Philanthropist-Backed Coalition to Launch Satellite Targeting Methane Leaks A coalition supported by philanthropists, including former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, is set to launch a groundbreaking satellite on Friday. This initiative, leveraging NASA-developed technology, aims to detect and address methane leaks from space, a significant contributor to global warming. The Carbon Mapper Coalition’s Milestone Launch The satellite launch, part of the SpaceX Transporter-11 Rideshare mission, represents a significant milestone for the Carbon Mapper Coalition, which was established in 2021. The coalition brings together prominent organisations, including NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, satellite company Planet Labs, RMI, and Arizona State University. The…
Author: Kanika Sharma
Japanese Space Startup Astroscale Shares Surge on Major JAXA Contract Shares of Japanese space startup Astroscale (186A.T) soared by 19% on Monday following the announcement of a significant new contract. The company revealed that it is set to sign a 12 billion yen (£81 million) agreement with Japan’s space agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), to address the growing issue of space debris. Astroscale’s New Space Debris Removal Mission Astroscale Japan division will enter into the five-year contract with JAXA on Tuesday. The mission will focus on the removal of the upper stage of JAXA’s H-IIA rocket, which has…
Trump and Musk Unite in Controversial X Interview Amid Technical Glitches Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participated in a two-hour interview with Elon Musk on the social media platform X. The interview, held on Monday, faced a delayed start of over 40 minutes due to technical issues. Musk attributed these delays to a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, though this claim remains unverified. A Glitchy Start with Praise and Politics Despite the challenging start, Trump turned the situation to his advantage by praising Musk for the high volume of viewers attempting to join the event. At its peak, the X platform…
Tesla and Government Subsidies: Elon Musk’s Complex Political Dance Elon Musk, Tesla’s founder and CEO, recently endorsed Donald Trump for president, aligning himself with a candidate who has pledged to “drill, baby, drill,” oppose the electric vehicle (EV) mandate, and reduce subsidies for the EV industry. This endorsement is particularly striking given that Tesla, a company that Musk built into the US’s leading EV manufacturer, has significantly benefitted from government loans, tax breaks, and other EV-friendly policies often championed by the Democratic Party. Despite Musk’s growing alignment with the Republican Party and his endorsement of Trump, Tesla continues to lobby…
Federal Health Agency Faces Criticism for Downplaying Pollution Risks A Reuters investigation has uncovered that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal health agency, has been aiding companies responsible for severe pollution. Established over 40 years ago to identify health risks at highly contaminated sites, the ATSDR has been found to frequently downplay and disregard the health concerns of neighbouring communities. ATSDR’s Role in Pollution and Community Safety The ATSDR was created to protect people from environmental hazards. However, a review of hundreds of the agency’s health reports reveals a pattern of minimizing community health risks.…
Boeing Appoints New CEO to Tackle Crisis and Drive Recovery On Wednesday, Boeing [BA.N] announced the appointment of Kelly Ortberg as its new CEO. Ortberg, an aerospace industry veteran, is tasked with steering the company out of its current legal and regulatory troubles after a challenging quarter marked by a $1 billion loss. His tenure begins on August 8. A New Chapter Amidst Challenges Ortberg faces the daunting challenge of rebuilding trust with regulators, the industry, and the public amid a quality crisis. Boeing’s financial chief has warned of continued cash burn. Earlier this year, an Alaska Airlines-operated Boeing MAX…
https://youtu.be/XJaoxEURVOQ SpaceX Rockets Could Soon Land Near Australia SpaceX, the aerospace firm led by Elon Musk, is reportedly in discussions to land its massive Starship rockets near Australia. Sources from Reuters reveal that these plans follow a recent test in June, where a controlled splashdown was conducted in the Indian Ocean. Strengthening US-Australia Ties This potential development coincides with efforts by the US and Australia to bolster their security relationship in response to China’s growing influence. For the plan to move forward, the US would need to ease strict regulations governing the overseas use of the advanced technologies integrated into…
NASA and SpaceX Plan Crew-9 Mission to the ISS for August 18 NASA and SpaceX officials have announced plans to launch the SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than Sunday, August 18. The announcement was made during a news conference on Friday. Crew-9 is the ninth crew rotation mission to the ISS under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Crew-9 Mission Details The Crew-9 mission will carry a diverse team of astronauts for a six-month science mission on the ISS. The crew includes: Zena Cardman (NASA), spacecraft commander Nick Hague (NASA), pilot Stephanie Wilson (NASA), mission specialist…
Falcon 9 Rocket Cleared for Return to Space After Mid-Flight Failure The U.S. aviation regulator has cleared SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to return to space following a rare mid-flight failure. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Thursday that the rocket can resume flight operations despite an ongoing investigation. Details of the Anomaly The FAA stated that the anomaly during the failed July 11 launch posed no public safety issues. This failure marked the first in over seven years for Falcon 9, which is the world’s most frequently used rocket. The rocket broke apart in space, causing the loss of…
Mercury’s Hidden Diamond Mantle: A New Discovery Unveiling Mercury’s Diamond Mantle Scientists have uncovered a stunning secret about Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system. Data from NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft suggest that a 10-mile-thick diamond mantle might lie beneath Mercury’s crust. This discovery sheds light on Mercury’s unique characteristics, including its dark surface and dense core. Carbon-Rich Beginnings Mercury has long puzzled scientists due to its unusual qualities, such as its premature volcanic end and the presence of graphite patches on its surface. These patches led scientists to hypothesise that Mercury once had a carbon-rich magma ocean. This ocean…