Forty years ago, the
space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff. Seven
astronauts were killed, including teacher-in-space Christa McAuliffe. It
was a devastating blow to the U.S. space program and a national tragedy
for the country. In the days after the explosion, the search for
answers began. Two NPR reporters, Howard Berkes and Daniel Zwerdling,
focused their reporting on the engineers who managed Challenger’s
booster rockets. On February 20, 1986, Berkes and Zwerdling broke a
major story, providing the first details of a last-minute effort by
those engineers to stop NASA from launching Challenger.
In
this special NPR documentary, Howard Berkes unfolds an investigation
spanning forty years, from those desperate efforts in 1986 to delay the
launch, to decades of crushing guilt for some of the engineers, and to
the lessons learned that are as critical as ever as NASA’s budget and
workforce shrink.
Viewers are airing out their frustration with season 5 of Stranger Things by review-bombing the show — specifically Will’s coming out episode.
Part 2 of the fifth and final season premiered on Thursday, December 25, with “The Bridge” showing Will (Noah Schnapp) discussing his sexuality with his loved ones before the group went off to take down the show’s biggest villain, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).
“I haven’t told any of you this because I don’t want you to see me differently, but the truth is I am different. I just pretended like I wasn’t because I didn’t wanna be,” Will told the group. “I wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted to be like my friends, and I am like you. I’m like you in almost every way.”
He continued: “We like Milk Duds in our popcorn with extra butter, and we like drinking Coke with Pop Rocks, and we like bike races and trading comics and NASA and Steve Martin and Lucky Charms and literally all the same things. I just — I don’t like girls.”
Will hinted that he “had this crush on someone” even though he knew “they’re not like” him, which viewers knew as a reference to his feelings for Mike (Finn Wolfhard).
In the days after the emotional episode aired, the score for the season on fan-driven Rotten Tomatoes went from the 70s down to 56 percent. Past seasons of the show have received mostly high 90s or 89 percent as the lowest score from viewers.
NETFLIX
A campaign was also launched against the penultimate episode specifically, with IMDb ranking “The Bridge” as the show’s lowest-rated episode with a score of 5.4 out of 10 based on user response. More than 96,000 users reviewed “The Bridge” compared to other episodes this season, which have been rated by fewer than 50,000 people.
Review-bombing is a tactic previously used by disgruntled fans who have targeted shows such as Star Wars: The Acolyte, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Bridgerton and more following attempts to be more inclusive on screen. Cast members of said shows have spoken out about receiving an onslaught of racist, sexist and homophobic comments on social media as a side effect of review-bombing.
Other Stranger Things fans, however, have criticized this half of season 5 for how it has wrapped up the show’s biggest story lines so far. Will’s big moment, meanwhile, has been years in the making, with the character playing a pivotal role since the show premiered in 2016.
The character appeared largely offscreen until he escaped from the Upside Down at the end of season 1. Will struggled to return to his normal life as things around him changed and the monsters from the Upside Down returned. Discussion around Will’s sexuality came to light during season 3, when he got in a fight with Mike.
“I feel like [creators Ross and Matt Duffer] never really address it or blatantly say how Will is,” he told Variety in 2022. “I think that’s the beauty of it, that it’s just up to the audience’s interpretation, if it’s Will kind of just refusing to grow up and growing up slower than his friends, or if he is really gay.”
The actor praised the way Stranger Things allowed Will to explore his feelings toward romance. “I find that people do reach to put a label on him and just want to know, so badly, like, ‘Oh, and this is it.’ He’s just confused and growing up. And that’s what it is to be a kid,” Schnapp added.
His costar Millie Bobby Brown also applauded the show’s approach to Will’s story through the years. “Can I just say, it’s 2022 and we don’t have to label things. I think what’s really nice about Will’s character is that he’s just a human being going through his own personal demons and issues,” she shared during the joint interview. “So many kids out there don’t know, and that’s OK. That’s OK to not know. And that’s OK not to label things.”
She continued: “It’s such an amazing role for Noah to play. And to be that role model for kids out there who don’t know what they’re going through growing up.”
