SpaceX 'Inspiration4' mission lifts off, know who's onboard

SpaceX is set to launch four people into space Wednesday on a three-day mission that is the first to orbit the Earth with exclusively private citizens on board. The crew will all be aboard the Falcon-9 rocket and will be launched from the historic Launch Complex 39A at Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. All four members will navigate the Earth for a three-day observation of the planet. The Inspiration-4 will be commanded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, who is the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments. He is also an accomplished pilot. He will be joined by Hayley Arceneaux, who is a nurse and a pediatric cancer survivor, Chris Sembroski, is a US Air Force veteran who now works in the aviation industry, Geology professor Sian Proctor, was a finalist to become a NASA astronaut more than a decade ago.&nbsp;

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/mind-blowing-facts-about-spacexs-all-civilian-crew-inspiration4-space-mission-413221" hreflang="en">Mind-blowing facts about SpaceX's all-civilian crew Inspiration4 space mission</a>

<h2>Here's all you need to know about the timings and streaming of the launch:</h2>

<h2>WHEN TO WATCH INSPIRATION 4 ALL CIVILIAN MISSION LAUNCH</h2>

According to SpaceX, the launch will take place at 5.32 am Indian Standard Time (12:02 am GMT)&nbsp;on Thursday.&nbsp;

<h2>WHERE TO WATCH THE SPACEX INSPIRATION-4 MISSION LAUNCH</h2>

Space lovers can begin live-streaming the launch five hours before the actual launch time. They can watch it on LIVE at the webcast.

SpaceX is set to launch four people into space Wednesday on a three-day mission that is the first to orbit the Earth with exclusively private citizens on board. The crew will all be aboard the Falcon-9 rocket and will be launched from the historic Launch Complex 39A at Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX is set to launch four people into space Wednesday on a three-day mission that is the first to orbit the Earth with exclusively private citizens on board. The crew will all be aboard the Falcon-9 rocket and will be launched from the historic Launch Complex 39A at Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. All four members will navigate the Earth for a three-day observation of the planet. The Inspiration-4 will be commanded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, who is the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments. He is also an accomplished pilot. He will be joined by Hayley Arceneaux, who is a nurse and a pediatric cancer survivor, Chris Sembroski, is a US Air Force veteran who now works in the aviation industry, Geology professor Sian Proctor, was a finalist to become a NASA astronaut more than a decade ago. IN PICS| Mind-blowing facts about SpaceX's all-civilian crew Inspiration4 space mission Here's all you need to know about the timings and streaming of the launch: WHEN TO WATCH INSPIRATION 4 ALL CIVILIAN MISSION LAUNCH According to SpaceX, the launch will take place at 5.32 am Indian Standard Time (12:02 am GMT) on Thursday. WHERE TO WATCH THE SPACEX INSPIRATION-4 MISSION LAUNCH Space lovers can begin live-streaming the launch five hours before the actual launch time. They can watch it on LIVE at the webcast.

SpaceX, Live Streaming: When and where to watch the launch of Inspiration-4?

Four space enthusiast are about to launch into the earth's orbit in another landmark mission in space tourism. This is for the first time in more than 60 years .Watch this video for more details.

SpaceX’s to send four people into space

SpaceX is all set for the launch of "Inspiration4", the all-civilian spaceflight. The crew has four people and none of them is a professional astronaut! The mission is high on symbolism as well.

Inspiration4: What we know so far about SpaceX’s first 'all civilian' space mission

On September 15, billionaire Jared Isaacman and his crew would be leaving Earth in the first crewed space mission into the orbit with no professional astronauts on board SpaceX Dragon capsule.

The mission, dubbed as ‘Inspiration4’, will lift off from NASA’s Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and head on a three-day journey around Earth.

Apart from Issacman, the founder of Shift4 Payments, the mission will have three civilians.

Since none of the four participants has any prior formal astronaut training, the flight has been called the first “all civilian” space mission

Before Elon Musk’s Space X, two other billionaires— Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin—sent civilians on suborbital flights that lasted only for a few minutes.

As the race to reach space seems to be high on the agenda of the billionaires, let’s look at what we know so far about the mission and the crew members.

'Inspiration4' mission

Inspiration4 is a private mission which will be chartered by Jared Isaacman, the billionaire founder of Shift4 Payments. He will be joined&nbsp;by Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Chris Sembroski.

“The Inspiration4 crew will travel across a low earth orbit on a multi-day journey that will continually eclipse more than 90 per cent of the earth’s population,” the company said in a statement.

But the primary purpose of Inspiration4, the site states, is to raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and begin “a new era for human spaceflight and exploration.”

Through the Inspiration4 mission, Isaacman seeks to raise more than $200 million for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a pediatric cancer research hospital that does not charge the families of children for their treatment. Isaacman has pledged $100 million out of his own pocket.

Watch

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Crew members

Jared Isaacman is a 38-year-old billionaire who dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and then founded a payments technology company. He is an accomplished jet pilot and is rated to fly commercial and military aircraft. In 2011, Isaacman co-founded Draken International to train pilots for the US Armed Forces.

Hayley Arceneaux is a physician and works at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She will serve as medical officer for the flight.

Sian Proctor is a geology professor, science communicator, and commercial astronaut. Her father worked at the NASA tracking station during the Apollo missions. She’s an analog astronaut (a person who conducts activities in simulated space conditions). &nbsp;She will be the pilot of the Inspiration4 mission.

Chris Sembroski is a 38-year-old data engineer and Air Force veteran. He has conducted simulated space shuttle missions as a US Space Counselor and then served in the US Air Force, maintaining a fleet of ICBMs before leaving active duty in 2007. Sembroski has a BS in Professional Aeronautics.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/pace-to-reach-space-shoots-up-as-spacex-set-to-launch-billionaire-into-orbit-412597">Pace to reach space shoots up as SpaceX set to launch billionaire into orbit</a>

Spacecraft

The mission will use the Crew Dragon Resilience capsule. This will be the second flight of the spacecraft, which first flew on the SpaceX Crew-1mission and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on May 2, 2021.

SpaceX has also installed a custom camera inside the retractable nosecone covering the cupola, which once in orbit will be able to take pictures of the four astronauts, Earth, space, and the stars.

Mission’s purpose

During the three-day period, the crew will perform try to find how space affects the human body. Flying at 17,000 kilometres per hour, the crew will collaborate with SpaceX, the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) at Baylor College of Medicine and investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Isaacman said, “The crew of Inspiration4 is eager to use our mission to help make a better future for those who will launch in the years and decades to come.”

“We are proud that our flight will help influence all those who will travel after us and look forward to seeing how this mission will help shape the beginning of a new era for space exploration," he added.

SpaceX will also collect environmental and biomedical data as well as biological samples like blood from the crew before, during and after the mission, which will be studied for&nbsp;future crew missions that SpaceX has in the pipeline.

The company is already in plans to launch to Mars in the future which requires a great deal of human research.

(With inputs from agencies)

On September 15, billionaire Jared Isaacman and his crew would be leaving Earth in the first crewed space mission into the orbit with no professional astronauts on board SpaceX Dragon capsule.

On September 15, billionaire Jared Isaacman and his crew would be leaving Earth in the first crewed space mission into the orbit with no professional astronauts on board SpaceX Dragon capsule. The mission, dubbed as ‘Inspiration4’, will lift off from NASA’s Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and head on a three-day journey around Earth. Apart from Issacman, the founder of Shift4 Payments, the mission will have three civilians. Since none of the four participants has any prior formal astronaut training, the flight has been called the first “all civilian” space mission Before Elon Musk’s Space X, two other billionaires— Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin—sent civilians on suborbital flights that lasted only for a few minutes. As the race to reach space seems to be high on the agenda of the billionaires, let’s look at what we know so far about the mission and the crew members. 'Inspiration4' mission Inspiration4 is a private mission which will be chartered by Jared Isaacman, the billionaire founder of Shift4 Payments. He will be joined by Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Chris Sembroski. “The Inspiration4 crew will travel across a low earth orbit on a multi-day journey that will continually eclipse more than 90 per cent of the earth’s population,” the company said in a statement. But the primary purpose of Inspiration4, the site states, is to raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and begin “a new era for human spaceflight and exploration.” Through the Inspiration4 mission, Isaacman seeks to raise more than $200 million for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a pediatric cancer research hospital that does not charge the families of children for their treatment. Isaacman has pledged $100 million out of his own pocket. Watch Crew members Jared Isaacman is a 38-year-old billionaire who dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and then founded a payments technology company. He is an accomplished jet pilot and is rated to fly commercial and military aircraft. In 2011, Isaacman co-founded Draken International to train pilots for the US Armed Forces. Hayley Arceneaux is a physician and works at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She will serve as medical officer for the flight. Sian Proctor is a geology professor, science communicator, and commercial astronaut. Her father worked at the NASA tracking station during the Apollo missions. She’s an analog astronaut (a person who conducts activities in simulated space conditions). She will be the pilot of the Inspiration4 mission. Chris Sembroski is a 38-year-old data engineer and Air Force veteran. He has conducted simulated space shuttle missions as a US Space Counselor and then served in the US Air Force, maintaining a fleet of ICBMs before leaving active duty in 2007. Sembroski has a BS in Professional Aeronautics. Also read | Pace to reach space shoots up as SpaceX set to launch billionaire into orbit Spacecraft The mission will use the Crew Dragon Resilience capsule. This will be the second flight of the spacecraft, which first flew on the SpaceX Crew-1mission and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on May 2, 2021. SpaceX has also installed a custom camera inside the retractable nosecone covering the cupola, which once in orbit will be able to take pictures of the four astronauts, Earth, space, and the stars. Mission’s purpose During the three-day period, the crew will perform try to find how space affects the human body. Flying at 17,000 kilometres per hour, the crew will collaborate with SpaceX, the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) at Baylor College of Medicine and investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine. Isaacman said, “The crew of Inspiration4 is eager to use our mission to help make a better future for those who will launch in the years and decades to come.” “We are proud that our flight will help influence all those who will travel after us and look forward to seeing how this mission will help shape the beginning of a new era for space exploration," he added. SpaceX will also collect environmental and biomedical data as well as biological samples like blood from the crew before, during and after the mission, which will be studied for future crew missions that SpaceX has in the pipeline. The company is already in plans to launch to Mars in the future which requires a great deal of human research. (With inputs from agencies)

The race to reach the space seems to be high on agenda for billionaires now as after Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos, another entrepreneur is all set to ride into space this week. &nbsp;

E-commerce firm Shift4 Payments founder and chief executive Jared Isaacman will lead three fellow spaceflight novices on a three-day trip to space. They will reach Earth's orbit onboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.&nbsp;The three travel mates have been selected specially.

Watch:&nbsp;Electric luxury concept cars steal the show in Munich

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If the mission is successful, it will begin a new era of commercial space tourism. Several companies are already eying for customers, who are willing to pay a small fortune to experience the supersonic flight, weightlessness and the visual spectacle of space. &nbsp;

The SpaceX rocket ship will be blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida and splashdown in the Atlantic at the end. The flight will carry its four passengers where no all-civilian crew has gone ever before, into Earth’s orbit. This astro-tourist team, will make history in achieving this feat. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-mars-rover-collects-first-planetary-samples-for-return-to-earth-412509" hreflang="en">NASA's Mars Rover collects first planetary samples for return to Earth</a>

The 38-year-old tech mogul seems to have spent a presumably exorbitant amount of money to be a part of the trip. &nbsp;&nbsp;

With a 24-hour targeted launch window, the vehicle will blastoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center atop one of Musk's reusable Falcon 9 rockets.&nbsp;The orbital outing, which is being dubbed as Inspiration4, was conceived by Isaacman. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The race to reach the space seems to be high on agenda for billionaires now as after Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos, another entrepreneur is all set to ride into space this week.

