Scientists announced yesterday the strongest evidence yet for possible alien life after detecting gases in a distant planet&#8217;s atmosphere that, on Earth, are only produced by living organisms.
The James Webb Space Telescope detected dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide in the atmosphere of planet K2-18 b, according to a study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/science/scientists-find-strongest-evidence-yet-life-an-alien-planet-2025-04-16/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> by Reuters.
These gases are produced on Earth exclusively by biological processes, primarily by algae.
Located approximately 124 light-years from Earth, K2-18 b is 8.6 times Earth&#8217;s mass and orbits in the &#8220;habitable zone&#8221; of a red dwarf star where liquid water could exist.
The gases were detected with a 99.7% confidence level, meaning there&#8217;s still a 0.3% chance the observation could be a statistical fluke.
&#8220;This is a transformational moment in the search for life beyond the solar system,&#8221; said astrophysicist Nikku Madhusudhan of Cambridge University, who led the study. &#8220;We have entered the era of observational astrobiology.&#8221;
Scientists stress this finding should be viewed cautiously, with Madhusudhan noting it&#8217;s &#8220;in no one&#8217;s interest to claim prematurely that we have detected life.&#8221; Additional observations are needed to rule out non-biological explanations.
The planet could potentially be a &#8220;hycean world&#8221; – covered by a liquid water ocean with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.
&#8220;The only scenario that currently explains all the data obtained so far is one where K2-18 b is a hycean world teeming with life,&#8221; Madhusudhan explained.
The research team&#8217;s detection involved analyzing starlight passing through K2-18 b&#8217;s atmosphere using Webb&#8217;s highly sensitive instruments.
The gases were detected at concentrations &#8220;thousands of times higher than their concentrations in the Earth&#8217;s atmosphere, and cannot be explained without biological activity based on existing knowledge,&#8221; according to Madhusudhan.
Christopher Glein, principal scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Texas, emphasized the need for caution when interpreting these results.
&#8220;The rich data from K2-18 b make it a tantalizing world,&#8221; said Glein. &#8220;Yet, we must be very careful to test the data as thoroughly as possible.&#8221;
To conclusively determine whether these gases indicate the presence of life, scientists plan to conduct additional observations.
&#8220;First we need to repeat the observations two to three times to make sure the signal we are seeing is robust and to increase the detection significance,&#8221; Madhusudhan explained, noting that researchers aim to reduce the odds of a statistical fluke to below one in a million.
This detection represents what Madhusudhan calls a &#8220;transformational moment&#8221; in our search for extraterrestrial life, moving humanity closer to answering whether we are alone in the universe – a question that has fascinated mankind for millennia.

