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☆ Astra defaults on debt agreement, warns it may not be able to raise needed cash
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Struggling space company Astra disclosed in a securities filing late Friday that it defaulted on a recent debt agreement and may not be able to raise needed cash as funds dwindle. Astra twice last month failed to meet minimum cash reserve requirements associated with a $12.5 million note issuance to New Jersey investment group High Trail Capital. The debt raise first required that Astra have "at least $15.0 million of cash and cash equivalents" on hand. That liquidity requirement was adjusted after Astra failed to prove compliance a first time, to require "at least $10.5 million of unrestricted, unencumbered cash and cash equivalents." The company performed a 1-for-15 reverse stock split in September to avoid a Nasdaq delisting, which temporarily brought Astra stock above $1 a share.

Organizations: NASA, Astra, High Locations: Florida's Cape Canaveral, New Jersey

☆ Space Force awards $2.5 billion in rocket contracts to SpaceX and ULA for 21 launches
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launches on its mission with a classified payload for the U.S. Space Force at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Nov. 1, 2022. The U.S. Space Force assigned 21 rocket launches to SpaceX and United Launch Alliance, worth about $2.5 billion in total, the military branch told CNBC. Space Force expanded the NSSL Phase 2 program significantly since naming SpaceX and ULA as its two launch providers in 2020. Space Force had previously announced that of mission assignments, 60% would go to ULA and 40% to SpaceX. The final Phase 2 assignments come as Space Force prepares to ramp up the NSSL program even further with Phase 3.

Persons: Lockheed Martin, Doug Pentecost, ULA, Elon, Pentecost, SpaceX's, ULA's Vulcan Organizations: SpaceX, Heavy, U.S . Space Force, Space Systems Command, Boeing, Lockheed, Falcon, Force's, Systems Command, Tuesday, United Launch Alliance, CNBC, USSF, Space Force, CNBC PRO Locations: Cape Canaveral , Florida, ULA, U.S

☆ How Singapore is helping 'future-food' companies scale up
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Edb Singapore | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Global food-tech innovators like Corning Life Sciences and ScaleUp Bio are among those setting up shop. Inside a lab on the west coast of Singapore, the future of food production is being developed — or fermented, to be more precise. The company is ScaleUp Bio, a local contract development and manufacturing organization that provides submerged microbial and precision fermentation for food-tech startups. In the long term, this will reduce costs compared to traditional agricultural methods and help make food production more sustainable. Despite the sector's immediate funding challenges, Singapore is committed to being a consistent partner and helping companies with similar goals achieve success.

Persons: ScaleUp, Francisco Codoner, John Shyu, Shyu, ScaleUp's Codoner Organizations: Global, Life Sciences, ADM, Nurasa, Temasek, Deloitte, Good Food Institute, Singapore Government, Corning Life Sciences, Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology, Research, GFI, Food, Insider Studios, Singapore Economic Development Board Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia, agrifood, Asia

☆ Europe's space agency boss sees progress on Ariane 6 launcher
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Tim Hepher | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Director-General of the European Space Agency (ESA) Josef Aschbacher smiles as he attends an interview with Reuters during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 18, 2023. Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency (ESA), said a more precise 2024 launch period would be defined following a delayed long-duration firing test due on Nov. 23. Aschbacher declined to comment on the state of negotiations ahead of the Seville "Space Summit", which is also due to address climate change and Europe's ambitions in space exploration. This is something that is highly critical for Europe," Aschbacher said. But in Europe's system of horse-trading for space funding, any agreement on exploration is likely to depend on progress on the critical issue of Ariane 6 funding, the people said.

