Elon Musk's Starlink 30199 satellite put on incredible night sky display
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E&E News
4 hours ago
- E&E News
California rejects Elon Musk's rocket-launch proposal
California regulators on Thursday rejected a U.S. military plan to increase SpaceX launches from a Southern California base, amid an ongoing lawsuit from CEO Elon Musk related to a previous vote. California Coastal Commission members voted unanimously to oppose the U.S. Space Force's application to increase SpaceX launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base from 50 to 100 annually. They said that military officials failed to provide data on potential impacts on local wildlife and neighboring towns, while avoiding the direct discussion of Musk that spurred a rebuke from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) last year. 'There are a number of unanswered questions that make it really quite impossible for us to engage,' said Vice Chair Caryl Hart. 'We see no appearance by U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force or SpaceX to answer the questions.' Advertisement It's the second time the commission, which has jurisdiction over development on 1,100 miles of California coastline, has opposed plans to increase the frequency of SpaceX launches in Santa Barbara County.


New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
Humanoid machine face-plants at China's inaugural ‘robot Olympics'
A robot drew cheers from the packed crowd at China's inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games — until it spectacularly face-planted and had to be hauled off stage by two real people. The pratfall during Thursday's opening ceremony in Beijing offered a fitting window into the limitations of the machines during the three-day showcase of robotic ambition. More than 500 humanoid robots from 280 teams across 16 countries gathered to compete in everything from soccer to sprinting, with mixed results. 4 A humanoid robot face-plants at China's first World Humanoid Robot Games, prompting two humans to carry it off stage. ABC Teams from the United States, Germany, Japan and Brazil brought their mechanical athletes to compete alongside Chinese universities including Tsinghua and Peking, plus three ambitious middle schools. But the robots had other plans. During soccer matches, four mechanical players crashed into each other and collapsed in a tangled heap of metal limbs. In the 1,500-meter dash, one sprinting robot suddenly toppled mid-stride at full speed, drawing gasps and unexpected cheers from the crowd, who paid between $25-$80 to witness the future of artificial intelligence. 'We come here to play and to win. But we are also interested in research,' said Max Polter from Germany's HTWK Robots football team, affiliated with Leipzig University of Applied Sciences. 'You can test a lot of interesting new and exciting approaches in this contest. If we try something and it doesn't work, we lose the game. That's sad but it is better than investing a lot of money into a product which failed.' 4 While several robots took a spill and needed help getting up, many managed to recover on their own. ABC The opening ceremony mixed genuine technological achievement with comedic mishaps. Robots danced to hip-hop music, performed martial arts and played musical instruments including keyboards, guitars and drums. Some executed backflips and celebratory cheers like real athletes, while others demonstrated soccer skills and boxing moves. One robotic soccer player managed to score a goal after several attempts, causing the humanoid goalkeeper to dramatically fall to the ground in apparent despair. Another player tumbled but impressively stood up without human assistance, earning applause from spectators. Despite frequent falls requiring human helpers to right the toppled machines, many robots demonstrated the ability to recover independently. 4 A mechanical sprinter runs during the event, drawing gasps and cheers from the Beijing crowd. WU HAO/EPA/Shutterstock Organizers emphasized that these public failures provide valuable data for developing practical applications in factories and assembly lines. Soccer matches help train coordination abilities that could prove useful for collaborative manufacturing operations requiring multiple robotic units to work together, commentators explained. China is pouring billions into humanoid robotics as the nation confronts an aging population and escalating technological competition with the United States. The country has staged multiple high-profile robotics events recently, including what it claimed was the world's first humanoid robot marathon and the opening of retail stores dedicated to mechanical workers. 4 A humanoid boxer squares off in the ring, showcasing China's AI-powered robotics ambitions despite frequent mechanical mishaps. WU HAO/EPA/Shutterstock Morgan Stanley analysts noted a surge in public attendance at recent robot conferences compared to previous years, suggesting widespread Chinese embrace of what experts call 'embodied intelligence.' A government official quoted in the state-run People's Daily declared that every participating robot 'is creating history' during the event. Whether that history involves graceful athletic achievement or spectacular mechanical failures remains to be seen. With Post Wires
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mystery sky sighting could be dumped rocket fuel
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Stargazers were looking up Tuesday night hoping to see the Perseid meteor shower. Many of them saw something unexpected. 'I thought it was aliens,' said Ashley Robison, a De Soto resident. 'It wasn't the moon, and it was swirling.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Multiple sightings of the swirling object were shared on social media and speculation skyrocketed. 'It kind of looks like a possible UFO,' De Soto resident William White said. One possible explanation is that spent rocket fuel turned into ice crystals at an extremely high altitude. There were two rocket launches on Tuesday. One involved the military and the other involved a weather satellite. 'I actually still have goosebumps': Family of 3-year-old who died at daycare reacts to charges 'I thought it was really odd,' said Laura Sanders, another De Soto resident. 'I'm not really sure what it is.' White said his curiosity about the atmosphere is growing. He said, 'It really makes you wonder what all is out there.' A spokesperson for the St. Louis Science Center said anyone interested in learning more about what's visible in the night sky can attend Planetarium Star Shows held Thursdays through Mondays. A weekly Night Sky blog also provides additional information. The Science Center is also hosting its next monthly free telescope viewing event on Sept. 5 at the Planetarium, weather and skies permitting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword