‘Why are high fertility people always so weird?': A weekend with the pronatalists
CNN's Meena Duerson travels to Austin to join roughly 200 'pronatalists' for the second-ever Natal Conference, an event devoted to discussing the world's declining birth rates and potential solutions. The issue is a hot topic among demographers, economists and Elon Musk.
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Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business Insider
Elon Musk considers launching SpaceX rockets from South African soil
South African-born billionaire Elon Musk is reportedly exploring the possibility of launching SpaceX rockets and deploying Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites from his home country. Elon Musk is considering using the Denel Overberg rocket test site in South Africa for SpaceX launches and Starlink satellite deployments. The site is strategically suited for polar orbit launches, enhancing Starlink's ability to provide broadband to underserved regions. South Africa faces regulatory challenges that have delayed Starlink's operations despite potential benefits for the digital divide. The world's richest man, Elon Musk has expressed interest in using the Denel Overberg rocket test site near Arniston, outside Cape Town, for potential SpaceX launches. Developed by the Aerospace Systems Research Institute at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the site has launched suborbital rockets up to 18km and is aiming for orbital capability by 2028. A SpaceX partnership could fast-track its readiness. According to The Daily Maverick, two space experts noted that the site's strategic value lies in its ideal position for launching satellites into polar orbits—particularly those passing over the South Pole—as well as for deploying Starlink's LEO satellites to deliver broadband internet to consumers, especially in underserved areas. The tech mogul, who is currently in a public feud with the U.S. President Donald Trump, appears to be turning his gaze back to South Africa as a prospective site for future space operations. While specific details remain under wraps, sources close to the matter suggest Musk is seriously evaluating South Africa 's strategic potential for both SpaceX and Starlink expansion. This move could mark a historic milestone, positioning the African continent as a new player in global space infrastructure. Starlink's turbulent run in South Africa Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet venture, has already launched operations across several African countries, delivering high-speed internet to underserved and remote regions. However, in South Africa, Musk's country of birth, the rollout has hit significant roadblocks despite early optimism about its potential to help bridge the nation's digital divide. Regulatory delays, licensing challenges, and questions surrounding local compliance have stalled Starlink's entry into the South African market. Tensions escalated further following President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent appearance in Washington and Musk's public criticism of the South African government for failing to approve Starlink's operations. In response, the South African government has initiated a review of its Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy, particularly as it relates to foreign tech companies like Starlink. Launching satellites directly from South Africa would not only accelerate Starlink's service across the continent but could also support Musk's broader ambition of expanding access to internet connectivity globally.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Elon Musk Calls for ISS to be Dismantled: 'Too Old'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Tech billionaire Elon Musk has said that he wants the International Space Station taken out of orbit within two years. The SpaceX CEO said that the ISS was facing long-term safety issues that meant it was no longer feasible to maintain the space station for longer than two years, and called for it to be "deorbited." Why It Matters The ISS represents the longest international cooperation on space exploration in history, with contributions from Russia, Canada, the U.S, Europe and Japan all being used to maintain and man the station. NASA has committed to operating the ISS through 2030, but SpaceX has already been contracted to perform a "controlled reentry" by steering the station into a descent toward the Earth's atmosphere. What To Know Musk called for this timeline, which would see the ISS in use until the end of the decade, to be accelerated, describing the current status of the station as risky. "There are potentially serious concerns about the long-term safety of the ISS," Musk said on his social media site X on Friday morning. "Some parts of it are simply getting too old and obviously that risk grows over time. Even though SpaceX earns billions of dollars from transporting astronauts and cargo to the ISS, I nonetheless would like to go on record recommending that it be de-orbited within 2 years." The statement came in response to a report that NASA had delayed the Axiom Mission 4, which was meant to launch on Wednesday, indefinitely due to a leak in the