Persons: Josef Aschbacher, Arnd, Aschbacher, Safran, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Tim Hepher, Mark Potter Organizations: European Space Agency, ESA, Reuters, Economic, REUTERS, Rights, Elon, SpaceX, Russian Soyuz, Airbus, NATO, Thomson Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Seville, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Russian, East, Ukraine, Europe, India, China, United States, Russia

☆ FAA completes safety review of SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy license
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Tuesday it had completed the safety review of the SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy license. The FAA is continuing to work on an environmental review and is consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on an updated Biological Assessment under the Endangered Species Act. The FAA and the USFWS must complete this consultation before the environmental review portion of the license evaluation is completed. Reporting by David ShepardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Skipper, David Shepardson Organizations: Boca Chica, Reuters, SpaceX, REUTERS, Rights, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, Thomson Locations: Brownsville , Texas, U.S

SINGAPORE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - At least three Chinese companies including state giant China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) are evaluating Shell's Singapore assets and considering non-binding bids in coming weeks for the city-state's oldest refinery, according to several sources familiar with the matter. CNOOC, the parent of offshore oil and gas major CNOOC Ltd , operates a joint refining-petrochemical complex with Shell in southern China. However, Sinopec Corp's president said in late August it was not interested in the Shell assets. Two of the sources said Shell had set a preliminary Nov. 5 deadline for proposals, although that could be extended. A Wanhua spokesperson said he was not aware of the company's potential interest in the Shell assets.

Persons: Shell, Goldman Sachs, CNOOC, Sinopec, Rongsheng, Eversun, Salmon Lee, Chen Aizhu, Trixie Yap, Tony Munroe, Florence Tan, Kim Coghill Organizations: Offshore Oil Company, Singapore, Reuters, Eversun Holdings, Wanhua, Shell, Hengli Petrochemical, China National Petroleum Corp, Privately, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, China, state's, Singapore, Bukom, Jurong, PetroChina, Huizhou, Guangdong, Fujian province, Putian, Shandong province, Asia, Southeast Asia

A Palestinian fighter of the Al-Quds brigade in a military tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip last year. Overnight on Saturday, Israeli fighter planes struck 150 underground targets in the northern Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said. The group’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, said in 2021 that there were 310 miles of tunnels in Gaza. Ben Milch, an Israeli American who cleared tunnels with the Israeli military during the 2014 Gaza War, said his unit came under fire repeatedly while working to destroy some 13 tunnels. After the Israeli military announced on Tuesday that it had destroyed the tunnel to the sea, it released a video of another incident.

Persons: “, Israel, ”, Joseph L, Sergey Ponomarev, Yocheved, Daniel Hagari, Votel, Joel Roskin, Roskin, Ali Ali, Daphne Richemond, Barak, Yahya Sinwar, Yousef Masoud, ” Ms, Richemond, Ms, Amir Olo, Olo, Ben Milch, Milch, Uriel Sinai, Jeffrey Gettleman, Gal Koplewitz Organizations: Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, U.S, United States Central Command, The New York Times, Islamic, Iraqi, ISIS, Bar, Ilan University, European Pressphoto Agency, Reichman University, telltale, RAND Corporation, West Bank, Officials Locations: Al, Quds, Gaza, Israel, Israeli, Iraqi, Mosul, Al Shifa, Israel’s, Egypt, Northern Sinai, Khan Younis, Col, Israeli American, Kissufim, The, Zikim Beach, Jerusalem

NEW YORK (AP) — Palestinian artist Nida Sinnokrot, one of 18 artists receiving the 2023 Soros Arts Fellowships from the Open Society Foundations on Tuesday, says that art provides hope and resilience, even in the midst of war. This year's class of Soros Arts Fellows is the largest since the program launched in 2018. This is the launchpad of something new — a new realm of direct action in the arts.”Molemo Moiloa also plans to incorporate community action in her art project in Johannesburg, South Africa, for her Soros Arts fellowship. “One of the reasons I still feel hope is that there is powerful solidarity around the world that embraces this ethos,” he said. “And that’s what’s so amazing about this year’s (Soros Arts Fellows) and their communities.