The race to reach the space seems to be high on agenda for billionaires now as after Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos, another entrepreneur is all set to ride into space this week. E-commerce firm Shift4 Payments founder and chief executive Jared Isaacman will lead three fellow spaceflight novices on a three-day trip to space. They will reach Earth's orbit onboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The three travel mates have been selected specially. Watch: Electric luxury concept cars steal the show in Munich × If the mission is successful, it will begin a new era of commercial space tourism. Several companies are already eying for customers, who are willing to pay a small fortune to experience the supersonic flight, weightlessness and the visual spectacle of space. The SpaceX rocket ship will be blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida and splashdown in the Atlantic at the end. The flight will carry its four passengers where no all-civilian crew has gone ever before, into Earth’s orbit. This astro-tourist team, will make history in achieving this feat. Also Read: NASA's Mars Rover collects first planetary samples for return to Earth The 38-year-old tech mogul seems to have spent a presumably exorbitant amount of money to be a part of the trip. With a 24-hour targeted launch window, the vehicle will blastoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center atop one of Musk's reusable Falcon 9 rockets. The orbital outing, which is being dubbed as Inspiration4, was conceived by Isaacman. (With inputs from agencies)

Pace to reach space shoots up as SpaceX set to launch billionaire into orbit

SpaceX’s latest cargo delivery showed up at the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday after a day in transit. NASA released pictures of the automated docking, overseen by NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, who was celebrating her 50th birthday on board the space station.

SpaceX capsule delivers supplies to space station

Russia's&nbsp;space agency Roscosmos has&nbsp;postponed its first mission to the moon's surface in decades as a result of "problems" encountered during tests of the Luna-25 spacecraft.

Russia had announced last week that the mission, originally scheduled for October 1, from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far East had been moved to May 2022.

The Luna-25 mission to the Moon's south pole aims to probe ice deposits there. It is set to be&nbsp;Russia's first mission to the moon's surface in 45 years and the first in its post-Soviet history.

The chief engineer of&nbsp;Russia's state NPO Lavochkin design bureau explained the delay Tuesday saying that "more time" was needed to complete successful trials.

"We have encountered certain problems during testing," Alexander Shirshakov told the Interfax news agency.

"A safe landing system is of crucial importance and we are working on Luna-25's soft landing system," Shirshakov said.

The race back to the moon is in full swing after China in December 2020 became the first country to return samples from the moon since the Soviet Luna-24 mission in 1976.&nbsp;

US space agency NASA also has pledged to land the next man and the first woman on the moon in 2024 as part of its Artemis programme.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Russia and China signed a memorandum of understanding&nbsp;to set up an international lunar research station.

Russia's space programme inherited from the Soviet Union has in recent years suffered from problems like corruption scandals and budget cuts.

Its space industry took a blow in 2020 when it lost its monopoly over manned flights to the ISS after the successful mission of Space X, the company belonging to US billionaire Elon Musk.

Roscosmos has however announced a number of ventures including a mission to Venus and the creation of a rocket capable of making round trips to space.

Russia&nbsp;has also indicated that it plans to start building its own space station with the aim of launching it into orbit by 2030 if President Vladimir Putin gives the go-ahead.

The project would mark a new chapter for Russian space exploration and an end to more than two decades of close cooperation with the United States aboard the ageing International Space Station (ISS).

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia's space agency Roscosmos has postponed its first mission to the moon's surface in decades as a result of "problems" encountered during tests of the Luna-25 spacecraft.

Russia's space agency Roscosmos has postponed its first mission to the moon's surface in decades as a result of "problems" encountered during tests of the Luna-25 spacecraft. Russia had announced last week that the mission, originally scheduled for October 1, from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far East had been moved to May 2022. The Luna-25 mission to the Moon's south pole aims to probe ice deposits there. It is set to be Russia's first mission to the moon's surface in 45 years and the first in its post-Soviet history. The chief engineer of Russia's state NPO Lavochkin design bureau explained the delay Tuesday saying that "more time" was needed to complete successful trials. "We have encountered certain problems during testing," Alexander Shirshakov told the Interfax news agency. "A safe landing system is of crucial importance and we are working on Luna-25's soft landing system," Shirshakov said. The race back to the moon is in full swing after China in December 2020 became the first country to return samples from the moon since the Soviet Luna-24 mission in 1976. US space agency NASA also has pledged to land the next man and the first woman on the moon in 2024 as part of its Artemis programme. Meanwhile, Russia and China signed a memorandum of understanding to set up an international lunar research station. Russia's space programme inherited from the Soviet Union has in recent years suffered from problems like corruption scandals and budget cuts. Its space industry took a blow in 2020 when it lost its monopoly over manned flights to the ISS after the successful mission of Space X, the company belonging to US billionaire Elon Musk. Roscosmos has however announced a number of ventures including a mission to Venus and the creation of a rocket capable of making round trips to space. Russia has also indicated that it plans to start building its own space station with the aim of launching it into orbit by 2030 if President Vladimir Putin gives the go-ahead. The project would mark a new chapter for Russian space exploration and an end to more than two decades of close cooperation with the United States aboard the ageing International Space Station (ISS). (With inputs from agencies)

Russian space agency Roscosmos postpones lunar mission over 'problems during testing'

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has halted its&nbsp;work on a $2.9 billion lunar lander contract awarded to Elon Musk's SpaceX after rival billionaire businessman Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin sued the US government.

Blue Origin had filed a lawsuit&nbsp;claiming that it was&nbsp;"an attempt to remedy the flaws in the acquisition process found in&nbsp;NASA's Human Landing System."

A&nbsp;judge has set the hearing on the case on&nbsp;October 14 as per&nbsp;the US&nbsp;Court of Federal Claims.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musk-announces-humanoid-robot-tesla-bot-that-uses-artificial-intelligence-407062" hreflang="en">Elon Musk announces humanoid robot Tesla Bot that uses artificial intelligence</a>

NASA&nbsp;said in a statement it paused work with SpaceX on the human landing system through November&nbsp;1.

"In exchange for this temporary stay of work, all parties agreed to an expedited litigation schedule that concludes on Nov. 1," the US&nbsp;space agency said.

"NASA&nbsp;officials are continuing to work with the Department of Justice to review the details of the case and look forward to a timely resolution of this matter."

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-winning-space-tourism-race-between-bezos-branson-and-musk-396420" hreflang="en">Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk?</a>

The US&nbsp;Government Accountability Office (GAO) last month sided with&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;over its decision to pick a single lunar lander provider, rejecting Blue Origin's protest.

SpaceX, headed by Tesla Inc's CEO Musk, this week intervened in the lawsuit to ensure that the court "has a complete and accurate picture of the facts and circumstances surrounding this protest, including the substantial harm that SpaceX will suffer if the court grants the relief sought" by Blue Origin.

Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by Amazon.com Inc's founder Bezos, has said it remains convinced there were "fundamental issues" with&nbsp;NASA's decision and that the GAO was not able to address them "due to their limited jurisdiction."

NASA had sought proposals for a spacecraft that would carry astronauts to the lunar surface under its Artemis program to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972.

The space agency said on Thursday it "is committed to Artemis and to maintaining the nation's global leadership in space exploration. With our partners, we will go to the moon and stay to enable science investigations, develop new technology, and create high-paying jobs for the greater good and in preparation to send astronauts to Mars."

In April,&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;awarded SpaceX a contract to build such a spacecraft as early as 2024.

(With inputs from agencies)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has halted its work on a $2.9 billion lunar lander contract awarded to Elon Musk's SpaceX after rival billionaire businessman Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin sued the US government.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has halted its work on a $2.9 billion lunar lander contract awarded to Elon Musk's SpaceX after rival billionaire businessman Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin sued the US government. Blue Origin had filed a lawsuit claiming that it was "an attempt to remedy the flaws in the acquisition process found in NASA's Human Landing System." A judge has set the hearing on the case on October 14 as per the US Court of Federal Claims. Also read | Elon Musk announces humanoid robot Tesla Bot that uses artificial intelligence NASA said in a statement it paused work with SpaceX on the human landing system through November 1. "In exchange for this temporary stay of work, all parties agreed to an expedited litigation schedule that concludes on Nov. 1," the US space agency said. "NASA officials are continuing to work with the Department of Justice to review the details of the case and look forward to a timely resolution of this matter." Also see | Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk? The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) last month sided with NASA over its decision to pick a single lunar lander provider, rejecting Blue Origin's protest. SpaceX, headed by Tesla Inc's CEO Musk, this week intervened in the lawsuit to ensure that the court "has a complete and accurate picture of the facts and circumstances surrounding this protest, including the substantial harm that SpaceX will suffer if the court grants the relief sought" by Blue Origin. Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by Amazon.com Inc's founder Bezos, has said it remains convinced there were "fundamental issues" with NASA's decision and that the GAO was not able to address them "due to their limited jurisdiction." NASA had sought proposals for a spacecraft that would carry astronauts to the lunar surface under its Artemis program to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972. The space agency said on Thursday it "is committed to Artemis and to maintaining the nation's global leadership in space exploration. With our partners, we will go to the moon and stay to enable science investigations, develop new technology, and create high-paying jobs for the greater good and in preparation to send astronauts to Mars." In April, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract to build such a spacecraft as early as 2024. (With inputs from agencies)

Bezos vs Musk: NASA halts SpaceX work on lunar lander after Blue Origin lawsuit

Elon Musk has criticised Jeff Bezos, a wealthy competitor, for allegedly focusing on government lobbying rather than rocket development.

In recent years, the two have exchanged places as the world's wealthiest people, leveraging their huge fortunes to support their private space enterprises.&nbsp;

Nasa awarded Musk's SpaceX a lucrative contract to construct its Starship spaceship for the 2024 Artemis mission, which seeks to return humans to the Moon.&nbsp;

On August 12, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk sneered and mocked Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, saying the former would be on Pluto by no means if lobbying and lawyers could get you to space.

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If lobbying &amp; lawyers could get u to orbit, Bezos would be on Pluto rn
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Musk slammed his billionaire space competitor in the latest salvo in a verbal brawl.

NASA just pushed the two into overdrive by awarding SpaceX a lunar lander contract over Bezos' space company.&nbsp;

Elon Musk's SpaceX has been awarded a lucrative contract to construct a version of its Starship rocket that would transport people to the lunar surface in 2024.

Blue Origin had hoped that NASA would pay two companies to construct alternate landers, but budget constraints forced NASA to choose just SpaceX, forcing the company to submit a 50-page protest with the Government Accountability Office.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk has criticised Jeff Bezos, a wealthy competitor, for allegedly focusing on government lobbying rather than rocket development. In recent years, the two have exchanged places as the world's wealthiest people, leveraging their huge fortunes to support their private space enterprises.

