Important Innovations

  T-Mobile 5G Phones to Be Connected to SpaceX Starlink Satellites                                             Source:  SpaceX, T-Mobile Promise of No More Connectivity Dead Zones 24-7, anyplace internet connectivity for T-Mobile 5G phone users is the promise of the new deal between Elon Musk's SpaceX and T-Mobile.  T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert and SpaceX/Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that T-Mobile users' phones, on the T-Mobile network, will be directly connected to SpaceX's Starlink satellites. According to Musk, this will provide the T-Mobile phones with internet connectivity just about everywhere. Siebert said SpaceX and T-Mobile are two industry-shaking innovators, challenging the old ways of doings things "to create something entirely new." The deal is unprecedented.  Musk also announced that he is providing the same connectivity for Tesla cars by connecting them to Starlink.  Musk and Siebert are promising to eliminate dead zones anywhere in the world for cell

T-Mobile 5G Phones to Be Connected to SpaceX Starlink Satellites                                             Source:  SpaceX, T-Mobile Promise of No More Connectivity Dead Zones 24-7, anyplace internet connectivity for T-Mobile 5G phone users is the promise of the new deal between Elon Musk's SpaceX and T-Mobile.  T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert and SpaceX/Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that T-Mobile users' phones, on the T-Mobile network, will be directly connected to SpaceX's Starlink satellites. According to Musk, this will provide the T-Mobile phones with internet connectivity just about everywhere. Siebert said SpaceX and T-Mobile are two industry-shaking innovators, challenging the old ways of doings things "to create something entirely new." The deal is unprecedented.  Musk also announced that he is providing the same connectivity for Tesla cars by connecting them to Starlink.  Musk and Siebert are promising to eliminate dead zones anywhere in the world for cell p

  New Space Plane Wars                                                  Source:  Sierra Space Sierra's Space Plane Dream Chaser Dream Chaser is a supersonic SST space plane being developed and getting ready to go into service by Louisville, Colorado based Sierra Space.  The vehicle is the world's first and only winged commercial space plane, according to Sierra.  It is designed to compete against Elon Musk's SpaceX, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin to carry astronauts, space tourists and supplies into space.  Dream Chaser is aggressively developing its global business footprint and is rolling out a brand-new chapter of space wars in the commercialization of space. Building a Global Business Network Dream Chaser is awesome aviation technology.  It is launched on top of a rocket and then dislodges and flies on its own power into space at supersonic speeds.  The SST flies back to Earth on its own power and wings and lands at specially d

Fleet of Rovers Being Developed to Carry People & Cargo on the Moon & Mars                                        Source:  Venturi Astrolab California's Venturi Astrolab California-based startup Venturi Astrolab has developed an interplanetary rover to transport people and cargo on the surface of the Moon and eventually on Mars.  The company has plans to build a fleet of rovers to meet NASA and commercial space companies' needs as humans become an interplanetary race.  Venturi Astrolab says the rovers will help establish and build bases on the Moon and the planets.  They add the rovers will "solve the local transportation problems" on the Moon.  The rovers are called FLEX for Flexible Logistics and Exploration. Capabilities and Technologies FLEX is incredibly flexible and dexterous.  It can crouch down, pickup payloads on the lunar surface and carry them to designated locations.  It can maneuver semi-autonomously and be controlled remotely. It can even be modi

  1 Hour Passenger Flight Beijing to NYC                                             Source:  China Transportation It Is Literally a Blast Chinese aerospace startup company Space Transportation's new space plane is being developed to carry passengers at speeds up to 2,600 mph in suborbital space to go from "point-to-point". That includes space tourism adventures and bullet-fast aircraft flights on Earth. The company says their new technology can fly passengers from Beijing to New York City in one hour. Space Transportation calls the new space plane a "rocket with wings".  They say it will be a fully reusable space plane with large triangular wings with rocket boosters. The concept is a blast into suborbital space and a new form of passenger air travel to space and for travel to destinations here on Earth being developed in China.   How Does It Work? The winged rocket plane takes off vertically and detaches itself from the huge, triangular glider wing.  It hurtle

