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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Starship to launch again in August: 7 things that have happened since last flight
More than two months have gone by since the last time SpaceX launched its gigantic Starship spacecraft. The 400-foot launch vehicle – crucial as it is to future U.S. spaceflight ambitions – is one that billionaire Elon Musk's company has hoped to begin getting off the ground more often from its South Texas headquarters. In fact, after the most recent test flight May 27, Musk took to social media site X to proclaim that the Starship's next three launches would occur much faster than normal – at a cadence of one "every 3 to 4 weeks." That, of course, isn't what happened. Because the Starship's upper stage exploded in dramatic fashion in June, SpaceX's next test mission for the spacecraft, known as Flight 10, was ultimately delayed. But now, preflight testing for a new Starship is underway as Musk indicates the commercial spaceflight company is working toward a launch in August. Naturally, plenty has happened in Musk and SpaceX's world since the Starship last flew. If you need a refresher, here's a list of seven major events that have occurred since the May launch – from a public falling out with the president to two SpaceX astronaut missions. Elon Musk gives update on Mars plan Musk, who founded SpaceX in 2002, has aggressively sought for his commercial spaceflight company to develop its Starship spacecraft to fulfill his ambitious dream of sending the first humans to Mars. In a video SpaceX shared Thursday, May 29, after the most recent Starship test flight, Musk told his employees that he still believes it's feasible to send the first uncrewed Starship to Mars by the end of 2026. Under his vision, human expeditions aboard the Starship could then follow in the years after. Musk described the goal of sending humans to Mars as essential 'for the long-term survival of civilization." Under his vision, humans would not just step on the planet before departing, but would remain to establish a settlement that could function independently if any cataclysmic event were to ever happen on Earth. Musk, President Trump have public falling-out President Donald Trump's goals for U.S. spaceflight appeared to align strongly with those of Musk after the tech mogul spent millions to help reelect the Republican to a second term in the White House. Then in early June, the two close allies had a volatile public falling-out over a spending bill that saw them both trading threats that could have severely hampered spaceflight operations. First, Trump threatened to cut off the billions in taxpayer dollars that have fueled Elon Musk's businesses, including SpaceX. The company's Falcon 9 is routinely the rocket of choice for the U.S. government to get both civil NASA missions and military satellites off the ground. In response, Musk threatened to decommission the SpaceX Dragon Crew Capsule, the only U.S. vehicle capable of carrying astronauts to the International Space Station. Musk later retracted the idea. Starship explodes on test stand, delaying flight 10 Starship's next flight test was previously delayed June 18, when the spacecraft unexpectedly exploded while SpaceX was preparing it for launch. No one was hurt in the incident, which occurred as the Starship spacecraft was standing alone on the test stand prior to being mounted on top of the rocket booster. The mishap, which SpaceX later referred to on its website as "a sudden energetic event," completely destroyed the spacecraft and ignited several fires that caused damage in the area surrounding the test stand. While SpaceX is investigating the mishap, Musk said in a post on X that preliminary data suggested that a pressurized tank failed at the top of the rocket. Starbase controversy as officials approve road closures SpaceX conducts Starship test flights from the company's Starbase headquarters in South Texas, located about 23 miles from Brownsville and about 180 miles south of Corpus Christi. Before the most recent Starship test, Starbase had made news in early May when Texas voters in Cameron County approved a measure to officially recognize the company's headquarters as its own town, complete with a mayor and city council. The city designation has been speculated to give greater municipal control of the area to Musk, who has regularly clashed with government regulators over the red tape SpaceX has had to navigate before launches. And in late June, Starbase officials began exercising some of that control with a vote passing a law to close several of the city's public streets to outsiders. On June 23, the Starbase City Commission approved requests from SpaceX to install gates near four intersections that would prevent much of the public from accessing a large part of the city. Mexico threatens to sue SpaceX Also in late June, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum threatened to sue SpaceX if investigators determined that Musk's spaceflight company had contributed to undue pollution and marine life die-off