Elon Musk has criticised Jeff Bezos, a wealthy competitor, for allegedly focusing on government lobbying rather than rocket development. In recent years, the two have exchanged places as the world's wealthiest people, leveraging their huge fortunes to support their private space enterprises. Nasa awarded Musk's SpaceX a lucrative contract to construct its Starship spaceship for the 2024 Artemis mission, which seeks to return humans to the Moon. On August 12, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk sneered and mocked Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, saying the former would be on Pluto by no means if lobbying and lawyers could get you to space. If lobbying & lawyers could get u to orbit, Bezos would be on Pluto rn — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2021 × Musk slammed his billionaire space competitor in the latest salvo in a verbal brawl. NASA just pushed the two into overdrive by awarding SpaceX a lunar lander contract over Bezos' space company. Elon Musk's SpaceX has been awarded a lucrative contract to construct a version of its Starship rocket that would transport people to the lunar surface in 2024. Blue Origin had hoped that NASA would pay two companies to construct alternate landers, but budget constraints forced NASA to choose just SpaceX, forcing the company to submit a 50-page protest with the Government Accountability Office. (With inputs from agencies)

If lobbying & lawyers could get you to orbit, Bezos would be on Pluto: Elon Musk

Boeing delayed an uncrewed flight of its Starliner capsule to the International Space Station (ISS)&nbsp;over a propulsion issue, pushing back by at least a day a key test it last attempted in 2019.

Boeing&nbsp;engineers ruled out "a number of potential causes, including software," but were still working to understand the source of "unexpected valve position indications" in the propulsion system,&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;said in a statement.

"Additional time is needed to complete the assessment,"&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;said, adding that it would also not proceed with the next potential launch window on Wednesday.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/all-is-well-says-moscow-after-space-station-thrown-off-course-by-nauka-module-401759" hreflang="en">'All is well', says Moscow after space station thrown off course by Nauka module</a>

The test flight was supposed to take place Friday but had to be rescheduled after a new Russian&nbsp;science&nbsp;module inadvertently fired its thrusters following docking with the ISS, pushing the orbital outpost off kilter.&nbsp;

After NASA ended the Space Shuttle programme in 2011, it gave both Boeing and SpaceX multi-billion dollar contracts to provide its astronauts with taxi services to the space station and end US reliance on Russian rockets for the journey.

SpaceX's program has moved forward faster, having now undertaken three crewed missions.&nbsp;

Boeing's program is lagging behind, and needs to complete a successful uncrewed mission before it can carry astronauts.

During an initial uncrewed test flight in December 2019, the Starliner capsule experienced software glitches that caused problems with the way it fired its thrusters.

As a result, Starliner did not have enough fuel to reach the ISS and had to return to Earth prematurely, and a subsequent investigation showed it almost experienced a dire flight anomaly while reentering the atmosphere.

NASA later called the mission a "high visibility close call," a rare designation reserved for near-catastrophes.

Steve Stich, manager of NASA's commercial crew program, told reporters last week he had confidence this time around.&nbsp;

"We want it to go well, we expect it to go well, and we've done all the preparations we can possibly do," he said.

"Starliner is a great vehicle, but we know how hard it is, and it's a test flight as well and I fully expect we'll learn something on this test flight."

When it flies, the spacecraft will carry more than 400 pounds (180 kilogrammes) of cargo and crew supplies to the ISS and will return more than 550 pounds of cargo, including air tanks, when it lands in the western US desert at the end of its mission.

(With inputs from agencies)

Boeing delayed an uncrewed flight of its Starliner capsule to the International Space Station (ISS) over a propulsion issue, pushing back by at least a day a key test it last attempted in 2019.

Boeing delayed an uncrewed flight of its Starliner capsule to the International Space Station (ISS) over a propulsion issue, pushing back by at least a day a key test it last attempted in 2019. Boeing engineers ruled out "a number of potential causes, including software," but were still working to understand the source of "unexpected valve position indications" in the propulsion system, Boeing said in a statement. "Additional time is needed to complete the assessment," Boeing said, adding that it would also not proceed with the next potential launch window on Wednesday. Also read| 'All is well', says Moscow after space station thrown off course by Nauka module The test flight was supposed to take place Friday but had to be rescheduled after a new Russian science module inadvertently fired its thrusters following docking with the ISS, pushing the orbital outpost off kilter. After NASA ended the Space Shuttle programme in 2011, it gave both Boeing and SpaceX multi-billion dollar contracts to provide its astronauts with taxi services to the space station and end US reliance on Russian rockets for the journey. SpaceX's program has moved forward faster, having now undertaken three crewed missions. Boeing's program is lagging behind, and needs to complete a successful uncrewed mission before it can carry astronauts. During an initial uncrewed test flight in December 2019, the Starliner capsule experienced software glitches that caused problems with the way it fired its thrusters. As a result, Starliner did not have enough fuel to reach the ISS and had to return to Earth prematurely, and a subsequent investigation showed it almost experienced a dire flight anomaly while reentering the atmosphere. NASA later called the mission a "high visibility close call," a rare designation reserved for near-catastrophes. Steve Stich, manager of NASA's commercial crew program, told reporters last week he had confidence this time around. "We want it to go well, we expect it to go well, and we've done all the preparations we can possibly do," he said. "Starliner is a great vehicle, but we know how hard it is, and it's a test flight as well and I fully expect we'll learn something on this test flight." When it flies, the spacecraft will carry more than 400 pounds (180 kilogrammes) of cargo and crew supplies to the ISS and will return more than 550 pounds of cargo, including air tanks, when it lands in the western US desert at the end of its mission. (With inputs from agencies)

Boeing postpones Starliner launch to International Space Station after new glitch

A US&nbsp;agency on Friday rejected a protest by Blue Origin and defense contractor Dynetics Inc over NASA`s decision to pick a single lunar lander provider. 
 
The companies challenged the $2.9 billion award to SpaceX for the lander, arguing NASA was required to make multiple awards.

The US&nbsp;Government Accountability Office (GAO) said it "denied the protest arguments that NASA acted improperly in making a single award to SpaceX." 
 
Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, did not immediately comment. It had contended NASA gave SpaceX an unfair advantage by letting it revise its pricing. Dynetics, a unit of Leidos Holdings, also did not immediately comment. 
 
On Monday, Bezos offered to cover up to $2 billion in NASA costs if the US&nbsp;space agency awarded Blue Origin a contract to make a spacecraft designed to land astronauts back on the moon. 
 
In April, NASA awarded rival billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk`s SpaceX a deal to build a spacecraft to bring astronauts to the lunar surface as early as 2024. 
 
In a letter to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Bezos said Blue Origin would waive payments up to $2 billion, and pay for an orbital mission to vet its technology. In exchange, Blue Origin would accept a firm, fixed-priced contract, and cover any system development cost overruns. 
 
"Without competition, NASA`s short-term and long-term lunar ambitions will be delayed, will ultimately cost more, and won`t serve the national interest," Bezos added. 
 
Before choosing SpaceX, NASA sought proposals for a spacecraft that would carry astronauts to the lunar surface under its Artemis program to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972. 
 
Bezos` offer came six days after he flew alongside three crewmates to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin`s rocket-and-capsule New Shepard. 
 
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio) 
&nbsp;

A US agency on Friday rejected a protest by Blue Origin and defense contractor Dynetics Inc over NASA`s decision to pick a single lunar lander provider. The companies challenged the $2.

A US agency on Friday rejected a protest by Blue Origin and defense contractor Dynetics Inc over NASA`s decision to pick a single lunar lander provider. The companies challenged the $2.9 billion award to SpaceX for the lander, arguing NASA was required to make multiple awards. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) said it "denied the protest arguments that NASA acted improperly in making a single award to SpaceX." Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, did not immediately comment. It had contended NASA gave SpaceX an unfair advantage by letting it revise its pricing. Dynetics, a unit of Leidos Holdings, also did not immediately comment. On Monday, Bezos offered to cover up to $2 billion in NASA costs if the US space agency awarded Blue Origin a contract to make a spacecraft designed to land astronauts back on the moon. In April, NASA awarded rival billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk`s SpaceX a deal to build a spacecraft to bring astronauts to the lunar surface as early as 2024. In a letter to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Bezos said Blue Origin would waive payments up to $2 billion, and pay for an orbital mission to vet its technology. In exchange, Blue Origin would accept a firm, fixed-priced contract, and cover any system development cost overruns. "Without competition, NASA`s short-term and long-term lunar ambitions will be delayed, will ultimately cost more, and won`t serve the national interest," Bezos added. Before choosing SpaceX, NASA sought proposals for a spacecraft that would carry astronauts to the lunar surface under its Artemis program to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972. Bezos` offer came six days after he flew alongside three crewmates to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin`s rocket-and-capsule New Shepard. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio)

US agency denies Blue Origin protest over NASA lunar lander contract

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon&nbsp;Musk's brain-chip startup, Neuralink,&nbsp;has raised $205 million in funding&nbsp;from Alphabet Inc's Google Ventures.

Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer chips to help cure neurological conditions including Alzheimer's, dementia, and spinal cord injuries and fuse humankind with artificial intelligence.

The company released a video in April showing a male macaque playing a videogame "Mind Pong" after getting chips embedded on each side of its brain.

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First <a href="https://twitter.com/neuralink?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Neuralink</a> product will enable someone with paralysis to use a smartphone with their mind faster than someone using thumbs
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1380315654524301315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Valor Equity Partners, Craft Ventures and Founders Fund also participated in the series C funding round.&nbsp;

Co-founded by&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;in 2016, San Francisco-based Neuralink will use the funds to take its first product, N1 Link, to the market, and for research and development.

Musk&nbsp;has a history of bringing together diverse experts to develop technology previously limited to academic labs through companies such as Tesla Inc, SpaceX and Boring Co.

SpaceX, a private space company, said in an amended regulatory filing in April, it had raised about $1.16 billion in equity financing.

(With inputs from agencies)

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's brain-chip startup, Neuralink, has raised $205 million in funding from Alphabet Inc's Google Ventures. Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer chips to help cure neurological conditions including Alzheimer's, dementia, and spinal cord injuries and fuse humankind with artificial intelligence.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's brain-chip startup, Neuralink, has raised $205 million in funding from Alphabet Inc's Google Ventures. Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer chips to help cure neurological conditions including Alzheimer's, dementia, and spinal cord injuries and fuse humankind with artificial intelligence. The company released a video in April showing a male macaque playing a videogame "Mind Pong" after getting chips embedded on each side of its brain. First @Neuralink product will enable someone with paralysis to use a smartphone with their mind faster than someone using thumbs — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2021 × Valor Equity Partners, Craft Ventures and Founders Fund also participated in the series C funding round. Co-founded by Musk in 2016, San Francisco-based Neuralink will use the funds to take its first product, N1 Link, to the market, and for research and development. Musk has a history of bringing together diverse experts to develop technology previously limited to academic labs through companies such as Tesla Inc, SpaceX and Boring Co. SpaceX, a private space company, said in an amended regulatory filing in April, it had raised about $1.16 billion in equity financing. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk's brain-chip startup, Neuralink raises over $200 million

Boeing's unmanned Starliner crew capsule is all set for its&nbsp;test flight&nbsp;on Friday, July 30, before attempting to launch astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

The space agency's new administrator, Bill Nelson, Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, and Associate Administrator Bob Cabana held a briefing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center ahead of the launch.

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Happening now: Ahead of the July 30 launch of <a href="https://twitter.com/BoeingSpace?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BoeingSpace</a>'s Orbital Flight Test-2, <a href="https://twitter.com/Commercial_Crew?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Commercial_Crew</a> astronauts and mission experts discuss the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Starliner?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Starliner</a> flight with virtual social guests: <a href="https://t.co/qTsZ3f8a3C">https://t.co/qTsZ3f8a3C</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1420762640796819460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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All three NASA administrators are former astronauts. They spoke about the significance of the upcoming launch and the future of the space program.