  Accelerates 0 to 60 mph in 1.1 Seconds Source:  Tesla Adding Extra Value to the EV's High Performance Tesla is adding extra value to the new Roadster sportscar prototype as its gets ready to put the EV into production in 2022.  In a tweet, CEO Elon Musk said he is adding extra distinction to the car's already high performance.  From his space rocket company SpaceX, Musk is adding, what he calls, a SpaceX package to the vehicle.  That includes equipping the Roadster with a cold air rocket thruster positioned at the rear of the vehicle.  The rocket thruster will enable Roadster, according to Musk, to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 1.1 seconds.  That is unprecedented for a road car.  Musk also wants to put rocket thrusters around the car to give it even higher performance. Tech Specs The EV will feature Tesla's Plaid 3 electric motor powertrain design.  It has a 200 kWh battery pack that enables a range of at least 620 miles and speeds up to 250 mph.  Tesla plans to finalize

  SpaceX Successful Launch of Another Batch of 60 Satellites                                                                      Source:  SpaceX/NASA More Than 1,200 Satellites in Starlink Constellation & Counting Early this morning, at Cape Canaveral, Florida, SpaceX launched another 60 Starlink internet satellites.  That brings the total in the Starlink internet constellation to more than 1200.  The system promises to provide inexpensive broadband services to the globe and particularly to remote and underserved areas.  SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wants to have a threshold of 1,440 Starlink satellites deployed in low Earth orbit to deliver optimum broadband services.  He has also petitioned the Federal Communications Commission for permission to launch tens of thousands of more satellites.  Musk has the internet service in beta-testing along stretches of the US-Canadian border and in Germany, the UK and New Zealand. Customers can also sign up on line for future service when it becomes a

  Low Cost Internet, Phone Service & Emergency Phone Backup                                                                                     Source:  Starlink Satellite Starlink's New Filing with the FCC  SpaceX and CEO Elon Musk have big plans for Starlink, the satellite based, broadband service.  In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, Starlink disclosed its operational plan to provide less expensive internet service to low income customers, phone service and back-up services to make calls during power outages. Underserved Areas and Low Income Customers Starlink is asking the FCC for designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) so that it can provide broadband services in underserved areas.   The ETC designation also is needed for Starlink to be reimbursed for giving discounts on telecommunications services to people with low incomes.  The reimbursement comes through the FCC's Lifeline program. Starlink Beta Program is Up & Running St

 SpaceX  Transporter 1: Sets Record Space Ride Share Launch                                                       Source:  SpaceX 143 Spacecraft Launched on a Single SpaceX Rocket If you need a ride share to space, SpaceX is offering it and breaking records doing it.  On January 24, 2021, SpaceX launched 143 spacecraft ridesharing inside of a single Falcon 9 rocket.  The cosmic ride sharing program is called Transporter 1.  SpaceX has set a new world record for new space vehicles deployed in one rocket launch. For SpaceX, the mission is another historic success.  SpaceX was founded by entrepreneur and CEO Elon Musk. Record Cosmic Vehicles Onboard The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida.  The reusable rocket carried 133 commercial and government spacecrafts and 10 SpaceX Starlink satellites to space.  SpaceX calls their space ride sharing system a reliable, affordable ride to space for small satellites.  The launch of 143 spacecraft  broke all records for a joint rid

  Starship Performs Well, Then Explodes on Landing                                                                                Source:  SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Learns and Moves Forward SpaceX's Starship launch vehicle is the centerpiece of CEO Elon Musk's dreams to take humanity on affordable trips to the Moon and Mars.  On December 9, 2020, the Starship prototype launched for a test flight.  The vehicle performed well and reached an altitude of  41,000 feet - it's highest as of that date.  And it performed record setting, acrobatic flips in the air before landing.  The test flight went perfectly until the landing, when the test vehicle blew up in a fiery explosion.  No one was hurt.  Entrepreneur/inventor/CEO Elon Musk had a uniquely scientific take on the episode.  He learned from the fiery landing, made conclusions based on data the test provided and found ample reasons to move forward.  His reactions provide insights into the way one of America's most successful inn

