Rocket boosters are quite wasteful; most of them end up in the ocean because retrieving them from the water is expensive. And that’s why people in the aerospace industry are watching Rocket Lab’s next move with anticipation. A helicopter will be used to catch one of the company’s rocket boosters mid-air. The rocket booster will be slowed down to a speedy, but manageable, 36 km/h by a built-in parachute; the helicopter will then swoop down and catch the booster by its parachute cable. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here