KAMPALA , Uganda, 23 October 2025 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- A group of 48 landslide survivors are appearing once again before the Mbale High Court today in Uganda, just weeks before the heaviest rain season could threaten to bring similar disasters to the area.
Following a landslide in December 2019 that killed dozens in the Bududa district of eastern Uganda, survivors took legal action in 2020 with the support of Ugandan NGO Greenwatch and Kakuru & Co Advocates.
They argued that by failing to establish effective disaster management in Bududa, the government was in breach of the Constitution and other existing laws. [1]
The survivors have demanded emergency systems be put into place in high-risk areas, and that families who lost loved ones receive financial compensation.
The case – stalled for five years due to a procedural technicality – is now back in court, just a year after a similar landslide killed dozens in the neighboring Bulambuli District. [2]
If the judge allows the case to proceed, then the Mbale High Court will begin to examine the case in detail and deal with its core arguments.
Greenwatch Director Samantha Atukunda Kakuru Mwesigwa said:
“Almost five years after the launch of this case, these claimants have not wavered in their fight for justice – and we are proud to stand by them today in court.
“And during this painstaking wait, similar disasters have hit nearby areas – such as the devastating landslide last year in Bulambuli.
“Without the right finance and adaptation measures in place, every town and village in the eastern part of Uganda lives with the fear that tragedy could strike at any moment.
“That’s why these claimants’ case has never been more important. Heavier rainfall wreaks and will continue to wreak havoc in the region – and we are hoping the court gives this case its long-awaited green light to proceed to the next stage.”
Background to the case
Recurrent landslides are an ever-present threat in eastern Uganda, particularly during the rainier months between November and January.
They’ve been happening for decades and have been worsening over time – which is partially due to increased rainfall caused by climate change. [3]
In order to address the growing danger communities in landslide-prone areas face, the Ugandan Government adopted a resettlement plan in 2010. They intended to relocate all those who might be impacted by landslides within 10 years.
However, little progress has been made to date, and only a limited number of people who want to relocate have had the process seen through.
Residents in Bududa, who are primarily subsistence farmers, are also strongly concerned about the suitability of the relocation scheme – particularly when it comes to finding a place to grow and produce food.
All the while, landslides have continued to hit the region. Most recently in Bulambuli, 15 people were killed by a heavy-rainfall-induced landslide – with a further 113 people reported missing by local authorities.
40 houses were swept away by the disaster and the military was deployed to help assist with search and recovery efforts in the aftermath. [4]
Beyond Uganda, climate change-fueled landslides are becoming an increasing risk across the African continent. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding in Sudan reportedly killed hundreds last month, compounding an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country. [5]
And according to UNICEF, almost one million people across Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania and Somalia were affected in May 2024 by ongoing flooding and landslides. [6]
More information on the relationship between climate change and increased landslide risk can be found in the Scientific American piece titled “the Landslide Lurking in Your Backyard”.
The claimants’ case argues that in addition to violating the Constitution of Uganda, the Ugandan government is in breach of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Human Rights Enforcement Act 2019, the Judicature Act and existing case law.
After its 2020 filing, the High Court of Uganda at Mbale initially dismissed the case on technical grounds in August 2024 and did not engage with the substance of the claimants’ arguments.
More information on how climate change impacts precipitation is available on NASA’s global precipitation measurement website.
More information on the November 2024 Bulambuli district landslide is available here.
More information on the September 2025 landslides is available here.
Further reading on the impact of flooding and landslides in Eastern Africa is available on UNICEF’s website.
