Making Space

SpaceX launched its Starship spacecraft on a crucial orbital test flight, a mission widely described as make-or-break for the company's next-generation rocket program. The test is a key step in SpaceX's efforts to prove the vehicle can reach orbit and eventually support deep-space missions, including NASA's plans to return humans to the Moon.

SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever built, is set to attempt its first orbital flight. The test from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas would mark a major milestone in the company's effort to develop a fully reusable launch system for missions to the Moon and Mars. Space watchers are awaiting confirmation of the launch window and whether the rocket can complete a full orbit and controlled reentry.

SpaceX is preparing for a Starship test flight that could see the massive rocket reach orbit for the first time. The upcoming launch is being closely watched, as previous attempts ended before completing a full orbital demonstration. A successful flight would mark a major milestone for SpaceX's plans for deep space missions and for NASA's lunar ambitions.

SpaceX is preparing for the next launch of its Starship rocket, which could make history depending on the mission's outcome. The flight will be broadcast live, and space watchers are following whether the vehicle achieves its objectives after previous test attempts ended in mixed results.

AMD is reported to have acquired the startup founded by Fei-Fei Li, the Stanford AI researcher often called the 'godmother of AI', in a deal valued at $8.2 billion. The move marks one of the largest acquisitions in the AI startup space and signals AMD's push to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence against rivals like Nvidia. Li, a pioneer in computer vision, co-founded the company, though details on its products and integration plans remain limited.

SpaceX carried out the fourteenth test flight of its Starship rocket, and the mission also deployed Starlink satellites. The launch marks another step in the company's effort to prove the giant vehicle's capabilities for heavy payloads and future missions to the Moon and Mars. Attention is on how the vehicle performed during flight and on the growing role Starship is expected to play in expanding the Starlink satellite constellation.

SpaceX is counting down to another Starship launch from its Texas facility, with guides telling audiences how to follow the flight live. The flight is being framed as a potentially historic step for the vehicle, which SpaceX intends to use for deep-space missions. Launch coverage is being carried by news outlets in Florida, where attention on the company's operations is high.

Jared Isaacman, the billionaire astronaut and commercial spaceflight figure, discusses what he calls NASA's new era, outlining his views on the agency's direction and the growing role of private industry in space exploration. The remarks are drawing attention from space policy watchers and the broader public as debate continues over NASA's future priorities, budgets and partnerships with commercial providers like SpaceX.

A Washington Examiner report argues that the rapidly growing energy and cooling demands of AI data centers could eventually push this infrastructure into orbit, where solar power is constant and heat can be radiated away. The idea is drawing attention amid rising concern over the strain AI computing places on terrestrial power grids and land.

Europe and the United Arab Emirates are planning a $1 billion data center in orbit, built around 50 connected satellite computers. A central 'LLM store' would let users choose which open source AI model to run on data gathered by satellite sensors, processing information in space rather than beaming it all back to Earth. The project highlights growing interest in orbital computing for space-based data processing.

The US Space Force is exploring the use of commercially operated ground antenna networks to communicate with and control its satellites, rather than relying solely on government-owned ground stations. The move would let military satellites borrow capacity from commercial providers that already operate dishes worldwide, potentially improving coverage and resilience while cutting costs.

SpaceX is reportedly aiming for a valuation in excess of $2 trillion as it prepares for an initial public offering, a figure that would make it one of the most valuable public listings ever. The reported target is drawing attention from investors and market watchers given the company's dominance in commercial launch and its Starlink satellite business.

Scientists report that dormant, hibernating bacteria can persist in hospitals and even survive the conditions of outer space, making them hard to eradicate. However, maintaining this dormant state carries a high energy cost. Researchers say targeting that energetic weakness could offer a new way to eliminate these resilient bacteria, with implications for hospital infection control and our understanding of microbial survival in extreme environments.

With high mortgage rates and limited housing inventory making a move less attractive, many homeowners are staying put and investing in renovations instead. The trend, reported by WTAQ, suggests remodeling is becoming a preferred way to add value and adapt living space while the real estate market remains challenging.

Maritime intelligence startup Quartermaster has raised $140 million in a new funding round, according to an exclusive report. The company provides data and intelligence tools for the maritime industry, and the fresh capital makes it one of the notable recent funding raises in the maritime technology space. Details on the investors and valuation have not yet been disclosed.

The first poll for the São Paulo Senate race since Ricardo Salles dropped out has been published by VEJA, drawing attention to how the contest is reshaping. Salles's exit left open space among right-leaning voters, and the new numbers offer the first look at candidate standings in the redrawn field. Attention is now on which contenders gain momentum ahead of the October election.

A golf course in Broomfield, Colorado, is set to close as drought conditions make it too costly to keep watered, CBS News reports. Neighbors have pushed back, fighting to keep the course irrigated because of its value as green space. The dispute highlights growing tension between water conservation and community recreation along the drought-stressed Front Range.

The United States has moved to make it significantly easier for retail investors to access private markets, a space long limited to institutional players and wealthy accredited investors. The change could open up investments in private companies and funds to ordinary Americans, though commentators note the risks, as private assets are less liquid and less transparent than public stocks.

The SMILE satellite has ended an 18-year gap in observations of the northern lights, and researchers say new views of Earth's x-ray magnetic shield are just weeks away. The mission is expected to provide fresh insight into how the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field, producing auroras. Space science outlets are highlighting the milestone and the images anticipated in the coming weeks.