Latest news with #interplanetary
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Your guide to Starlink launches and why they matter so much to SpaceX
With a rate of one to two Florida launches a week, Starlink satellites now orbit the Earth in vast numbers. Starlink earns billions for SpaceX, feeding CEO Elon Musk's expensive goal of making humans interplanetary. And the internet service offered by Starlink has brought connectivity to areas of the Earth long shut out from this advancing technology, while at the same time giving Musk significant global influence during times of catastrophe and war. It all began here at Cape Canaveral just over six years ago. But while Starlink launches have become part of the daily life on the Space Coast, it's still not uncommon to hear the question: "Just what is Starlink?" Put simply, Starlink is a satellite internet service engineered and launched by SpaceX. Orbiting overhead, these satellites make internet service available in areas on Earth which were traditionally unserved, providing access to millions. Starlink is also available across the United States. "A decade ago there were only 1,300 working satellites. Today there are over 12,000 -- almost an order of magnitude increase, and most of this is due to SpaceX's Starlink constellation," Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said in an email to FLORIDA TODAY. What is a SpaceX Starlink launch? Starlink was first launched from Florida in May 2019 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch consisted of 60 Starlink satellites. These days, fewer satellites are lofted into orbit with each launch. More typically now, the number is in the 20s per launch. It is unclear as to why SpaceX has reduced the number of Starlink satellites per launch. However, when revealing the current Starlink version, the V2 mini, in February 2023, SpaceX stated that the satellites now had "about four times more capacity per satellite than earlier iterations". Already this year, there have been more than 60 Starlink launches from Florida. The satellites are also launched from from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The next Starlink launch is set for Thursday, August 14. What is Starlink? These satellites transmit internet from space, making it possible to provide access in areas that previously were hard to reach such as rural communities, mountainous zones and even out at sea. Starlink offers internet service options for both businesses and individual customers. The standard kit starts at $349, with residential service starting at $80 per month. There is even a Starlink mini receiver which is small enough to fit in a backpack. Starlink mini is reported to offer speeds up to 280+ Mbps, which is comparable to 5G cell phone connectivity. That service starts at $50 per month. Starlink service is also used by some airlines to offer in-flight internet to passengers. And it's been used by private astronauts in space. This was seen on the private Fram2 mission, which launched a crew of four to orbit in March 2025. The mission, funded by businessman Chun Wang, put Wang and three other explorers on the first human spaceflight around Earth's polar regions. From the time commander Wang entered the Dragon spacecraft all the way to splashdown, live updates were shared by the crew via Starlink. Starlink and politics Starlink has become a core of Musk's business empire. Musk donated millions of dollars to Donald Trump's presidential campaign, and served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) until May 2025 tasked with cutting the federal government. Musk's relationship with Trump soured over Trump's "big beautiful bill" and subsequently Musk has talked of starting a new political party. However, Musk was involved in geopolitics even before his alignment with Trump. In 2022, when Russian invaded Ukraine, Musk provided thousands of Starlink terminals to assist with communication in Ukraine. But at some point, Musk raised concerns about Ukraine's planned use of Starlink for an offensive against Russia, said Caleb Henry, director of research at Quilty Space. That led to concerns that Musk might intervene. As a result, many entities outside the U.S. have tried to move away from dependance on Starlink. "I think that is the fear," said Henry. "That Musk has made threats around the assets that he owns or controls. And if he did do that, and deliver on it, it could cause people a lot of trouble." The threat is valid even for the U.S., Henry noted, citing recent example of Musk threatening to decommission the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft during a public online feud with President Trump. While Musk took back the threat, decommissioning the Dragon spacecraft would leave NASA without astronaut transportation. Starlink and natural disasters But it's important to note that Musk has also brought Starlink into play to help in natural disasters. SpaceX has broadcasted their willingness to help during the devastating hurricanes last year, and most recently, the flooding in Texas. "In support of those impacted