Chromalloy’s Post

The space shuttle columbia investigation discusses the necessity of conducting thorough Root Cause Analyses (RCAs) in manufacturing organizations, particularly in the wake of catastrophic events like the Challenger disaster and the Columbia tragedy. It stresses the importance of rigorous investigative procedures, dispelling the myth that such catastrophic events can be traced back to a single cause. This points to the necessity for analyses grounded in evidence rather than quick conclusions pressured by public demand, calling for the adoption of learned lessons to avert similar disasters in the future. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g-YpkF6X 

The space shuttle columbia investigation discusses the necessity of conducting thorough Root Cause Analyses (RCAs) in manufacturing organizations, particularly in the wake of catastrophic events like the Challenger disaster and the Columbia tragedy. It stresses the importance of rigorous investigative procedures, dispelling the myth that such catastrophic events can be traced back to a single cause. This points to the necessity for analyses grounded in evidence rather than quick conclusions pressured by public demand, calling for the adoption of learned lessons to avert similar disasters in the future. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gajvcwwB 

The Coming Boom in Rare Earths It would be an overstatement to say that the modern world runs on rare-earth elements. But as overstatements go, that one has more than a grain of truth. Because of their unique luminescent, electrochemical, and magnetocrystalline properties, rare-earth elements are essential to some of the most important and fastest-growing tech-based industries. They’re used in the phosphors that make white-light and other LEDs possible, and they’re in compounds used to purify key semiconductor materials such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride, to indicate just a couple of their scores of applications in technology. Perhaps most importantly, though, they’re essential components of the permanent magnets used in the motors of most electric vehicles and many appliances, and also in the generators in most wind turbines. As much as 90 percent of processed rare-earth elements come from China, a supply-chain dependence that spooks Western executives and, especially, defense officials. That critical importance of rare-earths in so many tech industries is of mounting concern in many Western countries. As much as 90 percent of processed rare-earth elements come from China, a supply-chain dependence that spooks Western executives and, especially, defense officials. Rare earths are vital to countless military applications, including night-vision goggles, laser-targeting and -rangefinding systems, avionic displays, and polishing and other compounds for optical lenses. In addition, rare-earth permanent magnets are used in the motors and actuators for many military systems, such as the ones that steer missiles and smart bombs, as well as assemblies in the engines of the F-35 fighter jet , and in the traveling-wave-tube and klystron systems used in radars and satellite communications. On February 24, 2021, U.S. President Joseph R. Biden signed an Executive Order directing the U.S. Department of Defense and other agencies to assess the vulnerabilities of critical US supply chains, including those for rare earths. That order was followed over the next couple of years by the DoD’s awarding of well over US $100 million in grants, investments, and initiatives aimed at shoring up U.S. access to rare earths . A cornerstone of the program was a $35 million award , in February 2022, to MP Materials to design and build a facility to extract and process rare-earth elements from ore at its Mountain Pass mine in California. It followed an earlier, $10 million award to MP Materials, in November 2020. The facility is on the site of the last major rare-earth processing plant in the United States, which ceased operations in the 1990s . Now, with the Mountain Pass plant starting operations and several other such facilities planned for construction in the next couple of years, Western officials are grappling with the environmental implications of a large-scale return of rare-earth processing. A worker at the MP Materials processing facility in California

A truly interesting dialogue about an area with huge importance for the development in other connected areas - see the recorded seminar from the link below

