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Enhancing a 1960s Scheme for Giant Planets Exploration

NASA engineers in the 1960s had a visionary plan to explore the giant planets of our solar system using small lifting-body aircraft. These aircraft would be dropped into the atmosphere of a giant planet, gathering data as they glided down. Although it would be a one-way trip leading to destruction, the unique design of these aircraft would allow them to navigate different atmospheric layers, transmitting valuable data back to a parent satellite. Fast forward to today, and an updated version of this 1960s design is currently being tested at NASA, with a drop-test flight from a helicopter scheduled for this month.

The principal investigator at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, John Bodylski, spoke about the importance of this project, stating, “We are looking to take an idea to flight and show that a lifting body aircraft can fly as a probe at this scale – that it can be stable, that components can be integrated into the probe, and that the aircraft can achieve some amount of lift.” Bodylski and his team aim to demonstrate that a lifting body aircraft design could meet the requirements for an atmospheric probe that could be utilized at giant planets like Uranus or Jupiter.

The concept behind these lifting body aircraft is that they rely on their unique blunt shape for lift, eliminating the need for traditional wings. Two lifting body aircraft have been designed by the team, each measuring around 70 cm in length and 60 cm in width. One of these aircraft is nearly complete and ready for flight testing.

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NASA has a rich history of testing lifting bodies, dating back to the 1960s. Various designs, such as the M2-F1, M2-F2, HL-10, X-20, X-24A, and X-24B, were tested to demonstrate the ability to maneuver and safely land a wingless vehicle. These tests were crucial in validating the concept of flying a vehicle back to Earth from space and landing it like an aircraft. While the Space Shuttle faced challenges, planetary scientists in the 1960s recognized the potential of using lifting body designs for smaller uncrewed probes.

Current atmospheric probes, such as CubeSats, can gather data for only about 40 minutes before losing contact with their parent satellite. In contrast, Bodylski estimates that the lifting body design could descend more rapidly and collect the same information in just 10 minutes, while also gathering additional data from deeper within a planet’s thick atmosphere for an additional 30 minutes.

While lifting bodies have had their ups and downs over the years, with projects like the Dyna Soar and VentureStar facing cancellation, the current project led by Bodylski shows promise in revitalizing this concept for planetary exploration. The innovative design and capabilities of these lifting body aircraft could open new avenues for studying the giant planets of our solar system.

As the drop-test flight approaches, the team at NASA is eagerly anticipating the results of this groundbreaking experiment. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting project as we push the boundaries of aerospace innovation and exploration.

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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?

Now may be the time to buy gold following a recent lull in its price.

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The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.

This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.

In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?

Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.

Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?

With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:

Prices may rise again

If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.

But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.

Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.

You may be able to make a quick profit

Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.

Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.

There are other benefits of investing in gold

There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:

Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.

The bottom line

Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he’s not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, two dogs and two ducks.