by flooding in Texas, Starlink is providing Mini kits for search and rescue efforts – ensuring connectivity even in dead zones – and one month of free service for thousands of customers in the region, including those who paused service so they can reactivate Starlink during this time," the company posted to X on July 5. Henry told FLORIDA TODAY that while satellite communication is usually brought in during natural disasters, Starlink has become a more accessible option. "In natural disasters, satellite communications is often the best," said Henry. "When disasters destroy towers or fibers, it can take a long time to get those restored, and natural disaster responses are measured in terms of hours and days, so there's not enough time to wait for terrestrial communications to be restored in short time frames." When is the next Florida launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral Starlink trains: what are those Starlink has also changed the night sky. In the hours after a launch of Starlink satellites, the satellites are still in a low orbit and close together. Shortly after sunset, people have noticed Starlink satellite "trains" crossing the sky. These "trains" look like multiple bright objects in a row that are visible for a brief time. Once the satellites spread out and rise into a higher orbit, they become less visible from Earth. But they are a headache for astronomers taking long exposure images of the night sky. During these long exposures, satellites crossing the image are a concern as astronomers have to edit the imperfection out. This costs additional time and money. But in a bid to reduce that impact, Starlink's V2 mini models feature "a combination of dielectric mirror film, which reflects sunlight away from the Earth, and the SpaceX-developed, low-reflectivity black paint", according to SpaceX. Starlink states that its satellites orbit at a much lower altitude than traditional satellites to deliver enhanced internet speed. While the typical satellite orbits at 35,786 km, Starlink orbits at only 550 km above Earth. To put it in perspective, that's 341.75 miles — approximately the distance between Jacksonville and Miami. How many SpaceX Starlink satellites are in orbit? With the frequent launch of Starlink satellites, the number of satellites in orbit have grown significantly. McDowell told FLORIDA TODAY that to date, there are more than 8,000 Starlink satellites currently in orbit. That number is expected to grow. By how much? SpaceX has not revealed recent estimations. However, the goal in 2019 was to have more than 11,000 satellites in low Earth orbit by the end of 2024. That goal has since fallen short. FLORIDA TODAY reached out to SpaceX about current Starlink plans, but did not receive a response. As of February 2025, SpaceX reported a launch of 7,946 Starlink satellites, a number which includes the 865 satellites which have deorbited since the beginning of the constellations in 2019. Starlink is SpaceX's largest source of income Starlink has become a major income source for SpaceX. "I'd just like to thank everyone out there who supports Starlink, because you're helping secure the future of civilization and helping make life multiplanetary, and helping make humanity a spacefaring civilization," Musk said during a recent Starship update. Back in 2023, Starlink achieved breakeven cashflow. Musk claimed on X that SpaceX's revenue will amount to approximately $15.5 billion this year. Furthermore, Musk claims that SpaceX's revenue will exceed NASA's budget by roughly $1.1 billion next year. While not all of that amount is from Starlink, Reuters reported in June that Starlink is still SpaceX's largest source of revenue. Musk has claimed Starlink will go public, but hasn't provided any other details. How SpaceX uses Starlink for Falcon 9 and Starship Remember the days of low quality video from launching spacecraft? These days, SpaceX utilizes its Starlink to broadcast its stunning imagery. These views include the clear footage from orbit and even of the rocket booster landing on the drone ship. SpaceX also uses Starlink revenue to pay for testing and development of its massive, fully reusable, Starship launch system. As for the company's Starship, which currently launches from Texas, there have been many setbacks. When a design is finally successful, Starship will eventually launch from Florida. The former United Launch Alliance Delta rocket facilities at Launch Complex 37 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station were demolished to make room for a Starship facility development. The final ULA Delta IV rocket launched in April 2024. Musk wants Starship to be SpaceX's next workhorse rocket. His goal is to use Starship to send humans to Mars and as human lander for NASA's Artemis III return to the moon. It will also deploy satellites, such as Starlink satellites, from a payload dispenser door built into the ship. When humans do get to Mars, Musk dreams of establishing Starlink internet service on the red planet. Yet it won't be as instantaneous as communicating on Earth. Musk mentioned