Blue Origin Plans Major Job Cuts to Focus on Rocket Launches Blue Origin, the rocket company backed by Jeff Bezos, is preparing for large-scale job cuts to reduce costs and shift focus toward increasing rocket launches. Bloomberg News reported the news on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. Layoffs Could Affect Hundreds of Jobs The exact number of layoffs remains unclear. However, one source told Bloomberg that the company could cut hundreds of positions, potentially exceeding 1,000. Bezos’ company is expected to discuss these layoffs in an all-hands meeting led by CEO Dave Limp on Thursday morning. Cost-Cutting Follows…
Author: Aishwarya Parikh
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China’s Space Diplomacy: Egypt’s Satellite Facility Under the Spotlight On the outskirts of Cairo, a new satellite lab was introduced as Africa’s first factory to produce homegrown satellites. However, a closer look inside reveals a different story. Much of the equipment arrives from Beijing, Chinese scientists oversee operations, and a Chinese flag adorns the wall, establishishing China’s space diplomacy. The first satellite assembled there—hailed as a milestone for African space technology—was mostly built in China and launched from a Chinese spaceport in December 2023. This facility is part of China’s expanding space footprint in Africa, aimed at building strategic alliances…
Taiwan-Japan Satellite Captures High-Quality Earth Images A Japanese startup, ArkEdge Space, announced on Friday that an observation satellite it helped build for Taiwan’s space agency has captured what could be the highest-quality Earth imagery ever taken. The Taiwan-Japan satellite is smaller than a suitcase. ONGLAISAT’s Impressive Imaging Capabilities The small optical observation satellite, ONGLAISAT, took 2.5-metre resolution images after entering orbit at about 400 km above Earth in December. ArkEdge’s CEO, Takayoshi Fukuyo, highlighted the satellite’s capability, stating, “The pictures are as clear as aerial photography despite being taken by a satellite of this size.” He believes ONGLAISAT has set…
South Korea Blocks DeepSeek Over Security Concerns South Korea blocks DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup, citing security risks. The move follows a broader government directive urging caution in using AI services, including DeepSeek and ChatGPT, in official work environments. Expanding AI Restrictions in South Korea Several government agencies and companies have implemented similar measures: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power blocked AI services, including DeepSeek, earlier this month. The defence ministry has restricted access to DeepSeek on military-use computers. The foreign ministry has limited access to DeepSeek on computers connected to external networks. Kakao Corp, a leading South Korean…
UK Engineers Develop Race Car Powered by Sewage A team of engineers in the UK is exploring a unique way to run a car powered by sewage. The innovative project, called Waste2Race, aims to showcase sustainable technologies in motor racing while pushing the boundaries of renewable energy. Harnessing Sewage for Clean Energy Researchers at the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick have developed a hydrogen-powered race car that runs on fuel derived from wastewater. Instead of traditional fossil fuels, the car uses hydrogen extracted from sewage through a cutting-edge process designed by UK-based company Wastewater Fuels. Dr.…
Boom Supersonic XB-1 Becomes First Private Jet to Break Sound Barrier Boom Supersonic XB-1 made aviation history on Tuesday, becoming the first privately funded aircraft to break the sound barrier. The test flight took place at 35,000 feet (10,670 meters) over the Mojave Desert, northwest of Los Angeles. Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg expressed his excitement after the flight, saying, “She was real happy supersonic. That’s the best she’s ever flown, was supersonic.” The XB-1 reached Mach 1.1, or about 845 mph (1,360 kph), surpassing the speed of sound. This achievement comes nearly eight decades after Chuck Yeager became…
The Vatican: AI’s Potential to Spread Misinformation Raises Alarm The Vatican has called on governments to closely monitor the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), warning of its potential to spread misinformation and destabilise society. In a document titled Antica et nova (Ancient and New), two Vatican departments, with approval from Pope Francis, stressed that AI-generated fake media could “undermine the foundations of society.” The document emphasised that misinformation—especially when amplified by AI-driven tools—can unintentionally fuel political polarisation and social unrest. It urged the creation of regulatory frameworks to address these risks and promote ethical AI use. Pope Francis: A…
What would it take to create one of Israel’s best-known missile shields, the Iron Dome, in India? While the technology is patented in Israel, the patent is territorial. This means there isn’t a lot stopping Indian researchers and developers from recreating the Iron Dome within India. Especially since its blueprint has been available in the public domain since 2013. This situation is not unique to the Iron Dome. At the ‘Emerging Technologies Shaping Modern Defence’ tech talk hosted by IP Bazzaar and RIPA, it was noted that out of all patented products globally, just 1-2% are patented in India. This…
Global Moon Race Heats Up with Dual Lunar Lander Launch Two moon landers, one from Japan and another from US, Ispace and Firefly respectively, were mounted atop a SpaceX rocket in Florida on Tuesday. The Ispace and Firefly launch signifies a unique double moonshot, highlighting the international push to explore the lunar surface for scientific and commercial purposes. Ispace’s Second Moon Mission: Aiming for Redemption Japanese space exploration firm ispace is preparing to launch its Hakuto-R Mission 2. This marks its second attempt to land on the moon after a near-successful mission in April 2023 ended in failure due to…
India’s Pixxel to Launch Hyperspectral Satellites with SpaceX, Marking Industry Milestone Pixxel, an Indian space startup, is set to launch three of its six hyperspectral imaging satellites aboard a SpaceX rocket from California on Tuesday. This marks a major step for India’s private space sector. The satellites will be positioned in a sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 550 km altitude. The remaining three satellites are expected to launch later in the year, during the second quarter. A Milestone for India’s Private Space Industry The launch is scheduled to take place at the Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:45 a.m. Pacific Time…