Starlink

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SpaceX Rocket Suffers 'Rare but Catastrophic' Failure

Falcon 9 disintegrates in orbit, leaving Starlink satellites stranded; future launches may be delayed

(Newser) - Two hours after SpaceX launched its latest Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday evening, a message popped up from CEO Elon Musk on X : "Upper stage restart to raise perigee resulted in an engine RUD for reasons currently unknown." Translation, per the New York Times : The second stage of...

Musk Has One- Word Response to Report of Starlink IPO

'False' is his reply to Bloomberg article on possible SpaceX initial public offering as early as next year

(Newser) - Elon Musk is countering reports suggesting SpaceX is considering spinning off its Starlink satellite business in an initial public offering as soon as next year. Though the SpaceX CEO described the report as " false " on Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that SpaceX had already begun moving Starlink's assets to...

Book: Musk Blocked Drone Attack by Ukraine

Walter Isaacson reveals SpaceX CEO's role in turning off Starlink network near Crimea in 2022

(Newser) - Earlier this year, SpaceX execs acknowledged that they blocked Ukrainian forces from using Starlink communications systems for military purposes in the war against Russia. Now, CNN reports that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk personally had his engineers cut off power last year—the exact date isn't clear—to a Starlink...

SpaceX Satellites Forced to Swerve Every 10 Minutes

That's an average, based on 25K avoidance maneuvers reported in 6 months

(Newser) - Space is unimaginably vast, so you'd think there would be more than enough room for whatever you want to put into orbit. SpaceX and Starlink engineers would likely tell you it's not that simple. An FCC report filed by the Elon Musk-led satellite internet provider on June 30...

Elon Musk Just Hired a 14-Year-Old Prodigy

Kairan Quazi is graduating from Santa Clara University this week

(Newser) - Kairan Quazi isn't even old enough for his first prom, but he's got a date with Elon Musk. As CBS News reports, the 14-year-old Californian is graduating Santa Clara University this week and heading directly to Redmond, Washington, (with his mom) where he'll take up a position...

SpaceX Blocks Ukraine's Military Use of Starlink

Company says technology was intended for communication, not offensive applications

(Newser) - SpaceX leaders have conceded that they've been blocking Ukrainian forces from employing Starlink technology for military uses. "It was never intended to be weaponized," SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said at a conference Thursday, CNN reports. Frustrated Ukrainian officials answered along the lines of "but that's...

Musk Flops, Apparently, on Paying for Starlink

SpaceX founder tried to get Pentagon to step in on program in Ukraine

(Newser) - He may have sounded a little bitter about the whole thing, but Elon Musk nonetheless said Saturday that SpaceX will keep covering the cost of its Starlink satellite terminals in Ukraine. "The hell with it … even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions...

SpaceX: We Can't Keep Paying for Ukraine Satellites

CNN reports the company wants Pentagon to start picking up the tab for Starlink

(Newser) - Last Friday, Elon Musk laid out on Twitter how much it's cost his SpaceX company this year to donate 20,000 or so Starlink satellite units to Ukraine: roughly $80 million, with projections by Musk that the figure will exceed $100 million by year's end. Now, it looks...

40 of 49 New SpaceX Satellites May Have Already Burned

Company says geomagnetic storm on Friday is cause

(Newser) - SpaceX launched 49 of its Starlink satellites on Thursday, only to report days later that up to 40 are doomed to fall from orbit and burn up in Earth's atmosphere. The company attributed the loss to a geomagnetic storm on Friday. That storm increased atmospheric density some 130 miles...

China Angry With Elon Musk Over Space Near-Misses

Says its space station twice had to avert collisions with Starlink satellites

(Newser) - Twice over the past year, China says, its space station has almost been hit by satellites launched by Elon Musk's SpaceX. The country is now calling on the United Nations to get the US to abide by the treaty that regulates outer space, the Guardian reports. In both July...

SpaceX's Latest 60 Satellites Have Dark Coating

Astronomers complained about Starlink fleet

(Newser) - SpaceX launched 60 more mini Internet satellites late Monday, this time testing a dark coating to appease stargazers. It's a "first step" compromise between SpaceX and astronomers fearful of having dark skies spoiled by hundreds and, eventually, thousands of bright satellites circling overhead. The Falcon 9 rocket blasted...

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