A SpaceX power outage disrupted mission control during a historic private spacewalk, raising concerns over safety, transparency, and potential conflicts of interest.
A September power outage at SpaceX’s California facility caused a loss of ground control for over an hour during a mission that included the first private spacewalk, according to sources. The incident, part of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, has not been previously reported.
The outage disabled mission control's ability to command the Dragon spacecraft in orbit, though communication was partially maintained through SpaceX's Starlink satellites. The spacecraft, carrying Isaacman and three others, remained safe, but experts highlight the seriousness of losing command capabilities.
The issue arose from a cooling system leak that caused a power surge, disrupting SpaceX’s mission headquarters and backup procedures. Paperless backup systems further delayed recovery efforts until power was restored. NASA and SpaceX have stated that the problem was resolved before subsequent missions.
The incident raises concerns about oversight and conflicts of interest, especially as Isaacman, nominated to lead NASA, and Elon Musk, poised for a government role, hold influential positions in both the private space sector and regulatory agencies.
Critics argue that the lack of mandatory disclosure for private space mishaps, protected under a Congressional moratorium since 2004, undermines transparency and safety.
Isaacman has pledged to reduce his business ties if confirmed as NASA administrator, but his extensive links to SpaceX remain a potential ethical concern.
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Europe’s new-generation weather satellite, Meteosat Third Generation-Sounder 1 (MTG-S1), successfully launched into space from the U.S. Cape Canaveral base.
SpaceX’s massive Starship spacecraft dramatically exploded late Wednesday night during testing at the company’s test site in Brownsville, Texas. The incident marks the latest setback for billionaire Elon Musk’s ambitious plan to send humans to Mars.
An escalating feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump threatens to disrupt key U.S. space programs and jeopardize $22 billion in government contracts with SpaceX.
The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered an accident investigation into SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight, which ended with the spacecraft spinning out of control and breaking apart over the Indian Ocean.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
Dozens of international and domestic flights were cancelled or delayed after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on Monday, but Bali’s main airport remains operational.
The 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was successfully held in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, highlighting the region’s revival and the deepening economic cooperation among member states.
French member of parliament Olivier Marleix was found dead at his home on Monday, with suicide being considered a possible cause.
Washington and Ottawa are once again at odds, as President Trump unveils a sharp new tariff on Canadian goods—citing drug trafficking and trade disputes just weeks ahead of a key deadline.
France recorded over 100 drowning deaths in just one month — a 58% rise from last year — as unusually high temperatures drove more people to water, public health officials say.
Migration offset natural decline for the fourth consecutive year, pushing the European Union’s population to an historic high of 450.4 million in 2024, according to Eurostat figures released on Friday.
Germany’s public debt is projected to climb from 62.5% to 74% of GDP by 2030, driven by record defence and infrastructure spending, according to a report by the European rating agency Scope.
Turkish President Erdoğan and Somali President Mohamud met in Ankara to reaffirm strategic ties, with a focus on counterterrorism and regional cooperation.
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