NASA and Boeing are targeting launch at 2:53 p.m. EDT with a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

NASA says the five-to-10-day flight test will help prove the Starliner system is ready to carry astronauts to the space station later this year.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-winning-space-tourism-race-between-bezos-branson-and-musk-396420" hreflang="en">Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk?</a>

Boeing is eager for another shot at proving its crew capsule after technical failures put the aerospace juggernaut behind Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX, which successfully returned its rival crew capsule from the ISS earlier this month.

During Boeing’s first uncrewed test, in December 2019, a series of software glitches and an issue with the spacecraft’s automated timer resulted in Starliner failing to dock at the space station and returning to Earth a week early.

In February, a NASA safety review panel found Boeing had narrowly missed a “catastrophic failure” in the botched test, and recommended examining the company’s software verification process before letting it fly humans to space.

Earlier this month, Boeing watched from the sidelines as SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico after a two-month voyage to the International Space Station,&nbsp;NASA’s first crewed mission from home soil in nine years.

(With inputs from agencies)

Boeing's unmanned Starliner crew capsule is all set for its test flight on Friday, July 30, before attempting to launch astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

Boeing's unmanned Starliner crew capsule is all set for its test flight on Friday, July 30, before attempting to launch astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The space agency's new administrator, Bill Nelson, Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, and Associate Administrator Bob Cabana held a briefing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center ahead of the launch. Happening now: Ahead of the July 30 launch of @BoeingSpace's Orbital Flight Test-2, @Commercial_Crew astronauts and mission experts discuss the #Starliner flight with virtual social guests: https://t.co/qTsZ3f8a3C — NASA (@NASA) July 29, 2021 × All three NASA administrators are former astronauts. They spoke about the significance of the upcoming launch and the future of the space program. NASA and Boeing are targeting launch at 2:53 p.m. EDT with a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. NASA says the five-to-10-day flight test will help prove the Starliner system is ready to carry astronauts to the space station later this year. Also see| Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk? Boeing is eager for another shot at proving its crew capsule after technical failures put the aerospace juggernaut behind Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX, which successfully returned its rival crew capsule from the ISS earlier this month. During Boeing’s first uncrewed test, in December 2019, a series of software glitches and an issue with the spacecraft’s automated timer resulted in Starliner failing to dock at the space station and returning to Earth a week early. In February, a NASA safety review panel found Boeing had narrowly missed a “catastrophic failure” in the botched test, and recommended examining the company’s software verification process before letting it fly humans to space. Earlier this month, Boeing watched from the sidelines as SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico after a two-month voyage to the International Space Station, NASA’s first crewed mission from home soil in nine years. (With inputs from agencies)

Boeing's Starliner crewed mission all set for test flight to International Space Station

NASA&nbsp;on Friday said it had selected&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;to launch a planned voyage to&nbsp;Jupiter's icy&nbsp;moon&nbsp;Europa, a huge win for Elon Musk's company as it sets its sights deeper into the solar system.

The&nbsp;Europa&nbsp;Clipper&nbsp;mission&nbsp;will launch in October 2024 on a Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Center in Florida, with the total contract worth $178 million.

The&nbsp;mission&nbsp;was previously supposed to take off on&nbsp;NASA's own&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Launch System (SLS) rocket, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, with critics calling it a "jobs program" for the state of Alabama where much of the development work is taking place.

While SLS isn't yet operational, Falcon Heavy has deployed on both commercial and government missions since its maiden flight in 2018 when it carried Musk's own Tesla Roadster into&nbsp;space.

It generates more than five million pounds of thrust (22 million Newtons) at liftoff, equal to approximately eighteen 747 aircraft.

The&nbsp;Europa&nbsp;clipper orbiter will make about 40 to 50 close passes over&nbsp;Europa&nbsp;to determine whether the icy&nbsp;moon&nbsp;could harbor conditions suitable for life.

Its payload will include cameras and spectrometers to produce high-resolution images and compositional maps of the surface and atmosphere, as well as radar to penetrate the ice layer to search for liquid water below.

NASA on Friday said it had selected SpaceX to launch a planned voyage to Jupiter's icy moon Europa, a huge win for Elon Musk's company as it sets its sights deeper into the solar system.

NASA on Friday said it had selected SpaceX to launch a planned voyage to Jupiter's icy moon Europa, a huge win for Elon Musk's company as it sets its sights deeper into the solar system. The Europa Clipper mission will launch in October 2024 on a Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the total contract worth $178 million. The mission was previously supposed to take off on NASA's own Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, with critics calling it a "jobs program" for the state of Alabama where much of the development work is taking place. While SLS isn't yet operational, Falcon Heavy has deployed on both commercial and government missions since its maiden flight in 2018 when it carried Musk's own Tesla Roadster into space. It generates more than five million pounds of thrust (22 million Newtons) at liftoff, equal to approximately eighteen 747 aircraft. The Europa clipper orbiter will make about 40 to 50 close passes over Europa to determine whether the icy moon could harbor conditions suitable for life. Its payload will include cameras and spectrometers to produce high-resolution images and compositional maps of the surface and atmosphere, as well as radar to penetrate the ice layer to search for liquid water below.

NASA selects SpaceX for mission to Jupiter moon Europa

Want to become a space tourist? Here is all you need to do

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's&nbsp;company SpaceX has received a warning from the US&nbsp;Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that its environmental review of a new tower at its Boca Chica launch site in Texas is incomplete.

The largest transportation agency of the US government could&nbsp;order SpaceX to take down the tower.

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An FAA spokesman said on Wednesday that the agency's environmental review underway of SpaceX’s proposed rocket assembly "integration tower" is "underway," and added that "the company is building the tower at its own risk."

A letter from the FAA to SpaceX sent on May 6&nbsp;said recent construction activity on one of the two proposed towers "may complicate the ongoing environmental review process for the Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program." The FAA letter said the tower could be as high as 480 feet.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-winning-space-tourism-race-between-bezos-branson-and-musk-396420">Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk?</a>

Based on the environmental review, the FAA could order SpaceX to take down the tower.&nbsp;"It is possible that changes would have to be made at the launch site, including to the integration towers to mitigate significant impacts," the May 6 letter said, adding the FAA learned of the tower's construction "based on publicly available video footage."

SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment but Musk has repeatedly criticized the FAA and the US&nbsp;regulatory system.

SpaceX told the FAA in May that it did not believe the review was necessary because it only intends to use the "integration tower for production, research, and development purposes and not for FAA-licensed or -permitted launches," the FAA said.

But the agency said description in documents "indicates otherwise."

The FAA cited a SpaceX document that the towers would be used to integrate the Starship/Super Heavy launch vehicle. "Super Heavy would be mated to the launch mount, followed by Starship mated to Super Heavy," the FAA letter said quoting SpaceX's May 5 submission.

The FAA and Musk have clashed on several occasions.

On June 29, Musk lamented the delay of the launch of the Transporter-2 mission in Florida. He tweeted "an aircraft entered the ‘keep out zone’, which is unreasonably gigantic. There is simply no way that humanity can become a spacefaring civilization without major regulatory reform."

Earlier this year, the FAA said SpaceX's December launch of Starship SN8 violated its license requirements.

Effective March 12, the FAA began requiring an agency safety inspector at all SpaceX launches to "ensure compliance with federal regulations to protect public safety."

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson spoke with Musk on March 12 for 30 minutes to stress "the FAA’s role in protecting public safety by ensuring regulatory compliance. He made it clear that the FAA expected SpaceX to develop and foster a robust safety culture that stresses adherence to FAA rules," the agency said in April.

(With inputs from agency)

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's company SpaceX has received a warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that its environmental review of a new tower at its Boca Chica launch site in Texas is incomplete.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's company SpaceX has received a warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that its environmental review of a new tower at its Boca Chica launch site in Texas is incomplete. The largest transportation agency of the US government could order SpaceX to take down the tower. An FAA spokesman said on Wednesday that the agency's environmental review underway of SpaceX’s proposed rocket assembly "integration tower" is "underway," and added that "the company is building the tower at its own risk." A letter from the FAA to SpaceX sent on May 6 said recent construction activity on one of the two proposed towers "may complicate the ongoing environmental review process for the Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program." The FAA letter said the tower could be as high as 480 feet. Also see| Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk? Based on the environmental review, the FAA could order SpaceX to take down the tower. "It is possible that changes would have to be made at the launch site, including to the integration towers to mitigate significant impacts," the May 6 letter said, adding the FAA learned of the tower's construction "based on publicly available video footage." SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment but Musk has repeatedly criticized the FAA and the US regulatory system. SpaceX told the FAA in May that it did not believe the review was necessary because it only intends to use the "integration tower for production, research, and development purposes and not for FAA-licensed or -permitted launches," the FAA said. But the agency said description in documents "indicates otherwise." The FAA cited a SpaceX document that the towers would be used to integrate the Starship/Super Heavy launch vehicle. "Super Heavy would be mated to the launch mount, followed by Starship mated to Super Heavy," the FAA letter said quoting SpaceX's May 5 submission. The FAA and Musk have clashed on several occasions. On June 29, Musk lamented the delay of the launch of the Transporter-2 mission in Florida. He tweeted "an aircraft entered the ‘keep out zone’, which is unreasonably gigantic. There is simply no way that humanity can become a spacefaring civilization without major regulatory reform." Earlier this year, the FAA said SpaceX's December launch of Starship SN8 violated its license requirements. Effective March 12, the FAA began requiring an agency safety inspector at all SpaceX launches to "ensure compliance with federal regulations to protect public safety." FAA Administrator Steve Dickson spoke with Musk on March 12 for 30 minutes to stress "the FAA’s role in protecting public safety by ensuring regulatory compliance. He made it clear that the FAA expected SpaceX to develop and foster a robust safety culture that stresses adherence to FAA rules," the agency said in April. (With inputs from agency)

FAA warns SpaceX that massive Starship launch tower in Texas is unapproved

British billionaire&nbsp;Richard Branson's wife&nbsp;Joan Templeman has said that she will not be going to his funeral if he dies on his spaceflight&nbsp;on July 11.

Branson&nbsp;laughed as he quoted his wife telling him: "'If you're foolish enough to do these wonderful things, you can do it, but I won't be going to your funeral.'"

It comes as&nbsp;Virgin Galactic finalises plans for founder Richard Branson to join five others on a test flight to the edge of space.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-winning-space-tourism-race-between-bezos-branson-and-musk-396420">Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk?</a>

Even though&nbsp;Branson's wife may be nervous about the launch but he himself is not the least bit afraid.

Before this weekend's mission on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity, the avowed Star Trek fan attributed his drive and taste for adventure to his mother Eve, who died from Covid in January. &nbsp;

"I've always been a dreamer. My mum taught me to never give up and to reach for the stars," said the London-born 70-year-old.

"I've been looking forward to this for 17 years," Branson said in an interview&nbsp;from Spaceport America near the remote town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

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He said pre-flight preparations only add to the excitement ahead of Sunday's scheduled launch, which will be taking place one week before his 71st birthday.

"Every bit about it is a pinch-me moment," he said.

