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I am very happy I was able to visit the Aerospace Corporation. I most enjoyed talking with the female aerospace engineer. It was interesting to hear about her daily job (working with plasma). It was also inspiring because she studied the subject I intend in majoring in.

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The Aerospace Corporation is currently working on building a "Lithium-ion battery Deorbiter". Lithium batteries can explode if they are handled incorrectly. This phenomenon is known as a thermal runaway. The engineers at the Aerospace Corporation have figured out a way to activate the thermal runaway for use as a propulsion source at the end of a satellite's life. The problem is a lot of LEO satellites stay in space, cluttering the skies, for a significant period of time after their useful life is over. It takes a while for atmospheric drag to slow these satellites to a speed that causes them to fall back to earth. By using the energy released by battery runaway as propulsion, engineers can direct the satellites out of orbit. This could be an effective way to declutter the space around earth, reducing the risk of collisions.

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August 27, 1939 -  Erich Warsitz makes the first jet-powered flight in the Heinkel He 178.

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8/27/1939- The control tower gave me the go ahead. As I taxied onto the runway, I was both nervous and excited. I would be the first person to test the secret German jet engine. This technology could give us control over the skies and ultimately win us the war. Doubt started to creep into my mind though. This is a highly experimental technology and there is a lot that could go wrong. All of a sudden I realized I was on the runway's center-line and it was time to take off. I smoothly pushed the throttle level forward. Initially I was disappointed with the acceleration, but my disappointment turned into admiration when the turbo jet started to spool up. I pulled back on the stick and the wheels left the ground. As I climbed away, I evaluated the situation. Everything seemed to be functioning as it should. I looked at the airspeed indicator and it showed the plane getting faster and faster. I went to raise the landing gear, but it seemed to be stuck in the down position. This was not a big issue though. The wheels could still be used to land. Thinking of landing gear, I was reminded that it was time to head back for landing. This flight was only meant to last a couple of minutes. I lined myself up with the runway and watched the threshold through the windshield. I pulled the throttle to idle in order to glide towards my aim point. As I got closer to the runway I realized I was much too high and I did not have enough fuel to go around and try again. I quickly entered a forward slip. I jammed the right rudder pedal to the floor while simultaneously banking to the left. This maneuver made me fly sideways towards the runway. The relative wind was hitting the side of the plane, creating more drag. This helped the plane sink towards the intended landing point. I straightened the nose and leveled the wings just before I hit the ground. My smooth touchdown marked the end of a successful flight.

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