<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4E1sQW_0wCVH0FY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4E1sQW_0wCVH0FY00" width="600" height="350" ><h2>Bringing Rock Samples from Mars to Earth</h2>Rocket Lab announced that it has been selected by NASA to complete a study for retrieving rock samples from the Martian surface and bringing them to Earth for the first time. The mission would fulfill some of the highest priority solar system exploration goals for the science community – to revolutionize humanity’s understanding of Mars, potentially answer whether life ever existed on the Martian surface and help prepare for the first human explorers to the Red Planet.NASA’s Rapid Mission Design Studies for Mars Sample Return solicits industry proposals to carry out rapid studies of mission designs and mission elements capable of delivering samples collected by the Mars Perseverance rover from the surface of Mars to Earth. The results of this study will inform a potential update to NASA’s Mars Sample Return Program and may result in future procurements with industry.Rocket Lab’s study will explore a simplified, end-to-end mission concept that would be delivered for a fraction of the current projected program cost and completed several years earlier than the current expected sample return date in 2040.“Retrieving samples from Mars is one of the most ambitious and scientifically important endeavors humanity has ever embarked upon. We’ve developed an innovative mission concept to make it happen affordably and on an accelerated schedule,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck. “Rocket Lab has been methodically implementing a strategy for cost-effective planetary science in recent years, making us uniquely suited to deliver a low cost, rapid Mars Sample Return.“We’ve demonstrated this strategy by delivering a NASA mission to the Moon, enabling rendezvous and proximity operations in orbit, successfully re-entering a capsule from orbit to Earth, delivering two spacecraft to NASA for a Mars mission and much more. We look forward to bringing our proven capabilities together to deliver a compelling, innovative mission solution that puts Mars rocks in the hands of scientists sooner.”Rocket Lab’s proposed mission architecture will be revealed once the study is complete in the coming months.<h2>Prepare for Flu Season</h2>Flu season typically peaks between December and February, and vaccination is the best defense. Dr Ali Jamehdor, Emergency Medicine Physician with Dignity Health St Mary Medical Center, emphasizes the importance of early vaccination.“Getting your flu shot is crucial this year,” shares Dr. Jamehdor. “The flu is a serious illness, especially for the elderly and those who are immunocompromised, like cancer or transplant patients. It can lead to severe complications and even death, with up to 50,000 fatalities annually.”In addition to vaccination, our experts recommend the following preventive measures:<ul><li>Practice good hand hygiene by washing hands frequently.</li><li>Avoid close contact with sick individuals.</li><li>Stay home if you’re feeling unwell to prevent spreading illness.</li><li>Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing.</li></ul>Flu season typically occurs between October and May, with activity peaking between December and February. The flu vaccine plays a pivotal role in preventing significant flu-related illnesses, including hospitalization and death.“The vaccine is your best shot at reducing your risk of ending up in the hospital or worse,” Dr. Jamehdor adds. Together, we can work to reduce the impact of flu season in our community.<h2>Over 35,000 Potholes Filled Since April</h2>The Department of Public Works has reached a milestone in its efforts to reduce the number of potholes citywide, with over 35,000 potholes repaired since April 2024, cutting in more than half the 63,000 potholes that were estimated at the beginning of this year.As part of the city’s Spring-Cleaning Initiative that took place this past May, Public Works announced their campaign to fill approximately 5,000 potholes each month through the end of 2024 to address the backlog of potholes caused from the unprecedented rainfall Long Beach experienced during the winter storm season.Pothole crews are a traditional element of the Public Services Bureau. Crews work year-round to address potholes, typically filling 40,000 a year on average. Potholes occur when water penetrates the surface of the road and affects the underlying base material. This infiltration compromises the integrity of the roadway structure, leading to fractures that eventually result in potholes.Long Beach has experienced nearly 24 inches of rainfall so far this year, surpassing the annual average by 12.4 inches, resulting in a 30% projected increase in potholes citywide.As part of the pothole filling effort, six crews were initially deployed six days a week to fill potholes in areas throughout Long Beach, doubling the department’s standard operations. There are currently five permanent crew members comprised of 18 full-time Public Works staff members and three part-time members from the Conservation Corps of Long Beach who continue to address potholes six days a week.“Filling over 35,000 potholes caused by record-breaking rainfall this past winter in just five months is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the dedication and hard work of our Public Works team,” said Director of Public Works Eric Lopez. “We remain committed to improving our roadway infrastructure and enhancing the safety and livability of our community.”In early August, pothole crews successfully completed 25,000 pothole repairs throughout the city, which quickly increased to over 30,000 before the month’s end. To date, the most potholes filled in one month was 6,954, which occurred in July. In the coming weeks, crews will begin utilizing specially designed trucks, designed by city staff, that will increase pothole repair capacity over the coming years, doubling productivity by increasing the fleet from three to six trucks.Requests to fill potholes are submitted via the city’s Go Long Beach service request portal. The Public Works team investigates, then repairs all submitted claims. When out in the field addressing specific claims, crews will also repair any unreported pothole in the general area until the daily supply of hot asphalt is exhausted, an additional effort that uplifts the city’s overall response and attention to potholes. Crews will also select major streets to address potholes within city limits, done so using an equity lens so that repair resources are shared throughout all areas of the city.The Public Works Department is committed to maintaining a monthly target of 5,000 pothole repairs to reduce the total number of potholes in Long Beach to below 10,000 by Feb. 1, 2025.<h2>New Water Debris-Collecting Device Tested</h2>The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) has announced its new Jellyfishbot, a remotely controlled debris-collecting device that can remove up to 100 pounds of debris from surface-level water in a single mission. The Jellyfishbot will enhance city efforts to clean Long Beach marina waters and raise awareness on larger marine pollution issues.Jellyfishbot is a versatile, easy-to-use solution for cleaning waste and debris from water. This electric-powered robot offers many state-of-the-art features, including a Global Positioning System (GPS) that will allow staff to create designated operating areas and chart a map of water depths; a live camera feed and built-in collision avoidance systems to detect obstacles above and under water; and a net system attached to the back of the device that can collect up to 100 pounds of debris.This new device will allow Marine Bureau staff to more effectively and efficiently address the removal of smaller water debris. Typically, debris removal operations of this size require a boat and additional staffing to drive and net the debris manually. With the Jellyfishbot, one staff member can remotely operate the device and remove debris.Additionally, the relatively small size of the device allows it to maneuver into otherwise hard-to-reach areas. The robot will be used as part of the Marine Bureau’s weekly operations, as well as after storm events where an influx of debris is traditionally seen. The Jellyfishbot made its debut the week of Sept. 30.The city has recently made significant investments and efforts to improve water quality and mitigate debris on the city’s beaches. As part of the Adopted Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, one-time funding was approved for a barber surf rake to support the Beach Clean-up Crew and increase the frequency of the city’s beachfront waterline clean-up, as well as a new trash interceptor barge to be placed in the Los Angeles River to improve water quality.The city has also been actively working to leverage regional partnerships and advocate for regional infrastructure improvements to address upstream sewage spills and continues to advocate for additional state funding to be allocated to communities impacted by sewage spills.</div></body>

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Rocket Lab announced that it has been selected by NASA to complete a study for retrieving rock samples from the Martian surface and bringing them to Earth for the first time. The mission would fulfill some of the highest priority solar system exploration goals for the science community – to revolutionize humanity’s understanding of Mars, potentially answer whether life ever existed on the Martian surface and help prepare for the first human explorers to the Red Planet.