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Insider
7h
20
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Why the US hasn't returned humans to the moon. The reasons are depressing.
- The reason people haven't returned to the moon is budgetary and political, not scientific or technical, say astronauts. With NASA's 2024 budget of $24.9 billion, the agency's budget has fluctuated between 0.4% and 1% of US spending since the 1970s. A 2021 report from NASA estimated the Artemis program to return to the moon would cost a total of $93 billion from 2012 through 2025, while the Apollo program cost about $257 billion in today's dollars. Another stumbling block is partisan political whiplash. For example, President Obama pushed to scrap the Constellation program when he took office in favor of the SLS rocket.
- The moon is no joke for humans. Its surface is exposed to the sun's harsh rays for about 14 days at a time, devoid of protection against solar radiation. Peggy Whitson, an experienced astronaut, previously noted the extraordinary problems that come with the dust that covers the lunar surface. Additionally, the US government spent billions to replace all the satellite equipment to map the surface of the moon to help make their landing safer.
- Lunar dust is known to cause serious health problems and sticks easily to equipment and skin. The moon's environment is also hazardous with eye-popping temperature fluctuations. NASA has been working to design spacesuits and rovers that can withstand the harsh conditions, but there's no telling when that equipment will be ready to launch. The US government has also started developing a fission power system that could supply electrical energy during weekslong lunar nights.
- Partisan political whiplash contributes heavily to the fact that the US hasn't returned humans to the moon. Incoming presidents and policymakers often scrap previous leaders' space-exploration priorities. NASA engineers and scientists take years designing spacecraft to get humans to other worlds, only for lawmakers to cancel those priorities. This has led to cancellation after cancellation, billions in wasted time, and a loss of momentum.
- Support for human lunar missions and manned Mars exploration isn't particularly strong, however. According to a 2023 Pew Research Poll, only 12% of around 10,329 respondents said NASA should prioritize human lunar missions and 11% for Mars exploration. Meanwhile, 60% said scanning the skies for dangerous asteroids was important, indicating limited public interest in lunar exploration.
- Many in the US space industry predict that private companies will finally take humans back to the moon. Billionaires such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk have already been busy developing new space exploration ventures, fully aware that new transportation is needed to push humans beyond the moon. Musk has been vocal about how his Starship launch system could pave the way for affordable regular lunar visits. Bezos and Blue Origin have their own plans to use New Glenn rockets to build the first moon base.
- Another issue preventing a return to the moon is the aging NASA workforce. An estimated 14% personnel are over 40 years old. Of those polled in 2019, more American kids dreamed of becoming YouTubers than astronauts. Astronauts say innovation and excitement come from young people, meaning that NASA needs to attract more youngsters to the agency.
- NASA has designed dust- and sun-resistant spacesuits and rovers, but it is uncertain whether that equipment is ready to launch. Astronauts don't doubt whether humans will get back to the moon and onto Mars; it's just a matter of when.
- Public interest in lunar exploration has always been lukewarm despite landing 12 people on the moon being among NASA's greatest achievements. In comparison, NASA's 2024 budget represents about 0.36% of US spending, according to a report from the Planetary Society. Its portion of the federal budget peaked at 4% in 1965 before fluctuating wildly between 0.4% and 1% since the 1970s.
- "A permanent human research station on the moon is the next logical step. It's only three days away. We can afford to get it wrong and not kill everybody," Chris Hadfield, a former astronaut. A lunar station could, among other things, provide propellant for deep space missions, make it easier for humans to live on Mars, create space telescopes, and spur lunar space tourism. It could also solve longstanding scientific mysteries about Earth and the moon's creation.
- The moon is an unforgiving and harsh environment for humans. The sun's harsh rays beat down for about 14 days at a time, exposing the moon's surface to deadly solar radiation. The next 14 days are in total darkness, reducing temperatures to below minus 200 degrees Fahrenheit, making it one of the colder places in the solar system. NASA is working on a nuclear power system that could supply electricity during weekslong lunar nights.
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Insider
19h
210
Image Credit: Insider
Ark's Cathie Wood changed Wall Street. Now, she's set her sights on venture capital.
- Cathie Wood's Ark Venture Fund has gathered close to $70 million in assets, allowing retail investors to invest in high-growth startups.
- The fund has invested in hot Silicon Valley deals like Figure, xAI, and OpenAI, with Elon Musk's SpaceX being its largest holding.
- Ark's approach to venture capital includes original research, relationships with potential customers, and a flexible structure that allows investors to enter and exit periodically.
- Despite lagging behind the S&P 500, Ark Venture Fund aims to attract more investors and potentially grow into a billion-dollar fund.
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Teslarati
1d
247
Image Credit: Teslarati
SpaceX sends 24 more Starlink satellites into orbit
- SpaceX sent 24 more Starlink high-speed internet satellites into orbit.
- The launch occurred at 4:23 p.m. ET on Monday, with a Falcon 9 rocket taking off from Cape Canaveral.
- It was the 12th flight for this specific first-stage booster, and it has now launched six Starlink missions.
- The satellites were of the V2 Mini variety and the booster successfully landed on the droneship.