Persons: Nida Sinnokrot, “, ”, Sinnokrot, Tatiana Mouarbes, George Soros, Alex — Mouarbes, Jordan Weber, ” “, Weber, ” Molemo Moiloa, Moiloa, Nelson Mandela's, we’ve, it’s, Fellows, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Carolina Caycedo, Chemi, Dalton Paula, Deborah Jack, Kenan Darwich, Sami Rustom, Ixchel Tonāntzin, Martha Atienza, Molemo Moiloa, Mónica de Miranda, Omar Berrada, Rijin Sahakian, Sari Dennise, Yto Barrada Organizations: Open, Massachusetts Institute, Technology’s, Technology, Soros Arts Fellows, Open Society, Culture, Society, Soros Arts, South, Soros, Fehras, Associated, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Palestinian, York, ”, Detroit, Johannesburg, South Africa, Israel, Palestine, Guinea, Hidatsa, Lakota, United States, Carolina, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, St, Maarten, Syria, Germany, Philippines, Portugal, Morocco, Iraq, Mexico

☆ See how SpaceX's Starship rocket design has evolved through the years, in photos
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Marianne Guenot | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementElon Musk is expecting SpaceX's Starship mega-rocket to take to the skies again, months after the ship blew up on its first-ever attempt to reach orbit. SpaceX's Starship stacked atop its Super Heavy booster near Brownsville, Texas. Originally teased under the name Mars Colonial Transporter, Starship's first rocket design was called "Interplanetary Space Transporter" as SpaceX realized its ambitions went beyond transport to Mars. 2019: Starhopper reaches 492 ft in flightSpaceX's Mars Starship prototype "Starhopper" hovers over its launchpad during a test flight in Boca Chica Trevor Mahlmann/ReutersThe first Starship prototype wasn't really a Starship at all. The first full-fledged Starship prototype to really catch some air was called Starship serial no.

Persons: Elon Musk, —, Musk, Gwynne Shotwell, BFR, Boca Chica Trevor Mahlmann, Twitter Musk, SN15, Starship's, Ashlee Vance Organizations: Elon, SpaceX, Service, Mars, Reuters, Super, Boca Chica, Raptor, Twitter, Mk1, Popular Mechanics, ambitiously, Engineers Locations: Brownsville , Texas, Starhopper, Boca Chica , Texas

☆ Opinion: Hamas’ attack on Israel is an indisputable act of terrorism
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Stuart Ross | Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

As many knowledgeable people have pointed out, what Hamas has done is clearly an act of terrorism, no matter what your definition. In another video, geolocated by CNN to southern Israel, near Gaza, Hamas militants are seen taking Israelis captive. Both Iran, the principal sponsor of Hamas, and Hezbollah, another Iran-linked terrorist organization committed to Israel’s destruction, praised Hamas. As sure as night follows day, Israel will retaliate, and millions around the world will blame Israel – and the Jews – ignoring what happened this bloody Saturday. But there’s no denying that what happened on Saturday was an act of terrorism, one that deserves clear, unequivocal condemnation

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Fatah, Khan Younis, Israel, they’re, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Joe Biden, Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, ”, Emmanuel Macron, “, Olaf Scholtz, Narendra Modi, Abraham, Israel – Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Hamas, Frida Ghitis CNN, Muslim, Associated Press, Palestinian Health Ministry, EU, Dutch, Israel, UN Security Council, United, United Arab Emirates, Abraham Accords Locations: Iran, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Sderot, Tel Aviv, Gaza City, ” Ukraine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab

☆ 4 experts explain why Elon Musk's plan to colonize Mars is 'romanticized', not 'realistic', 'cosmic vandalism'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Maiya Focht | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Four scientists told Insider his plan is bad for technical, scientific, and ethical reasons. Yes, experts agree we might want to settle other worlds, but Mars might not be our best bet, at least not now, four scientists told Insider. SpaceX's first priority is "establishing a cargo route to Mars," Musk told the Washington Post in 2016. From Mars, Musk told the IAC, people could go to the asteroid belts, the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and the Kuiper belt. AdvertisementAdvertisementEssentially, terraforming Mars would involve melting its polar ice caps, which would release CO2 reserves.