Neptune Illustration

Scientists Report Strongest Evidence Yet For Possible Alien Life

Aliens

General

Outer Space

Space

World

CBS News host Gayle King took issue with those who referred to her eight minutes in space — with an all-female, celebrity-heavy &#8220;crew&#8221; — as &#8220;a ride,&#8221; arguing that it was sexist and &#8220;disrespectful&#8221; to do so.
King responded to critics in an interview with Extra after her Blue Origin space flight — alongside performer Katy Perry and Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos&#8217; fiancée Lauren Sanchez, among others — returned to earth, also hitting back at those who complained about the expense of such a &#8220;frivolous&#8221; trip.
WATCH:
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Gayle King responds to criticism of her Blue Origin space flight, says people calling it &quot;a ride&quot; is &quot;disrespectful.&quot; Full interview 🔗: <a href="https://t.co/VIwjEycANG">https://t.co/VIwjEycANG</a> <a href="https://t.co/c1Bn6Jntaq">pic.twitter.com/c1Bn6Jntaq</a>
&mdash; ExtraTV (@extratv) <a href="https://twitter.com/extratv/status/1912184840075825302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I think it’s good that we can really address it,&#8221; King said. &#8220;Because I was one of those people before I went on this flight and before I became educated on space. ‘Why are we spending so much money on space when there’s so much to do on Earth?’ I was one of those people.&#8221;
King said that part of what had changed her mind was learning that Blue Origin intended &#8220;to figure out a way to harness the waste here and figure out a way to put it in space to make the planet Earth a better place.&#8221;
&#8220;So I wish people would do more due diligence. And then my question is, have y’all been to space? Go to space or go to Blue Origin and see what they do &#8230; and then come back and say, ‘This is a terrible thing,'&#8221; King continued, arguing that if there were more demand for commercial space flights, the cost of such a flight would eventually come down.
King went on to complain about the underlying sexist tone of those referring to the eight-minute space flight as &#8220;a ride,&#8221; saying, &#8220;You never see a man, a male astronaut, who’s going up in space and they say, ‘Oh, he took a ride.’ … It’s always referred to as a flight or a journey, so I feel that’s a little disrespectful to what the mission was and the work that Blue Origin does.&#8221;
The Daily Wire&#8217;s Matt Walsh hit back at King, mocking her for referring to herself as &#8220;an astronaut&#8221; and saying, &#8220;Gayle King thinks she’s an astronaut because she took a 10 minute ride on her friend’s boyfriend’s rocket ship.&#8221;
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Gayle King thinks she’s an astronaut because she took a 10 minute ride on her friend’s boyfriend’s rocket ship 
 <a href="https://t.co/cmEDkvIei0">pic.twitter.com/cmEDkvIei0</a>
&mdash; Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1912493100901052874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Astronauts were stranded in space for 9 months. When they were rescued, they just said thank you and went back to work,&#8221; conservative pundit Stephen L. Miller pointed out.
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Astronauts were stranded in space for 9 months. When they were rescued, they just said thank you and went back to work. <a href="https://t.co/B6JhoSRDwC">https://t.co/B6JhoSRDwC</a>
&mdash; Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) <a href="https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1912182688775389198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Katy Perry was also mocked for overblowing the importance of the trip. &#8220;Katy Perry out here acting like she was just stranded in space by Joe Biden for nearly a year,&#8221; one commented after video circulated of the pop star kissing the ground.
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Katy Perry out here acting like she was just stranded in space by Joe Biden for nearly a year 
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&mdash; Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewHLive/status/1911826529774158113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Blue Origin Launches All-Female Crew Into Space For Brief Flight

Gayle King Complains It’s ‘Disrespectful,’ Sexist To Call 8-Minute Space Ride ‘A Ride’

Gayle King Complains It's 'Disrespectful,' Sexist To Call 8-Minute Space Ride 'A Ride'

Blue Origin

Celebrities

Gayle King

Katy Perry

Sexism

U.S.

Pop singer Katie Perry, TV personality Gayle King, and several others were on board the first all-female flight to space in decades that blasted off and landed successfully on Monday morning.
The women on Blue Origin&#8217;s NS-31 mission took off from West Texas on a trip that lasted just over ten minutes. It was the first all-female space crew <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/14/nx-s1-5364460/blue-origin-launch-female-space-flight-katy-perry">since</a> Soviet-era cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, who is also the first woman in space, orbited the Earth during a solo mission in 1963.
Besides Perry and King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez, who is engaged to Blue Origin and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, comprised the NS-31 crew.
The flight briefly traveled above the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, about 62 miles above Earth&#8217;s surface.
Several famous faces were present at the launch event, including Perry’s daughter Daisy and her husband, actor Orlando Bloom. King’s best friend, Oprah Winfrey, showed up to watch, as did other celebs, including Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian.
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Welcome to West Texas, NS-31 crew! <a href="https://t.co/8dFPqiaiZW">pic.twitter.com/8dFPqiaiZW</a>
&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1911216376334684513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The women did an <a href="https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a64341516/blue-origin-female-flight-crew-space-interview-2025/">interview</a> with Elle magazine before the launch during the first week of April. 
Perry insisted the event would be “glam,” while King said she was “terrified.” 
&#8220;I haven’t felt like this since childbirth, really,&#8221; said King.
The women have been getting some pushback from those asking the point of the mission. Actress Olivia Munn <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/olivia-munn-blasts-katy-perry-031544538.html">said as much</a> earlier this month on an episode of “Today with Jenna and Friends.”
“What’s the point? Is it historic that you guys are going on a ride? I think it’s a bit gluttonous,” Munn said. “Space exploration was to further our knowledge and to help mankind. What are they gonna do up there that has made it better for us down here?”
&#8220;No offense, but they&#8217;re passengers, not crew and it&#8217;s a flight, not a mission. They have zero controls over the ship, just sit there, then float for a few minutes, then return. The whole thing is like 15 minutes. It&#8217;s publicity, at best,&#8221; one commenter on X <a href="https://x.com/derekahunter/status/1911422259018822070">noted</a>.
&#8220;Katy Perry and some other random women were just launched into space on a Blue Origin rocket for no reason other than to waste money and virtue signal about women. I’m all for venturing into space but this wasteful wokeness doesn’t help,&#8221; another <a href="https://x.com/Bubblebathgirl/status/1911778146988212241">agreed</a>.
Many others said there was nothing wrong with taking the flight if the people on board had the means and the interest.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t care that it was an all female crew, I care that they made it back successfully. That was pretty cool,&#8221; one person <a href="https://x.com/RealLifeFootage/status/1911776391605162189">said</a>.

