SpaceX Super Heavy Booster Test Fire Advances Rocket Recovery Efforts Amid Industry Shift
SpaceX's Super Heavy booster has successfully test fired, setting the stage for a crucial reflight while other companies pivot toward satellite constellations.
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Get StartedThat's a hard pivot.
SpinLaunch—yes, the centrifuge rocket company—is making a hard pivot to satellites
ARS Technica·16d
·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.A lunar impact, although extremely unlikely, could offer a rare chance to observe a real collision and study how the Moon responds.
Chance of asteroid hitting Moon increases slightly
BBC News·16d
·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.NASA waived the flight rules to allow the mission to continue.
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FOX News·16d
·Mostly ReliableThis source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.Leans RightThis outlet slightly leans right.The eerie bat signal-like spiral following SpaceX’s March 24 military satellite launch formed after the rocket had already made its delivery.
An eerie spiral lit up the European skies. Here’s why it’s becoming more common
CNN·16d
·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.Leans LeftThis outlet slightly leans left.This asteroid, however, is still worth analysis in its own right.
JWST Delivers Best-Yet Look at That Worrisome Asteroid
Scientific American·17d
·Mostly ReliableThis source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.Leans LeftThis outlet slightly leans left.Asteroid 2024 YR4 became a source of alarm due to the uncommonly high risk it had of colliding with Earth on Dec. 22, 2032.
The Earth is safe from asteroid 2024 YR4. The moon? Not so much, Webb telescope finds
USA TODAY·17d
·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.The launch will be a big step forward for the project, which Amazon launched with promises of a $10 billion investment in 2019.
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CNET·17d
·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
Summary
SpaceX's Super Heavy booster successfully completed a test fire, enabling a potential reflight as the company works through upper stage issues. The booster, which produces 17 million pounds of thrust, could launch again soon, a critical step for SpaceX's goal of rapid rocket reuse and 25 Starship flights by 2025. In parallel, SpinLaunch announced a shift towards satellite communication with its Meridian constellation, signing contracts to support launching 280 satellites while they continue exploring kinetic launch systems. This change reflects a broader trend in the space industry as companies adapt to the growing demand for satellite services.
Perspectives
SpaceX is making progress with the Super Heavy booster despite previous failures, which is crucial for the Starship program's future launches and missions.
The JWST's observation of asteroid 2024 YR4, while ruling out an Earth impact, highlights the importance of monitoring space objects for planetary defense preparations.
Amazon's Project Kuiper is set to launch satellites to compete with SpaceX's Starlink, which could improve internet access globally, particularly in underserved areas.
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History
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