Persons: Elon Musk, —, Ray Bradbury's, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christopher Edwards, He's, Musk, Refugio Ruiz Musk's, they'd, he's, Edwards, PATRICK T, FALLON, there's, Bruce Jakosky, Jakosky, Andrew Coates, Coates, Mars, terraformed, Alexander Gerst, Rachael Seidler, Refugio Ruiz, Seidler, Jeff Bezos, Buzz Aldrin, Chris McKay, " Edwards, that's Organizations: Service, Northern Arizona University, SpaceX, Mars SpaceX, International Astronautical, Washington Post, IAC, Elon Musk, NASA, Getty, Mars, ESA, University College London's, Science, University of Florida, AP, JPL, Caltech, SETI, Center for Strategic, International Studies, NASA's Ames Research Center Locations: Texas, Mars

☆ SpaceX's mega-rocket has a 'decent chance' of making orbit on its next flight, Musk said. Last time, Starship blew up the launchpad and exploded in mid-air.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk said he thinks Starship has a "decent chance" of reaching orbit on its second test flight. AdvertisementAdvertisementSpaceX CEO Elon Musk said Thursday the company's Starship vehicle has a "decent chance" of making orbit on its second test flight. But it has yet to reach orbit. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Technically, it's a scooch below orbit," Musk said Thursday. Tripathi added that he would consider this second test flight to be a success if two things happen.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, —, we've, Ashlee Vance, Vance, Abhi Tripathi, Tripathi Organizations: Service, International Astronautical Federation, SpaceX

☆ Russia pinpoints cause of moon shot failure, looks to bring next missions forward
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's first moon mission for 47 years ended in failure on Aug. 19 with the crash of its Luna-25 spacecraft, dashing Moscow's hopes of beating India to the unexplored south pole of the moon. Russia has previously said that Luna-26 would be an orbital mission and Luna-27 would be a lander with a drilling rig. As a result, the propulsion system was not shut down when needed. The Kremlin has played down the failure of the mission, saying Russia will continue to pursue ambitious plans in space. Borisov said Russia had received strong interest from Turkey, Brazil and South Africa in taking part.

Persons: Moscow's, Yuri Gagarin, Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, Luna, Borisov, Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: 2.1b, Vostochny, REUTERS, Rights, Space Station, Russian, Thomson Locations: Amur, Russia, India, Indian, Moscow, Soviet, Russian, United States, Turkey, Brazil, South Africa

☆ Ukraine set to boycott competitions involving Russia as UEFA lifts U-17 ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

In a statement released late on Tuesday, the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) urged UEFA to reconsider its decision and urged other countries not to play against Russian teams. UEFA decided after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that all Russian teams - national or club sides - would be suspended from participation in its competitions. But UEFA said on Tuesday that "children should not be punished for actions whose responsibility lies exclusively with adults", and that Russian U-17 sides would be readmitted to UEFA competitions "in the course of this season". "UAF strongly condemns today's UEFA decision on the return of U-17 teams from the Russian Federation to international competitions," the UAF said, urging UEFA to stick to its blanket ban on Russian teams. England's Football Association reacted to UEFA's decision on Tuesday by saying its youth teams would not play against Russia.

Persons: Lee Smith, UAF, Max Hunder, Timothy Heritage Organizations: Soccer, UEFA, Ukraine, Hampden, Rights, Russia's, Ukrainian Association of Football, Russian, Russian Federation, Football Association, Russia, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Christian, Thomson Locations: Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, Ukraine, European, Russian, Cyprus, Sweden, Belarus