Blue Origin All-Female Crew, Including Katy Perry, Launches Into Space

 Blue Origin All Female Crew, Including Katy Perry, Launches Into Space 

Air and Space

Jeff Bezos

Women

News crews observing the splashdown of the SpaceX capsule carrying NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Suni Williams — and Russian cosmonaut Aleks Gorbunov — noticed that Crew-9 was being greeted by the locals shortly after they hit the water.
A post on X from NASA&#8217;s Johnson Space Center included video of a pod of curious dolphins approaching the craft after it landed in the water off Florida&#8217;s gulf coast, leaping out of the water nearby as crews approached to aid the astronauts.
&#8220;The unplanned welcome crew! Crew-9 had some surprise visitors after splashing down this afternoon,&#8221; the caption read.
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The unplanned welcome crew!
Crew-9 had some surprise visitors after splashing down this afternoon.🐬 <a href="https://t.co/yuOxtTsSLV">pic.twitter.com/yuOxtTsSLV</a>
&mdash; NASA&#39;s Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1902124589636784140?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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In the video, a female voice was describing some of the safety checks and procedures taking place in preparation for pulling the capsule out of the ocean — but then she noticed something else in the water: &#8220;Wow, we got a cute little pod of dolphins, it wasn&#8217;t just one or two! I mean, that water just looks beautiful. We had ideal splashdown parameters today, obviously &#8230; the weather is beautiful.&#8221;
Vice President JD Vance commented as well:
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This is extremely cool <a href="https://t.co/SQYJpSUA2l">https://t.co/SQYJpSUA2l</a>
&mdash; JD Vance (@JDVance) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance/status/1902131566521795054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;This is amazing. Dolphins were in the gulf to welcome the NASA astronauts home after being rescued,&#8221; another post on X read.
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This is amazing. Dolphins were in the gulf to welcome the NASA astronauts home after being rescued. 🐬🥹🚀 <a href="https://t.co/bsHPStq8rU">pic.twitter.com/bsHPStq8rU</a>
&mdash; Brandi Churchwell (@BrandiNChurch) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandiNChurch/status/1902124111599382897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Dolphin cam!!! <a href="https://t.co/K250W8CEzp">pic.twitter.com/K250W8CEzp</a>
&mdash; Ellie in Space 🚀💫 (@esherifftv) <a href="https://twitter.com/esherifftv/status/1902123576032985131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Right now: Dolphins are greeting the SpaceX Dragon that just splashed down in the Gulf of America,&#8221; The Daily Wire&#8217;s Kassy Akiva posted.
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Right now: Dolphins are greeting the SpaceX Dragon that just splashed down in the Gulf of America. <a href="https://t.co/TMiQjTd6ev">pic.twitter.com/TMiQjTd6ev</a>
&mdash; Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1902122814649385221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;WOW! Dolphins are providing the welcoming committee for Dragon Freedom!&#8221; NASA Spaceflight posted.
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🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬 <a href="https://t.co/45wDD9HWFy">pic.twitter.com/45wDD9HWFy</a>
&mdash; NSF &#8211; NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1902123090886181072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Astronauts who were stuck in space for nine months splashing down in the Gulf of America and immediately being surrounded by a pack of dolphins is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen,&#8221; Greg Price added.
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Astronauts who were stuck in space for nine months splashing down in the Gulf of America and immediately being surrounded by a pack of dolphins is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. <a href="https://t.co/XqKauJtFzh">pic.twitter.com/XqKauJtFzh</a>
&mdash; Greg Price (@greg_price11) <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1902128146121457967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Williams and Wilmore were initially supposed to stay on the International Space Station (ISS) for one week, but a problem with their Boeing Starliner craft left them stranded for nine months. Hague and Gorbunov arrived on the ISS several months later, and were there for just under six months prior to the rescue crew&#8217;s arrival. SpaceX&#8217;s Dragon capsule is set to be hoisted onto a rescue ship, after which crew members will be allowed to exit the capsule and will undergo medical checks.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Returns To Earth