in the country. The announcement came after the fiery mishap earlier in the month caused debris to fall in the Mexican state of Tamaulipa. SpaceX claimed on its website and on social media site X that the Starship explosion posed "no chemical, biological, or toxicological risks" to the surrounding inhabited areas. Public gives feedback as SpaceX preps to launch Starship from Florida As SpaceX prepares to bring its Starship operations to Florida, residents of the Sunshine State have had opportunities to provide public feedback on the company's plans. SpaceX is seeking regulatory approval to commence conducting Starship flight tests at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's neighboring Kennedy Space Center. As SpaceX breaks ground in Florida on a new Starship facility it calls "Gigabay," the company is also finalizing plans to launch the Starship spacecraft by the end of 2025 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Three public hearings took place in Florida in July about SpaceX's plans, while the Federal Aviation Administration – which licenses commercial rocket launches – announced Tuesday, Aug. 5, that it is hosting its own series of three meetings later in the month. The public can also submit comments online until Sept. 22. SpaceX launches 2 groups of astronauts to space station on Falcon 9 Just because Starship operations have been on hold doesn't mean SpaceX hasn't been busy with other rocket launches. The company's famous Falcon 9, one of the most active rockets in the world, has continued to propel Starlink satellites into orbit from both Florida and California. Since the last Starship flight test, the Falcon 9 has also helped launch two crews of astronauts on Dragon capsules to the International Space Station. The first came June 25, when four astronauts on a private venture known as Axiom Mission 4 launched to the orbital laboratory for 20 days. More recently, four astronauts on a mission known as Crew-11 launched to the space station for what is expected to be about a six-month science expedition. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Starship flight 10: 7 important events since last SpaceX launch Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
6 days ago
- Science
- USA Today
Starship prepares to launch: Recap of Trump-Musk feud, other SpaceX news since last flight
Plenty has happened with SpaceX and Elon Musk since the last Starship rocket launch from Starbase in Texas. More than two months have gone by since the last time SpaceX launched its gigantic Starship spacecraft. The 400-foot launch vehicle – crucial as it is to future U.S. spaceflight ambitions – is one that billionaire Elon Musk's company has hoped to begin getting off the ground more often from its Texas headquarters. In fact, after the most recent test flight May 27, Musk took to social media site X to proclaim the Starship's next three launches would occur much faster than normal – at a cadence of one "every 3 to 4 weeks." That, of course, isn't what happened. Because the Starship's upper stage exploded in dramatic fashion in June, SpaceX's next test mission for the spacecraft, known as Flight 10, was ultimately delayed. But now, preflight testing for a new Starship is underway as Musk indicates the commercial spaceflight company is working toward a launch in August. Naturally, plenty has happened in Musk and SpaceX's world since the Starship last flew. If you need a refresher, here's a list of seven major events that have occurred since the May launch – from a public falling-out with the president to two SpaceX astronaut missions. Elon Musk gives update on Mars plan Musk, who founded SpaceX in 2002, has aggressively sought for his commercial spaceflight company to develop its Starship spacecraft to fulfill his ambitious dream of sending the first humans to Mars. In a video SpaceX shared Thursday, May 29, after the most recent Starship test flight, Musk told his employees that he still believes it's feasible to send the first uncrewed Starship to Mars by the end of 2026. Under his vision, human expeditions aboard the Starship could then follow in the years after. Musk described the goal of sending humans to Mars as essential 'for the longterm survival of civilization." Under his vision, humans would not just step on the planet before departing, but would remain to establish a settlement that could function independently if any cataclysmic event were to ever happen on Earth. Musk, President Trump have public falling-out President Donald Trump's goals for U.S. spaceflight appeared to align strongly with those of Musk after the tech mogul spent millions to help reelect the Republican to a second term in the White House. Then in early June, the two close allies had a volatile public falling-out over a spending bill that saw them both trading threats that could have severely hampered spaceflight operations. First, Trump threatened to cut off the billions in taxpayer dollars that have fueled Elon Musk's businesses, including SpaceX. The company's Falcon 9 is routinely the rocket of choice for the U.S. government to get NASA