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SpaceX’s Starship megarocket test flight mostly goes as planned

SpaceX’s Starship megarocket test flight mostly goes as planned

SpaceX’s Starship megarocket roared into the skies today on its 10th test flight, turning in a strong performance after a series of fiery failures had begun to cast doubt on its future. Towering 123m, Starship is the most powerful launch vehicle ever built and key to founder Elon Musk’s vision of carrying humanity to Mars, as well as Nasa’s plans to return astronauts to the moon. The stainless-steel colossus blasted off from the company’s Starbase in southern Texas at 6.30pm local time to loud cheers from engineering teams, as seen in a live webcast. A few minutes into the launch, the first-stage booster known as Super Heavy splashed down into the Gulf of Mexico, triggering a sonic boom on its way. Unlike other recent tests, SpaceX opted not to attempt a catch with the giant “chop stick” arms of the launch tower, instead testing how it would perform if an engine cut out. Attention then shifted to the upper stage - also known individually as Starship and intended to one day carry crew and cargo - to demonstrate its capabilities as it soared into space. For the first time, SpaceX was able to successfully deploy eight dummy Starlink internet satellites, with onboard cameras beaming back live views of a robotic mechanism pushing each out one by one. It was not all smooth sailing. Some heat tiles fell away, and a small section of a flap burned off during the vessel’s fiery descent, as it was enveloped in pink and purple plasma. SpaceX communications manager Dan Huot said much of this was expected as the vehicle was intentionally flown on a punishing trajectory with some tiles removed. “We’re kind of being mean to this starship a little bit,” he said on the webcast. “We’re really trying to put it through the paces and kind of poke on what some of its weak points are.” “Great work by the SpaceX team!!” Musk wrote on X. Critical mission Much had been riding on the mission, after the last three flights ended with the upper stage exploding: twice over the Caribbean and once after reaching space. In June, an upper stage blew up during a ground test. This time, the upper stage successfully splashed down in the Indian Ocean. “Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting 10th flight test of Starship!” the US company wrote on X after the roughly hour-long mission. Despite recent setbacks, Starship was not seen as being at a crisis point. SpaceX’s “fail fast, learn fast” philosophy has already given it a commanding lead in launches with its Falcon rockets, while Dragon capsules ferry astronauts to the ISS and Starlink has become a geopolitical asset. Still, even with a successful 10th flight, major challenges loom. Musk has identified developing a fully reusable orbital heat shield as the toughest task, noting it took nine months to refurnish the Space Shuttle’s heat shield between flights. “What we’re trying to achieve here with Starship is to have a heat shield that can be flown immediately,” he said on a webcast on Tuesday. Another hurdle is proving Starship can be refuelled in orbit with super-cooled propellant - an essential but untested step for the vehicle to carry out deep-space missions. Time is running short to ready a modified version as Nasa’s lunar lander for 2027, and for Musk to make good on his vow to send an uncrewed Starship to Mars next year. -Agence France-Presse

