ESA Prepares for Cluster Satellite Reentry Observation On 8 September 2024, the European Space Agency (ESA) will oversee the reentry of one of its Cluster satellites, named Salsa, into Earth’s atmosphere. This event marks the first in a series of reentries for the Cluster mission, a quartet of identical satellites launched to study Earth’s magnetosphere. As the satellite makes its fiery descent over a remote part of the South Pacific Ocean, scientists aboard a small plane will attempt to observe and collect critical data on how satellites break apart during reentry. Understanding Reentry Science In nearly seven decades of space…
Author: Kanika Sharma
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FAA Grounds SpaceX’s Falcon 9 After Failed Landing Attempt Falcon 9 Grounded Following Landing Mishap The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Wednesday that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has been grounded after a failed landing during a routine Starlink mission. This marks the second grounding of the rocket this year. The Falcon 9 had successfully launched a batch of Starlink internet satellites into orbit early Wednesday morning from Florida. However, the rocket’s reusable first-stage booster, which was supposed to land on a sea-faring barge, toppled into the ocean following a fiery touchdown, as shown in a live stream by…
Canada to Impose Tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles and Metals Canada Introduces 100% Tariff on Chinese Electric Vehicles Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that Canada will impose a 100% tariff on the import of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). This move aligns Canada with similar actions taken by the United States and the European Union to counter China’s trade practices. Trudeau made the announcement during a press conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, highlighting the importance of this decision in maintaining fair trade. Additional Tariffs on Chinese Steel and Aluminum In addition to the EV tariffs, Canada will also implement…
ISRO Releases New Images Ahead of India’s National Space Day In anticipation of India’s first National Space Day, which also commemorates the landing anniversary of Chandrayaan-3, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has unveiled new images captured by the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover. These images offer a unique glimpse into the mission’s key moments, including Pragyan’s initial steps on the lunar surface. #ISRO is set to reveal the thousands of images captured by the Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover on #Chandrayaan3’s landing anniversary, i.e. tomorrow!! 📸 🌖 Here’s a sneak peek at some of those images: [1/3] Images taken…
Rocket Engine Explodes During Test at SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland A rocket engine explosion during a test at the SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland on Monday, 19th August. SaxaVord, located in the Shetland Islands off Scotland’s northern coast, gained recognition last year as the first licensed vertical rocket launch site in Britain. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Interstellar News 🔭 (@interstellar_go) Explosion Captured on BBC Footage The explosion, captured on BBC footage, showed large plumes of fire and smoke billowing into the sky. Fortunately, no one was injured as the site had been evacuated before…
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…
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.…
