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Asia Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Asia Times
SpaceX rocket fails pile on Musk's Tesla troubles
What goes up must come down, and earlier this week yet another of SpaceX's Starships, the biggest and most powerful type of rocket ever built, came back down to Earth in spectacular fashion. In the sky above the Indian Ocean, it exploded. This was the ninth test flight for the rocket, and the third catastrophic failure in a row, just this year. Is this what we should expect from the very ship some are counting on to take humans further than we've ever been in the solar system? Or does this failure point to deeper concerns within the broader program? The Starship program from Elon Musk's space technology company, SpaceX, has been in development for more than a decade now and has undergone many iterations in its overall design and goals. The Starship concept is based on the SpaceX Raptor engines to be used in a multistage system. In a multistage rocket system, there are often two or three separate blocks with their own engine and fuel reserves. These are particularly important for leaving Earth's orbit and traveling to the Moon, Mars and beyond. With Starship, the key factor is the ability to land and reuse vast amounts of the rocket stages again and again. The company's Falcon 9 vehicles, which used this model, were fantastically successful. Initial tests of Starship began in 2018 with two low-altitude flights showing early success. Subsequent flights have faced numerous challenges with now four complete failures, two partial failures and three successes overall. Just two days ago, during the latest failed attempt, I watched alongside more than 200 other space industry experts at the Australian Space Summit in Sydney. Broadcast live on a giant screen, the launch generated an excited buzz – which soon turned to reserved murmurs. Of course, designing and launching rockets is hard, and failures are to be expected. However, a third catastrophic failure within six months demands a pause for reflection. On this particular test flight, as Starship positioned itself for atmospheric re-entry, one of its 13 engines failed to ignite. Shortly after, a booster appeared to explode, leading to a complete loss of control. The rocket ultimately broke apart over the Indian Ocean, which tonnes of debris will now call home. We don't know the exact financial cost of each test flight. But Musk has previously said it is about US$50–100 million. The exact environmental cost of the Starship program – and its repeated failures – is even harder to quantify. For example, a failed test flight in 2023 left the town of Port Isabel, Texas, which is located beside the launch site, shaking and covered in a thick cloud of dirt. Debris from the exploded rocket smashed cars. Residents told the New York Times they were terrified. They also had to clean up the mess from the flight. Then, in September 2024, SpaceX was fined by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for 14 separate incidents since 2022, where the launch facilities discharged polluted water into Texas waterways. Musk denied these claims. That same month, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a fine of US$633,009 in civil penalties should be issued to SpaceX. This was on the grounds of using an unapproved launch control room and other violations during 2023. Musk denied these claims too and threatened to countersue the FAA for 'regulatory overreach.' It's unclear if this suit was ever filed. Two other failed launches in January and March this year also rained rocket debris over the Caribbean, and disrupted hundreds of commercial flights, including 80 which needed to be diverted and more than 400 requiring delayed takeoff to ensure they were entering safe air space. Until last year, the FAA allowed SpaceX to try up to five Starship launches a year. This month, the figure was increased to 25. A lot can go wrong during the launch of a vehicle into space. And there is a long way to go until we can properly judge whether Starship successfully meets its mission goals. We can, however, look at past programs to understand typical success rates seen across different rocketry programs. The Saturn V rocket, the workhorse of the Apollo era, had a total of 13 launches, with only one partial failure. It underwent three full ground tests before flight. SpaceX's own Falcon 9 rocket, has had more than 478 successful launches, only two in flight failures, one partial failure and one pre-flight destruction. The Antares rocket, by Orbital Sciences Corporation (later Orbital ATK and Northrop Grumman) launched a total of 18 times, with one failure. The Soyuz rocket, originally a Soviet expendable carrier rocket designed in the 1960s, launched a total of 32 times, with two failures. Of course, we can't fairly compare all other rockets with the Starship. Its goals are certainly novel as a reusable heavy-class rocket. But this latest failure does raise some questions. Will the Starship program ever see success, and if so, when? And what are the limits of our tolerance as a society to the pollution of Earth in the pursuit of the goal to space? For a rocketry program that's moving so fast, developing novel and complex technology, and experiencing several repeated failures, many people might expect caution from now on. Musk, however, has other plans. Shortly after the most recent Starship failure, he announced on X (formerly Twitter), that the next test flights would occur at a faster pace: one every three to four weeks. Sara Webb is lecturer, Center for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Oil Spills : Impact, cleanup, and MARPOL convention for UPSC Exam
