Latest news with #Lockett
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX May Be Failing to Get Starship Working at All
Last week, both stages of SpaceX's Starship exploded after returning from space. The Super Heavy booster flew apart as it attempted a landing burn over ground, and forty minutes later, the Starship vehicle itself disintegrated somewhere over the Indian Ocean. It was the Elon Musk-owned space company's ninth test of its megarocket, the development of which has been plagued by spectacular failures. Failure is part of the company's formula for success, but the prolonged series of comeupances may be very bad news, according to engineer-turned-journalist Will Lockett. "Dig a little deeper, and it's evident that SpaceX has hit an impasse," Lockett wrote in his newsletter. Reusability is the Starship's raison d'être. If the booster and spacecraft can safely perform multiple launches, the idea is that it'll save SpaceX — and its customers — invaluable time and money that it'd otherwise waste building new ones from scratch. Its other selling point is hauling a massive amount of cargo in one go, facilitating ambitious missions like sending humans to Mars. Yet two years on since Starship embarked on its maiden test flight, SpaceX is still a long way from achieving reusability or a hefty payload capacity. Regarding the former, last week's flight test was the first time SpaceX reused a Super Heavy booster, replacing four of its 33 engines. Regarding the latter, the test had Starship carry a dummy payload of a measly 16 metric tons. Musk has previously promised that Starship will carry 150 tons. In previous tests, the booster guided itself back to its launch tower, where it was caught midair by the structure's "Chopstick" arms — an unquestionably stunning achievement. For its most recent flight, SpaceX ditched making a catch and aimed for a controlled splash landing in the Pacific. That's because it was testing sending the booster into a "belly-flop" to increase drag as it re-enters the atmosphere, thereby slowing its descent and reducing the fuel that needs to be burned by its retrorockets, the engines that kick in to assist the landing. Less fuel means less weight, which means more payload capacity, and so forth. Inauspiciously, the booster exploded right after its retrorockets ignited, suggesting that it was the engines that had failed. The stresses of the belly-flop, it would also appear, proved too much for the craft's structure. In Lockett's analysis, the booster is both too heavy and yet too fragile. If true, then engineers are in a bind: "Super Heavy Booster and its engines need to be heavily reinforced to survive such a landing (especially if it is to be reused, as planned), but doing so would add enough weight to render the entire exercise moot," Lockett wrote. The upper stage, meanwhile, made some progress by reaching space and flying at orbital speeds. But in a repeat of the last two tests, it experienced a fuel leak — though instead of instantly exploding, it spiraled out of control and broke up in the atmosphere. "The fact that it was yet another fuel leak that caused the rocket to fail heavily suggests they have a cascading stress issue," wrote Lockett. "They strengthened the fuel lines and the structure that supported the rocket engines after flights 7 and 8, but now a component further down the line has failed, suggesting that the stress is being transferred to other, weaker components." Lockett's prognosis is sobering. "The lesson here is that SpaceX somehow needs to make Starship significantly more robust and lighter by well over a hundred tonnes if it is to conduct even one successful mission, let alone achieve constant reuse — which, let's be clear, is basically impossible," he added. Wendy Whitman Cobb, a space policy expert with the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, summed up SpaceX's folly. "They are trying to do everything at once with Starship," Whitman Cobb told the Verge — building a new rocket, making both the booster and spaceship reusable, on top of boasting an unprecedented payload capacity. "It really is a very difficult engineering challenge." All the drama with the exploding Starship also stands in contrast to the incremental approach SpaceX took when developing its very reliable Falcon 9 rocket. Attempts to recover a booster weren't made until years into its development, and even then, it was eventually settled that only the booster — not the entire spacecraft — would be reusable. Whitman Cobb remains slightly optimistic about the vehicle's fortunes. "I believe SpaceX will engineer their way out of it," she added. "I believe their engineering is good enough that they will make Starship work," Not Lockett. It's taken SpaceX "nine failed attempts and almost $10 billion for Starship to not reach orbit with a fraction of its promised payload and to never land an upper stage or successfully reuse a first stage," he wrote. "All flight 9 has proven is just how much of a dead end Starship is," More on SpaceX: If NASA Had Blown Up This Many Rockets, The Government Would Have Cancelled the Space Program
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Action St. Louis mobilizes tornado relief at YMCA after the storm
ST. LOUIS – St. Louisans who find themselves homeless in the aftermath of the May 16 tornado are receiving help from the appropriately named Action St. Louis. It's been 18 days since the tornado hit and volunteers with Action St. Louis have mobilized at the YMCA in the city's O'Fallon Park neighborhood. A spokesperson for the grassroots organization says they'll continue to help storm victims pick up the pieces and move forward. Action St. Louis didn't wait for funding or red tape. They moved when needed and are still here to meet the moment. 'This is the people response. We are a hub that is 100% people-powered,' spokesperson Aleidra Allen said. 'The night of the tornado, we put out a Google form to just start recruiting volunteers so we could be a service to our people and try to meet any immediate needs.' What began as a pop-up site is now a full-scale community relief hub that's helping thousands. Kehoe, White House offer differing status updates of federal disaster assistance for May 16 tornadoes 'At our hub, people can get various services around things like getting things boarded up, tarps, debris clean-up, and also things like home goods, cleaning supplies, paper towels, flashlights, hygiene items; they can also get nonperishable food, diapers,' Allen said. Renee Lockett, whose home was destroyed by the tornado, says she's been living in her car for the past 18 days. 'I lost everything – my clothes, my food; practically everything I own,' Lockett said. 'I can't do nothing but get help and I'm ready to receive it and I'm grateful for it.' Action St. Louis pointed Lockett to where she could seek temporary housing and additional help. The organization's work is far from over, though. They're calling on the public to keep the momentum going with donations, supplies, and time. 'We will be here and we will continue to show up until we feel that there is a sustainable plan in place to ensure that our people will get the long-term care that they need,' Allen said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett signing with Titans after extended free agency wait