Israel’s government is considering expanding the war in Gaza despite a growing chorus of voices in Israel calling for an immediate end to the war, Texas Republicans are threatening to arrest Democratic lawmakers unless they return to the statehouse for a redistricting vote, and the Trump administration has plans to end two satellite missions that measure carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Hannah Bloch, Larry Kaplow, Neela Bannerjee, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Damian Herring. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
Nearly 150,000km² of seafloor surveyed across the Mozambique Channel, Madagascar Ridge, Agulhas Plateau, and Cabo Verde
69 scientists from 31 countries and 29 institutions successfully conducted deep-sea dives, geological and biodiversity sampling, and oceanographic research in seven key regions around the African coastline
306 students, educators, and early-career professionals from across Africa and the world engaged through training, outreach, and capacity sharing initiatives on the OceanXplorer research vessel
Early Career Explorers Aghogho Kolawole-Daniles and Omaima Mouiret working on their independent research in the DNA lab on OceanXplorer off the coast of West Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 9th May 2025 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – A transformational joint exploration led by OceanX and OceanQuest has officially concluded the ‘Around Africa Expedition’, a major ocean research and capacity-sharing mission advancing deep-sea research, oceanographic mapping, and scientific collaboration across Africa’s coastal waters.
The expedition navigated critical marine regions, starting from Moroni (Comoros Archipelago) and navigating through the Mozambique Channel, the southern Madagascar Ridge (Walters Shoal), Agulhas Plateau (Africana Seamount), Cape Town (South Africa), the Benguela Current System in the southeastern Atlantic, Walvis Bay (Namibia), Mindelo and the Nola Seamounts in Cabo Verde, and ending in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands (Spain).
Conducted between January and April, the expedition delivered significant insights and new valuable data about Africa’s marine ecosystems, surveyed vast areas of previously unexplored seafloor, and strengthened Africa’s leadership in ocean science through international collaboration and capacity sharing.
Scientists handle a sample from the sub in the wet lab
Expedition Scope and Key Achievements
Researchers conducted extensive fieldwork including remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives, oceanographic sampling, biodiversity surveys, and high-resolution seafloor mapping, unlocking new insights into Africa’s marine ecosystems.
OceanXplorer, the expedition’s advanced research vessel, completed eight ROV dives, totalling 21 hours underwater, including the first-ever visual surveys of the deep flanks of Walters Shoal and a newly mapped seamount at the southern Madagascar Ridge, as well as the Nola seamounts off Cabo Verde. Submersibles Neptune and Nadir executed nine dives, collecting 41 biological and geological samples across 32 hours of deep-sea exploration.
In total, nearly 150,000km² of seafloor was mapped across regions including the Madagascar Ridge, Agulhas Plateau, and Cabo Verde’s Nola Seamounts, providing vital data for deep ocean science and discovery, marine spatial planning, and conservation opportunities. “This is not just a scientific achievement, but a continental one,” says Vincent Pieribone, co-CEO and Chief Science Officer for OceanX. “The knowledge gained here belongs to Africa and will benefit research and scientific communities for generations to come.”
Group photo of the Young Explorers and OceanX Crew on the OceanXplorer, off the Coast of Southern Africa
Key Findings During the ‘Around Africa Expedition’
Two segments of the expedition were dedicated to deep-sea missions, designed to advance the understanding of the biological, geological, and oceanographic processes shaping the seafloor and ecosystems of the Southwest Indian Ocean and the eastern Atlantic. By investigating remote seamounts, surveying deep habitats, and analysing ocean dynamics, the teams generated critical baseline data to support marine conservation, sustainable resource management, and adaptation to climate change impacts.
As African nations increasingly recognise the critical importance of healthy ocean ecosystems for economic development, environmental security, this research provides essential knowledge and tools to inform more sustainable marine governance across the continent.
Key outcomes included:
The high-resolution mapping of seamounts and the surrounding seafloor, vital for fisheries, biodiversity, and habitat protection
Detailed analysis of ocean currents to better understand regional climate patterns
Analysis of marine microbes and aerosols, which play key roles in ocean food chains, carbon storage, and climate regulation, contributing critical data to global ocean health research
“The opportunity to conduct deep-sea research alongside an international team, with African scientists leading key legs, was a turning point,” said Dr. Lara Atkinson, Marine Offshore Scientist at NRF-SAEON. “For many of us, it was the first time we had access to this level of deep-sea technology and interdisciplinary collaboration among so many nations.”