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on the issue of oil spills. (Relevance: The topic of oil spills is important for the UPSC exam from multiple dimensions. Previously, UPSC has also asked questions on it; for instance, in the Mains of 2023 question was asked on oil pollution and its impacts on the marine ecosystem. Thus, it becomes essential to understand the issue of oil spills from a broader perspective.) A day after the Liberian-flagged cargo ship, MSC ELSA 3, capsized off the Kerala coast, 30 containers washed ashore on Monday. However, no oil spill reached the shore as of Monday evening. A defence spokesperson in Kochi said three Coast Guard vessels, Vikram, Saksham and Samarth, have been deployed in a pollution response configuration in the area where the ship capsized. In this context, let's understand the issues associated with oil spills and methods of cleaning them. Natural disasters, human error, or equipment failure can trigger accidents involving oil tankers, drilling rigs, pipelines, or refineries. When oil spills into water, it rapidly spreads. Due to its lighter density, it forms a layer over water, obstructing sunlight and disrupting photosynthesis in marine plants and phytoplankton – organisms crucial for oxygen production. Marine animals also consume phytoplankton, which form the base of multiple food chains. The consequences of oil spills are influenced by factors such as the type of oil, the volume of the spill, weather conditions, and proximity to sensitive ecosystems. The long-term impacts of oil spills are extensive, affecting marine ecosystems, habitats, and local economies. 1. Effect on marine fauna: The marine animals face immediate dangers from toxic exposure. With oil coating the feathers of birds, they may lose their insulation abilities, leading to hypothermia and drowning. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that fish and invertebrates may also endure challenges with reproduction and growth. 2. Threat to biodiversity: Oil spills can wipe out animal populations, with toxic substances accumulating in the food chain and posing significant risks to higher-level predators, including humans. This bioaccumulation can result in long-term health problems and a reduction in biodiversity, disrupting entire ecosystems. 3. Effect on coastal ecosystems: The Coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves, coral reefs, and marshlands, are especially at risk, as oil can suffocate these habitats and kill vital plants and animals. Recovery can take decades, with some species facing the threat of extinction. 4. Effect on economy: The economic fallout of oil spill is significant for communities dependent on fishing and tourism. Also, the cleanup effort is often costly and lengthy, diverting resources from other critical areas. Cleaning up oil spills is challenging. Oil spreads quickly and rough seas and strong currents complicate cleanup efforts. Oils vary in properties, with some sinking or emulsifying with water and making separation tough. Some of the method used for oil spill clean up are skimming, in situ burning and releasing chemical dispersants. 1. Skimming: It involves removing oil from the sea surface before it can reach sensitive areas along the coastline. 2. In situ burning: It means burning a particular patch of oil after it has concentrated in an area. 3. Releasing chemical dispersants: It helps break down oil into smaller droplets, making it easier for microbes to consume and further break it down into less harmful compounds. Although these methods are useful, they also have some drawbacks, such as methods like chemical dispersants can harm marine life. Additionally, manual cleanup is labour-intensive and often ineffective in remote areas. 1. The MARPOL Convention governs oil spills. It evolved from several older agreements and led to a protocol issued in 1978 following several oil spill disasters in the 1970s. 2. It has six annexes, covering prevention of pollution from ships by Oil, Noxious liquid substances, Dangerous goods in packaged form, Sewage, Garbage and Air pollution from ships. 3. India is also a signatory of MARPOL convention. It is enforced with the help of domestic legislation, such as the Merchant Shipping Act in India, which has provisions on civil liability and pollution prevention certificates. Indian ships and ships in Indian waters are mandated to follow these regulations. Ports also maintain oil spill contingency plans to handle local cases, while the Indian Coast Guard is the nodal agency. (1) Which of the factors influences the consequences of oil spills? 1. Type of oil 2. Volume of the spill 3. Weather conditions 4. Proximity to sensitive ecosystems Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 , 2 and 3 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 1 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (2) Consider the following statements with regard to the MARPOL convention: 1. It covers prevention of pollution from ships by Oil, Noxious liquid substances, Dangerous goods in packaged form, Sewage, Garbage and Air pollution from ships. 2. India is not a signatory of MARPOL convention. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (Sources: Ship carrying 1.4 million litres of oil sinks near Philippines: How oil spills impact the environment, Capsized ship off Kerala coast triggers oil spills concerns: All you need to know) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
