Wayward SpaceX rocket to crash into the moon – National & International News – THU 27Jan2022

Wayward SpaceX rocket to crash into the moon. Slain NYPD officer saves five lives through organ donation. Experts: Russia will wait until after China Olympics to act in Ukraine.

NATIONAL NEWS

Wayward SpaceX rocket to crash into the moon

In what scientists believe is a first, a piece of space debris will crash into the moon in the next few weeks. Seven years ago, NOAA’s Deep Space Climate Observatory used a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to launch a space weather satellite on a million-mile mission. But after successfully launching the satellite, the rocket did not have sufficient fuel to return to Earth. It also ” lacked the momentum “to escape the gravity of the Earth-Moon system”. Since then, the rocket has been careening out-of-control through space. 

On its current trajectory, observers project that the four metric tons of space debris will slam into the dark side of the moon on March 4, at an estimated speed of 2.58km/s. Bill Gray, who designs software to track near-earth objects, says, “This is the first unintentional case [of space junk hitting the moon] of which I am aware”.

But not to worry. Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell assures us that this is “not a big deal”. Some scientists are even hoping to learn something of the moon’s geology from the impact.

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Slain NYPD officer saves five lives through organ donation

Last week, two NYPD officers answered a domestic disturbance call in Harlem. A mother was in dispute with her son, Lashawn McNeil, 47. When officers Wilbert Mora, 27, and Jason Rivera, 22, arrived at the home, McNeil’s mother informed them he was holed up in his room down a hallway. As Mora and Rivera approached, McNeil opened the door of his room and shot both officers. Rivera died at the scene. McNeil attempted to flee but was shot by one of the officers in the head and arm and died later. It’s not clear from reporting which of the officers shot McNeil.

Mora underwent emergency surgery but remained in critical condition until he also died on Tuesday. Mora’s family wished to donate Mora’s organs. Leonard Achan of LiveOnNY, a nonprofit for organ donations, says that due to Mora’s “heroic gift of organ donation, five people who were waiting for a heart, liver, two kidneys, and pancreas were saved”.

New York Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said that “Wilbert is 3 times a hero. For choosing a life of service. For sacrificing his life to protect others. For giving life even in death through organ donation. Our heads are bowed & our hearts are heavy”.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Experts: Russia will wait until after China Olympics to act in Ukraine

Multiple sources both in Ukraine and the State Department speculate that if Vladimir Putin intends to invade Ukraine, he will likely wait until after the Beijing Winter Olympics. The games will start on Feb. 4 and run for about two weeks. Experts say that Putin will put off any offensive in Ukraine until after the games to avoid stealing China’s thunder. Some have speculated that Beijing may have specifically requested that Putin hold off, though both country’s deny this.

However, opinions differ on Russia’s resolve to actually invade Ukraine. On the one hand, U.S. officials are warning that such an invasion is likely “imminent”. On the other hand, Ukrainian officials are signaling they believe an all-out invasion is unlikely, or certainly not imminent.

Ukrainian commentators say that the 120,000 or so Russian troops on their border, while intimidating, would not be sufficient to invade or occupy even part of Ukraine. Some have estimated that Putin would need at least twice that number, which he could certainly muster if needed. The Ukrainians also say they haven’t seen sufficient support installations, like mobile hospital units, arriving at the Russian side of the border to indicate combat readiness. 

It’s worth noting, however, that Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been trying to strike a note of calm to discourage panic buying and possible bank runs. Ukrainians have been stocking up on food and other essentials in preparation for war. 

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