☆ Side-by-side photos show 4 major changes made to SpaceX's Starship rocket system after its first launch ended in an explosion
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Marianne Guenot | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementMore than a thousand changes have been made to the rocket since and it is now "ready to launch" again Musk recently said. SpaceX's enormous Starship mega-rocket is made of two stages: the Starship spaceship and its booster, the Super Heavy booster. The Starship-Super Heavy launch system is made up of two stages. Instead, for Starship's maiden test flight, SpaceX decided to see if they could absorb the force of the flames with a thick concrete launchpad alone. The FAA will still need to review the changes made to the Starship launch system before it can grant a new license.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, it's, Abhi Tripathi, Starship's, Tripathi, Ashlee Vance, Vance, hushes, —, SpaceX's, LabPadre, SpaceX hasn't, It's, April's, Polly Trottenberg, Jared M, Margolis Organizations: SpaceX, Service, NASA, Super, Mission, University of California's, Sciences Laboratory, Flight Safety, FAA, Bloomberg, Boca Chica, CNBC, Texas Commission, Environmental, Center for Biological Diversity Locations: Wall, Silicon, Starship's, Boca Chica , Texas

☆ Soyuz spacecraft with US astronaut, two Russian cosmonauts docks at ISS
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/6] The Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft carrying the crew formed of NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub blasts off to the International Space Station (ISS) from the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Acquire Licensing RightsSept 15 (Reuters) - A Russian spacecraft blasted off from Kazakhstan's Baikonur cosmodrome on Friday carrying two Russian cosmonauts and a U.S. astronaut to join the crew of the International Space Station (ISS), live TV images showed. At 1853 GMT the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft with American Loral O'Hara and Russians Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub on board docked at the ISS, Russia's Roscosmos space agency said. They will join the current crew of NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Frank Rubio, Russian cosmonauts Dmitry Petelin, Konstantin Borisov and Sergei Prokopyev, as well as Denmark's Andreas Mogensen and Japan's Satoshi Furukawa. The ISS is one of the few international projects on which the United States and Russia still cooperate closely.

Persons: Loral O'Hara, Oleg Kononenko, Maxim Shemetov, Nikolai, Jasmin Moghbeli, Frank Rubio, Dmitry Petelin, Konstantin Borisov, Sergei Prokopyev, Andreas Mogensen, Satoshi Furukawa, Luna, William Maclean, Mark Porter Organizations: NASA, International Space, Baikonur, REUTERS, Kazakhstan's Baikonur, Soyuz, Washington, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Kazakhstan, Russian, Kazakhstan's, U.S, United States, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ Rugby World Cup: After triumphing with the All Blacks, Malakai Fekitoa has found a ‘new purpose’ with Tonga
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Long before he had the chance to travel to New Zealand, Fekitoa set his sights on competing for the All Blacks – undoubtedly the most famous rugby team on the planet. “It was always a dream of mine to play for New Zealand, even though I was born and raised in Tonga,” Fekitoa tells CNN Sport. Fekitoa tries to force his way through a tackle during a Rugby Championship match between New Zealand and Argentina in 2014. The change has proved particularly beneficial for Tonga, which, as well as Fekitoa, has named former All Blacks Vaea Fifita, George Moala and Charles Piutau in its squad for the ongoing Rugby World Cup in France. After the rule change, he thinks more All Blacks players will follow his lead by swapping allegiances.

Persons: Fekitoa, ” Fekitoa, Jonah Lomu, Cameron Spencer, –, haven’t, Fifita, George Moala, Charles Piutau, Leon Lord, Adam Coleman, Israel Folau, “, ”, “ I’m, I’ve, Richard Heathcote, It’s, James Crombie, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, All Blacks, New Zealand, CNN Sport, Tonga, Wellington Sevens, Wesley College, Rugby, Blacks, Fiji, Getty, Australia, Ireland, Wasps, Gloucester, Tonga –, Rugby Championship, Nations, United Rugby, Munster, Romania, Tonga’s, Tongan, Kiwi, New Locations: Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Auckland, Argentina, Europe, Monaco, France, AFP, New, England, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, Scotland, Samoa

☆ Elon Musk was upset Bezos did not invite him to visit Blue Origin's factory, after Bezos toured SpaceX in 2004, a new book says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Musk's SpaceX and Bezos' Blue Origin have been one-upping each other in a billionaire space race. A new biography of Musk says he was upset with Bezos for not receiving a reciprocal invite to tour Blue Origin's factory after Bezos toured SpaceX. After that, Bezos sent Musk an invite, and the pair shared a dinner that seemingly did not go over well. In 2020, SpaceX completed its first manned spaceflight, while Blue Origin did the same — with Jeff Bezos on board — in 2021. After the tour, Musk sent a "curt" email to Bezos about his annoyance over not having been reciprocally invited to see Blue Origin's factory, per Isaacson.