‘Unplanned Welcome Crew’: Curious Dolphins Swarm Capsule As Astronauts Splash Down

'Unplanned Welcome Crew': Curious Dolphins Swarm Capsule As Astronauts Splash Down

International Space Station (ISS)

NASA

SpaceX

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams’ long overdue return to Earth could be just around the corner, thanks in large part to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Wilmore and Williams launched from Cape Canaveral on June 5 of last year on a Boeing Staliner capsule for what was expected to be a brief mission. Unfortunately, the craft suffered a series of issues, including “helium leaks and thruster failures,” resulting in the astronauts remaining on the International Space Station (ISS). The Boeing craft that took the astronauts eventually returned to Earth empty in September.
President Donald Trump asked Elon Musk in January for assistance in bringing the stranded astronauts home.
“I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to ‘go get’ the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113909188940119917" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on social media. “They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!”
SpaceX’s rescue launch was scuttled on Wednesday following a hydraulic issue, but the ship launched Friday, carrying four astronauts to the ISS who will have a 6-month stint on the research craft.
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Have a great time in space, y&#8217;all! 
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crew10?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crew10</a> lifted off from <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAKennedy</a> at 7:03pm ET (2303 UTC) on Friday, March 14. <a href="https://t.co/9Vf7VVeGev">pic.twitter.com/9Vf7VVeGev</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1900684862035546258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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After some overlap with the stranded astronauts and the new crew, it is expected that Wilmore and Williams will splash down at some point next week.
During a recent interview, Williams said that she and Wilmore “appreciate all the love and support from everybody,” and that they are excited to be coming home.

Europa Clipper

WATCH: SpaceX Launches New Crew To Relieve Astronauts Stranded For 9 Months

Donald Trump

Elon Musk

Starting Friday evening and lasting for a few more evenings, humans will have the rare opportunity to view all seven non-Earth planets in the solar system at the same time. The next time such an opportunity will arise won’t be until 2040.
The planets will be formed in what is called a planetary alignment, or “planetary parade.” Normally, such a view is not possible because the orbital period of each planet is different.
“The eight planets in our solar system orbit the sun in roughly the same plane because they all originally formed from the same <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2260005-weve-seen-a-planet-being-born-while-its-star-is-still-forming/">disc of debris</a> around the sun,” New Scientist <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2470069-how-to-see-every-planet-in-the-solar-system-at-once-this-week/">explains</a>. “The line the sun traces across the daytime sky – called the ecliptic – aligns with this plane, so when the planets appear in the sky, they all appear roughly along the ecliptic. It isn’t a perfect line of planets, because their orbits are tilted slightly, but it is fairly close.&#8221;
The outlet stated that the best time to view the planets is just after sunset. Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus, unlike Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and Neptune will not lie close to the horizon and thus will not disappear as quickly.
“It’s great to see the interest the planetary parade is generating,” Professor David Armstrong of the University of Warwick, U.K., reflected. “Engagement in astronomy, looking up at the sky, and appreciating the wonder of our solar system are all fantastic, and I encourage anyone interested to take the time to step outside and see the planets with their own eyes if they get the chance over the next few days, and a clear sky.”
Ed Krupp, director of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, cautioned that people needed more than the naked eye to see the planets. He asserted that the planets “are always more or less on the same path, and occasionally a few more of them are visible in the night sky. But the general message is that, ‘I will go outside and see these planets strung like pearls across the sky.’ That’s just not the case.”
“If you wanted to see Mercury, you might get lucky around the evening, shortly after the sunset, in the twilight, but only if you knew where to look,” Krupp added. “Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are all up in the sky between the western horizon and a bit overhead to the east.”
“Uranus and Neptune are hard to spot without a telescope, as both planets are blue and orbit in the dim outskirts of the solar system,” The Los Angeles Times <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-26/7-planet-parade-lines-up-in-the-sky-on-friday-how-to-see-it-from-socal">noted</a>.