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Arstechnica
2d
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Image Credit: Arstechnica
There are some things the Crew-8 astronauts aren’t ready to talk about
- The Crew-8 astronauts experienced some drama during their mission on the International Space Station.
- Two spacewalks were aborted under unusual circumstances.
- Upon splashdown, one astronaut was hospitalized due to a medical issue.
- The astronaut has been released and returned to their home base in good health.
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Metro
2d
90
Image Credit: Metro
How we could soon get our solar power from space
- Space Solar, a UK-based start-up, aims to launch the world’s first commercial enterprise that beams solar power from space back to Earth in a project that could potentially help towards generating limitless renewable energy. The company will launch a 2,000 tonne, 1.7 km wide satellite that will transmit energy wirelessly via high-frequency radio waves to ground-based stations. The six approximately 13 km stations have massive receivers, called rectenna, that convert the radio waves into electricity. The station will be able to power 3,000 homes, using space-based solar power plants that unlike ground-based solar power generation stations can generate electricity day and night, regardless of the weather conditions or cloud cover.
- The Reykjavik Energy says that solar plants won’t work efficiently on the ground, but once the satellite is launched into the right orbit, space will provide uninterrupted sunlight to the solar panels. The initiative is an $800m joint venture between Space Solar, Reykjavik Energy, and the Icelandic sustainability initiative, Transition Lab. Whose kettles will be powered by the $800 million satellite hasn’t been decided but the plan is to launch the first orbital power plant by 2030.
- If the project idea takes off, by 2036, the partners envision a fleet of six space-based solar power stations that can power Canadian and Japanese homes. Scientists have long considered using space-based solar systems, but it has been regarded as a formidable and expensive project. Space Solar will use SpaceX’s Starship mega-rocket to launch power plants into emptier parts of space that will help it avoid disasters caused by space debris. A solar plant that orbits in the abyss of space continues to provide power to multiple countries simultaneously.
- The CEO of Reykjavik Energy said the project a is hugely exciting project with various engineering challenges still to be resolved. These satellites could orbit at different altitudes, providing power to multiple countries simultaneously. The global issue of climate change is looming, and solutions like this are becoming necessary in ensuring a sustainable future. By 2036, the project could provide electricity at a quarter of the cost of nuclear power. It requires an $800 million investment per gigawatt.
- Space-based solar power offers an array of benefits with competitive renewable energy costs and 24/7 availability, and the project could take renewable energy to another level, helping the world achieve carbon neutrality.
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Analyticsindiamag
2d
31
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Elon Musk’s Starlink To Soon Take Off in India, To Bet Against Jio
- Elon Musk's Starlink is moving forward with its license application in India.
- Starlink has agreed to comply with the government's requirements in data localization and security.
- Starlink will face competition from Jio-Reliance and other players like Project Kuiper in the Indian market.
- The next wave of broadband connectivity in India will see intense competition between local and international providers.
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Spaceflightnow
1h
101
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
- SpaceX is set to launch 24 Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- The mission, known as Starlink 6-68, aims to expand the satellite internet constellation in low Earth orbit.
- The launch is scheduled for 5:33 a.m. EST with an 85% chance of favorable weather conditions.
- The Falcon 9 booster will make its 18th flight and attempt to land on the SpaceX droneship, 'Just Read the Instructions.'
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Tech Story
11h
122
Elon Musk Appointed to Lead ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ in Trump’s New Cabinet Head of Department of Government Efficiency: A Shake-Up in Washington
- Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been appointed the head of a newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by US President-elect Donald Trump.
- Together with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, he is expected to lead efforts to streamline federal agencies, cut waste, and dismantle unnecessary bureaucracy.
- The DOGE is a new concept in US governance, crafted to address Trump’s desire to change the federal government's structure.
- It has a mandate to restructure federal operations, drastically cut back on regulations, and reduce government expenditure without compromising service delivery.
- Musk has a reputation for efficient management and cost-cutting, and his appointment adds an entrepreneurial flair to the new government initiative.
- Both Ramaswamy and Musk are experienced in tech and innovation, the areas they argue are critical for creating a more agile and efficient government.
- The initiative has raised concerns over transparency and accountability, questioning whether a focus on cost-cutting might override considerations for employee rights, ethical practices, and long-term social impacts.
- The effectiveness of this initiative will depend on Musk's ability to apply private-sector efficiencies to public-sector operations that remain largely untested in federal administration.
- While the idea of reducing bureaucratic red tape and making government operations more efficient resonates with many Americans, the process of implementing these changes is likely to encounter both political and logistical hurdles.
- Musk's unconventional approach and commitment to shaking up the status quo could bring transformative change to federal agencies, but only time will tell if DOGE will fulfill its ambitious goals.
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Insider
15h
190
Image Credit: Insider
Elon Musk took on another role, becoming Trump's efficiency boss. Here's the full list of his jobs.