missions and military satellites off the ground. In response, Musk threatened to decommission the SpaceX Dragon Crew Capsule, the only U.S. vehicle capable of carrying astronauts to the International Space Station. Musk later retracted the idea. Starship explodes on test stand, delaying flight 10 Starship's next flight test was previously delayed June 18, when the spacecraft unexpectedly exploded while SpaceX was preparing it for launch. No one was hurt in the incident, which occurred as the Starship spacecraft was standing alone on the test stand prior to being mounted on top of the rocket booster. The mishap, which SpaceX later referred to on its website as "a sudden energetic event," completely destroyed the spacecraft and ignited several fires that caused damage in the area surrounding the test stand. While SpaceX is investigating the mishap, Musk said in a post on X that preliminary data suggested that a pressurized tank failed at the top of the rocket. Starbase controversy as officials approve road closures SpaceX conducts Starship test flights from the company's Starbase headquarters in South Texas, located about 23 miles from Brownsville near the U.S.-Mexico border. Before the most recent Starship test, Starbase had made news in early May when Texas voters in Cameron County approved a measure to officially recognize the company's headquarters as its own town, complete with a mayor and city council. The city designation has been speculated to give greater municipal control of the area to Musk, who has regularly clashed with government regulators over the red tape SpaceX has had to navigate before launches. And in late June, Starbase officials began exercising some of that control with a vote passing a law to close several of the city's public streets to outsiders. On June 23, the Starbase City Commission approved requests from SpaceX to install gates near four intersections that would prevent much of the public from accessing a large part of the city. Mexico threatens to sue SpaceX Also in late June, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum threatened to sue SpaceX if investigators determined that Musk's spaceflight company had contributed to undue pollution and marine life die-off in the country. The announcement came after the fiery mishap earlier in the month caused debris to fall in the Mexican state of Tamaulipa. SpaceX claimed on its website and on social media site X that the Starship explosion posed "no chemical, biological, or toxicological risks" to the surrounding inhabited areas. Public gives feedback as SpaceX preps to launch Starship from Florida As SpaceX prepares to bring its Starship operations to Florida, residents of the Sunshine State have had opportunities to provide public feedback on the company's plans. SpaceX is seeking regulatory approval to commence conducting Starship flight tests at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center. As SpaceX breaks ground in Florida on a new Starship facility it calls "Gigabay," the company is also finalizing plans to launch the Starship spacecraft by the end of 2025 from Kennedy Space Center. Three public hearings took place in Florida in July about SpaceX's plans, while the Federal Aviation Administration – which licenses commercial rocket launches – announced Tuesday, Aug. 5, that it is hosting its own series of three meetings later in the month. The public can also submit comments online until Sept. 22. SpaceX launches 2 groups of astronauts to space station on Falcon 9 Just because Starship operations have been on hold doesn't mean SpaceX hasn't been busy with other rocket launches. The company's famous Falcon 9, one of the most active rockets in the world, has continued to propel Starlink satellites into orbit from Florida and California. Since the last Starship flight test, the Falcon 9 has also helped launch two crews of astronauts on Dragon capsules to the International Space Station. The first came June 25, when four astronauts on a private venture known as Axiom Mission 4 launched to the orbital laboratory for 20 days. More recently, four astronauts on a mission known as Crew-11 launched to the space station for what is expected to be about a six-month science expedition. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Elon Musk confirms next SpaceX Starship test flight coming soon after recent setbacks