  CEO Elon Musk's Starship to Mars Source:  SpaceX Flight Test to 40,000 Feet Starship is Space X CEO Elon Musk's space vehicle designed to carry humans to the Moon and Mars.  The prototype has been tested twice before in so-called "hop" tests to 500 feet.  This week, Musk has been cleared by the FAA to test the vehicle at 40,000 feet, an altitude higher than most planes climb.   Musk Downplaying the Critical Test Interestingly, Musk is downplaying the critical test of the vehicle's aerodynamic design and flight capabilities.  He's calling it a learning experience. On the SpaceX website, Musk said "With a test like this, success is not measured by reaching specific objectives but by how much we can learn."  He predicts a 30% chance of its reaching 40,000 feet. Starship is SpaceX's Centerpiece to Travel to Mars & the Moon Starship is Musk's next generation, reusable launch vehicle.  It is the centerpiece of Musk's plans to make space t

  SAT to Precisely Measure Climate Change Impact on Oceans                                                  Source:  NASA & ESA Keeping a Watchful Eye on Oceans & Climate Change A new NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) satellite to precisely measure rising sea levels from climate change was launched into orbit this weekend onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, from California.  The satellite will be able to precisely measures sea levels on 90% of the world's oceans.  This is the latest in a series of ocean monitoring satellites.  But the technologies on this satellite are so precise they will be able to provide sea level measurements within a few centimeters. Weather Forecasting Data Assistance According to NASA, the new satellite will also help improve the accuracy of weather forecasts as it will provide new, in-depth data on humidity levels and atmospheric pressure.  The satellite is named the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich after NASA former director Michael Freilich who is co

SpaceX 1st Fully Operational Flight for NASA Takes Off                                                 Source:  NASA 4 US Astronauts on SpaceX Resilience                                                       Source:  Space X SpaceX CEO Musk Has Moderate Symptoms of COVID SpaceX's 1st operational flight for NASA to the ISS with 4 US astronauts onboard just successfully launched in a capsule named Resilience.  This launch is historic.  It will be the first time in 60 years that NASA handed over the keys for a fully operational launch of NASA astronauts to a US private space company. Ironically, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk could not be in person for the historic moment.  He says he has a moderate case of COVID-19.  NASA would not allow him to be at NASA or near the astronauts as he is in COVID quarantine. Musk Questions the COVID Test Technology SpaceX and Tesla CEO Musk believes he most likely has a moderate case of COVID-19.  As he had two positive and two negatives results on COVID testin

   Metal Asteroid Valued at $10,000,000,000,000,000,000                                                        Source:   NASA 16 Psyche Asteroid 16 Psyche Asteroid Discovered by NASA's Hubble NASA just struck gold!  NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has discovered a rare, heavy and tremendously valuable asteroid called "16 Psyche".  The metal asteroid is located between Jupiter and Mars in the Solar system's main asteroid belt.  It's about the size of West Virginia and is 230 million miles from Earth.  Unlike most asteroids that are rocky or icy, 16 Psyche is almost entirely metal. The research team that made the discovery thinks it may be made of iron and nickel.  Given its size and metal content, 16 Psyche is valued by experts at $10,000,000,000,000,000,000.  That is 10,000 times more valuable than the value of the global economy. New Psyche Mission In 2022, NASA Discovery Mission Psyche will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.  An orbiting probe will reac