- President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Elon Musk to lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency. Musk will co-lead the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Musk heavily backed Trump in the presidential election, appearing at his rallies and donating millions of dollars to fundraising efforts. Musk leads Tesla and SpaceX as CEO and owns and plays a major part in running X. Musk is also involved in less-known companies, like Neuralink, which he cofounded and remains CEO of. Musk leads OpenAI's rival firm, start-up xAI.
- The role is just one of many Musk holds concurrently. His support has led to a role in the new government. He also has many other jobs, including leading Tesla, SpaceX, and AI startup xAI. Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle the Government Bureaucracy. Musk will lead the new unofficial department with Vivek Ramaswamy.
- Musk is arguably best known as the CEO of Tesla, which he was an early investor in, and has since gone on to build into a major force in the auto industry. Telsa is one of only a handful of American corporations that have reached a $1 trillion market cap, joining the likes of Apple and Nvidia. The billionaire is the boss of SpaceX, the aerospace firm he founded in 2002.
- In 2022, the business mogul acquired Twitter for $44 billion, later renaming the social media platform X and scrapping the bird logo. While CEO Linda Yaccarino runs X's daily operations, Musk remains heavily involved. Musk's Neuralink has tested its brain chip on two human patients. Another startup led by Musk is xAI, which, according to the Wall Street Journal, is in talks to raise funding to at a $40 billion valuation.
- Trump added that the pair will work to "slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies." It will also seek to "create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before," though exactly how it will function remains unclear. Musk and his company aim to build a rocket system that will make it possible to build a city on Mars. The firm is developing two devices: A brain chip to help treat neurological conditions and a surgical robot which would insert the equipment into the patient.
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Spaceflightnow
1d
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Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 20 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from California
- SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 rocket with 20 Starlink satellites from California.
- The mission, named Starlink 9-11, will include 13 satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities.
- The Falcon 9 booster supporting this mission will launch for the eighth time.
- SpaceX plans to complete its primary Direct to Cell constellation with three more launches.
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TechCrunch
1d
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Image Credit: TechCrunch
TechCrunch Space: Nothing to see here!
- SpaceX CEO Elon Musk could have a prominent role in the next administration.
- Musk wanted to hire SpaceX employees for top government positions.
- There is speculation about Musk gaining unprecedented influence in various sectors.
- SpaceX is preparing for its sixth integrated flight test of Starship.
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Teslarati
2d
43
Image Credit: Teslarati
SpaceX reportedly signs battery supply agreement with LG Energy Solution
- SpaceX has reportedly signed a battery supply agreement with LG Energy Solution.
- LG Energy Solution (LGES) will supply batteries for SpaceX's Starship rocket and its trip to Mars.
- LGES, a long-time supplier of batteries to Tesla, will provide cylindrical lithium-ion batteries for Starship.
- LGES has previous experience in aerospace, having worked with NASA in providing lithium-ion batteries for space exploration suits.
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Spaceflightnow
3d
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Live coverage: SpaceX to launch Koreasat-6A on Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center
- SpaceX is preparing to launch the Koreasat-6A satellite for KT SAT Corporation Ltd. from Kennedy Space Center.
- The Falcon 9 rocket will be the first of a potential double launch day.
- The mission is scheduled for liftoff at 12:07 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A.
- The Koreasat-6A satellite is designed to replace its predecessor and includes BSS and FSS transponders.
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Spaceflightnow
3d
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Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 24 Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
- SpaceX is set to launch 24 of its Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday as the company looks to ramp up its launch schedule.
- The Starlink 6-69 mission will feature the most flown V2 Mini satellite on a single Falcon 9 launch. It will take off from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Launch weather officers have said that there is a 90% chance of favourable weather conditions during the launch window.
- The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission will be launching for a 12th time. It is expected to land on SpaceX's drone ship, 'A Shortfall of Gravitas', after its eighth minute launch.
- Sunday’s Starlink launch will be the company’s third in four days. The company plans to launch a Korean communications satellite on Monday, followed by two more Starlink delivery missions this week.
- The launch of 24 Starlink satellites comes as SpaceX looks to ramp up its launch cadence to get as close as possible to the goal it set at the start of the year of 144 missions.
- To date, the company has launched 107 Falcon 9 rocket launches this year from its launch pads in Florida and California.
- A previous plan by SpaceX to increase the number of permitted launches to 50 in California was rejected in mid-October by the California Coastal Commission. Reportedly, this was due to Musk's increased political activity prior to the presidential election, and SpaceX's lack of plans on environmental monitoring and mitigation.
- The company has already agreed to enhance its monitoring and establish an interagency working group comprising of the US Fish and Wildlife, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Federal Aviation Administration to address concerns as the number of launches increases.
- Reportedly, SpaceX plans to increase its launches from California up to 100 in 2025.
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Nasa
5d
376
Image Credit: Nasa
Dragon Spacecraft Boosts Station for First Time
- The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully demonstrated reboost capabilities for the International Space Station.
- The spacecraft's Draco thrusters adjusted the station's orbit by 7/100 of a mile at apogee and 7/10 of a mile at perigee.
- This test ensures that NASA's International Space Station Program has multiple spacecraft available for reboost and attitude control.
- The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft recently delivered over 6,000 pounds of supplies to the space station.
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