communication between Earth and Mars can take anywhere from three to 22 minutes, depending on the locations of the planets in orbit around the sun. Jeff Bezos' Amazon Kuiper internet Starlink does have a compeitor. It's not just Musk who is in the satellite internet business. Amazon and Blue Origin founder, Jeff Bezos, has a stake in the industry with the Amazon Project Kuiper satellite internet service. Like Starlink, Project Kuiper aims to deliver widespread internet service which reaches underserved areas. The $10 billion Amazon project boasts a $140 million satellite processing plant at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where satellites will be processed before launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. To date, 78 Project Kuiper satellites have been launched atop United Launch Alliance Atlas V rockets − those launches consisting of 27 satellites each in April and June of this year. The plan is to eventually have 3,200 of the satellites in orbit. The most recent Project Kuiper launch was on August 11, which saw 24 of the satellites launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Amazon Project Kuiper aims to begin offering service to customers beginning later this year. When is the next SpaceX Starlink launch? The next Starlink launch is set for no earlier than 6:47 a.m. Thursday, August 14 from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. SpaceX states it has until 10:47 a.m. to launch that day. The mission is known as Starlink 10-20. Upon lift off, the Falcon 9 rocket will carry the Starlink payload on a northeast trajectory. Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Guide to all things Starlink: Why these satellites are so key to SpaceX
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX Starship explodes during routine test
One of Elon Musk's SpaceX Starships exploded during a routine test in Texas late Wednesday, law enforcement officials said, in the latest setback to the billionaire's dream of turning humanity into an interplanetary species. The Starship 36 suffered "catastrophic failure and exploded" at the Starbase launch facility shortly after 11:00 pm (0400 GMT Thursday), a Facebook post by Cameron County authorities said. A video shared with the post showed the megarocket attached to the launch arm and then a flash and a towering, fiery explosion. Musk's Space X said the rocket was preparing for the tenth flight test when it "experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase," without elaborating on the nature of the complication. "A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for," Space X said on social media. "There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue." The Starship was not scheduled for launch on Wednesday evening when the explosion occurred during a "routine static fire test," according to the Cameron County authorities. During a static fire, part of the procedures preceding a launch, the Starship's Super Heavy booster would be anchored to the ground to prevent it from lifting off during the test-firing. Starbase, on the south Texas coast near the border with Mexico, is the headquarters for Musk's space project. Musk appeared to downplay the incident early on Thursday. "Just a scratch," he posted on his social media platform X, although without context it was unclear if he was referring to the fiery explosion of the rocket. - Megarocket - Standing 403 feet (123 meters) tall, Starship is the world's largest and most powerful rocket and is central to Musk's long-term vision of colonizing Mars. The Starship is billed as a fully reusable rocket with a payload capacity of up to 150 metric tons. The latest setback follows the explosion of a prototype Starship over the Indian Ocean in late May. The biggest and most powerful launch vehicle ever built had lifted off from the Starbase facility on May 27, but the first-stage Super Heavy booster blew up instead of executing its planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. The previous two outings also ended poorly, with the upper stage disintegrating over the Caribbean. However, the failures will likely do little to dent Musk's spacefaring ambitions. SpaceX has been betting that its "fail fast, learn fast" ethos, which has helped it dominate commercial spaceflight, will eventually pay off. The company has caught the Super Heavy booster in the launch tower's giant robotic arms three times -- a daring engineering feat it sees as key to rapid reusability and slashing costs. NASA is also increasingly reliant on SpaceX, whose Dragon spacecraft is vital for ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station. The Federal Aviation Administration approved an increase in annual Starship rocket launches from five to 25 in early May, stating that the increased frequency would not adversely affect the environment. The decision overruled objections from conservation groups that had warned the expansion could endanger sea turtles and shorebirds. burs-abs/aha/pbt
The Guardian
19-06-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Another SpaceX rocket explodes in new setback to Elon Musk's Mars project