“Being part of this expedition felt like reclaiming our own narrative in ocean science,” said Dr. Yara Rodrigues, Executive Vogal at Instituto do Mar. “We weren’t just collecting data, we were shaping the future of marine knowledge in Africa, based on our needs, in our waters.”
Their involvement was part of a broader collaboration between OceanX, OceanQuest, and leading African institutions. These included the National Research Foundation – South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON), the University of Cape Town (UCT), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Instituto do Mar (IMar) in Cabo Verde, the Ocean Science Center Mindelo (OSCM), and the Universidade Técnica do Atlántico (UTA). This strengthened scientific partnerships and promoted data sharing across the continent.
“These collaborations are the future of ocean science in Africa,” said Pieribone. “We’ve seen what’s possible when scientists, governments, and regional institutions align behind a common purpose-advancing knowledge, access, and opportunity.”
Researchers arriving aboard the OceanXplorer in Comoros, East Africa, pose for a photo on deck with the OceanX crew
Science Diplomacy and Regional Leadership
The expedition also marked a series of significant diplomatic milestones, with visits from South Africa’s Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Dion George and Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille, Cabo Verde’s Minister of the Sea Jorge Santos and the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, José Maria Neves. As Patron of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, President Neves reaffirmed Cabo Verde’s strong commitment and leadership in advancing ocean knowledge, marine conservation, and sustainable blue development.
‘These high-level engagements’, says Martin Visbeck, Chief Executive Officer of OceanQuest, ‘underscored regional commitment to ocean science and sustainability, enhanced cooperation across the continent, and demonstrated both Africa and Cabo Verde’s growing leadership in addressing the most pressing challenges facing our oceans.’
Local scientist Yara Rodrigues from IMar and OceanX Science Program Director, Mattie Rodrigue, process a sample of a coral colony full of brittle stars, Cabo Verde
Capacity Sharing and Education
A major pillar of the expedition, focused on strengthening African scientific and technical capacity through targeted education and professional development programmes. Led by OceanX education, the expedition was structured around three core components. These included two deep-sea science legs focused on seamount research, two youth-led investigator legs, and two ECOP training legs.
The mission featured outreach programmes at port stops to engage local communities:
Early Career Explorers (ECEs) Programme: 27 Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) from across Africa, including Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola, Cabo Verde, Tunisia, Morocco, and Tanzania, took part in multi-day, on-ship education programmes between Walvis Bay, Mindelo, and Las Palmas, gaining hands-on experience in oceanography, bathymetry, and environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis. Participants were selected by the Partnership for the Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) through a programme jointly run by OceanX, OceanQuest, and POGO.
Young Explorers: 29 university students who are interested in future ocean-related careers joined the multi-day, on-ship education programs from Maldives to Comoros and from Cape Town to Walvis Bay, learning about the multi-disciplinary career paths that can support ocean health and sustainability.
Science-Leg ECOP Participation: Four African ECOPs were embedded within research science legs, contributing directly to fieldwork in South African and Cabo Verdean waters.
Portside Ship Tours: 246 students and educators participated in shipboard tours and outreach events across Cape Town, Mindelo, and Las Palmas, introducing new generations to marine science careers and ocean stewardship.
Total engagement: 306 students, educators, and early-career professionals were reached through the expedition’s training and outreach programs.
“This wasn’t just about what we discovered in the ocean. It was also about who we empowered on the ground,” adds Martin Visbeck, CEO of OceanQuest. “By working together across borders, we have made this kind of world-class science possible right here in African waters and led by African scientists.”
The OceanX and OceanQuest Around Africa Expedition is officially endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development for its contributions to capacity sharing and scientific understanding of the ocean, providing valuable data for science and science-based ocean governance.
Next Steps
Although the expedition at sea has concluded, analysis of the collected data has only just begun. Scientists across Africa and globally will use the expedition’s findings to:
Inform environmental and ocean management policy
Support fisheries regulation and marine conservation, and
Strengthen Africa’s leadership in ocean science and sustainable development
“This is just the start,” said Pieribone. “We’ve built the foundation for a new age of African-led research, and now the real impact begins. Our goal is that the discoveries made, and the partnerships formed during this expedition will continue to shape policy, support conservation efforts, and inspire the next generation of ocean explorers.”