RTÉ News
26-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Ex-Volkswagen managers convicted of fraud in emissions scandal
A German court has convicted four former Volkswagen managers of fraud and handed down prison sentences to two of them for their part in the manipulation of emissions controls. The verdicts come almost a decade after a scandal erupted over the company's rigging of diesel-engine vehicles. The former head of diesel development was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, and the head of drive train electronics to two years and seven months by the court in Braunschweig, according to German news agency, Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Two others received suspended sentences of 15 months and 10 months. The scandal began in September 2015 when the US Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of violation, saying that Volkswagen had rigged engine control software that let the cars pass tests while they emitted far more pollution in actual driving. The company has paid more than €29 billion in fines and compensation to vehicle owners. Two VW managers received prison sentences in the United States. Former head of the company's Audi division, Rupert Stadler, was given a suspended sentence of 21 months and a fine of €1.1 million. The sentence is subject to appeal. Missing from the trial, which lasted almost four years, was former chief executive Martin Winterkorn. Proceedings against him have been suspended because of health issues, and it is not clear when he might go on trial. Mr Winterkorn has denied wrongdoing.
Leader Live
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Leader Live
German court convicts ex-Volkswagen managers of fraud in emissions scandal
The former head of diesel development was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, and the head of drive train electronics to two years and seven months by the court in Braunschweig, German news agency dpa reported. Two others received suspended sentences of 15 months and 10 months. The scandal began in September 2015 when the US Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of violation. saying that the company had rigged engine control software that let the cars pass emissions tests while they emitted far more pollution in actual driving. The company has paid more than 29 billion euros (£24.3 billion) in fines and compensation to vehicle owners. Two VW managers received prison sentences in the US. The former head of the company's Audi division, Rupert Stadler, was given a suspended sentence of 21 months and a fine of 1.1 million euros (£920,000). The sentence is still subject to appeal. Missing from the trial, which lasted almost four years, was former chief executive Martin Winterkorn. Proceedings against him have been suspended because of health issues, and it is not clear when he might go on trial. Winterkorn has denied wrongdoing. Further proceedings are open against 31 other people in Germany.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
German court convicts ex-Volkswagen managers of fraud in emissions scandal
A German court on Monday convicted four former Volkswagen managers of fraud and gave two of them prison sentences for their part in the manipulation of emissions controls, almost a decade after the scandal erupted over the company's rigging of diesel-engine vehicles. The former head of diesel development was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, and the head of drive train electronics to two years and seven months by the court in Braunschweig, German news agency dpa reported. Two others received suspended sentences of 15 months and 10 months. The scandal began in September 2015 when the US Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of violation. saying that the company had rigged engine control software that let the cars pass emissions tests while they emitted far more pollution in actual driving. The company has paid more than 29 billion euros (£24.3 billion) in fines and compensation to vehicle owners. Two VW managers received prison sentences in the US. The former head of the company's Audi division, Rupert Stadler, was given a suspended sentence of 21 months and a fine of 1.1 million euros (£920,000). The sentence is still subject to appeal. Missing from the trial, which lasted almost four years, was former chief executive Martin Winterkorn. Proceedings against him have been suspended because of health issues, and it is not clear when he might go on trial. Winterkorn has denied wrongdoing. Further proceedings are open against 31 other people in Germany. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