Korean Air to buy 103 Boeing jets in $85b deal after Trump meeting

Korean Air to buy 103 Boeing jets in $85b deal after Trump meeting

Korean Air says it will buy more than 100 Boeing aircraft in South Korea’s biggest-ever aviation deal, just hours after the country’s President met US President Donald Trump in Washington. “Korean Air announced its intent to purchase 103 next-generation aircraft from Boeing,” the company said in a statement. The company said the purchase, which also includes spare engines from GE Aerospace, was valued at approximately US$50 billion ($85b). The aircraft are scheduled for phased delivery until the end of 2030. The order included 20 widebody twinjet 777-9s, 25 787-10 Dreamliners, 50 narrow-body 737-10s and eight 777-8F freighters, the Seoul-based carrier added. The agreement was signed in Washington earlier this week during a meeting of Korean and US businesses, overseen by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Trump on the same day held his first meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to discuss bilateral relations, just weeks after both countries agreed to trade deals involving announcements of huge investments into the United States. Boeing said Korean Air’s commitment was the airline’s largest-ever order and Boeing’s largest widebody order from an Asian carrier. “When finalised, the deal will mark Korean Air’s first order for the 777-8F and will support an estimated 135,000 jobs across the United States,” the manufacturer said. “This agreement with our long-standing partners, Boeing and GE, marks a pivotal moment for Korean Air,” said Walter Cho, Korean Air chief executive and chairman. “Acquiring these next-generation aircraft is the core of our fleet modernisation strategy, delivering significant gains in fuel efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience across our global network,” he added. Cho said the investment was critical for his company’s future as a merged airline with fellow Korean airline Asiana. He said he wanted the combined carrier to be one of the most competitive airlines in the industry. Korean Air had agreed in March to purchase up to 50 Boeing aircraft, a deal valued at around $54.6b, which also involved GE Aerospace. A Boeing 777 production assembly line near Seattle. Photo / Brett Phibbs Last week, Boeing was reportedly in talks to sell up to 500 planes to China. Boeing has been hit by manufacturing backlogs and safety concerns. A total of 241 people on board the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner were killed when the plane crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad in northwestern India on June 12. A preliminary investigation report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said fuel to the jet’s engines was cut off moments before impact. After the crash, India and Singapore ordered their airlines to examine fuel switches on several Boeing models. - Agence France-Presse, additional reporting NZ Herald

Police close Pipitea St, Wellington over ‘item of concern’, later confirmed as safe

Police close Pipitea St, Wellington over ‘item of concern’, later confirmed as safe

Police cars blocked a central Wellington street at lunchtime after authorities were alerted to a suspected dangerous item. . A police spokesperson said they responded to reports about 11.45am “of an item of concern” on Pipitea St in Thorndon. Police appeared to be focusing on the area outside the Department of Internal Affairs. It was understood classrooms at Wellington Girls’ College were into lockdown while police investigated. By 12.45pm, six police cars blocked Pipitea St from Murphy St, preventing pedestrians from entering. The NZ Defence Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team was called, but stood down. “There were some cordons in place, however, these are about to be stood down, as the item of concern has now been confirmed as safe,” police said. The Department of Internal Affairs directed media queries to police. Wellington Girls’ College has been approached for comment.

Animal charity accuses Krispy Kreme store of endangering cats by tampering with their food

Animal charity accuses Krispy Kreme store of endangering cats by tampering with their food

A rescue charity has accused a Krispy Kreme store of endangering local cats by tampering with their food. Awhi Mai Cat Rescue has installed a shelter for about 10 stray cats near the Krispy Kreme store carpark in Manukau. Volunteers have been feeding the cats at the site since December 2023. In a Facebook post, Awhi Mai Cat Rescue claimed the Krispy Kreme store had been tipping coffee grounds in the food of community cats they care for. Coffee grounds are toxic to cats and are used as a deterrent for the animals. In the post the charity accused the Krispy Kreme of having “sunk to all kinds of low”, claiming their actions constitute “animal endangerment”. The charity also claimed the donut shop had taken the cats’ shelter away and tipped out their water. A Krispy Kreme spokesperson said customer safety and wellbeing was an ”absolute priority". The cat shelter has been removed. “As a food production facility, we must follow strict health and safety protocols. “The presence of stray animals on our premises and in close proximity to food preparation areas poses significant health and safety risks. “We will continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard food safety.” Krispy Kreme employees have allegedly been told to dispose of the cat food if they see it. Karen Mills, founder of Awhi Mai Cat rescue, said they had been caring for the cats since December 2023. She said the charity had trapped, neutered, flea-treated, wormed and vaccinated the 10 cats that appeared regularly for food. She said the cats were at an age when it would be difficult to have the felines rehomed and was adamant they would continue to care for them no matter what the company did. “We won’t stop feeding, that’s a guarantee.”