All 7 Other Planets Visible Simultaneously Over Next Few Days

Earth

Science

Blue Origin’s next mission to space will be solely composed of women, including multiple celebrities.
CBS News journalist Gayle King, recording artist Katy Perry, and pilot Lauren Sánchez, who is engaged to Amazon founder and Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos, will be part of the six person crew. Bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen will also be part of the group, along with former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe film producer Kerianne Flynn.
King <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRx-WG2BCLo">reacted</a> to the announcement this morning, telling her co-hosts that she’s “so afraid,” but also &#8220;so excited about it.&#8221;
She went on to say she never dreamed of going to space, but eventually her kids and her friend Oprah Winfrey helped change her mind. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how to explain being terrified and excited at the same time,&#8221; King said of the upcoming mission. &#8220;It&#8217;s like how I felt about to deliver a baby.&#8221;
The <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-31-mission">announcement</a> on the company’s webpage noted that Sánchez “is honored to lead a team of explorers on a mission that will challenge their perspectives of Earth, empower them to share their own stories, and create lasting impact that will inspire generations to come.”
&#8220;This mission will be the 11th human flight for the New Shepard program and the 31st in its history,&#8221; Blue Origin stated. &#8220;To date, the program has flown 52 people above the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. This is the first all-female flight crew since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo spaceflight in 1963.&#8221;
Blue Origin did not yet announce the date of the flight.
Reactions on social media have been mixed, with many questioning Kate Perry being added to the flight crew especially.
“Heavy sigh,” one comment says.
“And I’m out. Peace,” another person wrote.
“lauren sanchez&#8217;s space suit gonna be interesting,” a third person commented, referencing the revealing outfit Sanchez wore to President Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
“Talk about equality! Why aren&#8217;t some people from disenfranchised communities allowed to experience this like the wealthy can?” another commenter said.
“Keep that dei alive,” another person reacted.

Katy Perry, Gayle King Announce They’re Joining All-Woman Space Flight

Katy Perry, Gayle King Announce They're Joining All-Woman Space Flight

Elon Musk&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/spacex" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SpaceX</a> successfully caught its Super Heavy Booster for a second time after the launch of its Starship megarocket — the largest rocket in the world — on Thursday.
The launch for Starship&#8217;s 7th test flight at its Starbase in south Texas took place in clear conditions. Just seven-and-a-half minutes after launching Starship into orbit, the Heavy Booster, which is 232 feet tall, returned to the launch pad and was caught by two massive metal arms that Musk calls &#8220;chopsticks.&#8221; The feat marks the second time SpaceX has caught its rocket with the chopsticks after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/looked-like-magic-spacex-successfully-launches-super-heavy-booster-returns-it-to-launch-tower" target="_blank" rel="noopener">making history</a> with the new engineering achievement in October.
&#8220;We caught the rocket!!&#8221; Musk posted on X.
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We caught the rocket!! 🚀 
<a href="https://t.co/gVv34W9l2n">pic.twitter.com/gVv34W9l2n</a> <a href="https://t.co/o0vA3XXi8L">pic.twitter.com/o0vA3XXi8L</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1880025214463144071?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="SpaceX Catches Super Heavy Starship 7 Rocket Booster" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NMgPE7frhMw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Catching the rocket is important for the space company as it hopes to eventually catch the Starship spacecraft itself, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/science/live-news/starship-test-flight-7-launch-spacex/index.html?t=1737068722896" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported,</a> a development that could save SpaceX money and time as it pushes forward to achieve Musk&#8217;s goal of colonizing Mars.
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Shortly after Starship launched into orbit, SpaceX lost communication with the spacecraft, and it was lost.
&#8220;We can confirm that we did lose the ship,” said SpaceX engineer Kate Tice, according to CNN.
Starship, which was on a test flight, was supposed to go around Earth and splash into the Indian Ocean.
“We obviously need to go through all the data. It’s going to take some time. In the next hours, days — we’re going to figure out exactly what happened, come back, fly the next one, get farther,&#8221; Communications Manager Dan Huot said. “Reminder, it’s a test of an experimental vehicle.”
The launch was initially scheduled for Monday, but was moved back to Wednesday and then moved again to Thursday over inclement weather.