The launch of Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc's VSS Unity rocket plane over the desert will mark the space tourism company's fourth crewed test mission beyond Earth's atmosphere. But it will be the first to carry a full complement of space travelers, consisting of Branson, two pilots and three mission specialists.

Unity will be launched at an altitude of about 50,000 feet from a Virgin Galactic carrier plane, then soar on its own rocket power to the boundary of space, where the crew will experience about 4 minutes of weightlessness before beginning a descent back to Earth.

The trip is not without the inherent hazards of spaceflight. An earlier prototype of the rocket plane crashed during a 2014 test flight over California's Mojave Desert, killing one pilot and seriously injuring the other.

By joining the flight on July 11, Branson has positioned himself to beat rival entrepreneur Jeff Bezos into space by nine days.

Bezos, founder of the retail giant Amazon.com Inc, will be on board the suborbital flight of the New Shepard spacecraft of his own private rocket company, Blue Origin, on July 20.

Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, along with Elon Musk's SpaceX, are competing head-to-head in the emerging space tourism business.

Branson denied he and Bezos were in a contest to see who would go up first, however.

"I just wish him and people going up with him all the very best. I look forward to talking to him about his ride when he comes back," Branson said of Bezos. "I spoke to him two or three weeks ago, and we both wished each other well."

Success for both ventures is considered key to fostering a burgeoning industry that aims to eventually make space tourism mainstream, at least for high-paying customers.

Virgin has said two additional test flights of its vehicle are planned before the company begins commercial service in 2022, and Branson said he anticipates offering paid flights on a "regular basis" next year.

He also said he was confident there was plenty of room in the market for his venture and Bezos' company to compete.

"Neither of us are going to be able to build enough spaceships to satisfy the demand," Branson said.

(With inputs from agencies)

British billionaire Richard Branson's wife Joan Templeman has said that she will not be going to his funeral if he dies on his spaceflight on July 11. Branson laughed as he quoted his wife telling him: "'If you're foolish enough to do these wonderful things, you can do it, but I won't be going to your funeral.

British billionaire Richard Branson's wife Joan Templeman has said that she will not be going to his funeral if he dies on his spaceflight on July 11. Branson laughed as he quoted his wife telling him: "'If you're foolish enough to do these wonderful things, you can do it, but I won't be going to your funeral.'" It comes as Virgin Galactic finalises plans for founder Richard Branson to join five others on a test flight to the edge of space. Also see| Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk? Even though Branson's wife may be nervous about the launch but he himself is not the least bit afraid. Before this weekend's mission on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity, the avowed Star Trek fan attributed his drive and taste for adventure to his mother Eve, who died from Covid in January. "I've always been a dreamer. My mum taught me to never give up and to reach for the stars," said the London-born 70-year-old. "I've been looking forward to this for 17 years," Branson said in an interview from Spaceport America near the remote town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. He said pre-flight preparations only add to the excitement ahead of Sunday's scheduled launch, which will be taking place one week before his 71st birthday. "Every bit about it is a pinch-me moment," he said. The launch of Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc's VSS Unity rocket plane over the desert will mark the space tourism company's fourth crewed test mission beyond Earth's atmosphere. But it will be the first to carry a full complement of space travelers, consisting of Branson, two pilots and three mission specialists. Unity will be launched at an altitude of about 50,000 feet from a Virgin Galactic carrier plane, then soar on its own rocket power to the boundary of space, where the crew will experience about 4 minutes of weightlessness before beginning a descent back to Earth. The trip is not without the inherent hazards of spaceflight. An earlier prototype of the rocket plane crashed during a 2014 test flight over California's Mojave Desert, killing one pilot and seriously injuring the other. By joining the flight on July 11, Branson has positioned himself to beat rival entrepreneur Jeff Bezos into space by nine days. Bezos, founder of the retail giant Amazon.com Inc, will be on board the suborbital flight of the New Shepard spacecraft of his own private rocket company, Blue Origin, on July 20. Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, along with Elon Musk's SpaceX, are competing head-to-head in the emerging space tourism business. Branson denied he and Bezos were in a contest to see who would go up first, however. "I just wish him and people going up with him all the very best. I look forward to talking to him about his ride when he comes back," Branson said of Bezos. "I spoke to him two or three weeks ago, and we both wished each other well." Success for both ventures is considered key to fostering a burgeoning industry that aims to eventually make space tourism mainstream, at least for high-paying customers. Virgin has said two additional test flights of its vehicle are planned before the company begins commercial service in 2022, and Branson said he anticipates offering paid flights on a "regular basis" next year. He also said he was confident there was plenty of room in the market for his venture and Bezos' company to compete. "Neither of us are going to be able to build enough spaceships to satisfy the demand," Branson said. (With inputs from agencies)

'I won't be going to his funeral': Richard Branson's wife expresses nervousness about his spaceflight

Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk?

British mogul Richard&nbsp;Branson&nbsp;one-upped rival Jeff Bezos on Thursday, announcing&nbsp;that he too will blast beyond Earth's atmosphere&nbsp;nine days ahead of the aspiring billionaire astronaut.

A successful flight by&nbsp;Branson&nbsp;aboard Virgin's VSS Unity spaceplane would mark a key milestone in a race to usher in a new era of private commercial space travel.

It would also mean that&nbsp;Branson&nbsp;would travel beyond Earth's atmosphere ahead of Bezos, the founder of rival space tourism venture Blue Origin.

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Bezos, who founded retail giant Amazon.com Inc, is slated to fly to space on July 20 along with his brother, Mark, trailblazing female pilot Wally Funk and a so-far unidentified person who plunked down $28 million to join the suborbital joyride.

With both tycoons having created space tourism companies and positioned themselves as leaders in the suborbital-flights-for-the-wealthy sector, the move signaled clear if not fierce competition.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/billionaire-richard-bransons-virgin-galactic-gets-approval-to-fly-people-to-space-393952">Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic gets approval to fly people to space</a>

The race, which also includes SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk, is underpinned by optimism that space travel will become mainstream as nascent technology is proven and costs fall, fueling what UBS estimates could be a $3 billion annual tourism market by 2030. Musk has not set a date for his space flight.

"Virgin Galactic stands at the vanguard of a new commercial space industry, which is set to open space to humankind and change the world for good,"&nbsp;Branson&nbsp;said in a statement accompanying Virgin's announcement.

Branson's July 11 mission will be the twenty-second flight test for VSS Unity, and the company's fourth crewed spaceflight, Virgin said.

But it will be the first to carry a full crew of two pilots and four "mission specialists," including&nbsp;Branson.

Two additional test flights are planned before Virgin expects to begin commercial service in 2022, Virgin said.

Apples and oranges

The spacecraft developed by Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are very different, even if the passengers will ultimately have more or less the same experience: a few minutes of weightlessness.

In the case of Virgin Galactic, the spacecraft is not a classic rocket, but rather a carrier airplane that reaches a high altitude and releases a smaller spacecraft, the VSS Unity, that fires its engines and reaches suborbital space, then glides back to earth.

Blue Origin, meanwhile, is more of a classic rocket experience, with a vertical launch after which a capsule will separate from its booster, then spend four minutes at an altitude exceeding 60 miles (100 kilometers), during which time those onboard experience weightlessness and can observe the curvature of Earth.

The booster lands autonomously on a pad two miles from the launch site, and the capsule floats back to the surface with three large parachutes that slow it down to about a mile per hour when it lands.

(With inputs from agencies)

British mogul Richard Branson one-upped rival Jeff Bezos on Thursday, announcing that he too will blast beyond Earth's atmosphere nine days ahead of the aspiring billionaire astronaut.

British mogul Richard Branson one-upped rival Jeff Bezos on Thursday, announcing that he too will blast beyond Earth's atmosphere nine days ahead of the aspiring billionaire astronaut. A successful flight by Branson aboard Virgin's VSS Unity spaceplane would mark a key milestone in a race to usher in a new era of private commercial space travel. It would also mean that Branson would travel beyond Earth's atmosphere ahead of Bezos, the founder of rival space tourism venture Blue Origin. Bezos, who founded retail giant Amazon.com Inc, is slated to fly to space on July 20 along with his brother, Mark, trailblazing female pilot Wally Funk and a so-far unidentified person who plunked down $28 million to join the suborbital joyride. With both tycoons having created space tourism companies and positioned themselves as leaders in the suborbital-flights-for-the-wealthy sector, the move signaled clear if not fierce competition. Also read| Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic gets approval to fly people to space The race, which also includes SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk, is underpinned by optimism that space travel will become mainstream as nascent technology is proven and costs fall, fueling what UBS estimates could be a $3 billion annual tourism market by 2030. Musk has not set a date for his space flight. "Virgin Galactic stands at the vanguard of a new commercial space industry, which is set to open space to humankind and change the world for good," Branson said in a statement accompanying Virgin's announcement. Branson's July 11 mission will be the twenty-second flight test for VSS Unity, and the company's fourth crewed spaceflight, Virgin said. But it will be the first to carry a full crew of two pilots and four "mission specialists," including Branson. Two additional test flights are planned before Virgin expects to begin commercial service in 2022, Virgin said. Apples and oranges The spacecraft developed by Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are very different, even if the passengers will ultimately have more or less the same experience: a few minutes of weightlessness. In the case of Virgin Galactic, the spacecraft is not a classic rocket, but rather a carrier airplane that reaches a high altitude and releases a smaller spacecraft, the VSS Unity, that fires its engines and reaches suborbital space, then glides back to earth. Blue Origin, meanwhile, is more of a classic rocket experience, with a vertical launch after which a capsule will separate from its booster, then spend four minutes at an altitude exceeding 60 miles (100 kilometers), during which time those onboard experience weightlessness and can observe the curvature of Earth. The booster lands autonomously on a pad two miles from the launch site, and the capsule floats back to the surface with three large parachutes that slow it down to about a mile per hour when it lands. (With inputs from agencies)

Space race for billionaires: Richard Branson to make space trip before rival Jeff Bezos

Space tourism company&nbsp;Virgin GalacticOrbit's LauncherOne rocket took seven satellites to orbit after being dropped mid-air from the underside of a modified Boeing 747 nicknamed Cosmic Girl.

The move presents an ideal opportunity for the company to flaunt its ambitions not only to send wealthy tourists on pleasure rides costing $200,000 or more, but also to advance science.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-jeff-bezos-is-going-to-space-393208/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Earlier,&nbsp;the US Federal Aviation Administration&nbsp;approved the first commercial license to take consumers to space for&nbsp;Virgin Galactic.

Virgin Galactic, founded by British billionaire Richard&nbsp;Branson, hopes to begin regular commercial suborbital flights in early 2022, with eventual plans for 400 trips a year.

The flights are far from the classic rocket experience, with a carrier plane taking off from a runway then dropping the spacecraft once in the air, which then ignites its engines.

The company is facing fierce competition in the field of private space exploration from&nbsp;Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Branson, Bezos, and Musk have been investing billions of dollars on their rocket startups.

Virgin Galactic last month completed its first manned space flight from its new homeport in New Mexico in May, as its SpaceShipTwo craft with a capacity of six passengers glided to a landing on a runway safely with its two pilots.

Space tourism company Virgin GalacticOrbit's LauncherOne rocket took seven satellites to orbit after being dropped mid-air from the underside of a modified Boeing 747 nicknamed Cosmic Girl.

