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SpaceX Achieves Milestone with Launch of US Craft Aimed at Moon Landing

SpaceX Achieves Milestone with Launch of US Craft Aimed at Moon Landing

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In a monumental leap for private space exploration, a SpaceX rocket soared into the celestial abyss on Thursday, carrying a spacecraft bound for the moon. The spacecraft, named Nova-C, is the brainchild of Houston-based Intuitive Machines Inc. This mission marks a pivotal moment as it aims to break America’s 50-year hiatus from lunar landings.

The Quest for Lunar Touchdown

SpaceX Achieves Milestone with Launch of US Craft Aimed at Moon Landing

Nova-C is set to make history by attempting a landing on the south side of the lunar surface on February 22nd. If successful, Intuitive Machines will etch its name in the annals of space exploration as the first private entity to achieve this feat. While governments have historically dominated lunar landings, the era of commercial space ventures is ushering in a new chapter.

The journey to lunar touchdown has been fraught with challenges. Previous attempts by both companies and nonprofits have fallen short, with spacecraft either failing to survive the landing or encountering technical setbacks mid-flight. However, Intuitive Machines remains undeterred in its pursuit of lunar exploration.

A Lucrative Partnership with NASA

Nova-C carries the weight of expectation, ferrying six payloads for NASA and five commercial payloads. Under a contract valued at approximately $100 million, Intuitive Machines is tasked with accelerating the development of commercial robotic lunar landers capable of transporting NASA materials. This partnership underscores NASA’s commitment to fostering innovation in the private space sector.

Intuitive Machines’ trajectory from a private entity to a publicly traded company has been meteoric. A 2022 blank-check deal catapulted the company into the spotlight, valuing it at over $1 billion. Despite market fluctuations, Intuitive Machines remains steadfast in its lunar aspirations, with plans to expand its presence through satellite constellations and lunar technology development.

Pioneering the Future of Lunar Exploration

As Nova-C embarks on its lunar odyssey, Intuitive Machines envisions a future where commercial entities play a pivotal role in advancing space exploration. Beyond this mission, the company aims to establish a constellation of satellites for lunar communication and navigation, further cementing its status as a trailblazer in the cosmos.

Also Read: President Biden Embraces TikTok as a Strategic Move to Engage Young Voters

In the vast expanse of space, each launch represents a leap towards unlocking the mysteries of the universe. With Nova-C’s voyage to the moon, humanity inches closer to realizing the dream of a flourishing spacefaring civilization. As the countdown to lunar touchdown begins, the world holds its breath in anticipation of the historic moment when a privately built spacecraft makes its mark on the lunar surface.

Elon Musk's SpaceX Valued at $175 Billion or More in Tender Offer

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Valued at $175 Billion or More in Tender Offer

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Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s SpaceX is on the brink of a financial breakthrough, with talks of an imminent tender offer setting its valuation at a staggering $175 billion or potentially higher. Reports from Bloomberg have unveiled discussions hinting at a tender valued between $500 million and $750 million, proposing a per-share price around $95.

While negotiations unfold, the terms and size of the offer remain adaptable, contingent upon the inclinations of both existing shareholders and prospective buyers within the company, sources disclosed to Bloomberg. This marks a substantial leap from the $150 billion valuation SpaceX garnered in a previous tender offer earlier in the year, catapulting the company into the echelons of the world’s top 75 firms by market capitalization.

Elon Musk's SpaceX Valued at $175 Billion or More in Tender Offer

Image Source: bqprime.com

Headquartered in Hawthorne, California, SpaceX, under Musk’s guidance, has cemented its supremacy in the commercial space launch services sector, primarily driven by its Falcon rockets. Its client base spans private-sector enterprises, governmental bodies like NASA, and various entities, establishing an unwavering foothold in the industry.

Moreover, SpaceX’s operation of Starlink, an internet service bolstered by an expanding fleet of satellites in low-Earth orbit, serves as a robust revenue stream, further solidifying its position.

Growth Trajectory and Future Prospects

Recent estimates from Bloomberg News suggest SpaceX’s revenue for the ongoing year could reach approximately $9 billion, propelled by its rocket launches and Starlink endeavors. Projections paint a promising picture, indicating a potential surge in sales to around $15 billion by 2024, underlining a trajectory of exponential growth.