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the company plans to launch the next test flight of its massive Starship rocket in 'about three weeks.' The announcement came via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on July 14, 2025. If the timeline holds, it would mark the 10th test flight of Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, and its fourth mission this year. The flight follows a string of technical setbacks, including the explosion of a Ship upper stage during a test and the loss of control in previous flights. Despite these hurdles, SpaceX remains committed to advancing Starship's goal of enabling interplanetary travel and rapid, reusable orbital missions. SpaceX Starship's recent failures The upcoming launch follows a bumpy path for SpaceX's Starship program. On June 18, the upper stage (referred to as "Ship") originally slated for Flight 10 exploded on a test stand at the company's Starbase facility in South Texas. Investigations pointed to a failed pressurized nitrogen tank in the vehicle's nosecone. SpaceX has since begun preparing a replacement Ship vehicle for the mission. This incident adds to previous in-flight failures: Flights 7, 8, and 9—all launched in 2025—ended with the vehicle being lost during or after ascent. Super heavy booster shows promise by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo While the ship has encountered repeated issues, the Super Heavy booster—the rocket's massive first stage—has delivered more consistent performance. During Flights 7 and 8, the booster successfully returned to Starbase and was even caught by the launch tower's mechanical 'chopstick' arms. Flight 9 also featured the first-ever reuse of a Super Heavy booster. However, during reentry, that reused booster broke apart over the Gulf of Mexico shortly after initiating its landing burn. What's next for Starship Flight 10 Flight 10 will be the 10th fully integrated launch of the Starship-Super Heavy system. If successful, it will help SpaceX demonstrate improved reusability and system reliability, key to the company's ambitions of using Starship for lunar missions, space station resupply, and eventually Mars colonization . SpaceX has not yet disclosed a specific target date, but if preparations go as planned, the launch could occur by early August 2025. Long-term vision: Moon, Mars, and beyond SpaceX's ultimate goal for Starship is to serve as a fully reusable transport system for large payloads and humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The rocket stands nearly 400 feet tall when fully stacked and is powered by Raptor engines fueled by liquid methane and liquid oxygen. With each launch, the company collects valuable data to refine the vehicle's design and operations. Despite recent failures, Musk has reiterated that iterative testing and rapid development are central to SpaceX's approach. Starbase, SpaceX's sprawling launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, continues to be a key hub for Starship development. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is closely monitoring the program and will need to approve the upcoming launch. Local and international space enthusiasts are watching closely, eager to see if Starship can deliver on its promise of revolutionizing space travel.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Watch: SpaceX Starship explodes during test in Texas. What's next for Elon Musk's company?
SpaceX's massive Starship exploded in a spectacular fiery blaze during an engine test in Texas, raising questions about what's next for Elon Musk's spaceflight company. This time, the explosion was not a result of a launch, but a routine test to prepare the rocket for what would have been its 10th flight since 2023. The dramatic failure marked the latest setback for Elon Musk's spaceflight company, founded in 2002, as Starship continues to face challenges. The rocket has struggled to replicate earlier mission successes, with all three of its 2025 test flights ending in failure. The spacecraft, standing nearly 400 feet tall when fully stacked, did not injure or endanger anyone when it exploded in a fireball that could be seen for miles, SpaceX said. Musk, whose public rift with President Donald Trump recently cast into doubt the future of the U.S. spaceflight program, appeared to initially make light of the mishap – saying "Just a scratch" in a post on social media site X, which he also owns. More: Elon Musk hits back after Trump threatens contracts. SpaceX's government ties, explained The explosion occurred around 11 p.m. local time Wednesday, June 18, while SpaceX was preparing for Starship's upcoming flight test, known as Flight 10, from Starbase – the company town in South Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The Starship spacecraft was standing alone on the test stand prior to being mounted on top of the booster when it blew up. In this case, the Starship vehicle had already undergone a single-engine fire earlier in the week and SpaceX was preparing to test all six when the explosion occurred. The mishap, which SpaceX later referred to on its website as "a sudden energetic event," completely destroyed the spacecraft and ignited several fires that caused damage in the area surrounding the test stand. While SpaceX is investigating the mishap, Musk said in a post on X that preliminary data suggest a pressurized tank failed at the top of the rocket. The company attributed it to a "major anomaly,' and said all personnel were safe. SpaceX's latest Starship launch marked a failure, following two earlier explosions this year and marking the ninth test flight overall. From launch to loss of the ship, high-quality footage was sent to the live coverage via Starlink. The world watched as, once again, the massive launch system failed to go as planned. The May 27 