ISS's Zvezda module. Elon Musk speaks during a press conference after the launch of SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo mission at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 2, 2019. Elon Musk speaks during a press conference after the launch of SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo mission at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 2, 2019. Getty Images The module was built in 1985 and was integrated into the ISS in 2000, making it over two decades old. SpaceX is a major partner in NASA's space exploration plans, and their Dragon flights regularly refuel the ISS while also escorting astronauts to and from the station. When astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were left on the ISS for longer than expected after a Boeing aircraft that was meant to take them back to Earth malfunctioned, it was a SpaceX flight that brought them home. What People Are Saying NASA, in a statement on the future of the ISS, said: "In the future, the United States plans to transition its operations in low Earth orbit to commercially-owned and -operated destinations to ensure continued access to essential research and technology development. "At the conclusion of the International Space Station Program, the station will be deorbited in a controlled manner to ensure avoidance of populated areas on Earth. The station's safe deorbit is the shared responsibility of the five space agencies." What Happens Next NASA has not indicated that the 2030 commitment to maintaining the ISS has changed.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
International Space Station too dangerous to stay in orbit, warns Musk
Elon Musk has called for the International Space Station (ISS) to be de-orbited 'within two years' amid concerns about the ageing facility's safety. The billionaire owner of SpaceX, which sends astronauts and cargo up to the ISS regularly for Nasa, said parts of the station were 'simply getting too old'. 'Even though SpaceX earns billions of dollars from transporting astronauts & cargo to the ISS, I nonetheless would like to go on record recommending that it be de-orbited within two years,' Mr Musk posted on X, his social media platform. The ISS is not scheduled to be brought back to Earth until 2030. Mr Musk's comments follow Nasa's decision to postpone a commercial mission to the ISS, which is jointly run by the US, Russia, Japan, Canada and the European Union, that was previously scheduled for Friday. Nasa said it was working with Russian space agency Roscosmos to investigate 'a new pressure signature' in a section of the station, called the Zvezda service module. Zvezda hosts living quarters, life support systems, key electrical components and flight control and propulsion systems, according to Nasa's website. Leaks were first detected aboard the ISS in 2019. Nasa has described the leaks, which are caused by microscopic cracks in the station's aluminium-based structure, as a 'top safety risk'. Over time, the leaks have been growing worse – although experts say they are closer to a slow puncture in a tyre than a blowout. Nevertheless, it means valuable air is being lost from the station, which is dependent on supply runs from Earth for oxygen, food, water and other essentials. The cracks in the station, parts of which are now a quarter of a century old, are thought to be the result of general wear and tear to its largely aluminium-based structure. In orbit, the ISS undergoes a constant cycle of cooling and heating that causes what is known as 'high cyclic fatigue' in its metal components, where tiny cracks can emerge. This is because aluminium becomes harder but more brittle over time as it is flexed. Casey Handmer, an American physicist who previously worked at Nasa's jet propulsion laboratory, claimed that the problem was potentially far more serious than had been publicly acknowledged and could lead to a failure in orbit that put astronauts at serious risk. There are seven people currently aboard the ISS. 'We could wake up tomorrow and find, with zero warning, that it has failed catastrophically,' Mr Handmer wrote on X. 'Whether that means a leak slow enough to close some hatches, get the crew out or at least into safer parts of the station, is a roll of the dice. 'It could also depressurise in less than a minute.' On Thursday, Nasa said Russian cosmonauts had carried out repairs to the Zvezda section. However, the US space agency postponed the Axiom Mission 4 launch, which would have taken an Indian astronaut to the ISS, while investigations are carried out. 'The postponement of Axiom Mission 4 provides additional time for Nasa and Roscosmos to evaluate the situation and determine whether any additional troubleshooting is necessary,' Nasa said. The Axiom Mission 4 launch will be carried out by Mr Musk's SpaceX, using both the company's Falcon 9 rocket and a Dragon capsule. The billionaire threatened to decommission his Dragon capsules as part of a blazing public row with Donald Trump on social media. However, Mr Musk has since said he regrets some of his comments during the spat and there has been no sign of him following through on the SpaceX threat. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
