Three Things for August 29
1. Engine problem leads NASA to scrub launch of new moon rocket
NASA’s new moon rocket launch was rescheduled after unexpected problems arose in their fueling systems.
The next launch test is set for Friday, at the earliest. Monday morning, NASA repeatedly stopped and started fueling the Space Launch System because of a leak of highly explosive hydrogen hoping to decrease the seepage levels to an acceptable rate, eventually they succeeded. This leak is the same one seen in the test last spring.
“This is a very complicated machine, a very complicated system, and all those things have to work, and you don’t want to light the candle until it’s ready to go,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
According to the Associated Press, the launch was already an hour off schedule due to the thunderstorms. One of the four engines was not cooling properly, so after the launch was rescheduled, engineers continued to work to find the cause of the problems.
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2. Unrest in Tripoli, Libya
This past weekend saw some of the worst fighting in recent years in Tripoli, Libya. On Saturday, Aug. 27, many battles raged throughout the city as the parliament-backed administration of Fathi Bashagha tried to oust the Tripoli-based government of Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah; however, much of the conflict had ceased by Sunday morning. As civilians returned to their homes and places of business, the fears of wider conflict still remained.
In the past months, there has been a stalemate between the two governments. However, many fear that the sudden clashes over the weekend could be the beginning of more sustained fighting.
The country of Libya has had very little peace since 2011, when a NATO-backed uprising ousted longtime autocrat Muammar Gaddafi, leading the country to be split in 2014, between Eastern and Western factions in the region.
For now, Bashagha’s prospects for gaining control of Libya, and the rest of Western Libya, are badly damaged. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any possibility of a diplomatic compromise to the conflict.
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3. India demolishes two 100-meter high residential buildings
On Sunday, Aug. 28, the Indian government demolished two residential buildings in downtown New Delhi after a nine year legal battle with the building's developers. The two buildings, named “Apex” and “Ceyane” contained roughly 1000 residential apartments between them. Apex was 32 floors and Ceyane was 29 floors, and both buildings were 100 meters (328 feet) high.
The buildings were built as part of a project being developed by the real estate firm Supertech Ltd., which was accused by the Indian government of violating construction regulations. The controlled implosion of the buildings used 3,700kg (8,160 pounds) of explosives, and is reportedly the largest demolition ever performed by India. Before the demolition was performed, thousands of people had to be evacuated from the area.
After the demolition, there have been no reports of injuries or damage to neighboring buildings.
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