Several days ago, the US Secretary of Energy issued a tweet identifying DOE interest in space solar power. "DOE and DOI's plan for developing offshore wind transmission on the U.S. Atlantic coast, space-based solar power IRL, and @POTUS ' American Climate Corps." The Secretary's tweet made reference to the NYT article I recently discussed here: https://lnkd.in/gf4BDbhR While I am hopeful that this is a positive step, surging DOE interest in nuclear fission power—specifically the "new" small modular reactors—coupled with renewed wind and ground solar funding, a focus on creating what appear to be make-work green energy jobs, and an unrelenting drive for a forced scarcity-driven path to clean energy make me doubtful of the sincerity of this effort. I think they are playing political catchup with Europe, Japan, and China regarding SSP. The United States needs a carefully crafted, quantitatively-based national clean energy transition strategy that will rapidly return the US to energy independence using domestic fossil carbon fuels while accelerating an orderly transition to replacement clean energy—a transition that, properly engineered, should be largely transparent to the end energy users. The timeline for this transition and the priorities for funding will be established by the underlying quantitative analyses meaning no more "made up" dates. See my YouTube video to understand what an orderly transition would look like: https://lnkd.in/grzeKUKK #DOE #NASA #spacesolarpower #astroelectricity #cleanenergy #nuclearpower #windpower #solarpower #spacefaringinstitute

Summer 2023, according to NASA the hottest on record, reminds us of the need to consider changing climate elements in our long-term military planning. Logistics, particularly lift capabilities, are especially sensitive to changes in air temperature. Authors Kaitlyn Benton and Timothy Leslie share their findings on barriers to force projection across the globe to 2099 in our Summer 2023 issue: https://lnkd.in/eukQbAtX Air University PressAir University#climatechange#logistics#airforce#aeriallift#militaryplanning

"Tool performed great. TD was at 14,387 MD and 14,332 TVD. We had absolutely no problem with the signal, and we were still downlinking with no problem at TD. At TD, we were running 2 hertz, 17 watts, and the signal to noise ratio was 6.5. We had a few software/firmware issues, but were able to work around them." - Well in Wyoming where 14,000+ depth was achieved https://lnkd.in/gSyHkPi4 #directionaldrilling #mwd #oilandgas #surveymanagement #horizontaldrilling #drillingengineering #wellplacement #geology 

"Dive into the mesmerizing world beneath the surface! 🚢✨ Explore the intricate view on ship propeller, the powerhouse of propulsion. A glimpse into #ShipLife, where vessels are moored alongside, revealing the heartbeat of marine engineering. 🔄⚓️ #PropellerMagic #MaritimeWonders"

Breaking the Ice: The Vital Role of Icebreaker Ships. In maritime transportation, icebreaker ships are indispensable. With reinforced hulls and immense power, they carve pathways through frozen seas, enabling year-round navigation in some of the harshest regions on Earth. These pioneers brave extreme conditions, ensuring open shipping lanes for commerce, research, and exploration. At the heart of every icebreaker is a powerhouse of engineering marvels. These vessels boast reinforced hulls designed to withstand the crushing pressure of ice packs. Propulsion systems, often utilizing a combination of diesel and nuclear power, provide the immense thrust needed to propel through frozen waters. Moreover, advanced navigation and ice-detection technologies ensure safe and efficient operation even in the most challenging environments. Icebreakers facilitate global connectivity by supporting economic activities and scientific research in remote regions. Collaboration is key, as nations work together to navigate polar geopolitics and ensure sustainable use of these vital waterways. Challenges such as climate change drive innovation in icebreaking technology, exemplified by vessels like the Russian Arktika-class icebreakers and others like the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent and USCGC Polar Star. As guardians of our planet's polar frontiers, icebreaker ships continue to play a crucial role in connecting our global community and unlocking the mysteries of the icy realms. #icebreaker #maritime

PODCAST: https://buff.ly/3RJ91Py Guest: Dr. Andy Spry, Consultant to the Planetary Protection Officer, NASA In this episode, we discuss NASA's Office of Planetary Protection, which focuses on mitigating contamination risk for space missions. Their efforts cover both forward contamination—ie, contaminating extraterrestrial bodies with organisms from Earth—and backward contamination—ie, contaminating Earth with organisms from other extraterrestrial bodies. Planetary protection functions much like laboratory biosafety, but on a much larger scale! The Planetary Protection office is responsible for developing and implementing the processes and standards necessary to ensure cleanliness and containment, and these considerations are part of the long-term planning that goes into all of NASA's space missions, including historical, current, and future efforts to return sample materials collected from the Moon, asteroids, and Mars.