Aviation

Super Ball BOT

Super Ball Bot is an all-in-one landing and mobility platform based on tensegrity structures, allowing for lower-cost, and more reliable planetary missions. Inspiration strikes from the most unlikely sources.

Adrian Agogino and Vytas Sunspiral of NASA’s Intelligent Systems Division and Fellows of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program (www.nasa.gov/niac) are in the process of developing a Super Ball Bot–a collapsible, terrestrial robot based on a tensegrity toy that could one day become important to NASA’s exploration goals.

These planetary surface explorers are sturdier and can withstand a substantial impact. The Super Ball Bot has a sphere-like matrix of cables and joints that could withstand being dropped from a spacecraft high above a planetary surface and hit the ground with a bounce.

Once on the planet, the joints could adjust to roll the bot in any direction while housing a data collecting device within its core. The lighter weight and maneuverability of the Super Ball Bot could make an exploration mission possible to Saturn’s moon Titan. It has a soft planetary surface more like hazardous marsh with lakes of liquid methane that would not be suitable for a traditional rover that could sink down and get stuck.

Aviation

Flames on the Runway: Russian Jet Sparks Emergency in Turkey

A dramatic incident unfolded at Turkey’s Antalya Airport on Sunday night when a Russian passenger plane caught fire shortly after landing.

The Azimuth Airlines Sukhoi Superjet 100, arriving from Sochi International Airport in Russia, was carrying 89 passengers and six crew members. Thankfully, all onboard were safely evacuated without any injuries reported.

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The fire broke out after the aircraft landed at 9:34 p.m. local time, prompting the pilot to issue an emergency call. Evacuation footage shared by Russian media site ЧП Сочи captured the tense moments as passengers slid down emergency slides, with some seen carrying large pieces of luggage despite the urgency of the situation.

The Russian Sukhoi Superjet in Turkey tonight, which crashed upon landing.

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Investigators at the time highlighted the critical impact of passengers retrieving their belongings, which obstructed others from escaping the burning aircraft.

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Although no injuries were reported this time, the episode serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing life over possessions during emergencies. Seconds can mean the difference between survival and tragedy in such situations.

In response to the incident, Turkey’s transportation ministry confirmed that efforts were underway to remove the damaged aircraft from the runway. While arrivals at Antalya Airport were temporarily suspended, departures continued from a nearby military-operated runway to minimize disruptions.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but the swift evacuation ensured a safe outcome for everyone on board.