WATCH: SpaceX Successfully Catches Second Super Heavy Booster

President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> announced on Wednesday that he has nominated Jared Isaacman, a close ally of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, to be the next Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The 41-year-old billionaire is an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, Trump said in a statement.
&#8220;Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era.&#8221;
Isaacman founded Shift4, a payment processing company that he leads as CEO, 25 years ago.
&#8220;Jared has demonstrated exceptional leadership, building a trailblazing global financial technology company,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;He also co-founded and served as CEO of Draken International, a defense aerospace company, for over a decade, supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, and our Allies.&#8221;
Isaacman may shift NASA&#8217;s current mission set of going back to the moon to the bold vision laid out by Musk: going to Mars.
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The New York Times reported that Isaacman entered the space industry in early 2021 when he announced that he was financing a private mission to space in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
&#8220;The mission was the first in which no one aboard was a professional astronaut,&#8221; The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/04/science/jared-isaacman-trump-nasa.html">reported</a>. &#8220;Isaacman followed up this year with another trip to orbit called Polaris Dawn. This mission — a collaboration with SpaceX — aimed to test out new technologies that would be needed to implement Musk’s dream of eventually sending people to Mars.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
If civilization is reasonably stable for the next ~30 years, a self-sustaining city of a million+ people will be built on Mars
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1845451323640250512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
Isaacman said in a statement that he was honored to be nominated for the role, calling space exploration &#8220;the most incredible adventure in human history.&#8221;
&#8220;On my last mission to space, my crew and I traveled farther from Earth than anyone in over half a century,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I can confidently say this second space age has only just begun. Space holds unparalleled potential for breakthroughs in manufacturing, biotechnology, mining, and perhaps even pathways to new sources of energy. There will inevitably be a thriving space economy—one that will create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space.&#8221;
&#8220;At NASA, we will passionately pursue these possibilities and usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilization,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I was born after the Moon landings; my children were born after the final space shuttle launch. With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this: We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place. We will inspire children, yours and mine, to look up and dream of what is possible. Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I am honored to receive President Trump’s <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA. Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history.
On my last mission…
— Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) <a href="https://twitter.com/rookisaacman/status/1864346915183157636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2024</a></blockquote>

US-SPACE-SPACEX-AEROSPACE

Trump Nominates Ally Of Elon Musk To Lead NASA

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Elon Musk&#8217;s SpaceX is set to conduct a sixth flight test of Starship on Tuesday, culminating in another attempt to catch the Super Heavy booster in midair as it returns to earth.
According to a <a href="https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">release</a> posted on the SpaceX website, a 30 minute launch window opens at 4 p.m. CST. Live broadcasts will be available on the website, on the X TV app, and on X via @SpaceX. The schedule is fluid and could change at any time.
Noting the success of the fifth flight test — which saw the Super Heavy booster caught successfully by the &#8220;chopsticks&#8221; — the release stated that the sixth flight test aimed to expand on SpaceX&#8217;s achievements.
&#8220;The next Starship flight test aims to expand the envelope on ship and booster capabilities and get closer to bringing reuse of the entire system online. Objectives include the booster once again returning to the launch site for catch, reigniting a ship Raptor engine while in space, and testing a suite of heatshield experiments and maneuvering changes for ship reentry and descent over the Indian Ocean,&#8221; the release read.
&#8220;The success of the first catch attempt demonstrated the design feasibility while providing valuable data to continue improving hardware and software performance,&#8221; it continued. &#8220;Hardware upgrades for this flight add additional redundancy to booster propulsion systems, increase structural strength at key areas, and shorten the timeline to offload propellants from the booster following a successful catch. Mission designers also updated software controls and commit criteria for the booster’s launch and return.&#8221;
SpaceX has additional flight tests planned, and predictions for a seventh include a Starship that &#8220;will fly with significant upgrades including redesigned forward flaps, larger propellant tanks, and the latest generation tiles and secondary thermal protection layers as we continue to iterate towards a fully reusable heat shield.&#8221;
The ultimate goal is to increase the reliability and reusability of multiple components within the Starship system, SpaceX said.
&#8220;Learnings from this and subsequent flight tests will continue to make the entire Starship system more reliable as we close in on full and rapid reusability.&#8221;

