Latest news with #launch
News.com.au
2 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Mysterious sight appears over stricken North Korea warship
North Korea has deployed a series of mysterious objects alongside its stricken warship that ran into trouble during its launch last week, according to reports. Satellite images show the objects – believed to be balloons – floating alongside the 5000-tonne ship, which has been left laying on its side and partially submerged since the incident. While their exact purpose is unknown, experts told CNN the objects may be used to manoeuvre the ship back upright. Another possible goal of using the objects was to protect the vessel from drones. It comes as another official was detained over the botched launch, which left North Korean leader Kim Jong-un furious. Jong Un slammed the mishap, which left some sections of the bottom of the newly built destroyer crushed, and called it a 'criminal act caused by absolute carelessness'. He warned that it 'could not be tolerated' and that the 'irresponsible errors' of the officials responsible would be dealt with at a Workers' Party meeting next month. Ri Hyong Son, vice department director of the Munitions Industry Department of the Party Central Committee, was summoned and detained on Sunday, the Korean Central News Agency reported. He was 'greatly responsible for the occurrence of the serious accident', it said. Ri is the fourth person reportedly detained in connection with the accident, following the detention of three individuals over the weekend. That includes the chief engineer at the shipyard. Hong Kil Ho, the manager of the shipyard in the eastern port city of Chongjin where the accident took place, was summoned by law enforcement on Thursday. South Korea's military said US and Seoul intelligence authorities assessed that North Korea's 'side-launch attempt' of the ship failed. 'The side-launch method used in this case is no longer employed by South Korea's military,' Lee Sung-jun, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters. Satellite images, released by Maxar Technologies, showed the ship lying sideways, with the stern in water and the bow on land. KCNA, however, reported that an 'underwater and internal inspection of the warship confirmed that, unlike the initial announcement, there were no holes made at the warship's bottom', calling the extent of the damage 'not serious'.
The Verge
3 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
May 30, 2025 at 5:55 PM EDT
Google is gearing up for its next round of Pixel launches. The company is giving 25 Pixel Superfans a chance to attend its pre-launch event in London on June 27th, according to a message sent to Superfans on Friday. At its 'Pixel Penthouse,' Google will offer up a sneak peek at its next-gen devices and features, which will likely include the Pixel 10 and maybe even its new buds, smartwatch, and tablet, too. Pixel Superfans invite hints at a shockingly early Pixel 10 launch [
CNA
4 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Northrop Grumman invests $50 million in space startup Firefly Aerospace
U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman has invested $50 million into space startup Firefly Aerospace to aid the production of their jointly developed rocket, the companies said on Thursday. The medium launch vehicle, dubbed "Eclipse", is built upon Northrop Grumman's Antares and Firefly's Alpha rocket, and is set to first launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, as early as 2026. Eclipse is designed to support space station resupply, commercial spacecraft, critical national security missions and scientific payloads for domestic and international markets. Northrop's investment comes as interest in space startups heats up under U.S. President Donald Trump's efficiency drive, encouraging more joint projects between big defense contractors and smaller tech firms. Firefly gained prominence in the space race after becoming the second private firm to score a moon landing in a successful first attempt with its uncrewed Blue Ghost spacecraft earlier this year. The Texas-based company was valued at more than $2 billion in November, when it raised $175 million in a late-stage funding round. It makes small- and medium-lift launch vehicles for commercial launches to the earth's orbit.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Northrop Grumman invests $50 million in space startup Firefly Aerospace
May 29 (Reuters) - U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman (NOC.N), opens new tab has invested $50 million into space startup Firefly Aerospace to aid the production of their jointly developed rocket, the companies said on Thursday. The medium launch vehicle, dubbed "Eclipse", is built upon Northrop Grumman's Antares and Firefly's Alpha rocket, and is set to first launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, as early as 2026. Eclipse is designed to support space station resupply, commercial spacecraft, critical national security missions and scientific payloads for domestic and international markets. Northrop's investment comes as interest in space startups heats up under U.S. President Donald Trump's efficiency drive, encouraging more joint projects between big defense contractors and smaller tech firms. Firefly gained prominence in the space race after becoming the second private firm to score a moon landing in a successful first attempt with its uncrewed Blue Ghost spacecraft earlier this year. The Texas-based company was valued at more than $2 billion in November, when it raised $175 million in a late-stage funding round. It makes small- and medium-lift launch vehicles for commercial launches to the earth's orbit.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
SpaceX starship spins out of control following launch
A SpaceX starship has spun out of control shortly after launching. The ninth full test mission of the Starship rocket system was sent into space from Texas. The 122-meter vessel began spiralling 30 minutes into the mission after it flew further than the previous two attempts.