  Second Launch This Week of Fleets of Satellites Today                                                       Source: SpaceX Promise of Inexpensive, High Speed Internet SpaceX today successfully launched into orbit another fleet of 60 internet satellites.  It was the second Starlink launch this week as SpaceX and CEO Elon Musk continue to build their growing mega-constellation of satellites to deliver inexpensive, high speed internet from space.  Musk now has in orbit more than 800 Starlink satellites. Remarkable Technology The technology that Musk has developed at SpaceX is remarkable.  Today, nine minutes after launch, the Falcon 9 rocket's 1st stage booster that boosted the satellites into space returned to Earth and successfully landed on one of SpaceX's drone ships, known as Just Read the Instructions,  in the Atlantic Ocean.  The precision of the landing is awesome. The 60 satellites continued into space for their low Earth orbits.   This is the 19th launch for SpaceX in

  SpaceX & Microsoft Tie-Up to Win Space Customers                                                  Source:  Tesla Starlink Starlink and Azure Cloud Computing This technology combination between Elon Musk's SpaceX and Microsoft is fascinating.  Microsoft is expanding its Azure cloud computing platform into space through a partnership with SpaceX's growing constellation of low earth orbiting satellites for inexpensive, global broadband internet - Starlink.  Starlink is a big space-based internet opportunity and is already being beta-tested in the northern US, in tribal communities and in southern Canada.  Starlink can give Microsoft's Azure a potentially big edge over rival Amazon's cloud computing platform for business. Cloud Business Demand Is Soaring Because of the restrictions of COVID-19, demand for cloud services are soaring as adults and children work from home.  Microsoft has tested its Azure cloud with satellites in space and established a space venture addr

  Grows to 835 Satellite System                                                                      Source:  SpaceX Starlink Launch Moderate Coverage for North America SpaceX launched 60 more Starlink internet satellites into orbit on Sunday with another batch ready to launch on Wednesday.  The Sunday launch to build an inexpensive global internet service brings the total sats deployed to 835 satellites.  That is enough to reach CEO Elon Musk's target of 800 deployed satellites in low Earth orbit to start testing for moderate internet coverage for parts of North America.  This was Space X's 14th launch of Starlink satellites.  To achieve global broadband coverage, Musk says he plans to launch 120 new Starlink satellites per week. Incredible Technology Not just the Starlink technology is incredible, so too is the rocket technology for launch that's being deployed.   The Sunday launch was aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's sixth flight.  After the successful launch, the f

  Musk's Latest SpaceX and Tesla Breakthroughs                                                  Source:                                      Amazon  https://amazon.com/author/ekane #1 New Release on Amazon Journalist Edward Kane's latest book "The Elon Musk Factor" is now the #1 new release in Aeronautics and Astronautics and has been the #1 new release in Automotive Engineering on Amazon and Kindle.  It is listed in Amazon's Hot New Book list.  For a free preview, go to  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08KHCYGY9&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_WyYIFbN3CN1CB    I co-authored the book with Ed.

 A   #1 New Release on Amazon                                                                                                                     Source:  Amazon  https://amazon.com/author/ekane Musk's Latest SpaceX and Tesla Achievements  For the past week, journalist Edward Kane's latest book "The Elon Musk Factor" has been a #1 new release on Amazon and on the Amazon Hottest Book list.  To learn about the entrepreneur's most recent breakthroughs in electric vehicles, automotive engineering, space travel and renewable energy, take a free preview at  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08KHCYGY9&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_5mIGFb7N0RYTC   I co-authored the book with Ed.

  CEO Elon Musk's Roadster Approaches Mars                                                                           Source:  SpaceX and Tesla "Starman" Behind the Wheel, Inside a Rocket SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk's red, $100,000 Tesla Roadster had made its closest approach to Mars.  The Roadster driver "Starman", which is a mannequin in a spacesuit, are part of a payload inside the second stage of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Colonizing Mars One of entrepreneur Elon Musk's major goals is to colonize Mars and make all of us an interplanetary civilization. SpaceX says the Falcon Heavy rocket vehicle with the Roadster inside made their first close approach to Mars and was within 5 million miles of the planet.   Harvard Astronomer Tracking Harvard astronomer Jonathan Dowell is tracking the journey.  He says the SpaceX spacecraft is in an elliptical orbit around the Sun.  The vehicle is 37 million miles from Earth and has travelled 1.3 billion miles sin