One of Elon Musk's SpaceX Starships exploded during a routine test in Texas, authorities said, in the latest setback to the billionaire's dream of turning humanity into an interplanetary species. The Starship 36 suffered 'catastrophic failure and exploded' at the Starbase launch facility shortly after 11pm on Wednesday (0400 GMT Thursday), a Facebook post by the Cameron County authorities said. A video shared with the post showed the megarocket attached to the launch arm, and then a flash and a towering, fiery explosion. Musk's SpaceX said the rocket was preparing for the 10th flight test when it 'experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase', without elaborating on the nature of the complication. 'A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for,' SpaceX added on social media. 'There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue.' The Starship explosion occurred during a 'routine static fire test', according to the Cameron County authorities. During a static fire, part of the procedures preceding a launch, the Starship's Super Heavy booster would be anchored to the ground to prevent it from lifting off during the test firing. Starbase on the south Texas coast, near the border with Mexico, is the headquarters for Musk's space project. At 403ft (123 metres) tall, Starship is the world's largest and most powerful rocket and central to Musk's long-term vision of colonising Mars. The Starship is billed as a fully reusable rocket with a payload capacity of up to 150 metric tonnes. The latest setback follows an explosion of a prototype Starship over the Indian Ocean in late May. The biggest and most powerful launch vehicle ever built had lifted off on 27 May from the Starbase facility, but the first-stage Super Heavy booster blew up instead of executing its planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. The previous two outings also ended poorly, with the upper stage disintegrating over the Caribbean. But the failures willprobably do little to dent Musk's spacefaring ambitions. SpaceX has been betting that its 'fail fast, learn fast' ethos, which has helped it dominate commercial spaceflight, will eventually pay off. The company has caught the Super Heavy booster in the launch tower's giant robotic arms three times – a daring engineering feat it sees as key to rapid reusability and slashing costs. Nasa is also increasingly reliant on SpaceX, whose Dragon spacecraft is vital for ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station. The Federal Aviation Administration in early May approved an increase in annual Starship rocket launches from five to 25, stating that the increased frequency would not adversely impact the environment. The decision overruled objections from conservation groups who had warned the expansion could endanger sea turtles and shorebirds.
Sustainability Times
12-06-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Half the Time to Mars': This Spinning Liquid Uranium Engine Could Redefine Deep Space Travel for Future Missions
IN A NUTSHELL 🚀 Researchers are developing a revolutionary nuclear propulsion system using rotating liquid uranium to enhance space travel efficiency. using rotating liquid uranium to enhance space travel efficiency. 🔬 The Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket (CNTR) could offer up to four times the efficiency of traditional chemical engines, significantly benefiting Martian missions. (CNTR) could offer up to four times the efficiency of traditional chemical engines, significantly benefiting Martian missions. ⚙️ Major challenges include managing uranium fuel in liquid form and addressing technical obstacles like neutronics and hydrogen bubble behavior. 🌌 If successful, the CNTR could revolutionize interplanetary travel, making it faster, more efficient, and capable of carrying heavy loads to distant planets. As chemical rockets push the boundaries of their capabilities, a new era of nuclear propulsion engines is emerging, potentially revolutionizing interplanetary travel. Researchers are developing cutting-edge technologies that could double current performance standards using rotating liquid uranium. This breakthrough could shorten travel times to distant planets, such as Mars, significantly enhancing our ability to explore the universe. In this article, we delve into the promise and challenges of these innovative propulsion systems, exploring how they might redefine space travel. The Promise of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Since the dawn of space exploration, chemical rockets have been the mainstay of propulsion technology. However, after decades of refinement, these rockets have hit a technological ceiling, with their maximum efficiency—known as specific impulse—not exceeding 450 seconds. Even the top engineers at companies like SpaceX are now prioritizing cost reduction over pure thrust improvements. In response to this technological barrier, NASA and other agencies are turning to an alternative that, while conceived decades ago, has never been utilized in space: Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP). The DRACO program, led by NASA and DARPA, aims to test a nuclear engine by 2027, capable of achieving 900 seconds of specific impulse—double that of a chemical engine. But this might be just the beginning. A team of researchers from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Ohio State University is developing an even more radical concept: the Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket (CNTR). According to their simulations, the CNTR could propel spacecraft with nearly four times the efficiency of chemical engines. This would be a tremendous advancement for Martian missions, provided they can overcome numerous technical challenges. 