UN Climate Summit Faces Stalemate Over Climate Finance Agreement The United Nations climate body unveiled fresh proposals on Thursday for determining the financial contributions richer nations should provide to poorer countries for tackling climate change. The updated negotiating text emerged at the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, just two days before the event’s scheduled conclusion. Despite being a central focus of the summit, reaching an agreement on climate finance has been slow. The latest draft arrived several hours late and revealed significant gaps on critical issues such as how much funding is needed, what qualifies as contributions, and who will…
Author: Arushi Pandey
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SpaceX Starship Launch: Progress in Spaceflight Despite Booster Landing Mishap SpaceX successfully launched its massive Starship rocket system from Boca Chica, Texas, on Tuesday. The launch showcased advancements in spaceflight capabilities but was marked by a failed booster recovery attempt. The event, observed by US President-elect Donald Trump, highlighted SpaceX’s ambitious goals and its growing role in space exploration. Starship’s Test Flight: Achievements and Challenges The 400-foot (122-metre) Starship system lifted off at 4 p.m. CT (2200 GMT). Its 233-foot-tall (71-metre-tall) Super Heavy booster detached from the second stage, Starship, at an altitude of approximately 40 miles (62 kilometres). While…
European Space Agency Boosts Funding for Launch Vehicle Startups The European Space Agency (ESA) is injecting additional funds into four launch vehicle startups to aid the development and testing of their rockets. Through its “Boost!” programme, ESA has extended contracts worth €44.22 million ($46.7 million) to HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace, Orbex, and Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA). Supporting ESA Launch Ambitions These funds aim to bolster Europe’s emerging space industry as companies prepare for their inaugural launches. “Europe’s emerging commercial launch service providers are pushing towards their first launches,” said Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA’s director of space transportation. “We are very interested to…
Sixth Starship Flight Test Scheduled for November 19 SpaceX is gearing up for the sixth flight test of its Starship spacecraft, targeting a launch on Tuesday, November 19. The 30-minute launch window will open at 4:00 p.m. CT, with a live webcast starting 30 minutes before liftoff. Viewers can watch the broadcast on SpaceX’s social media platforms and the new X TV app. As with all developmental testing, the timeline remains dynamic and subject to change. Key Objectives for the Sixth Test The sixth flight test will build on the breakthroughs from the fifth, aiming to expand both the booster…
Airbus CEO Raises Anti-Trust Concerns Over SpaceX’s Dominance in Space Industry Elon Musk’s SpaceX has revolutionised the space industry with its low-cost, reusable rockets and a rapidly expanding Starlink satellite constellation. However, this dominance would raise anti-trust concerns if SpaceX operated in Europe, said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. Speaking at an aerospace event, Faury noted that SpaceX’s concentrated business model contrasts sharply with Europe’s more distributed approach to aerospace and space operations. SpaceX’s Competitive Edge: A Contrast to Europe’s Aerospace Model SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has significantly lowered launch costs by introducing reusable technology, a move that allowed SpaceX to…
Toxic Smog Covers Northern India, Severely Reducing Visibility Northern India was blanketed by thick smog on Thursday, reducing visibility drastically in several areas. The smog resulted from a combination of high pollution levels, high humidity, low wind speeds, and a drop in temperature, according to local officials. Severe Pollution in Lahore and New Delhi Lahore, in neighbouring Pakistan, ranked as the most polluted city globally, a common occurrence each winter in the region. The severe air quality is intensified by dust, emissions, and smoke from fires illegally set in the Indian farming states of Punjab and Haryana. In New Delhi,…
Federal Support for Semiconductor Manufacturing The U.S. Commerce Department announced on Wednesday a commitment of up to $18.2 million to Akash Systems to advance semiconductor manufacturing in West Oakland, California. This funding is part of the $52.7 billion semiconductor subsidy program aimed at revitalising chip manufacturing within the U.S. The subsidy will help Akash Systems, a California-based semiconductor company, construct a 40,000-square-foot cleanroom dedicated to advanced semiconductor production. The grant will be combined with funding from Akash, venture capital firms, and private investors, amounting to a $121 million project to scale the production of Diamond Cooling substrates and related systems.…
ESA’s (European Space Agency) First Formation Flying Mission Prepares to Launch The ESA’s PROBA-3 mission, the world’s first mission designed for precision formation flying, is set for launch later this year. Comprising two spacecraft working in unison, PROBA-3 will study the sun’s corona, a highly dynamic outer region of the sun that influences Earth through events such as solar flares and mass ejections. Additionally, PROBA-3 will showcase formation flying technologies and conduct rendezvous experiments, laying the groundwork for future space exploration and observation missions. Redwire’s Role in PROBA-3: Integration, Testing, and Key Components Redwire, a critical partner in the PROBA-3…
Dutch Court Decision Could Set Global Precedent for CO2 Reductions, Hopes Environmental Group A significant court ruling expected in The Hague on 12 November could impact large carbon emitters around the world. Friends of the Earth Netherlands, an environmental group, awaits the verdict with high hopes. The case has “phenomenal potential” to hold major polluters accountable, according to the group’s director, Donald Pols. Landmark Case Against Shell The case stems from a landmark 2021 decision in which a Dutch court ordered energy giant Shell to cut its carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. This unprecedented ruling…
China’s New J-35A Stealth Fighter to Debut at Zhuhai Air Show China is set to reveal its latest stealth fighter, the J-35A, at the upcoming China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai. This biennial event, starting Tuesday, November 14, will showcase China’s rapidly expanding aerospace industry and its ambition to become a global player in both military and civil aviation. Unveiling the J-35A: A Strategic Military Priority The J-35A, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, will be displayed publicly for the first time. Described by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as a “medium-sized stealth multi-purpose fighter,” the J-35A…
