After months of publicity, an NFT auction and even a Netflix docuseries, it’s finally here: the four-person crew of Inspiration4 will be heading to space today (weather permitting). What makes this launch different from any that came before it? None of the four people onboard are astronauts. The mission marks the first time that an […]
SpaceX rocket to take world’s first all-civilian crew into orbit
Four-person Inspiration4 mission will orbit Earth for up to four days, marking latest step in space tourismThe world’s first crew of “amateur astronauts” is preparing to blast off on a mission that will carry them into orbit before bringing them back d…
SpaceX, Blue Origin awarded NASA contracts to develop moon lander concepts for future Artemis missions
NASA has awarded a combined $146 million in contracts to five companies, including SpaceX, Blue Origin and Dynetics, to develop lander concepts as part of the agency’s Artemis program. The awards include $26.5 million to Blue Origin; $40.8 million to Dynetics; $35.2 million to Lockheed Martin; $34.8 million to Northrop Grumman; and $9.4 million to […]
Tesla should say something
Last weekend, a reader wrote to this editor, politely asking why tech companies should speak up about the abortion law that Texas passed last week. “What does American Airlines have to do with abortion?” said the reader, suggesting that companies can’t possibly cater to both pro-abortion and anti-abortion advocates and that asking them to take […]
SpaceX calls Amazon’s protest of Starlink plan an irrelevant “diatribe”
SpaceX: “Another week, another objection from Amazon against a competitor.”
Amazon slams SpaceX, tells FCC that Musk-led companies are rule-breakers
SpaceX insults competitors and acts like “rules are for other people,” Amazon says.
Amazon asked FCC to reject Starlink plan because it can’t compete, SpaceX says
SpaceX: Amazon should fix Kuiper satellite plan instead of trying to delay Starlink.
Pandemic-driven liquid oxygen shortage threatens ULA, SpaceX launches
The ongoing reverberations from the COVID-19 pandemic are continuing to make themselves felt in the most unlikely of places: spaceflight. On Friday, NASA took the unexpected step to ground a September satellite launch due to pandemic-related shortages of liquid oxygen (LOX), and there may be more launch delays yet to come. Demand for oxygen has […]
‘The smartest person in any room anywhere’: in defence of Elon Musk, by Douglas Coupland
He’s the Silicon Valley Übermensch, the maverick boss of Tesla and SpaceX who wants us to colonise Mars and who can wipe out billions of dollars with a single tweet. So what’s not to love?It’s interesting whenever Elon Musk’s name comes up and people b…
Amazon urges FCC to reject SpaceX proposals for next-generation Starlink
Amazon: Starlink’s plan to have two plans should be dismissed.