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Starship 7th Test Flight: Booster Caught By 'Chopsticks' Tower; Ship Lost In Explosion
January 16, 2025
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SpaceX successfully executed its second-ever “chopsticks” catch of a Super Heavy booster (or Booster 14) using the “Mechazilla” launch tower on Thursday(Jan. 16), during the seventh uncrewed test flight of the company's 123-meter Starship rocket. However, the megarocket's upper stage(or Ship 33) was lost approximately 8.5 minutes into the flight in a “rapid unscheduled disassembly(RUD)” or explosion.

The reusable Ship and Booster combo lifted off at 2237 UTC, from SpaceX Starbase site in South Texas. The RUD occurred while the Ship was ascending and had already reached an altitude of 145 kilometers(km) and a speed of 21,243 km per hour.

All six of Ship's Raptor engines fired up during ascent burn, "but as we were getting to the end of that ascent burn, we saw engines dropping out on telemetry, and we have since lost contact with the Ship,” Dan Huot, of SpaceX's communications team, said during the company's launch webcast.

Huot and fellow webcast host Kate Tice later confirmed that Ship had been lost. The reasons were not immediately clear, the duo said.

Ship was supposed to fly much of the way around the world, then splash down softly in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia about 66 minutes after liftoff, as it did on the three previous Starship launches.

Debris from the spacecraft was reportedly spotted falling over the Caribbean, causing flights in the area to be delayed or diverted as a precautionary measure. Videos circulating online show the debris over Turks and Caicos.

SpaceX has stated that it will review the data from the flight to determine the root cause of the anomaly and improve the reliability of the Starship spacecraft.

In a statement on its website, the company writes,

"Following stage separation, the Starship upper stage successfully lit all six Raptor engines and performed its ascent burn to space. Prior to the burn’s completion, telemetry was lost with the vehicle after approximately eight and a half minutes of flight. Initial data indicates a fire developed in the aft section of the ship, leading to a rapid unscheduled disassembly.

"Starship flew within its designated launch corridor – as all U.S. launches do to safeguard the public both on the ground, on water and in the air. Any surviving pieces of debris would have fallen into the designated hazard area. If you believe you have identified a piece of debris, please do not attempt to handle or retrieve the debris directly. Instead, please contact your local authorities or the SpaceX Debris Hotline at 1-866-623-0234 or at [email protected].

"As always, success comes from what we learn, and this flight test will help us improve Starship’s reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multiplanetary. Data review is already underway as we seek out root cause. We will conduct a thorough investigation, in coordination with the FAA, and implement corrective actions to make improvements on future Starship flight tests.

"The ship and booster for Starship’s eighth flight test are built and going through prelaunch testing and preparing to fly as we continue a rapid iterative development process to build a fully and rapidly reusable space transportation system."

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Nick Fuentes Slams Jewish Tribalism, Israel, In Tucker Carlson Interview

American Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson hosted right-wing activist Nick Fuentes on his popular podcast published Tuesday, in a viral interview where the two discussed their shared criticism of "Christian Zionists" and the perceived allegiance of "Jewish neoconservatives" to Israel, a stance that aligns with Fuentes's long-standing 'America first' views.

The conversation, which drew swift reactions online, centered on neoconservatism and Jewish identity, with Fuentes arguing that the Jewish diaspora's loyalty to Israel undermines American national interest. Carlson, while distancing himself from Fuentes's more extreme rhetoric, expressed strong opposition to Christian Zionism, calling it a "heresy" and sayng he disliked it more than any other group, a position that has triggered many pro-Israel neoconservatives.

The interview marked the first public meeting between the two conservative figures, with Fuentes asserting that "neoconservatism" and Israel policy are deeply motivated by Jewish ethnic identity and religious allegiance, framing the diaspora as unassimilable and prioritizing Israel over the United States or any other host country.

Fuentes, who has faced accusations of antisemitism, also claimed his best friend and assistant are Jewish.

