FAA Grants SpaceX Launch Approval After Previous Test Failures The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the next launch of SpaceX Starship rocket. This decision comes after a thorough review of safety measures following two previous test failures earlier this year. The upcoming flight, known as Starship Flight 9, could take place as early as Tuesday, 27 May, depending on weather conditions and SpaceX’s preparations. Starship, standing at 400 feet (122 metres), is central to future US space missions. However, its recent back-to-back failures in January and March drew international attention. Debris from these tests landed in areas including…
Author: StratNewsGlobal Tech Team
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Major financial blow as court dismisses appeal by Vodafone Idea India’s Supreme Court has dismissed plea made by Vodafone Idea to waive over $5 billion in dues to the government. This decision marks a significant setback for the troubled telecom provider, which is already facing a heavy debt burden and declining financial stability. Vodafone Idea has struggled to pay its spectrum and revenue-sharing dues since a 2019 court ruling expanded the definition of adjusted gross revenue (AGR). This widened the scope of what counts as revenue, increasing the dues owed by telecom operators. Impact on Vodafone Idea greater than Bharti…
China’s Humanoid Robots Meant to Aid, Not Replace, Human Workers China’s Humanoid robots are not intended to replace human jobs, according to a senior official at a major tech hub in Beijing. Liang Liang, a deputy director at the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, made this clear during an interview with foreign media on Friday. He emphasised that the growing robotics sector, despite state support and rapid expansion, will focus on improving productivity. According to Liang, robots are best suited for tasks that are dangerous or too demanding for humans. “We don’t believe robots will cause unemployment,” he said. “Instead, they’ll…
Japan Expresses Continued Commitment to US Lunar Efforts Japan has pledged support for the United States’ more cost-effective lunar missions, following a proposed $6 billion budget cut to NASA. This significant reduction could impact the Artemis programme, which aims to return astronauts to the moon. The Artemis project, initiated during former President Donald Trump’s first term, includes international partners such as Japan, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Canada. It has developed into a large-scale mission to send astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972. Hiroshi Yamakawa, President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), stated…
Mexico Investigates Killing of Beauty Influencer as Femicide Authorities in Mexico are investigating the murder of Valeria Marquez, a 23-year-old beauty influencer, who was shot dead while livestreaming on TikTok. President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Thursday that the country’s top security officials are actively involved in the probe. Attack Caught on Livestream Marquez was in a beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco, when a man entered and fatally shot her. Seconds before the attack, she appeared concerned during her livestream, mentioning that someone had earlier arrived with an “expensive gift” for her. She was not present at the time and said…
UK-Based Firm Gains Major Backing for Satellite Development British space technology firm Space Forge has raised £22.6 million ($29.8 million) in a new funding round led by the NATO Innovation Fund. The announcement, made on Wednesday, highlights strong investor interest in the fast-growing space sector. Founded in 2018, Space Forge specialises in manufacturing advanced materials in space. These materials have potential applications in various high-tech industries, including semiconductors. The newly secured funds will support the company’s next phase of satellite development. Expanding Space Economy Draws Global Investment The global space industry is expanding rapidly, driven by competition among the US,…
Media Briefing Scheduled for Ax-4 Mission Launch Updates NASA will participate in a media teleconference hosted by Axiom Space on Tuesday, 20 May, at 10:30 a.m. EDT. The discussion will focus on the upcoming Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), the fourth private astronaut flight to the International Space Station (ISS). The briefing will feature several key speakers, including Dana Weigel, the manager of NASA’s ISS Programme, and Allen Flynt, Axiom Space’s chief of mission services. Other participants are Sarah Walker from SpaceX, Sergio Palumberi of the European Space Agency, Aleksandra Bukała from the Polish Space Agency, and Orsolya Ferencz representing HUNOR,…
U.S. Unveils Major Plan to Modernise Air Traffic Control System U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced a sweeping proposal to modernise the nation’s ageing air traffic control system. The effort aims to tackle growing airport congestion, reduce flight delays and improve safety standards. A Complete Overhaul of a Failing System Speaking at an event on Thursday, Duffy said the current system is beyond repair. “The system we have here is not worth saving,” he stated, estimating the project would take three to four years. He described the need for a “brand new state-of-the-art air traffic control system,” noting that…
Critical minerals are non-fuel minerals that are essential in use and come with serious supply risks, says Pranay Kothasthane of the Tech Geopolitics programme at the Takshashila Institution in Bengaluru. In this conversation on StratNewsGlobal.Tech, Kothasthane points to the widespread use of such minerals, in everything from electronics to magnets, and even defence applications. But they are used in small quantities, which many countries find uneconomical to explore for and process. https://youtu.be/iYKls6BwP1k It explains China’s stranglehold over their supply but Kotasthane argues that Beijing’s move to leverage its control can only backfire as the world finds alternatives top such minerals.…
Last week, Ather Energy, a startup that originated in the IIT Madras Incubation Cell, successfully closed its IPO. Having successfully evolved from a startup to a commercial venture, Ather Energy has emerged as the poster boy of the incubation cell. Coincidentally, this development came about on the heels of the announcement from the incubation cell that it had birthed a record 104 deeptech startups last year. Cumulatively, it is home to about 460 startups. Not surprisingly, it is being dubbed as the deeptech hub for India. https://youtu.be/twbzL9Q9ZFY How did IIT Madras pull this off? Can these learnings, especially in forging…