Persons: Musk, Bezos, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk's, Walter Isaacson, curt, Isaacson, MacKenzie Scott, Justine Musk, Jeff Organizations: SpaceX, Service, Amazon, Bloomberg, NASA, Financial Times Locations: Wall, Silicon

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s Vostochny space launch facility where President Vladimir Putin hosted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday reflects an ambitious attempt by Moscow to burnish its scientific glory that faded after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The new spaceport has a troubled history tarnished by construction delays and widespread corruption. DIFFICULT CONSTRUCTIONVostochny’s location in an unexplored and sparsely populated area in Russia’s far east has added to the cost and length of construction works. The first launch from Vostochny initially had been planned for 2015 but was pushed back until the following year. In 2018, an inspection revealed cavities in the ground under the launch pad that were blamed on shoddy construction works and required additional funds to fix.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Putin, Vostochny, Luna Organizations: MOSCOW, North, Soviet Union, Baikonur, Soyuz Locations: Moscow, Soviet, Soviet Union, Russia, Kazakhstan, Russia’s, Tsiolkovsky, Vostochny

They gazed into the workings of a rocket launchpad. They tucked into crab dumplings, sturgeon and entrecôte. And they lifted their glasses at a flower-lined table in the conference room of a remote Russian spaceport, toasting the Kremlin’s “sacred struggle” against a “band of evil,” otherwise known as the West. Russia, nearing the 19-month mark in its brutal war of attrition against Ukraine, arrived requiring more ammunition and military equipment for the battlefield, which Pyongyang keeps in abundance. North Korea came looking for food, fuel and cash, according to analysts, in addition to technological help for its missile and satellite programs, and parts for its old, Soviet-era military and civilian aircraft.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, Kim Jong, Kim Organizations: North Korean, Vostochny Locations: Russian, Russia, Moscow, Pyongyang, Ukraine, North Korea, Komsomolsk, Vladivostok

☆ US could advance SpaceX license as soon as October after rocket exploded in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday the agency could advance a launch license as early as next month for the SpaceX Starship rocket after a prior one exploded following a test launch in April. The FAA last week concluded a technical investigation into SpaceX's April test launch of its Starship rocket, saying the company must implement dozens of corrective measures. Later on Friday, SpaceX's CEO and founder Elon Musk asked the FAA "what are the 63 corrective actions?" The agency requires SpaceX complete those actions before it can obtain a new Starship launch license. SpaceX must obtain a modified FAA license to launch, which entails a sometimes-lengthy review of the Starship's flight trajectory, accident probabilities and other factors affecting nearby public safety.

Persons: SpaceX's, Joe Skipper, Polly Trottenberg, Trottenberg, Elon Musk, David Shepardson, Chris Reese, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Boca Chica, REUTERS, Rights, Federal Aviation Administration, SpaceX, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, FAA, SpaceX's, NASA, Thomson Locations: Brownsville , Texas, U.S, Texas

☆ F.A.A. Spells Out Needed Fixes for SpaceX’s Starship Rocket
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Kenneth Chang | More About Kenneth Chang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

A Number That Sums It Up: 63 Corrective ActionsThe first Starship test flight successfully lifted off on April 20. said the 63 corrective actions described in the final investigation report included redesigns of the rocket to prevent leaks and fires and additional analysis and testing of safety systems including the flight termination system. The investigation report is not being released publicly because it includes propriety information belonging to SpaceX and also data restricted by United States export controls, the F.A.A. reviewed the SpaceX report and concurred with the company’s findings and closed the investigation. What the Last Launch Looked LikeVideo by SpaceX captured the massive rocket’s liftoff and the moment when the rocket began to tumble out of control before it blew up.