Carlson agreed with Fuentes on the critique of U.S. foreign policy toward Israel, calling the relationship "insane and it hurts us," and condemned the Israeli position that all Gaza residents are terrorists by birth, calling it incompatible with Christianity and Western civilization.

On the topic of women, Fuentes, who many suspect is a homosexual, expressed contempt for feminism, pornography, and marijuana, claiming they ruin young men, a view Carlson did not challenge.

Fuentes, 27, recounted his radicalization, beginning as a fan of neoconservative Jewish figures like commentators Mark Levin and Ben Shapiro, but breaking with them over their pro-Israel stances, particularly after being targeted with censorship push by The Daily Wire and other Jewish-run media outlets and platforms, for questioning U.S. support for Israel.

Carlson, while rejecting the idea that "the Jews" are responsible for global issues, acknowledged the power of the "Christian Zionists" like U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, former National Security Advisor John Bolton and former President George W. Bush; and expressed offense at the ideology as a Christian.

The interview sparked swift reactions online many pro-Israel neoconservative and Jewish commentators, condemning Carlson for "platforming" "known antisemite;" and Senator Ted Cruz stating, "It’s remarkable, and sad, watching Tucker turn into Nick Fuentes."  They argue that platforming of Fuentes signals a dangerous shift toward mainstreaming so-called antisemitism within the conservative movement.

However many prominent conservatives online, praised Carlson for courageously upholding the American spirit of open dialogue, debate and free speech. They argue that the best response to 'bad speech' is more speech not less, and that de-platforming and ostracizing people only leads to more radicalization and extremism.

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October 29, 2025
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HTV-X1 Cargo Spacecraft Arrives At The ISS

Japan's new HTV-X cargo spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station for the first time on Tuesday, delivering thousands of pounds of supplies and payloads to the crew aboard. The robotic HTV-X was captured by the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm at 1558 UTC, as the ISS flew approximately 418 kilometers over the south Atlantic Ocean. The capture was performed by NASA astronaut Zena Cardman and JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, who is a crew member of Expedition 73.

The HTV-X is the successor to Japan's H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), also known as Kounotori, which completed nine successful missions to the ISS between September 2009 and May 2020.

Like its predecessor, the HTV-X can carry about 6,000 kilograms) of payload to low Earth orbit. On this maiden mission, HTV-X1 was carrying about 4,080 kg of food, supplies, and scientific experiments. The spacecraft launched on October 25, 2025, atop an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.

The HTV-X is designed to remain berthed to the ISS for up to six months, although the exact duration of this mission has not been finalized.

After departing the station, it has the capability to conduct extended missions in low Earth orbit for up to 1.5 years, enabling on-orbit technology demonstrations such as releasing a cubesat, testing a laser retroreflector, and deploying a structure with a flat-panel antenna and solar cells to evaluate future space-based solar power systems. The spacecraft will eventually reenter Earth's atmosphere and burn up over the South Pacific Ocean after completing its mission.

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Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched the first HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft, atop an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center at 0000 UTC, on Sunday (Oct. 26). It is expected to arrive at the International Space Station (ISS) for docking on Wednesday (Oct. 29) at about 1550 UTC.

The launch marked the maiden flight of the new generation of Japanese cargo ships and the debut of the H3 rocket’s configuration with four solid rocket boosters (SRBs). This H3 Flight 7 (H3 F7) mission represents a significant milestone in JAXA’s efforts to modernize its ISS resupply capabilities.

The HTV-X is the successor to the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), also known as Kounotori ("White Stork"), which completed its nine missions to the ISS between 2009 and 2020. The new spacecraft was conceived in 2015 to develop a cost-reduced, improved version of the HTV, with a focus on enhanced efficiency and flexibility. It features a modular design, reusing the Pressurized Logistics Carrier (PLC) from the HTV but incorporating a new Service Module that replaces the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier, Avionics Module, and Propulsion Module.

A key design change was the removal of the side hatch for late access cargo, which was initially planned but later abandoned. Instead, unpressurized cargo is now carried on top of the Service Module, allowing for greater payload capacity and improved mission flexibility.