Space tourism company Virgin GalacticOrbit's LauncherOne rocket took seven satellites to orbit after being dropped mid-air from the underside of a modified Boeing 747 nicknamed Cosmic Girl. The move presents an ideal opportunity for the company to flaunt its ambitions not only to send wealthy tourists on pleasure rides costing $200,000 or more, but also to advance science. Earlier, the US Federal Aviation Administration approved the first commercial license to take consumers to space for Virgin Galactic. Virgin Galactic, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, hopes to begin regular commercial suborbital flights in early 2022, with eventual plans for 400 trips a year. The flights are far from the classic rocket experience, with a carrier plane taking off from a runway then dropping the spacecraft once in the air, which then ignites its engines. The company is facing fierce competition in the field of private space exploration from Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk's SpaceX. Branson, Bezos, and Musk have been investing billions of dollars on their rocket startups. Virgin Galactic last month completed its first manned space flight from its new homeport in New Mexico in May, as its SpaceShipTwo craft with a capacity of six passengers glided to a landing on a runway safely with its two pilots.

Race to space: Virgin Orbit launches seven satellites in LauncherOne mission

The European Space Agency&nbsp;head Josef Aschbacher has said he&nbsp;hopes to hire and launch the world's first differently abled astronaut and several hundred would-be para-astronauts have already applied for the role.

The 22-member space programme has just closed its latest decennial recruitment call for astronauts and received 22,000 applicants, Aschbacher said.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/billionaire-richard-bransons-virgin-galactic-gets-approval-to-fly-people-to-space-393952" hreflang="en">Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic gets approval to fly people to space</a>

"We would like to launch an astronaut with a disability, which would be the first time ever," the Austrian added. "But I'm also happy for ESA because it shows that space is for everyone, and that's something I'd like to convey."

In releasing the results of a new recruitment drive aimed at more astronaut diversity, the agency acknowledged that it still has work to do on gender balance. Just 24 per cent&nbsp;of the applicants were women, up from 15 per cent&nbsp;at the last hiring drive in 2008.

The European agency has sent only two women into space to date, Claudie Haigneré and Samantha Cristoforetti,&nbsp;but wants that number to grow.

Globally, 65 of the more than 560 people who have explored space were women, most of them Americans.

The ESA, whose Ariane rocket once dominated the market for commercial satellite launches, faces ever stiffer competition from tech-funded upstarts like Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin and Elon Musk's SpaceX.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-jeff-bezos-is-going-to-space-393208/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Amazon founder Bezos hopes next month to become the first man to go into space on his own rocket, highlighting the growing role tech billionaires are playing in a field that was once dominated by public agencies.

"Space is developing extremely fast and if we don't catch up with this train we are left behind," he added, outlining plans to refashion the agency as a more entrepreneurial player ready to work with venture capitalists to help grow European start-ups that could one day rival the Silicon Valley players.

The challenges are immense: the ESA's 7 billion euro budget is a third of NASA's, while its seven or eight launches a year are dwarfed by the 40 carried out by the United States.

Aschbacher, who grew up staring at the stars above his parents' mountain farm in Austria, himself once applied to become an ESA astronaut when he was a student. But what was once a geeky, niche enthusiasm has now become mainstream, he said.

This year's job ad attracted almost three times the 8,000 applications received a decade ago, and a quarter of them were women, up from just 15% before. The ESA has promised to develop technologies to ensure those with disabilities, like shortened legs, play a full part.

And those astronauts will go beyond the International Space Station: some will deploy to the United States's planned Gateway station on the moon, while the ESA's member states are considering an invitation from Chinese and Russian space agencies to participate in their similar moonbase project.

ESA this week signed an agreement with the European Union that will see the 27-nation bloc deepen ties with and increase its funding for the space agency.

As part of the deal, the EU will invest almost 9 billion euros ($10.8 billion) between now and 2027 for ESA programs aimed at boosting economic growth, digitalisation, and environmental protection.

While many ESA members are also part of the EU, some such as Britain are not.

Among the future programs planned are one that will test the use of a satellite-based quantum encryption system for secure communications, and another to monitor space for potential hazardous debris.

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Space Agency head Josef Aschbacher has said he hopes to hire and launch the world's first differently abled astronaut and several hundred would-be para-astronauts have already applied for the role.

The European Space Agency head Josef Aschbacher has said he hopes to hire and launch the world's first differently abled astronaut and several hundred would-be para-astronauts have already applied for the role. The 22-member space programme has just closed its latest decennial recruitment call for astronauts and received 22,000 applicants, Aschbacher said. Also read| Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic gets approval to fly people to space "We would like to launch an astronaut with a disability, which would be the first time ever," the Austrian added. "But I'm also happy for ESA because it shows that space is for everyone, and that's something I'd like to convey." In releasing the results of a new recruitment drive aimed at more astronaut diversity, the agency acknowledged that it still has work to do on gender balance. Just 24 per cent of the applicants were women, up from 15 per cent at the last hiring drive in 2008. The European agency has sent only two women into space to date, Claudie Haigneré and Samantha Cristoforetti, but wants that number to grow. Globally, 65 of the more than 560 people who have explored space were women, most of them Americans. The ESA, whose Ariane rocket once dominated the market for commercial satellite launches, faces ever stiffer competition from tech-funded upstarts like Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin and Elon Musk's SpaceX. Amazon founder Bezos hopes next month to become the first man to go into space on his own rocket, highlighting the growing role tech billionaires are playing in a field that was once dominated by public agencies. "Space is developing extremely fast and if we don't catch up with this train we are left behind," he added, outlining plans to refashion the agency as a more entrepreneurial player ready to work with venture capitalists to help grow European start-ups that could one day rival the Silicon Valley players. The challenges are immense: the ESA's 7 billion euro budget is a third of NASA's, while its seven or eight launches a year are dwarfed by the 40 carried out by the United States. Aschbacher, who grew up staring at the stars above his parents' mountain farm in Austria, himself once applied to become an ESA astronaut when he was a student. But what was once a geeky, niche enthusiasm has now become mainstream, he said. This year's job ad attracted almost three times the 8,000 applications received a decade ago, and a quarter of them were women, up from just 15% before. The ESA has promised to develop technologies to ensure those with disabilities, like shortened legs, play a full part. And those astronauts will go beyond the International Space Station: some will deploy to the United States's planned Gateway station on the moon, while the ESA's member states are considering an invitation from Chinese and Russian space agencies to participate in their similar moonbase project. ESA this week signed an agreement with the European Union that will see the 27-nation bloc deepen ties with and increase its funding for the space agency. As part of the deal, the EU will invest almost 9 billion euros ($10.8 billion) between now and 2027 for ESA programs aimed at boosting economic growth, digitalisation, and environmental protection. While many ESA members are also part of the EU, some such as Britain are not. Among the future programs planned are one that will test the use of a satellite-based quantum encryption system for secure communications, and another to monitor space for potential hazardous debris. (With inputs from agencies)

European Space Agency to hire first differently abled astronaut, more women in step towards inclusivity

After getting approval from the US aviation safety regulator on Friday, billionaire Richard Branson's spaceship company Virgin Galactic can now fly people to space.

The approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) comes at a critical time for Branson as his space venture faces off against Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk's SpaceX.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-jeff-bezos-is-going-to-space-393208/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Branson, Bezos and Musk have been investing billions of dollars on their rocket startups.

Branson, who is reportedly flying to space himself in a bid to beat rival billionaire Bezos to the final frontier, received the green light just a month after a successful test flight.

Virgin Galactic last month completed its first manned space flight from its new home port in New Mexico in May, as its SpaceShipTwo craft with a capacity of six passengers glided to a landing on a runway safely with its two pilots.

"Today's approval by the FAA ... gives us confidence as we proceed toward our first fully crewed test flight this summer," Virgin Galactic Chief Executive Officer Michael Colglazier said in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

After getting approval from the US aviation safety regulator on Friday, billionaire Richard Branson's spaceship company Virgin Galactic can now fly people to space.

After getting approval from the US aviation safety regulator on Friday, billionaire Richard Branson's spaceship company Virgin Galactic can now fly people to space. The approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) comes at a critical time for Branson as his space venture faces off against Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk's SpaceX. Branson, Bezos and Musk have been investing billions of dollars on their rocket startups. Branson, who is reportedly flying to space himself in a bid to beat rival billionaire Bezos to the final frontier, received the green light just a month after a successful test flight. Virgin Galactic last month completed its first manned space flight from its new home port in New Mexico in May, as its SpaceShipTwo craft with a capacity of six passengers glided to a landing on a runway safely with its two pilots. "Today's approval by the FAA ... gives us confidence as we proceed toward our first fully crewed test flight this summer," Virgin Galactic Chief Executive Officer Michael Colglazier said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic gets approval to fly people to space

Starlink, the satellite internet unit of Elon Musk's SpaceX, expects to be able to provide continuous global coverage by around September but will then need to seek regulatory approvals, its president Gwynne Shotwel said on Tuesday. 
 
"We've successfully deployed 1,800 or so satellites and once all those satellites reach their operational orbit, we will have continuous global coverage, so that should be like September timeframe," she told a Macquarie Group technology conference via webcast. 
 
"But then, we have regulatory work to go into every country and get approved to provide telecoms services." 
 
Starlink, which has said it plans to deploy 12,000 satellites in total at a cost of roughly $10 billion, currently offers beta services in 11 countries, Shotwel said. 
 
In May, Musk said the low-Earth orbiting satellite network had received more than 500,000 preorders for its internet service and anticipates no technical problems meeting demand. 
 
The US&nbsp;Federal Communications Commission this year approved SpaceX's plan to deploy some Starlink satellites at a lower earth orbit than planned to provide high-speed broadband internet services to people, who currently lack access. 
 
Starlink is one of a growing number of makers of small satellites that also includes Amazon.com's Kuiper, Britain's OneWeb, venture capital-backed Planet, and Raytheon Technologies Corp's Blue Canyon Technologies. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Starlink, the satellite internet unit of Elon Musk's SpaceX, expects to be able to provide continuous global coverage by around September but will then need to seek regulatory approvals, its president Gwynne Shotwel said on Tuesday.

Starlink, the satellite internet unit of Elon Musk's SpaceX, expects to be able to provide continuous global coverage by around September but will then need to seek regulatory approvals, its president Gwynne Shotwel said on Tuesday. "We've successfully deployed 1,800 or so satellites and once all those satellites reach their operational orbit, we will have continuous global coverage, so that should be like September timeframe," she told a Macquarie Group technology conference via webcast. "But then, we have regulatory work to go into every country and get approved to provide telecoms services." Starlink, which has said it plans to deploy 12,000 satellites in total at a cost of roughly $10 billion, currently offers beta services in 11 countries, Shotwel said. In May, Musk said the low-Earth orbiting satellite network had received more than 500,000 preorders for its internet service and anticipates no technical problems meeting demand. The US Federal Communications Commission this year approved SpaceX's plan to deploy some Starlink satellites at a lower earth orbit than planned to provide high-speed broadband internet services to people, who currently lack access. Starlink is one of a growing number of makers of small satellites that also includes Amazon.com's Kuiper, Britain's OneWeb, venture capital-backed Planet, and Raytheon Technologies Corp's Blue Canyon Technologies. (With inputs from agencies)

SpaceX's satellite internet unit Starlink expects it can provide global coverage around September

Spacewalking astronauts ventured out on&nbsp;the International Space Station with powerful, new solar panels to handle the growing electrical demands from upcoming visitors.

