
SpaceX smashes rocket launch record as Musk eyes historic Starship mission
SpaceX has broken its own record for the number of launches in a single year with its 62nd rocket sent into space on Sunday. A Falcon 9 carrying Starlink internet satellites lifted off from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 10.47pm local time, surpassing the previous milestone of 61 launches set in 2022. It was the 10th flight for the first stage booster rocket, with SpaceX also breaking a separate record earlier this year for launching reused rockets. The Falcon 9 rocket landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean after delivering the Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. SpaceX boss Elon Musk said SpaceX could complete up to 100 rocket launches this year, making the private space firm by far the most prolific company or space agency to send payloads into space. “SpaceX has delivered ~80 per cent of all Earth payload mass to orbit in 2023. China is ~10 per cent and rest of world other ~10 per cent,” Mr Musk posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Based on the Falcon launch plan for next year, SpaceX will deliver ~90 per cent of all Earth payload to orbit. Starship will take that to >99 per cent in future years. These magnitudes are madness to consider, but necessary to make consciousness multiplanetary.” SpaceX’s Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built – measuring 121 metres in height and with a thrust of 5,000 metric tons – but is yet to successfully complete an orbital flight. Following a successful high-altitude flight test in 2021, SpaceX attempted a 90 minute orbital flight earlier this year but it exploded just three minutes into the flight. The next attempt is expected to take place this month, though no exact date has been set. More than 1,000 design changes have been made to the craft since the first failed attempt, including new venting systems and heat shields to improve the stage separation of the upper and lower stages of the rocket. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is yet to grant a launch licence for the latest mission amid concerns about issues revealed in the first orbital launch attempt. SpaceX has already secured a multi-billion dollar deal with Nasa to keep developing Starship for use on the US space agency’s Artemis mission, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade. Mr Musk has previously said that Starship is integral to his plans to turn humanity into a multi-planetary species, with the aim of deploying a fleet of Starships to establish a permanent colony on Mars before 2050. Read More ‘It’s like an airport’: How SpaceX normalised rocket launches SpaceX crew streak across sky before splashing down off Florida coast Watch live: SpaceX launches satellites for US Space Development Agency Elon Musk’s SpaceX sued over allegations of hiring discrimination
2023-09-04 23:16

The 10 Best slippers
1. Boden Knit Spot Slipper Boden has come up with some fabulous slipper designs this season and these polka-dot ones are bound to make you smile, even on the greyest of mornings. The faux-fur lining will keep you cosy and the knitted outer is available in different colours. £29 www.boden.co.uk 2. Jack Wolfskin Cloud Ten These are as durable as they are warm, which makes them great for people who are always on the go, even inside. Made primarily from wool felt, the footbed is made from a robust microfibre material and they are available in the suitably manly colours of dark steel or black. £30 www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk 3. M&S Cable Knit Pom-Pom Slippers Now that the mornings are getting colder, girls will love popping these comfy, festive-coloured slippers on when they get out of bed. With a side pom-pom and bow feature, there’s also some fake-fur detail on these slippers. From £10 www.marksandspencer.com 4. UGG Ascot These simple-yet-stylish slippers are the epitome of laid-back luxury. Made from full-grain leather, with a sheepskin lining, they are also light. Available in black or brown, your feet won’t thank you for ever having to take them off. £100 www.uggaustralia.co.uk 5. White Stuff Woof Woof Mule No need to suffer the cold with these comfy mules, complete with a tartan sausage motif and soft faux-fur linings. Light, snugly and rustic, just looking at them will make you want to slip into your PJs and dressing gown and relax. £19.95 www.whitestuff.com 6. Fat Face Logan Check Duvet True to their name, these really do feel like you’re back under the duvet. With a suede outsole and textile upper, they will even keep your ankles warm and if there’s too much colour going on for you, simply opt for the grey-and-white ones instead. £25 www.fatface.com 7. Mothercare Gruffalo Slippers He has terrible tusks and terrible claws... Kids will love acting out their favourite Julia Donaldson tale with these fantastic slippers that will keep little feet warm as toast. Buy them soon and you can take advantage of Mothercare’s special offer on multiple buys. £10 www.mothercare.com 8. The White Company Inuit Slippers It’s hard to find slippers as snug as these. With a shaggy new lining, which also features on the seams, these slipper-boots can be worn full length to keep ankles and calves as warm, or you can roll them down to reveal the faux fur. They’re machine washable, too. £38 www.thewhitecompany.com 9. Just Sheepskin Kensington Knit Just Sheepskin slippers are among the comfiest on the market. These ones, which are available in four different colours, have a slip-resistant sole and as the brand name suggests, it’s made using 100 per cent sheepskin. The only downside is that they combine two sizes into one. £50 www.justsheepskin.com 10. Cormia Men’s Travel Slippers Produced from 100 per cent leather, these slippers have become something of a footwear sensation. Not only are they designed to completely mould to your foot shape and walking style, but they can be folded neatly and compactly into your bag for when you travel. £45 www.thepyjamastore.com
2023-10-02 19:28

How 2 inmates were able to escape from a Philadelphia prison, according to court documents
Nasir Grant and Ameen Hurst planned and executed an escape from a Philadelphia prison with the help of a look-out on the inside, a hole in the prison fence and a getaway car. They are now back in ciustody after a ten-day investigation that spanned 3 states and led to charges for 4 additional people.
2023-05-23 02:58

Rescue dog that helped find lost kids in Amazon is now missing
Six-year-old tracker dog Wilson, who went missing during the ultimately successful, weeks-long search for four missing Indigenous children in the Colombian Amazon, is now the...
2023-06-14 08:51

Tiffany’s NYC Flagship Store Escapes Damage From Nearby Fire
Smoke that billowed outside Tiffany & Co.’s New York flagship location on Thursday morning was from a transformer
2023-06-30 00:59

Moody's downgrades Egypt deeper into junk territory
Moody's on Thursday downgraded Egypt's credit rating by a notch to 'Caa1' from 'B3', citing the country's worsening
2023-10-06 06:18

Illumina asks appeals court to undo FTC ruling that it must sell subsidiary
WASHINGTON Illumina Inc filed an appeal late on Monday against an order by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission,
2023-06-06 10:23

Sertex Broadband Solutions leverages Adtran Mosaic One to bring high-speed fiber connectivity to Block Island
BLOCK ISLAND, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 11, 2023--
2023-10-11 20:18

Jackson, Ravens look to remain on top of AFC with prime-time road game against Chargers
Lamar Jackson and Baltimore hold the top seed in the AFC
2023-11-25 04:27

New Arsenal defender reveals surprise at Mikel Arteta's management style
Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior reveals his surprise at some of Mikel Arteta's ways of motivating the players but says he's enjoying playing under the Spaniard.
2023-09-14 23:56

New Zealand Concrete Industry Sets Emissions Reduction Target
New Zealand’s concrete industry wants to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 44% by 2030 as part of a
2023-08-10 09:25

Nic Kerdiles, former NHL player and Savannah Chrisley's ex-fiancee, dies in motorcycle crash
Nic Kerdiles, a former hockey player who was engaged to the reality TV star Savannah Chrisley, was killed in a motorcycle crash in Nashville early Saturday morning, police said.
2023-09-25 00:58
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