flight was aimed at testing much more than what transpired. While the ship coasted this time for close to 40 minutes and made it to the planned area of reentry, it ended up in a spin, which caused it to break apart over the Indian Ocean. Of the eight previous flights, outcomes were evenly split between successes and failures, making Tuesday's mission, which ended in another explosion, a continued challenge in the company's quest for orbital launch reliability. Starship's first two flight tests of 2025 – on Jan. 16 and again on March 6 – ended in dramatic explosions that sent cascades of fiery debris streaking across the sky. In both mishaps, the upper stage, the vehicle where astronauts and cargo would ride, came apart mere minutes into its flight instead of landing as planned in the Indian Ocean. In the Flight 9 test mission, SpaceX made modifications to the 400-foot vehicle as the company continues to develop Starship for future expeditions to the moon and Mars. For the first time, SpaceX reused a Super Heavy booster rocket that had previously flown. The booster was first used during Starship's seventh test flight in January, which ended in failure. While some components were new, including a replaced heat shield, most of the hardware was reused, or what SpaceX calls "flight-proven," including 29 of its 33 Raptor engines. All of SpaceX's Texas operations — including the explosion during Wednesday's engine test — take place at the company's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, a beachside community near Brownsville. The site sits along the Gulf of America, about 20 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. Although Starbase is closed to the public during launches, a nearby location has become a favorite among Texans and space enthusiasts hoping to catch a glimpse of Starship in action. Isla Blanca Park, 33174 State Park Road 100, is located on the southernmost tip of South Padre Island. With more than a mile of beaches, the park reliably attracts sizable crowds anytime Starship is due for its latest flight test. More: Where is Starbase, Texas? Elon Musk's SpaceX headquarters voted to become a city But Starship still has a long way to go in its development before it's ready to take humans to the moon or Mars. It does not appear as if the Federal Aviation Administration will conduct an investigation into the latest explosion since "the activity and anomaly were not associated with licensed activity," the agency said Friday, June 20, in an email to the USA TODAY Network. But in addition to simply being able to fly safely – in other words, without exploding – Starship also needs to be capable of refueling in orbit. The maneuver would be an especially difficult one that's never before been accomplished. SpaceX is planning to increase the number of Starship launches after receiving key regulatory approval to conduct 25 flight tests a year. Just four Starship test missions were conducted in 2024. Following the latest Starship launch in late-May, Musk had previously said the next three test flights would occur in quicker succession, with a Starship launch taking place every three to four weeks. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: SpaceX Starship explodes in latest test. See video from Texas
Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Fears Trump's new $400m Qatari ‘flying palace' Air Force One replacement is vulnerable to devastating HACKS
A LAVISH jumbo jet Donald Trump plans to receive from Qatar will be vulnerable to hacking, an expert has warned. The Boeing 747 - dubbed a "palace in the sky" - could even be blasted out the sky, aviation specialist Jeff Wise believes. 10 Trump's new 'palace in the sky' is vulnerable to hacking, experts say Credit: YouTube/Spotti Flight 10 The lavish $400million plane could even be blasted out of the sky Credit: YouTube/Spotti Flight 10 Trump sparked concern after he willingly accepted the plush plane from the Qatari royal family, headed by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tanim bin-Hamad Al Thani (L) Credit: AP US President Trump, 78, has sparked concern with his willingness to accept the plush flying mansion - worth an estimated $400m (£300m) - from the Qatari royal family. The 13-year-old mega jet would be kitted out with top-tier communications and security tech before being used as Air Force One to ferry Trump about. It would need significant retrofitting and clearance from security officials. But plane expert Wise says it would take years and billions of dollars to reach anywhere near the level of security offered by the existing Air Force One. READ MORE WORLD NEWS TRUMP SPEAKS Donald Trump issues statement after Joe Biden revealed cancer diagnosis He fears Trump will bypass necessary measures - which could therefore invite hacking or a devastating assassination attempt. Wise told The Sun: 'This Air Force One would be a major intelligence target for any adversary nation or even our allies, because allies love to spy on each other. 'The United States is being given this albatross that they are going to have to spend billions of dollars on to fix up for the personal use of Trump. 