It's the first of a series of spacewalks to equip the aging orbital outpost with smaller but stronger solar wings. The electrical boost is needed to accommodate the paying passengers expected to drop by, beginning with a Russian film crew this fall.

NASA put extra safety precautions in place as French astronaut Thomas Pesquet and US astronaut Shane Kimbrough worked on the station's primary power grid, to avoid an electrical shock.

The duo had to conduct the most hazardous parts of the spacewalk on the nighttime side of Earth, to prevent the station's old solar panels from soaking up sunlight and generating power. Metal surfaces on their spacesuits were covered to avoid any contact.

Launched by SpaceX earlier this month, the first of these new solar panels was going to be installed alongside the station's oldest electricity-producing wings, in continuous operation for more than 20 years.

The astronauts had to lug the folded-up solar wing which 10 feet long, by 4 feet wide, and 2 1/2 feet thick&nbsp;to the worksite on the far left end of the station.

Once anchored in place, the solar panel was designed to roll out like a red carpet. It was expected to take six minutes to extend to its full 63 feet in length.

Pesquet and Kimbrough will go back out Sunday to install a second solar panel. Four more will be launched to re-energise the space station.

NASA wants to keep the space station churning out science research through this decade, and space tourists will further tax the power system. A Russian movie director and actress are due to visit in October for filming, followed by wealthy entrepreneurs launching from Kazakhstan and Cape Canaveral as part of a push to open up the private space market.

NASA's space station program manager Joel Montalbano said these visitors will undergo a rigorous training before liftoff.

Spacewalking astronauts ventured out on the International Space Station with powerful, new solar panels to handle the growing electrical demands from upcoming visitors.

Spacewalking astronauts ventured out on the International Space Station with powerful, new solar panels to handle the growing electrical demands from upcoming visitors. It's the first of a series of spacewalks to equip the aging orbital outpost with smaller but stronger solar wings. The electrical boost is needed to accommodate the paying passengers expected to drop by, beginning with a Russian film crew this fall. NASA put extra safety precautions in place as French astronaut Thomas Pesquet and US astronaut Shane Kimbrough worked on the station's primary power grid, to avoid an electrical shock. The duo had to conduct the most hazardous parts of the spacewalk on the nighttime side of Earth, to prevent the station's old solar panels from soaking up sunlight and generating power. Metal surfaces on their spacesuits were covered to avoid any contact. Launched by SpaceX earlier this month, the first of these new solar panels was going to be installed alongside the station's oldest electricity-producing wings, in continuous operation for more than 20 years. The astronauts had to lug the folded-up solar wing which 10 feet long, by 4 feet wide, and 2 1/2 feet thick to the worksite on the far left end of the station. Once anchored in place, the solar panel was designed to roll out like a red carpet. It was expected to take six minutes to extend to its full 63 feet in length. Pesquet and Kimbrough will go back out Sunday to install a second solar panel. Four more will be launched to re-energise the space station. NASA wants to keep the space station churning out science research through this decade, and space tourists will further tax the power system. A Russian movie director and actress are due to visit in October for filming, followed by wealthy entrepreneurs launching from Kazakhstan and Cape Canaveral as part of a push to open up the private space market. NASA's space station program manager Joel Montalbano said these visitors will undergo a rigorous training before liftoff.

Astronauts spacewalk on International Space Station to boost its solar power

A&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;rocket took off Thursday for the International Space Station carrying supplies for scientific experiments, including some surprising passengers -- squids and virtually indestructible microorganisms called tardigrades.

The rocket, leased by NASA, launched from Florida at 1:29 pm local time (1729 GMT). The Dragon capsule detached from the Falcon 9 rocket about 12 minutes after take-off and is scheduled to dock at the ISS on Saturday.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/spacex-names-two-citizen-astronauts-for-first-all-civilian-spaceflight-374511">SpaceX names two citizen astronauts for first all-civilian spaceflight</a>

Young specimens of the species Euprymna scolopes, known as bobtail squid, are on board for the trip, so scientists can study the effect of zero gravity on the interactions between bacteria and their host organisms.

Some of the squids will be exposed to bacteria once onboard the ISS, while others will be left alone. After 12 hours, the specimens are preserved until their return to Earth, where they will be studied.

"Animals, including humans, rely on our microbes to maintain a healthy digestive and immune system," said Jamie Foster, the principal investigator in the experiment, in a statement. "We do not fully understand how spaceflight alters these beneficial interactions."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/spacex-to-take-4-astronauts-to-international-space-station-on-thursday-378756">SpaceX to take 4 astronauts to International Space Station on Thursday</a>

The experiment could help scientists in the future to develop techniques to protect the health of astronauts participating in long-duration missions in space.

Also on board the&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;rocket will be tardigrades, also known as "water bears",&nbsp;microscopic organisms that can withstand extreme radiation, sizzling heat, the coldest temperatures of the universe and decades without food.

The grub-like, eight-legged animals can come back from being dried out to a lifeless husk for decades, withstand near-zero pressure in outer space and the crushing depths of the Mariana Trench.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/spacex-announces-first-commercial-astronaut-mission-to-orbit-earth-360776">SpaceX announces first commercial astronaut mission to orbit Earth</a>

An Israeli probe that was later revealed to be carrying tardigrades crash-landed on the Moon in 2019, and if they survived the explosion, scientists think they might still be alive today, though no rescue mission is currently planned to bring them home.

"Spaceflight can be a really challenging environment for organisms, including humans, who have evolved to the conditions on Earth," said scientist Thomas Boothby.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/fly-my-pretties-elon-musk-tweets-after-spacex-launches-falcon-9-for-ninth-time-370430">'Fly my pretties': Elon Musk tweets after SpaceX launches Falcon 9 for ninth time</a>

"One of the things we are really keen to do is understand how tardigrades are surviving and reproducing in these environments and whether we can learn anything about the tricks that they are using and adapt them to safeguard astronauts."

The rocket will also carry cotton, a portable ultrasound device and a miniaturized human kidney to study the formation of kidney stones that tend to afflict astronauts in microgravity.

A SpaceX rocket took off Thursday for the International Space Station carrying supplies for scientific experiments, including some surprising passengers -- squids and virtually indestructible microorganisms called tardigrades.

A SpaceX rocket took off Thursday for the International Space Station carrying supplies for scientific experiments, including some surprising passengers -- squids and virtually indestructible microorganisms called tardigrades. The rocket, leased by NASA, launched from Florida at 1:29 pm local time (1729 GMT). The Dragon capsule detached from the Falcon 9 rocket about 12 minutes after take-off and is scheduled to dock at the ISS on Saturday. Also Read | SpaceX names two citizen astronauts for first all-civilian spaceflight Young specimens of the species Euprymna scolopes, known as bobtail squid, are on board for the trip, so scientists can study the effect of zero gravity on the interactions between bacteria and their host organisms. Some of the squids will be exposed to bacteria once onboard the ISS, while others will be left alone. After 12 hours, the specimens are preserved until their return to Earth, where they will be studied. "Animals, including humans, rely on our microbes to maintain a healthy digestive and immune system," said Jamie Foster, the principal investigator in the experiment, in a statement. "We do not fully understand how spaceflight alters these beneficial interactions." Also Read | SpaceX to take 4 astronauts to International Space Station on Thursday The experiment could help scientists in the future to develop techniques to protect the health of astronauts participating in long-duration missions in space. Also on board the SpaceX rocket will be tardigrades, also known as "water bears", microscopic organisms that can withstand extreme radiation, sizzling heat, the coldest temperatures of the universe and decades without food. The grub-like, eight-legged animals can come back from being dried out to a lifeless husk for decades, withstand near-zero pressure in outer space and the crushing depths of the Mariana Trench. Also Read | SpaceX announces first commercial astronaut mission to orbit Earth An Israeli probe that was later revealed to be carrying tardigrades crash-landed on the Moon in 2019, and if they survived the explosion, scientists think they might still be alive today, though no rescue mission is currently planned to bring them home. "Spaceflight can be a really challenging environment for organisms, including humans, who have evolved to the conditions on Earth," said scientist Thomas Boothby. Also Read | 'Fly my pretties': Elon Musk tweets after SpaceX launches Falcon 9 for ninth time "One of the things we are really keen to do is understand how tardigrades are surviving and reproducing in these environments and whether we can learn anything about the tricks that they are using and adapt them to safeguard astronauts." The rocket will also carry cotton, a portable ultrasound device and a miniaturized human kidney to study the formation of kidney stones that tend to afflict astronauts in microgravity.

One small step for cephalopods: SpaceX carrying research squids to International Space Station

Elon Musk-run SpaceX`s first ocean spaceport for the Starship launch vehicle could be ready as soon as next year, the CEO has revealed. 
 
Musk said Deimos, as the spaceport is called, is currently under construction and that the company could use it to host rocket launches in 2022 in a reply to a render of the structure a fan posted on the social network. 
 
"Ocean spaceport Deimos is under construction for launch next year," Musk wrote on Twitter. 
 
The private space corporation purchased two oil rigs last year to transform them into launch pads and landing sites for its next-generation vehicle meant for trips to the Moon and Mars, Engadget reported on Tuesday. 
 
They are appropriately named after the two moons of the red planet -- Phobos and Deimos. 
 
According to NASA Spaceflight, SpaceX moved Phobos to Pascagoula, Mississippi from the Port of Galveston earlier this year so it can be refitted for Starship operations. 
 
Meanwhile, Deimos is under construction at the Port of Brownsville in Texas. 
 
As TechCrunch has mentioned, Musk previously said that one of the two may be operational by the end of 2021. 
 
The executive tends to be a bit optimistic with timelines, though, and it looks like this is one of those times, the report said. 
 
If SpaceX succeeds in getting Deimos ready for launches next year, it`ll be the first in what could be multiple floating spaceports around the world where the Starship can launch from, it added.

Elon Musk-run SpaceX`s first ocean spaceport for the Starship launch vehicle could be ready as soon as next year, the CEO has revealed. Musk said Deimos, as the spaceport is called, is currently under construction and that the company could use it to host rocket launches in 2022 in a reply to a render of the structure a fan posted on the social network.

Elon Musk-run SpaceX`s first ocean spaceport for the Starship launch vehicle could be ready as soon as next year, the CEO has revealed. Musk said Deimos, as the spaceport is called, is currently under construction and that the company could use it to host rocket launches in 2022 in a reply to a render of the structure a fan posted on the social network. "Ocean spaceport Deimos is under construction for launch next year," Musk wrote on Twitter. The private space corporation purchased two oil rigs last year to transform them into launch pads and landing sites for its next-generation vehicle meant for trips to the Moon and Mars, Engadget reported on Tuesday. They are appropriately named after the two moons of the red planet -- Phobos and Deimos. According to NASA Spaceflight, SpaceX moved Phobos to Pascagoula, Mississippi from the Port of Galveston earlier this year so it can be refitted for Starship operations. Meanwhile, Deimos is under construction at the Port of Brownsville in Texas. As TechCrunch has mentioned, Musk previously said that one of the two may be operational by the end of 2021. The executive tends to be a bit optimistic with timelines, though, and it looks like this is one of those times, the report said. If SpaceX succeeds in getting Deimos ready for launches next year, it`ll be the first in what could be multiple floating spaceports around the world where the Starship can launch from, it added.

SpaceX may launch rockets from ocean spaceport by next year: Report

Blue Origin, billionaire Jeff Bezos' rocket company, disclosed $2 million as the current highest bid for a seat on its New Shepherd spacecraft after the startup closed the first phase of its auction.

