
Starship ‘ready to launch’, Elon Musk says
SpaceX is ready to launch its next-generation Starship rocket, according to Elon Musk, pending regulatory approval. Starship is the most powerful rocket ever built, measuring 121 metres in height and capable of producing 5,000 metric tons of thrust. Once testing is complete, the craft will form part of Nasa’s Artemis mission to return astronauts to the Moon. Mr Musk also plans to use the rocket to transport people and cargo around the solar system, eventually using fleets of Starships to establish a permanent human colony on Mars. The next launch will be the second attempt at an orbital flight test, with the only previous effort ending in an explosion just three minutes into the 90 minute flight earlier this year. Each launch attempt requires approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), while also requiring favourable weather conditions. “Starship is ready to launch, awaiting FAA licence approval,” Mr Musk posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the FAA previously told The Independent that the launch licence application for Starship depends on various requirements being met, including reviews on policy, payload, safety, airspace integration, financial responsibility and environmental impacts. “The FAA will make a licence determination only after the agency is satisfied SpaceX meets all licensing, safety and other regulatory requirements,” the spokesperson said. SpaceX typically only reveals the date for rocket tests a few days before they take place, though numerous factors can still delay them. Weather at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas is currently favourable for a launch, though the area can be prone to storms and hurricanes between June and November. SpaceX performed its 62nd orbital rocket launch of 2023 earlier this week, breaking its own record for the most number of launches in a single year. The private company has delivered roughly 80 per cent of all Earth payload mass to orbit in 2023, with Mr Musk predicting that this figure will rise to more than 99 per cent once Starship is in operation. “These magnitudes are madness to consider, but necessary to make consciousness multiplanetary,” he posted on X on Sunday. Read More SpaceX smashes rocket launch record as Musk eyes historic Starship mission SpaceX abandons YouTube for live streams of launches in favour of X/Twitter
1970-01-01 08:00

Packers Rumors: Star won’t stop contract negotiations in-season
The agent of Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary indicated that they would be willing to negotiate a new contract with the team during the season.
1970-01-01 08:00

Elon Musk borrowed $1 billion from SpaceX in same month of Twitter buyout - WSJ
(Reuters) -SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tapped the rocket maker for a $1 billion loan around the time he was acquiring
1970-01-01 08:00

NFL Uniform Schedule 2023: When will Eagles, Seahawks and more wear alternate, throwback jerseys?
The Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers unveiled their new throwback uniforms. Here is the uniform schedule for all 32 NFL teams in the 2023 season.
1970-01-01 08:00

Warner Bros. Discovery says actors and writers strikes will cost it up to $500 million this year
Warner Bros. Discovery trimmed its full-year earnings guidance for 2023 on Tuesday by $300 million to $500 million because of the continued strike by actors and writers, which has stopped production of most shows and movies.
1970-01-01 08:00

Aaron Rodgers finally gives Jordan Love the praise he needs
Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers offered praise to Jordan Love, while also giving him some important advice as he heads into his first season as the team's QB1.
1970-01-01 08:00

Westpac acknowledges legal proceedings on financial hardships negligence
Australia's Westpac Banking Corp on Tuesday said it was aware of legal proceedings launched by the country's corporate
1970-01-01 08:00

Mongolia country profile
Provides an overview of Mongolia, including key dates and facts about this Asian country.
1970-01-01 08:00

SpaceX smashes rocket launch record as Musk eyes historic Starship mission
SpaceX has broken its own record for the number of launches in a single year with its 62nd rocket sent into space on Sunday. A Falcon 9 carrying Starlink internet satellites lifted off from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 10.47pm local time, surpassing the previous milestone of 61 launches set in 2022. It was the 10th flight for the first stage booster rocket, with SpaceX also breaking a separate record earlier this year for launching reused rockets. The Falcon 9 rocket landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean after delivering the Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. SpaceX boss Elon Musk said SpaceX could complete up to 100 rocket launches this year, making the private space firm by far the most prolific company or space agency to send payloads into space. “SpaceX has delivered ~80 per cent of all Earth payload mass to orbit in 2023. China is ~10 per cent and rest of world other ~10 per cent,” Mr Musk posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Based on the Falcon launch plan for next year, SpaceX will deliver ~90 per cent of all Earth payload to orbit. Starship will take that to >99 per cent in future years. These magnitudes are madness to consider, but necessary to make consciousness multiplanetary.” SpaceX’s Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built – measuring 121 metres in height and with a thrust of 5,000 metric tons – but is yet to successfully complete an orbital flight. Following a successful high-altitude flight test in 2021, SpaceX attempted a 90 minute orbital flight earlier this year but it exploded just three minutes into the flight. The next attempt is expected to take place this month, though no exact date has been set. More than 1,000 design changes have been made to the craft since the first failed attempt, including new venting systems and heat shields to improve the stage separation of the upper and lower stages of the rocket. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is yet to grant a launch licence for the latest mission amid concerns about issues revealed in the first orbital launch attempt. SpaceX has already secured a multi-billion dollar deal with Nasa to keep developing Starship for use on the US space agency’s Artemis mission, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade. Mr Musk has previously said that Starship is integral to his plans to turn humanity into a multi-planetary species, with the aim of deploying a fleet of Starships to establish a permanent colony on Mars before 2050. Read More ‘It’s like an airport’: How SpaceX normalised rocket launches SpaceX crew streak across sky before splashing down off Florida coast Watch live: SpaceX launches satellites for US Space Development Agency Elon Musk’s SpaceX sued over allegations of hiring discrimination
1970-01-01 08:00

Hong Kong profile
Provides an overview Hong Kong and key facts about this special administrative region of China.
1970-01-01 08:00

Hong Kong media guide
An overview of the media in Hong Kong, as well as links to broadcasters and newspapers.
1970-01-01 08:00

Europe space agency to set target period for Ariane 6 launch in October
PARIS The European Space Agency said it plans to set a target period for the first launch of
1970-01-01 08:00