)

[–] PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 47 points 11 months ago (3 children)

A spokesperson from the FAA told TechCrunch in an emailed statement that the company’s request was not granted at this time “due to the overall safety, risk and impact analysis.”

That could mean so many different things.

[–] krey@sh.itjust.works 8 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Occam's razor: They don't want a sattelite with an new compound with unknown effects to go down in someones backyard.

[–] PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

And I wouldn’t doubt that that played a huge role in the decision, but I’m curious as to what, if anything, changed between when they created the mission profile /launched it, and now. Did they not get some basic permit to launch it that also included the entry plan, which was approved?

That’s what I’m unsure of.

[–] nal@lib.lgbt 6 points 11 months ago

I don't think the launch permits have anything to do with this company at all. They would've just purchased a ride on another company's rocket (likely Space X or ULA). They probably assumed they could figure out reentry when they got to that point in the mission. I can't say for sure, but they very well may even have multiple plans for getting the capsule back, and this was just the first one they tried.

[–] DoomBot5@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago

I think they're more worried about it landing on someone's head.

[–] bradorsomething@ttrpg.network 3 points 11 months ago

I mean it could hit an F-35

[–] Etterra@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Nah, they're probably afraid subject else would get to it first and steal trade secrets. The Greed Principle overrides Occam's Razor.

[–] sramder@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Could just explicitly mean impact analysis, like we’re not cool with what happens if the parachute burns up or fails to deploy.

[–] PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yep, definitely an option. I guess I’m just confused as to why this is just now a problem and they didn’t have a plan from the beginning. Or if they did, what changed?

[–] sramder@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Right? Like was the kickstarter only partially funded ;-)

[–] DeusHircus@lemmy.zip 16 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I don't believe there's much of a track record for private crafts reentering from orbit, intending to be recovered. Most private crafts like communication satellites breakup on reentry and don't pose much of a risk to ground population. This station was designed specifically to survive reentry intact. I'm not sure what kind of deorbit equipment that station has but I would guess that's what the FAA is concerned with. Any failure of navigation or propulsion during deorbit could result in the station losing control which would have it crashing down in some unpredictable point and time along its 25,000 mile path over ground. Undoubtedly there are some large populations below the orbit of this station

[–] sramder@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

To paraphrase the CEO they are de-orbiting a 1986 Toyota Corolla. So if you try any course correction over about 80 Mph it’s just going to crash ;-)

[–] easydnesto@sh.itjust.works 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Man I really enjoyed Inside Job, I hope they get to finish the storyline.

[–] Jackcooper@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Is there precedent for shows that Netflix canceled getting a chance to finish their storylines?

[–] Skullgrid@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

they go to Adult Swim

[–] moody@lemmings.world 2 points 11 months ago

Sense8 eventually got a movie-length series finale to resolve the cliffhanger ending after the show was cancelled after season 2 was completed (in expectation of a season 3 being released)

[–] HerbalGamer@lemm.ee 7 points 11 months ago

Hey leave the kitties out of this

[–] CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social 40 points 11 months ago (3 children)

I wasn't aware you even needed permission to reenter a spacecraft, just thought you needed it to launch one. How does that work then, would one need permission from the country who's airspace your craft ends up in, or the one one's organization is based in? If the former, could they get around this by re-entering it over international waters?

[–] Sasquatch58@lemmy.world 15 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

The FAA designates 18,000 ft to flight level 600, which is 60,000 ft above sea level, as class A airspace. Any aircraft needs explicit permission to enter class A, so that's normally only when an airliner is climbing to cruising altitude, but it would also occur when a spacecraft is descending through 60,000 ft.

Other countries, I don't know exactly, but they all function fairly similarly.

[–] Iusedtobeanadventurer@lemmy.world 11 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Me neither.

Makes sense though. If the reentry is botched you're essentially aiming a ~300lb projectile (or a bunch of tinier projectiles) in this case at who knows what at terminal velocity.

Launches at least control where the thing leaves from and are designed to fallout over non inhabited areas in the event of a botched takeoff.

[–] postmateDumbass@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

I guess if you don't pay gravity then it won't pull your satellite back down.

They can't quanitize gravity after decades of effort but they sure can monetize it.

[–] TheLordHumungus@lemmy.world 27 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Space drug manufacturing? Dope as fuck

[–] Wilshire@lemmy.world 23 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Their drugs are out of this world.

[–] xionzui@sh.itjust.works 7 points 11 months ago

Higher than you’ve ever been

[–] Rozauhtuno@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 11 months ago

We are one step closer to real space pirates. This timeline might not be so bad after all.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 5 points 11 months ago

They better put the aurora in a shielded cargo bay or the FAA is gonna detect it in their scan.

[–] sebinspace@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Should try EVE. It’s lucrative as fuck.

[–] Fosheze@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Nothing hits quite like ninja huffing in wormholes.

[–] sebinspace@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

Y’all got any more…

-SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORT-

clouds?

[–] Lexam@lemmy.ca 23 points 11 months ago

Gravity laughs at your permissions!