'Mini Nuclear Breakthrough': China Activates World's First Compact Reactor to Deliver Clean Energy to Over Half a Million HomesPlant Set to Power Over Half a Million Homes in China Rotating Liquid Uranium The fundamental difference between a traditional NTP engine and a CNTR lies in the fuel. While conventional NTP systems use solid uranium, the CNTR relies on liquid uranium. This choice allows the rocket to operate at much higher temperatures, dramatically increasing thrust efficiency. But how can this fuel remain liquid? The answer is an integrated centrifuge. The rapid rotation confines the molten uranium using centrifugal force, forming a stable toroidal (ring-shaped) wall. Gaseous hydrogen is then injected into the center of the system, passing through the hot uranium, heating to extreme temperatures, and then expelled through a nozzle to create thrust. The result is a specific impulse of 1,500 seconds, nearly double that of traditional NTP engines and half that of ion engines, but with significantly higher thrust. This innovative approach could transform human space exploration, making distant planets more accessible. Scientists Hit Breakthrough Moment: First-Ever Liquid Carbon Created With Lasers Sparks Fusion Power Revolution Promises and Major Challenges Of course, such an innovation comes with its share of difficulties. The research team has identified ten major technical challenges, focusing on four in a recent scientific publication. The first challenge involves the system's neutronics: byproducts of nuclear fission, like xenon and samarium, can 'poison' the reactor, disrupting its operation. To address this, the researchers add elements like erbium-167 to stabilize temperature and explore strategies for selectively removing unwanted products. The second issue is hydrogen bubbles. These bubbles are essential for heat transfer, but their behavior in liquid uranium is still poorly understood. To study them, the researchers have designed two experimental devices: Ant Farm (static) and BLENDER II (rotating, with X-ray observation). They use galinstan, a non-radioactive liquid metal, as a substitute for uranium, and nitrogen to simulate hydrogen. 'Reactor Has a Mind Now': U.S. Nuclear Plants Given Digital Twins That Predict Failures Before They Even Exist Far from Launch, but on the Right Path Currently, the CNTR remains a concept under development. No complete prototype has yet been built. The next steps will focus on laboratory testing of the DEP technology and improving the physical models of the engine. However, one thing is clear: if these obstacles can be overcome, the CNTR could represent a genuine revolution in interplanetary travel. Faster, more efficient, capable of carrying heavy loads over long distances—the centrifugal nuclear engine might be the key to reaching Mars and beyond. As we stand on the brink of a new era in space exploration, the potential of nuclear propulsion systems is undeniable. With continued research and innovation, these technologies could pave the way for humanity's journey to the stars. The question remains: Are we ready to embrace this bold leap into the future and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (27)
Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'Elon's become a lot more nasty and yelling at people.' FREDDY GRAY hears Washington whispers that the billionaire's brain is 'decaying' under the pressure, as rumours swirl of his ketamine, ecstasy and mushrooms 'cocktail'
At the height of his power, Alexander the Great wept because there were no more worlds left to conquer. Elon Musk, the richest man of our age, may have been blubbing for a different reason last week, as yet another of his unfathomable ambitions came crashing to earth. On its ninth test flight, his SpaceX 'Starship' enterprise, which has been designed to make 'humans an interplanetary species', went up with barely a hitch. Then, on re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, the 400ft machine lost contact with the control room, span out of control and blew up. Musk, wearing his favoured 'OCCUPY MARS ' T-shirt for the big occasion, tried to put a positive spin on Starship's third mid-flight immolation in a row. He called the crash-test 'a big improvement' and posted triumphant videos of the spacecraft thrusting majestically towards the heavens.