Organizations: SpaceX, Super, United Locations: of Mexico, United States

☆ FAA closes investigation into SpaceX Starship rocket that exploded, outlines ‘corrective actions’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Kristin Fisher | Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Federal Aviation Administration announced Friday it has closed its “mishap” investigation into the April SpaceX Starship test flight that ended after the rocket exploded over the Gulf of Mexico. The FAA says the investigation “cites multiple root causes” and “63 corrective actions SpaceX must take to prevent mishap reoccurrence,” the agency said in a statement. SpaceX has said it is ready to try to launch Starship again. But the FAA must issue a launch license, and one of the holdups has been the mishap investigation. “You can think about that launch date slipping probably into ’26.”In August, Free told CNN “my level of concern is the same” after a trip to visit SpaceX’s launch site a month earlier.

Persons: Elon Musk, WjENkdudo9 — Elon, Artemis III, Jim Free, he’s, ”, Free Organizations: CNN, Federal Aviation Administration, SpaceX, FAA, Boca Chica, U.S . Export Control, Boca, Fish and Wildlife Service, NASA, NASA’s, Systems, ”, Aeronautics, Space Engineering Board, Space Studies, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine Locations: of Mexico, Boca Chica , Texas, Boca Chica

☆ SpaceX, US FAA close Starship launch probe with dozens of fixes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Joey Roulette | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"The closure of the mishap investigation does not signal an immediate resumption of Starship launches at Boca Chica," the agency said, referring to SpaceX's sprawling Starship launch site in south Texas. It was unclear how many of the corrective actions SpaceX has already implemented, which will impact Starship's next launch timeline. Later on Friday, SpaceX's CEO and founder Elon Musk asked the FAA "what are the 63 corrective actions?" In line with FAA regulations, Musk's space company led the Starship investigation and largely created the list of 63 corrective actions for the FAA to approve. The agency requires SpaceX complete those actions before it can obtain a new Starship launch license.

Persons: SpaceX's, Joe Skipper, Elon Musk, Musk, Joey Roulette, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter, Josie Kao, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Boca Chica, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, SpaceX's, FAA, SpaceX, NASA, Boca, Thomson Locations: Brownsville , Texas, U.S, Texas, Boca Chica

☆ Red carpets without actors have repercussions for ‘glam squads’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Samantha Tse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Last week, the 80th edition of the Venice Film Festival opened amid the actors’ strike that has Hollywood at a standstill, rendering the usually glitzy red carpet a more muted affair. Neil Mockford/GC Images/Getty ImagesThe impact of these reduced red carpets extends far beyond the movie business. Scheduled to work at the Venice Film Festival this season, her plans changed when the strike was announced. Lady Gaga in Valentino Haute Couture for the "A Star Is Born" screening at the 2018 Venice Film Festival. With many actors in need of new outlets to fulfil any brand commitments during the strike, we can expect the upcoming fashion month (which starts tomorrow in New York) to offer actors a useful alternative to film festival red carpets.

Persons: it’s, Valentino Haute Couture, Writers Guild of America —, —, ”, Issa Rae, Neil Mockford, Rachel Goodwin, Emma Stone, haven’t, “, hairstylist Nai’vasha, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lupita Nyong’o, Nicole Ari Parker —, Lady Gaga, Valentino, Daniele Venturelli, Kerrie Urban, can’t, Urban, “ Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, Ro Morgan, hairstylist, Naomi Campbell, Venus Williams, Ayo Edebiri, he’s, “ I’m, ” Morgan, Morgan, Brad Pitt, Guy Ritchie, Shi Tang, Nai’vasha, It’s, ” Goodwin, Barbie Organizations: CNN, Venice Film, Hollywood, “, Balmain, WGA, Writers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Wimbledon Tennis, Urban, Warner Bros ., Warner Bros, Wimbledon, Toronto Locations: Venice, London, Valentino Haute, Milan, Paris, New York, America

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