NASAs

Starlink’s growth is so brutal that Spacex is one year after overcoming NASA’s annual budget

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Elon Musk became the richest man in the world thanks to Tesla, but his new golden egg chicken It’s called Starlink. The tycoon has given credibility to something that It had been commenting Since the White House announced NASA’s historic cuts: Spacex’s income is one year after overcoming the annual budget of the planet’s largest space agency. More money than NASA. Elon Musk He just put the data On the table: “Spacex’s income for its commercial activities in space will exceed NASA’s total budget next year.” Spacex is a private company controlled by Musk itself, so it is not obliged to publicly present its results. However, we now know that it plans to enter 15.5 billion dollars in 2025. If approved in Congress, NASA’s annual budget for 2026 will be 18.8 billion dollars, 24% less than the previous year. The whole mountain is Starlink. Spacex receives NASA money to transport astronauts to the International Space Station or develop space programs such as the lunar Starship, but in 2025, that transaction has been “only” 1.1 billion dollars. Most of what Spacex earns comes from Starlink, although the amount of NASA contracts will rise to 1,747 million dollars in 2026, adding the Moon To Mars program. Starlink has more than 5 million customers, a figure that has been duplicating from year to year. The bulk of the business are residential customers, but satellite Internet service has been diversifying with agreements in the maritime sector (mercantile vessels and cruises), the aviation sector (Chárter operators and commercial airlines), the operators (Direct-to-Cell) and the government sector (especially The Starshield constellation of the number). The perpetual movement machine. Starlink’s success would not be possible without Spacex’s launching capacitywhich continues to be beating reuse records with its Falcon 9. The company celebrated its 500 mission last night. The propeller that has taken and landed the most times has done it 28 times, 17 of them to put Starlink satellites in orbit. The integration of the company is totally vertical. Spacex manufactures rockets, satellites and terminals. And innovation is constant. At the end of May, a Falcon 9 deployed 29 Starlink v2 mini optimized satellites225 kg lighter than previous versions and with a bandwidth of 96 Gbps. How much Spacex is worth. With more than 7,000 active satellites in orbit, an incomparable number of any other constellation, Starlink has triggered the assessment of Spacex at stratospheric levels. The most recent valuation is 350,000 million dollars, which makes it the company not quoted in the largest stock market in the United States. Taking into account that Spacex Starlink’s benefits reinvested on the Starship programIt is worth asking who will lead the space exploration of the United States in the coming years, if NASA or Elon Musk’s company. Image | Spacex In Xataka | Spacex has launched 8,000 Starlink satellites in five years, but they are not enough. And we are beginning to understand why

NASA’s longest -lived astronaut has returned to the land in his 70th birthday. We are left without the best space photographer

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There are ways and ways to celebrate a birthday, but few like Don Petit’s. He NASA’s longest active astronaut He returned to Earth after seven months at the International Space Station just the day he turned 70. A bittersweet milestone because, although it is healthy and safe, we lose the unique perspective of one of the best photographers of space. Delicated landing in the kazaja steppe. 220 days after its launch aboard the Soyuz MS-26 Russian capsule landed on the plains of Kazakhstan Together with his crew companions, the Russian cosmonauts Aleksey Ovchinin (53 years old) and Ivan Vagner (39 years old). The landing occurred without technical setbacks, although with a small scare: Pettit needed immediate medical attention when extracted from the capsule. The cameras captured him practically motionless after landingwhich revived the debate on the Russian practice to expose the crew instead of prioritizing its intimacy, as is done in the United States and China. 70th birthday, and farewell? “When our capsule lands on those desert plains, I will be literally on the other side of the earth, almost 19,000 kilometers from home. However, I will be at home,” Don Pettit wrote from the orbit shortly before returning. A reflection that puts in perspective what ‘home’ means after seven months seeing the earth 400 km high, from the International Space Station. This has been the fourth space mission for Petit, which accumulates a total of 590 days in space. Despite being NASA’s longest astronaut, it is only the tenth human being that accumulates more time outside the earth. With 48 active astronauts in the space agencythe last incorporated in 2022, it should be thought that this could be its last mission to space. Goodbye to the ISS photographer. If we will miss this astronaut is his extraordinary ability for photography. Pettit is one of the best photographers who have gone through the ISS and during this last mission, he has given us spectacular images again: The dairy and Starlinks: one of its last captures shows the core of our galaxy and zodiac light, with Starlink satellitous steles crossing in the frame Reimaginated terrestrial landscapes: using infrared filters or playing with the reflection of the sun, Petit reveals hidden details of oceanic currents or terrestrial geology with an almost pictorial quality Atmospheric phenomena: captured impressive northern lights during the intense new year solar activity and contributed to the study of elusive “transient light events” (Tles), electric discharges on storms Long exhibition: Master of this technique, has created iconic images of stars steles or the night lights of cities turned into rivers of light by the Iss orbital movement More than photos. Chemical Training and Scientific Engineer rather than Astronaut, Pettit’s creativity is not limited to photography .. invented A cup of coffee to drink without straw taking advantage of the surface tension of the microgravity fluid. And a device that compensates for the movement of the International Space Station to obtain more clear nightcare photos on Earth. It is also Famous for his “Opportunity Science”small experiments carried out in their free time to demonstrate physical principles in microgravity. To play with drops of water charged electrostátically to freeze ice sheets To study their crystals with polarized filters in the freezers of the station. With the return of Soyuz MS-26, expedition 73 is under the command of Japanese Takuya Onishi. He is accompanied by NASA Astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers and Jonny Kim, and Russian cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky. In Xataka | The best photos from the International Space Station are made by the same astronaut: Don Pettit