'If your job is to protect the President of the United States or if your job is to protect the secrets of the United States, then this is a massive headache for you. 'This is a plane that does not have secure communications and the anti-missiles defence systems that a normal Air Force One has. It's just wide open. 'This is an administration that is completely irresponsible in the way they use their personal devices. They're using these off-brand apps to communicate. It's just a hacker's dream.' Donald Trump defends Qatar's gift of a $400 million plane The main aircraft used in the current Air Force One fleet includes two Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets. They have been operational since 1990 and are said to be not up to scratch compared to modern planes. But the Air Force contract with Boeing to replace those aircraft has been plagued by delays and budget overruns. The original contract was signed in 2018 - but last year Boeing predicted that the jet would not be ready until 2029. By then, Trump will have left office. Wise fears shortcuts could be used to get the jumbo jet in operation before the end of Trump's second term - which could spell disaster. He added: 'If you try to do something quickly, of course it's going to be compromised. "Of course it's not going to have the same level of capabilities. Now, what are you going to decide to cut? What are you going to decide to leave out? 'It's not realistic that you're going to make it safe in the way that an Air Force One has traditionally been safe. Everything has been traditionally done to a certain standard. 'Of course you're not going to match those standards.' 10 The jet would be kitted out with top-tier communications and security tech before being used as Air Force One Credit: YouTube/Spotti Flight 10 Jeff Wise told The Sun it would take years and billions of dollars to reach to proper standards of Air Force One Credit: YouTube/Spotti Flight 10 Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (R) shakes the hand of the US President Donald Trump (L) Credit: AFP Wise pointed to Iran as one example of a nation that might attempt a missile attack on the potential Air Force One. Former security advisor to Trump, John Bolton, said earlier this month he and the President are on an 'assassination list' from the seething Middle East country. It follows the assassination of military leader Qasem Soleimani in 2020, who was killed in a US airstrike ordered by Trump. Wise continued: 'I would say an increasing number of people would like to target Air Force One. 'America's list of enemies is growing longer and longer as we become an increasingly horrible nation, from the Houthis to the Iranians to the Russians.' He added: 'It's hard to parse the motives of an adversary. Would they really benefit from killing Trump? You can easily imagine it. Remember, we assassinated one of their leaders.' Wise warned rival rogue nations will already be wondering how to target the jet. He said: 'Imagine all the people who surround an airplane when it's on the tarmac at an airport. Refuelers, caterers, security etc. 10 The 13-year-old jet could be targeted by Iran, Wise suggested Credit: AFP 10 The plane marks the most expensive gift ever given to a US president Credit: YouTube/Spotti Flight 'It's easy to imagine a foreign intelligence service getting their people into this crew and physically having contact with this plane, installing monitoring devices or what have you. 'So anyone who's worth their salt is going to be trying to break through what would normally be considerable defensive measures that would normally surround a plane like this.' Wise added: 'I think you're looking at this plane being bugged. I think you're potentially having listening devices, recording devices, both audio and radio frequency being installed potentially anywhere on this fairly massive airplane. 'So it would be a huge job to try to sweep it and make sure it's not compromised.' Trump insists it will benefit US taxpayers by serving as a temporary replacement for Air Force One. But the plane has raised ethical questions about what would be the most expensive gift ever received by a US President, by far. Wise has long warned of the potential for evil world leaders to target aviation to hurt the West. Earlier this month, he warned Russian war monster Vladimir Putin is plotting a deadly cyber attack that could result in planes falling out of the sky. He pointed towards a string of explosions and cyber attacks Putin has been linked with. This includes a letter bomb that was planted on a plane to Britain, but instead set fire to a DHL warehouse in Birmingham. He rocked the aviation industry in 2014 when he claimed Russia had hijacked missing plane MH370 and flew it to Kazakhstan. Just months later Russia shot down flight MH17, killing all 283 on board during a commercial flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. Russia has always denied responsibility. 10 Wise suggested that the plane could fall victim to a cyber attack Credit: YouTube/Spotti Flight