In a strategic move, discussions are swirling around the possibility of an initial public offering (IPO) for Starlink by late 2024. This initiative aims to capitalize on the burgeoning demand for space-based communication services, showcasing SpaceX’s proactive stance in seizing market opportunities.

Also Read: Microsoft Launches Seeing AI Android App for Low-Vision And Blind People

Silence Amid Speculation

Official statements from SpaceX, also known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp., are notably absent, as the company refrains from commenting on the ongoing speculations and discussions, as highlighted in the Bloomberg report.

The current developments signify a pivotal moment for SpaceX, propelling the company to new valuation heights while positioning itself for potential strategic maneuvers in the near future.

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SpaceX gets U.S. approval to deploy up to 7,500 satellites

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The US Federal Communications Commission i.e., FCC approved SpaceX proposal to deploy approximately 7,500 satellites on Thursday but put several other judgments on hold.

SpaceX
Image Source: moneycontrol.com

Starlink, a rapidly expanding network of over 3,500 low-Earth orbit satellites, has thousands of users across the United States thus far, with customers paying a minimum of 599 USD ‘for a user terminal as well as 110 USD per month for service. In 2018, the FCC approved SpaceX’s plans to launch up to 4,425 first-generation satellites.

Read More: Neuralink brain chip to begin human trials in 6 months

SpaceX has applied for permission to function a network of 29,988 satellites known as the “second-generation” or Gen2 Starlink constellation, which will transmit internet to areas that have limited or no internet access.

The FCC denied SpaceX’s entire application, which included the deployment of approximately 30,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, and imposed conditions on the firm’s plan to deploy the satellites. It postponed the decision to initiate launching the full number of applications.

“Our action will allow SpaceX to begin deployment of Gen2 Starlink, which will bring next-generation satellite broadband to Americans nationwide,” the FCC said in its approval order, adding it “will enable worldwide satellite broadband service, helping to close the digital divide on a global scale.”

The FCC said its decision “will protect other satellite and terrestrial operators from harmful interference and maintain a safe space environment” and protect “spectrum and orbital resources for future use.”

Source: reuters.com

A U.S. appeals court backed the FCC’s 2021 decision to allow SpaceX’s plan to deploy some Starlink satellites in a lower Earth orbit just as scheduled as the portion of its push to offer space-based broadband internet service.

In September, SpaceX filed a lawsuit against the FCC for denying it 885.5 million USD in rural broadband subsidies. Starlink’s technique has real promise according to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, but it is unable to meet the program’s requirements, citing data showing a gradual decline in the rate of speed over the past year and casting the service’s price as too high for consumers.

hyperloop tunnel

Elon Musk’s first Hyperloop tunnel in California is no longer there

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Elon Musk’s SpaceX has dismantled the Hyperloop tunnel prototype in California and constructed a parking lot in its place.

hyperloop tunnel
Image Source: theverge.com

Musk’s first Hyperloop tunnel prototype is no longer in existence. According to Bloomberg, the approximately one-mile-long white steel tunnel, close to the SpaceX headquarters in California, has been taken down and will be replaced with a parking spot for employees.

In 2016, Erik Wright was overjoyed when his company was chosen to assist with a challenging technological project: the prototype tunnel for Elon Musk‘s Hyperloop. The project was intended to serve as a test run for a modern transport network that would use levitating pods traveling through tubes at high speeds.

The test tunnel’s dismantling represents a wider retreat. Although Musk still claims he intends to construct a Hyperloop, the project’s work has been put on hold indefinitely.

Erik Wright noted in the memory of the project, “The Hyperloop is quite a badge of honor for us. It even helped the company land several non-transportation contracts, such as an 8,000 square foot climbing gym.” The tunnel’s steel tube and base were developed and constructed by the construction engineering company Aecom.

Everything within the tube, along with the concrete sub-track and joints, aluminum track, and interior illumination, was completed by Precision( Erik’s company).

Musk’s Hyperloop system was intended to carry passengers via low-pressure tubes in pods at top speeds of 760 mph. The ambitious idea would reduce the travel time between Los Angeles and San Francisco to 35 minutes.