The White House will try to reduce NASA’s scientific budget by 50%. It is so devastating that Elon Musk has separated

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The White House has presented a preliminary proposal of its budgets by 2026. If the United States Congress approved them, NASA would see 20% less money next year, but with an especially controversial turn, because they would be cuts centered on science. A devastating loss. NASA is the largest and most influential space agency in the world. Its direction of scientific missions finances some of the most important research for the advancement of astrophysics, planetary science, terrestrial science and heliophysics. Studies in which international entities such as the European Space Agency often participate. The White House budget in half reduces the resources of the Directorate of Scientific Missions. It would go from 7.5 billion dollars in the fiscal year from 2025 to 3.9 billion in 2026. The consequences are so devastating for the scientific community that Elon Musk has described it as “worrying” and It has come out to clarify that has not had anything to do: “I am very in favor of science, but unfortunately I cannot participate in the discussions about NASA’s budget because Spacex is an important NASA contractor.” Affected missions. While the proposal maintains the financing of HUBBLE observatories and James Webb, explicitly cancels other space telescopes, including the Nancy Grace Romanwhich is already completely assembled waiting for its launch. The two most important planetary missions that would not continue with the White House Budgets are, on the one hand, Mars Sample Returnthe recovery of Martian soil samples that has been collecting the Rover Perseverance, and the Davinci mission to explore Venus. Both milestones would be in the hands of China, which It has similar missions in your scientific roadmap. Goodbye to the Goddard? According to Ars Technicathe cuts seem designed to force the closure of the Goddard Space Flight Center, the NASA headquarters in Maryland, which uses 10,000 officials and contractors, and from where iconic cosmological, land and sun observation missions are operated. Astrophysics: it would reduce its budget by two thirds, leaving 487 million dollars. Heliophysics: it would reduce its budget by more than two thirds, leaving 455 million dollars. Terrestrial science: would reduce its budget in more than half, remaining at 1,033 million dollars. Planetary Science: would reduce its budget by one third, being at 1,929 million dollars NOAA is even worse stop. Donald Trump’s administration also seeks Complaint the magazine Science. Like NASA, NOAA is one of the world’s main scientific agencies, but in the weather, climate and space climate. The cuts would close the Ocean and Atmospheric Research Office (OAR), and would leave hundreds of scientists who study global warming. Waiting for Congress. NASA has a period of 72 hours to appeal these figures before they are incorporated into the final budgets. Ultimately, it will be the United States Congress who approves them. It is likely that the cuts are with strong opposition in Congress, Very sensitized With the idea of ​​losing ground in front of China. “This would tithe the American leadership in space and inflict great damage to NASA centers throughout the country,” Congressman George Whitesides, from the Science Committee, told Ars Technica. It would be like an “extinction event.” Image | POT In Xataka | 12 years after making fun of Spacex and his idea of ​​landing rockets, Arianegroup is creating a European mini-falcon 9