The second phase of the auction is underway and will last until June 10. The process will conclude in a final phase on June 12 with a live online auction.&nbsp;

The rocket company is targeting July 20 for its first suborbital sightseeing trip on its spacecraft, a landmark moment in a competition to usher in a new era of private commercial space travel.

The New Shepard rocket-and-capsule combo is designed to autonomously fly six passengers more than 62 miles (100 km) above Earth into suborbital space.

Blue Origin has been&nbsp;planning to charge passengers at least $200,000 for the ride, based on an appraisal of rival plans from billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc and other considerations, though its thinking may have changed.

Blue Origin has fallen far behind Elon Musk's SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) on orbital transportation, losing out on billions of dollars' worth of US&nbsp;national security launch contracts that begin in 2022.

These rocket startups mainly aim to send satellites for clients into orbit at an affordable price and reuse parts of rockets to keep costs in check.

Blue Origin, billionaire Jeff Bezos' rocket company, disclosed $2 million as the current highest bid for a seat on its New Shepherd spacecraft after the startup closed the first phase of its auction.

Blue Origin, billionaire Jeff Bezos' rocket company, disclosed $2 million as the current highest bid for a seat on its New Shepherd spacecraft after the startup closed the first phase of its auction. The second phase of the auction is underway and will last until June 10. The process will conclude in a final phase on June 12 with a live online auction. The rocket company is targeting July 20 for its first suborbital sightseeing trip on its spacecraft, a landmark moment in a competition to usher in a new era of private commercial space travel. The New Shepard rocket-and-capsule combo is designed to autonomously fly six passengers more than 62 miles (100 km) above Earth into suborbital space. Blue Origin has been planning to charge passengers at least $200,000 for the ride, based on an appraisal of rival plans from billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc and other considerations, though its thinking may have changed. Blue Origin has fallen far behind Elon Musk's SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) on orbital transportation, losing out on billions of dollars' worth of US national security launch contracts that begin in 2022. These rocket startups mainly aim to send satellites for clients into orbit at an affordable price and reuse parts of rockets to keep costs in check.

Blue Origin reveals highest bid for a seat on its first human spaceflight

Russia&nbsp;said Thursday it would send an actress and a director to space to make the first feature film in the cosmos.

Moscow is seeking to boost its embattled space programme, which has stagnated since the Soviet Union under corruption and been overtaken by US tech billionaire Elon Musk's company SpaceX.

The Russian space agency announced the film project Thursday after NASA confirmed last year it was teaming up with US actor Tom Cruise to make a movie on the ISS.

The Russian "space drama", whose working title is "Challenge," will feature popular Russian actress&nbsp;Yulia Peresild, 36, and Klim Shipenko, a 37-year-old director and actor, Roscosmos said.

They will have to undergo training, including tests on a centrifuge and flights in zero gravity, starting no later than June 1.

The film is being co-produced by the flamboyant head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, and state-run network Channel One.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/japanese-billionaire-entrepreneur-yusaku-maezawa-to-travel-to-international-space-station-384793" hreflang="en">Japanese billionaire entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa to travel to International Space Station</a>

The space agency also announced plans to take Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to the ISS in December, resurecting its space tourism programme in the face of US competition.

Maezawa, 45, who made his fortune in online retail, said he planned to document the mission and share it with the world on his YouTube channel with over 700,000 subscribers.

Roscosmos said Maezawa would make the flight from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with production assistant Yozo Hirano aboard a Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft that is scheduled for December 8.

"I'm so curious 'What's life like in space?' So, I am planning to find out on my own and share with the world on my YouTube channel," Maezawa was quoted as saying by Roscosmos.

The eccentric billionaire has previously announced plans to take eight people with him on a 2023 mission around the moon aboard a Starship spacecraft built by Musk's SpaceX.

Maezawa and film producer Hirano will begin approximately three months of pre-flight training in June at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City outside of Moscow, Roscosmos added.

They have already passed the required medical examinations, it said.

Roscosmos said the flight will last 12 days and the crew will be led by Cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, who has already been on two missions to the ISS.

A total of eight private self-funded space travellers have visited the ISS and Maezawa will be the first from Japan.

His flight will also be the first time that two of the three spots on a Soyuz space rocket will be occupied by tourists.

"We are excited for Maezawa-san and we are honoured to have enabled this opportunity for him to fly to space," said Eric Anderson, CEO of Space Adventures, a private spaceflight company.

It has cooperated with Roscosmos since the first space tourist flight in 2001.&nbsp;

Maezawa will be the first space tourist to travel to the ISS since 2009 when Canadian Guy Laliberte, co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, travelled to the station.

According to Forbes magazine, space tourists could pay anywhere between $20 million and $35 million per person for 8-12 days in space.&nbsp;The cost of Maezawa's flight has not been disclosed.

The resumption of tourist flights comes after Roscosmos lost its monopoly on ferrying crews to the ISS when a reusable SpaceX rocket last year successfully delivered NASA astronauts to space.

Russia's space industry has suffered a number of setbacks in recent years, from corruption scandals to lost spacecraft to an aborted take-off during a manned mission in 2018.

Russia's ageing Soyuz rockets are reliable and allow Moscow to remain relevant in the modern space industry, but the country is struggling to innovate and keep up with other key players.&nbsp;

Russia&nbsp;launched the first artificial satellite on October 4, 1957. The Soviets maintained their lead in the initial years of the race.&nbsp;

They boasted the first manned flight to space by Gagarin on April 12, 1961, the first spacewalk four years later by Alexei Leonov and the first lunar probe in 1966. But the United States beat them to the moon with the first manned landing in 1969.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia said Thursday it would send an actress and a director to space to make the first feature film in the cosmos. Moscow is seeking to boost its embattled space programme, which has stagnated since the Soviet Union under corruption and been overtaken by US tech billionaire Elon Musk's company SpaceX.

Russia said Thursday it would send an actress and a director to space to make the first feature film in the cosmos. Moscow is seeking to boost its embattled space programme, which has stagnated since the Soviet Union under corruption and been overtaken by US tech billionaire Elon Musk's company SpaceX. The Russian space agency announced the film project Thursday after NASA confirmed last year it was teaming up with US actor Tom Cruise to make a movie on the ISS. The Russian "space drama", whose working title is "Challenge," will feature popular Russian actress Yulia Peresild, 36, and Klim Shipenko, a 37-year-old director and actor, Roscosmos said. They will have to undergo training, including tests on a centrifuge and flights in zero gravity, starting no later than June 1. The film is being co-produced by the flamboyant head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, and state-run network Channel One. Also read| Japanese billionaire entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa to travel to International Space Station The space agency also announced plans to take Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to the ISS in December, resurecting its space tourism programme in the face of US competition. Maezawa, 45, who made his fortune in online retail, said he planned to document the mission and share it with the world on his YouTube channel with over 700,000 subscribers. Roscosmos said Maezawa would make the flight from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with production assistant Yozo Hirano aboard a Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft that is scheduled for December 8. "I'm so curious 'What's life like in space?' So, I am planning to find out on my own and share with the world on my YouTube channel," Maezawa was quoted as saying by Roscosmos. The eccentric billionaire has previously announced plans to take eight people with him on a 2023 mission around the moon aboard a Starship spacecraft built by Musk's SpaceX. Maezawa and film producer Hirano will begin approximately three months of pre-flight training in June at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City outside of Moscow, Roscosmos added. They have already passed the required medical examinations, it said. Roscosmos said the flight will last 12 days and the crew will be led by Cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, who has already been on two missions to the ISS. A total of eight private self-funded space travellers have visited the ISS and Maezawa will be the first from Japan. His flight will also be the first time that two of the three spots on a Soyuz space rocket will be occupied by tourists. "We are excited for Maezawa-san and we are honoured to have enabled this opportunity for him to fly to space," said Eric Anderson, CEO of Space Adventures, a private spaceflight company. It has cooperated with Roscosmos since the first space tourist flight in 2001. Maezawa will be the first space tourist to travel to the ISS since 2009 when Canadian Guy Laliberte, co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, travelled to the station. According to Forbes magazine, space tourists could pay anywhere between $20 million and $35 million per person for 8-12 days in space. The cost of Maezawa's flight has not been disclosed. The resumption of tourist flights comes after Roscosmos lost its monopoly on ferrying crews to the ISS when a reusable SpaceX rocket last year successfully delivered NASA astronauts to space. Russia's space industry has suffered a number of setbacks in recent years, from corruption scandals to lost spacecraft to an aborted take-off during a manned mission in 2018. Russia's ageing Soyuz rockets are reliable and allow Moscow to remain relevant in the modern space industry, but the country is struggling to innovate and keep up with other key players. Russia launched the first artificial satellite on October 4, 1957. The Soviets maintained their lead in the initial years of the race. They boasted the first manned flight to space by Gagarin on April 12, 1961, the first spacewalk four years later by Alexei Leonov and the first lunar probe in 1966. But the United States beat them to the moon with the first manned landing in 1969. (With inputs from agencies)

Roscosmos to send film crew to space for first feature film

Elon Musk's SpaceX announced Thursday that Google would team up with its Starlink satellite internet service to deliver cloud computing services to business customers.

Under the partnership, SpaceX will place its Starlink ground stations within Google data center properties, which can help the service support businesses requiring cloud-based applications.

Starlink is in the process of launching its satellite broadband internet service, which can reach customers without ground-based connections and is one of several space-based systems.

"Combining Starlink's high-speed, low-latency broadband with Google's infrastructure and capabilities provides global organizations with the secure and fast connection that modern organizations expect," said SpaceX president and chief operating officer&nbsp;Gwynne Shotwell.&nbsp;

"We are proud to work with Google to deliver this access to businesses, public sector organizations, and many other groups operating around the world."

Urs Hoelzle, senior vice president at Google Cloud, said the tie-up would help ensure "that organisations with distributed footprints have seamless, secure, and fast access to the critical applications and services they need to keep their teams up and running."

This new capability for enterprise customers is expected to be available in the second half of 2021, the companies said in a joint statement.

SpaceX is seeking regulatory approval for broadband service for both consumers and businesses around the world from thousands of satellites.

(With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk's SpaceX announced Thursday that Google would team up with its Starlink satellite internet service to deliver cloud computing services to business customers.

Elon Musk's SpaceX announced Thursday that Google would team up with its Starlink satellite internet service to deliver cloud computing services to business customers. Under the partnership, SpaceX will place its Starlink ground stations within Google data center properties, which can help the service support businesses requiring cloud-based applications. Starlink is in the process of launching its satellite broadband internet service, which can reach customers without ground-based connections and is one of several space-based systems. "Combining Starlink's high-speed, low-latency broadband with Google's infrastructure and capabilities provides global organizations with the secure and fast connection that modern organizations expect," said SpaceX president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell. "We are proud to work with Google to deliver this access to businesses, public sector organizations, and many other groups operating around the world." Urs Hoelzle, senior vice president at Google Cloud, said the tie-up would help ensure "that organisations with distributed footprints have seamless, secure, and fast access to the critical applications and services they need to keep their teams up and running." This new capability for enterprise customers is expected to be available in the second half of 2021, the companies said in a joint statement. SpaceX is seeking regulatory approval for broadband service for both consumers and businesses around the world from thousands of satellites. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk's SpaceX signs deal with Google Cloud for satellite broadband

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