A full list of NGO, education, and government partners across the region and mission leg follows below:
Mindelo, Cabo Verde
Instituto do Mar (IMar), the Ocean Science Center Mindelo (OSCM),Instituto de Engenharias e Ciências do Mar (ISECMAR) – Universidade Técnica do Atlântico, Centro Universitário Cidade Verde (UniCV), Universidade do Mindelo, Escola Salesiana de Artes e Ofícios (Ilha de São Vicente), Escola Secundária Januário Leite (Ilha de Santo Antão), Escola Técnica João Varela (Ilha de Santo Antão).
Cape Town, South Africa
SANBI, National Research Foundation, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) – Science for Kids and Global Blue Schools Network, University of Cape Town, University of Western Cape, Stellenbosch University, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), Consejeria de Educacion (Canary Islands Regional Government), IES Profesor Antonio Cabrera Pérez, ITS Jozef Stefan.
Global
UN Ocean Decade – Endorsed Decade Actions, Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO), Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON), Challenger 150, Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI)
Regional
Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, African Network of Deep-water Researchers, Challenger 150
United States
City College of New York (CCNY), Columbia University Climate School – Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO), US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), US State Department, US Office of Naval Research (ONR), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
Route-Specific Partnerships by Country/Transit locations:
Comoros to Cape Town, South Africa
National Research Foundation – South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON), South African National Biodiversity Insitute (SANBI), South African National Space Agency (SANSA), National Research Foundation – South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB), University of Cape Town (UCT), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Université de Toliara – Institut D’Enseignement Supérieur D’Anosy (IES-Anosy) – Madagascar, Université de Toliara – Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines (IHSM) – Madagascar, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Madagascar, Universidade Lúrio – Mozambique, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) – Mozambique, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES) – Brazil, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) – Kenya, Universidade de Aveiro – Portugal, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Columbia University – Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) – USA, Challenger 150
Namibia – Cabo Verde; Cabo Verde Science
Instituto Do Mar (IMar), Campus do Mar, Universidade Técnica do Atlântico (UTA), Campus do Mar, Ocean Science Center Mindelo (OSCM), GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research – Germany, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, South African National Biodiversity Insitute (SANBI) – South Africa, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI) – Brazil, US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO)
Cabo Verde – Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias (PLOCAN), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research – Germany, Columbia University Climate School – Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO)
About OceanX
OceanX is on a mission to support scientists to explore the ocean and to bring it back to the world through captivating media. Uniting leading media, science, and philanthropy partners, OceanX utilizes next-gen technology, fearless science, compelling storytelling, and immersive experiences to educate, inspire, and connect the world with the ocean and build a global community deeply engaged with understanding, enjoying, and protecting our oceans. OceanX is an operating program of Dalio Philanthropies, which furthers the diverse philanthropic interests of Dalio family members. For more information, visit www.oceanx.org and follow OceanX on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.
About OceanQuest
OceanQuest is a Saudi Arabian not-for-profit foundation, committed to unveiling the wonders of the ocean and exploring its secrets for the benefit of humanity. Its mission is to accelerate ocean discovery, drive innovation in the field, support global cooperation, and excite the public. OceanQuest and its global partners will launch a new era of deep ocean exploration and knowledge sharing. OceanQuest is based in the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) campus in Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To learn more visit www.OQFoundation.org.
Ukraine has been asking for permission to use Western-supplied long-range missiles to strike deep within Russian territory. The Biden administration has not given Ukraine the green light on that — we’ll look at what that means in this protracted conflict. Also, it’s been a year since a massive and coordinated United Auto Workers Strike secured better pay for workers – but a year on, workers are worried about job security. Plus, a new era in space tourism, with a civilian taking a space walk. He didn’t have any NASA astronaut training, but we’ll tell you what he DID have.
What can NASA and Boeing engineers are learn from the trouble-plagued Starliner capsule, which has just returned back to Earth without its crew? Plus, a look at where Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump stand on key foreign policy issues.