Its scientists have detected a design failure in NASA’s reactor

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United States and China are measuring their spatial capabilities In a race to build the first lunar base. Although NASA was victorious from the previous race to the moon against the Soviet Union, It is not so clear that it takes the lead On this occasion. For now, Chinese scientists They have found failures In a crucial element of NASA’s lunar program: its energy source. NASA’s lunar reactor. NASA leads US efforts to inhabit the moon with its partners of Artemisa agreements. The Chinese Space Agency CNSA and the Russian Roscosmos advancetogether with a small group of allies, in the development of the International Lunar Research Station (Ilrs), which It will start working in 2036 and Wait to house thousands of scientists. On the moon, one night lasts 14 terrestrial days, so more than solar panels will be needed to maintain the energy supply of the facilities. NASA He has been developing for years A small nuclear energy plant specially designed to function on the surface of the moon. This little fission reactor is called Fission Surface Power (FSP) and can generate 40 kW of power. China has found a failure. The researchers of the National Nuclear Corporation of China (CNNC) examined NASA’s proposal and discovered improveable aspects in their design. A study published by the Chinese scientific journal Atomic Energy Science and Technology Review these weaknesses focusing on the composition of nuclear fuel, the cooling system and the security control of the US reactor. Chinese scientists highlight the FSP reactor compact designbut they see a clear mistake in the choice of fuel. According to his study, the use of very enriched uranium cylindrical bars will require thick beryl layers as a armor to control intense radiation. In addition, it will limit the useful life of the reactor to about eight years due to the “fuel swelling” (fuel expansion), a phenomenon that makes the material increase in volume gradually due to radiation. To this we must add that the reactor has a simple control mechanism, less safe in critical situations. Remove, NASA, we do it. In addition to pointing out US design problems, CNNC scientists presented an improved version of the lunar nuclear reactor taking as reference both NASA design and an old Soviet space reactor called Topaz-II. The main improvements introduced by the Chinese lunar reactor are: Ring -shaped fuel bars: instead of solid cylinders, the bars have an annular shape, such as a hollow ring. Inside they have small uranium dioxide pills covered by stainless steel, allowing the heat generated by the nuclear reaction to dissipate better, using the interior and exterior of the refrigeration ring Double cooling system: The Chinese reactor has a cooling system based on a liquid metal (NAK-78) that flows through internal and external channels of annular fuel bars. This design allows the reactor temperature to be maintained below 600 ° C, which improves the safety and stability of the reactor Most efficient neutron moderator: Chinese design uses a material called ititrio hydride (YH1.8) as a moderator, the material responsible for slowing down neutrons, improving nuclear reaction and making it more efficient. Ititrium hydride is more stable than traditional nuclear moderators (such as zirconium hydride), which avoids dangerous hydrogen leaks and increases the safety and life of the reactor Less nuclear fuel necessary: ​​Thanks to its design and the use of Ititrium hydride as a moderator, the Chinese reactor needs only 18.5 kg of Uranium-235 in front of the NASA FSP reactor, which requires approximately 70 kg of U-235, almost four times more. Weight reduction is essential in space missions, not only due to cost savings, but because nuclear materials are being launched through the Earth’s atmosphere Your turn, United States. The Chinese reactor is up to 75% more efficient than that of NASA, and promises a useful life of 10 years, compared to the eight of the American reactor. This advance would potentially position China ahead of the United States in the objective of establishing a sustained and self -sufficient presence on the moon, since the constant energy that a nuclear reactor allows will be essential to be able to hold inhabited bases in the long term. But NASA design is not monolithic or closed. The expected thing is that, as China has done, the agency takes advantage of its opponent’s investigations to improve its own technology. What could also end up with companies that develop small modular reactors (SMR) for the supply of electricity on Earth. If something has space careers, they improve, based on research, technologies that end up moving to other industries. Images | POT In Xataka | We are building nuclear spacecraft again. NASA believes we will need them

The possible cancellation of NASA’s SLS rocket

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Its development has cost NASA 3,000 million dollars a year. Each launch will involve another 2,000 million. It is not a novelty that the SLS rocket manufactured by Boeing is seen as a expensive and outdated option in front of the Spacex Starship or Blue Origin’s New Glenn. But considering that these are not ready to fly to the moon, the cancellation of the SLS was not something that Boeing had … until now. A six -minute meeting. Boeing has about 800 employees dedicated to lunar SLS rocket. David Dutcher, the program director, gathered them on Friday to tell them that contracts could end in March under the new NASA administration. The company is preparing to face new layoffs in the event that contracts are not renewed, he told them. According to Ars Technicathe meeting was summoned less than an hour in advance and lasted six minutes. Dutcher had prepared what he was going to say, was cold and did not admit questions, according to an anonymous source. Context. The Space Launch System (SLS) is NASA’s rocket to return to the moon. Also one of the most controversial elements of the Lunar Artemis program. Its development, led by Boeing, began in 2011 taking advantage of technologies and components of previous programs, such as the space ferry. Although this strategy allowed to reuse infrastructure and previous knowledge, it also led to a series of complexities in the integration of modern systems with the hardware already tested, so it has ended up accumulating multiple delays and cost overheads. Of a rumor to a real possibility. Without an immediate alternative to the SLS, the rumors of cancellation of the rocket did not become a real possibility until Donald Trump was re -elected president and the young businessman Jared Isaacman, who traveled twice to the space with Spacex, nominated to direct NASA. It was precisely the first Trump administration that created the Lunar Artemis program in 2017, but under the influence of Elon Musk, the second Trump administration promises that both are compatible). Boeing prepares for the worst. It should be clarified that the United States Congress has not yet made any decision on NASA’s budget or a possible restructuring of Artemis missions, much less there is an established plan to get to Mars (it was supposed to first NASA would establish a base on the moon and then make the leap to the red planet). But Boeing is preparing for the worst scenario after the White House published a budget proposal with adjustments for fiscal year 2026. The law forces the company to notify employees 60 days in advance in case of mass layoffs or closure of plants, hence the meeting with the SLS program team has been hurried. The official Boeing statement. Far from hiding its forecasts, Boeing sent a statement to the media in which he confirms the possibility of fireing 400 employees in April 2025 to “align ourselves with reviews of the Artemis program and budget expectations.” “We are working with our client and looking for opportunities to redistribute employees throughout our company to minimize jobs losses and retain our talented teammates,” adds the statement. Image | NASA’S SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM In Xataka | Jared Isaacman still does not direct NASA, but it is already seen as the last nail in the coffin of a space giant: Boeing

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