The HTV-X1 spacecraft is 8 meters(m) long (1.2 m shorter than its predecessor) and has a launch mass of 16,000 kg. It can carry a total of 5,820 kg of cargo, consisting of 4,069 kg of pressurized cargo and 1,750 kg of unpressurized cargo, representing a significant increase over the previous HTV's capabilities.

The spacecraft is powered by deployable solar cells, generating up to 1 kW of power, and is designed to remain berthed to the ISS for up to six months. After departure, it can conduct extended free-flight missions for up to 1.5 years, serving as a testbed for autonomous navigation and long-duration system reliability.

The primary mission of HTV-X1 includes delivering a mix of consumables, maintenance gear, and experimental equipment to the ISS. A key payload is the i-SEEP-3B, the latest version of Japan’s exposed experiment platform, which will be robotically installed on the Kibo laboratory module to host small scientific and commercial payloads.

This first flight is not only a resupply mission but also a full-scale demonstration of JAXA’s upgraded power, avionics, and modular service systems under real ISS conditions 

The H3 rocket, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), is designed to be a cost-effective and reliable launch vehicle, incorporating 3D-printed components and simplified structures. Its maiden flight in March 2023 ended in failure due to a second-stage engine issue, but subsequent missions have been successful, including a February 2025 launch that deployed the QZS-6 navigation satellite. The H3’s ability to deliver precise orbital insertion into the ISS’s narrow orbital plane makes it an ideal partner for the HTV-X.

"HTV-X enhances transportation capabilities and adds the capability to provide various users with on-orbit demonstration opportunities for up to 1.5 years after leaving ISS until reentry," Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which builds the HTV-X for JAXA, wrote in a description of the vehicle.

Looking ahead, JAXA plans to extend the HTV-X design for future missions beyond low Earth orbit, including potential logistics support for the Lunar Gateway the space station NASA may build in lunar orbit as part of its Artemis program, and future lunar surface operations. The agency envisions it aiding "post-ISS human space activities in low Earth orbit."

HTV-X joins the stable of ISS cargo vehicles which currently include Russia's Progress vehicle and Northrop Grumman's Cygnus and SpaceX's Dragon, the only reusable craft of the four. The others are designed to burn up in Earth's atmosphere when their missions are over.

The successful launch of HTV-X1 signifies a new era in Japanese space logistics, enhancing international cooperation on the ISS and paving the way for Japan’s continued role in future space exploration

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October 29, 2025
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Spacewalk 65: Cosmonauts Install Experiment Hardware On ISS Module

Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky successfully completed a 6 hour and 54 minute spacewalk or extravehicular activity (EVA) outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, beginning at about 1418 UTC.  The primary objectives were to install experiment hardware on the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM), including a pulse plasma injector for the Impuls experiment and the IPI-500 study on the ionosphere, and to relocate an external control panel for the European Robotic Arm (ERA).

The spacewalk was the second for the duo in October and the third for Expedition 73. It commenced with the cosmonauts exiting the Poisk Mini-Research Module-2 airlock at 1418 UTC.

Their first major task involved mounting a two-part apparatus to support the Impuls experiment, which aims to test the potential for jet engines to function in space.

They returned to the Ekran-M (Molecular Beam Epitaxy) experiment, replacing a cassette after discovering a loose gasket; the new cassette was secured with wire ties, and mission control confirmed good data was received.

The cosmonauts also cleaned a porthole on the Nauka module, opening and closing protective shutters as part of the maintenance.

The final task was relocating the ERA's external control panel to a new workstation on the Nauka MLM.

Due to the imminent arrival of Japan's HTV-X cargo vehicle on October 29, the planned jettison of obsolete equipment was postponed to avoid potential debris risks. 

The spacewalk concluded at 2112 UTC with the cosmonauts safely re-entering the Poisk airlock.

This EVA marked the 277th in support of the ISS since 1998 and was Ryzhikov's third spacewalk (totaling 19 hours and 51 minutes) and Zubritsky's second (totaling 13 hours and 3 minutes).

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