The lack of a mound of powder suggested the Rochette hole had produced a solid core
The US space agency’s Perseverance rover looks to have retrieved a rock sample on Mars at the second attempt.
The robot’s drill made a neat hole in a thick slab dubbed “Rochette”.
New images appear to show a rock core was securely picked up. A previous attempt last month saw the sample crumble to dust.
If Perseverance has been successful this time, it would represent the first ever rock section collected on another planet intended for return to Earth.
The rover is tasked with gathering more than two dozen cores over the next year or so that will be fetched home by a joint US and European effort later this decade.
Nasa’s Perseverance robot landed in Mars’ Jezero Crater in February.
The deep, 45km-wide depression, some 20 degrees north of the planet’s equator, looks to have held a lake billions of years ago.
From its touchdown location, the robot has driven more than 2km to a slightly raised ridge nicknamed the Citadelle.
It’s here that the Perseverance team selected Rochette as the target for the latest drilling attempt.
The robot is equipped with a caching system that will take a finger-sized core of rock cut by the drill and place it in a titanium tube.
Before sealing this cylinder, however, the rover will image the contents. It was at this stage in early August during the first sampling attempt that Perseverance scientists realised they had nothing in the tube; the coring mechanism had shattered the rock to a powder that then fell back on to the ground around the drill hole.
But the mission team will be encouraged by the first pictures downlinked by Perseverance on Thursday which clearly indicated rocky material from Rochette in the corer head at the entrance to the cylinder.
The rover must now fully process the sample within its belly.
Perseverance continues to be shadowed by its mini-helicopter, Ingenuity.
Originally taken to Mars as a technology demonstration, the drone is now being used routinely to scout the terrain ahead of the rover.
The Starship upper-stage was hoisted for a fit-check with the Super Heavy booster
The American SpaceX company has stacked the biggest rocket ever constructed.
The vehicle’s two segments – an upper-stage called Starship and a booster called Super Heavy – were connected together at the firm’s Starbase R&D facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
Standing roughly 120m (400ft) in height, the SpaceX rocket dwarfs any previous launch system. When it eventually lifts off, it will produce about twice the thrust of the vehicles that sent men to the Moon.
The main engines on Apollo’s famous Saturn V rockets delivered some 35 meganewtons (nearly 8 million pounds of force) off the pad. The new SpaceX Super Heavy booster should achieve around 70 meganewtons.
A massive crane was needed to join the two segments together. They were held in position for an hour before then being separated again.
SpaceX still has weeks to months of testing ahead of it to prepare for the inaugural flight. This will see the booster hurl the Starship into space for a once-around-the-Earth trip, which will end with a disposal “landing” in waters off the Hawaiian islands in the Pacific.
The Super Heavy will be ditched in the Gulf of Mexico.
Ultimately, though, SpaceX wants both segments of future vehicles to make controlled touchdowns, on land or on sea platforms, so they can be re-used.
Company CEO, Elon Musk, says the Starship system, once fully developed, will be more than capable of taking humans to the Moon and Mars.
It could also ferry people quickly around the globe. Putting satellites in orbit is another obvious application.
The American space agency, Nasa, has already contracted SpaceX to produce a version of the Starship upper-stage that can land astronauts near the lunar south pole this decade.
Friday’s milestone follows months of breathtaking activity in Boca Chica.
Engineers have built a succession of prototypes at Starbase. These have helped the design team understand the best way to manufacture the huge stainless steel craft. And by launching some of the Starship iterations on high-altitude hops, SpaceX technicians have also gained invaluable flight experience.
The segments mated briefly on Friday are codenamed BN4 (the Super Heavy booster) and Ship 20 (the Starship upper-stage). The pair won’t launch until they have a licence from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The government agency is currently conducting an environmental review that will invite at some point a 30-day public consultation. So, the maiden orbital outing is still some way off. But Mr Musk is very keen that it should happen well before the end of the year.
He described seeing the brief mating of the segments on Friday as a “dream come true”.
The most powerful rocket currently in operation is the Falcon Heavy, also built by SpaceX. This produces 23 meganewtons of thrust at launch.
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