The Boring Company, Musk’s civil engineering firm, was in charge of the project, although not much progress was made over the years. The LA Times noted that the tunnel caused complaints from both drivers and pedestrians until the city intervened to have it taken down.

Musk acknowledged the attempt to create a functional Hyperloop to ease traffic congestion “in the coming years” in a tweet in April. A similar tunnel called the Vegas Loop is currently being built by The Boring Company in Las Vegas. Despite the occasional enticing tweet from Musk, there hasn’t been any indication that the ambitious idea of speedy pods will ever materialize again.

Wright, who believes that the Hyperloop system will eventually develop, hasn’t given up hope and praises the Boring Co. for moving things in the correct manner.

A hyperloop is a proposed high-speed system for both passenger and goods transportation. Tubes, pods, and terminals are the three fundamental components of hyperloop systems. The idea for the hyperloop originated with George Medhurst in 1799, and it later went by the titles pneumatic railway, atmospheric railway, and vactrain.

After bringing up the hyperloop in a 2012 speech, Elon Musk expressed a renewed interest in the technology. Musk further popularised the idea by releasing a white paper in 2013 that imagined a hyperloop route from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

In his original design, compressed capsules rode inside reduced-pressure tubes on air bearings powered by axial compressors and linear induction motors. Transportation experts disputed the white paper’s cost projections, with some estimating that a realized hyperloop would cost several billion dollars more than expected.

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SpaceX Falcon 9 take-off will create a new history for human spaceflight

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The success of the second demonstration of Crew Dragon will bring immense respect and glory to the private space company, SpaceX. The two NASA astronauts, Douglas Hurley and Bob Behnken took off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday. If Demo-2 becomes successful, Elon Musk’s company will be the first private organization to send astronauts into space.

Also Read: SpaceX Prototype Passes Important Cold Pressure Test

The prestigious moment

After ten long years, America made a big move in the aerospace sector. SpaceX has been working on this mission for more than two decades now. Finally, the take-off was successful sending humans on a private company vehicle. The automated spacecraft on which they set off their journey to space is called the Crew Dragon. This spacecraft is a gumdrop-shaped capsule that will transfer humans to and from International Space Station.

The astronauts began their journey at 3:22 PM EDT on last Saturday. The launch took place from Launch Complex 39A in NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. It was supposed to take place on 27th May but was delayed due to bad weather. Twelve minutes after the launch, Falcon 9 dropped the Crew Dragon along with the duo in the orbit. According to the plan, they will spend the next day in the orbit followed by docking with the International Space Station.

Success of SpaceX

It is a huge deal for a private company to design a spacecraft and carry out a successful take-off. The entire nation of America is looking up to SpaceX with plenty of hope. This might be the company to turn the wheel for the future of spaceflight and begin a new era. Elon Musk and his company have worked diligently to make this moment come true.

NASA also enlisted another company, Boeing to design and develop a new spacecraft that will be versatile enough to take astronauts to and from ISS. But, it seems like SpaceX didn’t give up on the mission and emerged out as the first company to make it possible. Demo-2 is the last test to check if Crew Dragon is capable of carrying out regular human spaceflight operations. Till now, Russia’s Soyuz rocket is the only successful vehicle to transfer astronauts to and from ISS. So, the people of the United Nation are praying immensely for this to be a success.

Demo-1 Mission

The first demonstration of Crew Dragon known as Demo-1 Mission took place in March 2019. But, the first test didn’t have humans on board. The spacecraft took off successfully docked with the ISS and returned safely on Earth. This was also a breakthrough as the Crew Dragon became the first American automated spacecraft to travel safely to and from ISS.

Douglas Hurley and Bob Behnken 

Before becoming the spacecraft commander for Demo-2, Douglas was a fighter pilot and a test pilot. He worked with the US Marine Corps and decided to join NASA in 2000. Apart from the launch of Crew Dragon, Douglas has been to space twice (2009 & 2011).

Bob is a veteran Air Force test pilot. He has completed two space shuttle flights in 2008 & 2010 respectively. His main responsibility in the Demo-2 Mission is docking and undocking.