The Tennessee Titans have apparently added a weapon for their soon-to-be new quarterback one day before the NFL Draft. Veteran wide receiver and former All-Pro returner Tyler Lockett announced on social media he's joining the Titans. He's reportedly signing a one-year, $4 million deal that can reach up to $6M with incentives, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. I'm excited to be a Tennessee Titan!! I'm super thankful and grateful Let's get it!! God you get all the glory!! #Thankful #Grateful #GodGetsAllTheGlory — Tyler Lockett (@TDLockett12) April 24, 2025 The signing ends Lockett's slow-burn free agency period nearly two months after he was released by the Seattle Seahawks following a 10-year career there. He'll join a Titans team slated to pick No. 1 overall in the draft Thursday, when the team is expected to take Miami quarterback Cam Ward. If it is Ward, he will have another solid veteran to work with right off the bat. The Titans' wide receiver corps already includes Calvin Ridley, Treylon Burks and Van Jefferson. It's also conceivable the Titans add further weapons later in the draft to help an offense that ranked 27th in points scored and 26th in yards gained last year. Lockett, 32, has played his entire career with the Seahawks after they took him as a third-round draft pick out of Kansas State in 2015. The speedy wideout was a consistent producer for the majority of his time in Seattle, starting as a return specialist and eventually becoming a legitimate threat at receiver. He was first-team All-Pro as a returner in 2015 and made his lone Pro Bowl in 2016. He compiled 1,000-plus receiving yards in four straight seasons from 2019-22. But his numbers began to fall off in 2023 and took a nosedive in 2024, when he finished with just 49 catches, 600 yards and two touchdowns. Though he was a beloved veteran in Seattle, the team reportedly saved $17 million in cap space by cutting him loose.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mother of victim speaks out against former Blount County teacher's sentencing
MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — People gathered outside the Blount County Courthouse on Friday to protest with signs, expressing their anger with the outcome of the Joseph Dalton's sentencing. The former teacher pleaded guilty to five counts of misdemeanor assault by physical contact and was sentenced to six months of probation, with judicial diversion, allowing the charges to be wiped clean once the probation is completed. TBI: Deputy fatally shoots man while responding to burglary report in Morgan County Corie Lockett is the mother of a child who she says was victimized by Dalton. She felt it was important to attend this rally. 'Keep pushing. If something has happened to your kid, you don't have to stay silent; you can talk about it,' said Lockett. Following the incident, Lockett initially transferred her daughter to a different school but realized that a new environment didn't solve the bigger issue. She shared that her daughter didn't fully understand what happened or that anything was wrong. 'There's never a reason for a teacher to restrain you, there's never a reason for them to touch you the way that he touched you. And just letting her know that everything isn't a game. Sometimes, whenever people are acting like they are pretending or playing, that it's not,' Lockett added. Child porn investigation in Michigan leads to charge against Knoxville man The mother wasn't alone in speaking out; other parents and community members stood beside her, voicing their frustration and demanding change. 'Injustice. I feel like the sentence didn't match the crime. I felt really sad for the victims, and that they must've felt like they did not matter. I feel like it should be on the National Sex Offender Registry. It is very important that Joseph Dalton does not end up at another school with more victims,' shared Danielle Kaylor, a protest organizer. Lockett said the experience has shown her how important it is for parents to stay alert and talk with their children even when it gets hard. 'People can speak out and protest and do this and do that, but at the end of the day, nothing's going to change if they don't rewrite the laws, if they don't hold the harsher punishment, if they don't start with accountability,' said Lockett. 'The children have to come first': Parents angered by sentencing of ex-Blount County PE teacher The Blount County Mayor released a statement earlier this afternoon saying, 'I am doing everything in my power to make sure this never happens to another student in our school system. I am first a parent and grandparent, and I am furious.' Blount County District Attorney General Ryan Desmond declined to comment at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NBC Sports
30-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Tyler Lockett: "Definitely excited" to do my part for Cam Ward
Titans quarterback Cam Ward was joined in the team's draft class by two wide receivers, but he will also have an experienced hand to rely on during his rookie season. Tyler Lockett's signing became official this week and the longtime Seahawk told reporters in Tennessee that he's very familiar with his new teammate. Lockett's former Seahawks teammate Quandre Diggs is Ward's cousin, so he's had eyes on Ward since the quarterback started his college days at Incarnate Word and he paid even closer attention once Ward moved closer to Seattle by transferring to Washington State. Lockett said he's 'definitely excited' by the chance to be 'able to team up with him and do my part' to help the first overall pick. The 10-year vet added that he's looking forward to playing a leadership role overall. 'No matter how great I play, no matter what type of plays that I make, people are still going to have their opinions of whether I still have it, or don't,' Lockett said, via the team's website. 'I understand the politics of the game, I understand sometimes there are so many things you need as a receiver to work out just for you to be able to get the ball. But there is so much more that people don't see that teams require and that teams need, which is the leadership role, or that selfless character, or different stuff like that. Sometimes it's not about stats, but it's about how you build each other up. So, for me, I sacrificed a lot of stuff last year for the better of the team, and I just believe that is what you want to do in order to be able to try and help the team be at its best.' If all goes according to plan for the Titans, Lockett will be a plus for the team as both a receiver and a leader.