The Commercial Crew Program and Crew Dragon

The expense of NASA was high to get access to a single seat on Soyuz. This made NASA come up with The Commercial Crew Program which also extended corporation with the private sector. NASA Administrator, Jim Bridenstine said that this will welcome a new beginning giving more people access to human spaceflight.

The Crew Dragon is designed in such a way that it will automatically dock with the ISS. But, the capsule is also provided with manual touchscreen monitors to try things manually. The docking was scheduled at 10:20 AM EDT on Monday. The astronauts will land back on Earth within the next six to sixteen weeks. The capsule is equipped with four parachutes which will lower the vehicle on the Atlantic Ocean. A SpaceX recovery boat will approach them from there.

Is it only the trailer?

If this mission is successful, it will mark the journey of SpaceX in human spaceflight. NASA will certify the Crew Dragon for carrying out regular human transfer operations to and from ISS. The next launch is planned for 30th August which will include four astronauts. SpaceX is also working on a new monster rocket called Starship. It looks like SpaceX will take mankind on many unexplored space journeys. Until then, may the force be strong with them!

SpaceX

SpaceX Prototype Passes Important Cold Pressure Test

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Over the last weekend, SpaceX successfully tested its rocket much to the satisfaction of space enthusiasts around the world. The success of the test comes as a significant relief to all the researchers working on their next-gen project, Starship, which aims to take people to the Moon. SpaceX had publicized their project years ago, and shocked the world when it announced that it would send a one-day expedition to the Moon and Mars. The company had been working on a rocket capable of doing this for some time now. Therefore, this success will come as a piece of positive news for everyone involved in the project. Here’s a look at what the achievement of this prototype test means for the company.

Big Milestone

SpaceX’s prototype for its deep-space rocket named Starship, successfully passed a cold pressure test in Texas, after remaining intact on the stand. The success with regards to this test will enable the company to start low-altitude flying in the weeks to come. In the past, the trial had created trouble for the company, with several prototypes getting destroyed in the past. Passing this cryogenic proof test successfully means that the company can finally take their prototype testing to the next level.

The cryogenic proof test requires filling the vehicle with very cold liquid nitrogen to test whether the prototype can handle those temperatures when in outer space. Since deep space has freezing temperatures and low pressure, rockets must pass this test to ensure they stay safe while in orbit. Previous to this launch, SpaceX had lost three prototypes while testing them for this procedure. All three of the prototypes either burst open or imploded on the stand in Boca Chica, Texas.

Softball Test

As expected, SpaceX CEO and billionaire, Elon Musk was excited that his prototype had finally cleared the test. He referred to the test as a softball pressure test, but still an important milestone for the company, as it meant the prototype was ready for flight tests. Engineers will now begin to attach the prototype to their new Raptor engine this week.

SpaceX Prototype
Image Souce: The Verge

The flight test will involve igniting the Raptor while restraining the prototype to ensure the proper functioning of the engine. The Raptor has been designed specifically for this project, and the final launching will require six such Raptor engines. However, the flight test will only involve one Raptor, with future trials adding more rockets as and when needed. For instance, the next prototype test will make use of three Raptor engines.

Future Tests

Once the Raptor test is completed successfully, SpaceX will fly the prototype to 150 meters, and then land it. This small hop test will test the rocket’s ability to withstand take-off and landing stresses. It will also serve as a test for the engineers involved in touching down and taking off the rocket gently. Such propulsive landing has been used earlier by SpaceX for landing their Falcon 9 rockets. Starship will use this technique to land the rocket on the Earth, and even on the Moon.

A hop test had been conducted in August using an early Starship prototype named Starhopper. However, this design was not similar to the Starship but slightly resembled a water tower. However, sources say that the new prototype is more similar both in size and shape to the actual Starship design while lacking specific necessary hardware. Musk claimed that the rocket would be made ready for the hop test in a few weeks, but approvals from the Federal Aviation Ministry might take longer.

SpaceX is also still working on the Starship design, trying out new design features and trying to implement those changes in future vehicles. The original prototype for the Starship is also under production at the Boca Chica test centre. The fact that the SN4 prototype successfully passed the cryo-test is very welcome news for the company, which will now set their sights on further development and testing.