Space X’ Account Displayed On The X Social Network Platform

SpaceX Plans 6th Starship Flight Test, Repeat Midair Rocket Catch

SpaceX Plans 6th Starship Flight Test With Repeat Of Midair Rocket Catch

Rockets

Retired United States Air Force Brigadier General Buzz Aldrin, a famed NASA astronaut, endorsed former President Donald Trump this week.
Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon, said that he was impressed by how Trump prioritized space exploration during his time in office.
&#8220;Under President Trump&#8217;s first term, America saw a revitalized interest in space,&#8221; he said. &#8220;His Administration reignited national efforts to get back to the Moon, and push on to Mars – programs that continue today.&#8221;
&#8220;The Trump Administration also reinstituted the National Space Council, so leading voices could advocate for the importance of space to America,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Finally, under President Trump, the Nation&#8217;s defense was enhanced with the creation of the U.S. Space Force– increasingly important as space becomes a contested domain.&#8221;
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He said he was also excited by individuals pushing for space exploration in the private sector, namely Elon Musk, who he called a &#8220;visionary.&#8221;
He said he was deeply concerned about the global security landscape, domestic economic concerns, and stability in local communities.
&#8220;The Presidency requires an understanding of human nature, clarity in judgement, decisiveness, knowledge, understanding, and calm under pressures few have a natural ability to manage, or the life experience to successfully undertake,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It is a job where decisions are made that routinely involve American lives – some urgently but not without thought. The job requires sober analysis of frightening scenarios, and the instinct to lead with resolve.&#8221;
He said that he understands the importance of having certain leadership qualities based on his combat experience during the Korean War.
&#8220;Most citizens rightly consider it an honor to cast their vote for a leader they believe will best serve the Nation – our government by, for and of the people,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brigadier-general-buzz-aldrin-endorses-donald-j-trump-for-president-of-the-united-states-302291636.html">said</a>. &#8220;For me, for the future of our Nation, to meet enormous challenges, and for the proven policy accomplishments above, I believe the nation is best served by voting for Donald J. Trump.&#8221;
&#8220;I wholeheartedly endorse him for President of the United States,&#8221; he concluded. &#8220;Godspeed President Trump, and God Bless the United States of America.&#8221;

Dr. Buzz Aldrin Honored With “Richard Nixon Greatest Comeback Award” Ahead Of The 50th Anniversary Of The Apollo 11 Splashdown

Buzz Aldrin Endorses Trump For President

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A Princeton University astrophysicist believes that with the help of a new telescope in Chile, she and her team can confirm exactly what happened after the Big Bang that created the known universe 13.8 billion years ago.
Scientists have theorized that by observing the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the remnant of the light left after the explosion of the Big Bang, they could determine how the universe has been inflating ever since.
But as astrophysicist Jo Dunkley explained, scientists can “extrapolate backwards and infer what could have happened to produce the patterns we see in the CMB &#8230; But there are other scenarios you could imagine that could produce those patterns.”
Dunkley <a href="applewebdata://D263A0C7-C432-4711-B075-41D8C46F1E12/v">told</a> New Scientist’s Jonathan O’Callaghan, “Before we had any of the particles we are familiar with now – protons, neutrons, light and so on – we think the universe was permeated by a different kind of energy. We call it the inflaton field, but we really don’t know exactly what it was. The energy stored in that field drove this exponentially fast growth of space at the beginning of time. It did so until the inflaton field decayed and we started forming the particles we know and the universe evolved into the form we have now.”
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Dunkley said she and her colleagues have been using the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) in Chile, but the new telescopes at the Simons Observatory will make the job more accurate. She explained that they want to observe gravitational waves —ripples in the fabric of space-time that “squeeze and stretch space in a particular way; they squeeze in one direction and stretch in another” to see how the light of the CMB is polarized.
“We’re looking for this very, very faint polarized signal in the CMB that could only come from gravitational waves,” she stated.
But because it’s a tiny signal, and the scientists have to peer through the Milky Way to see it and light from other sources in the galaxy complicates matters as well as water vapor in the atmosphere, the capacity to use both the Simons Observatory in Chile and the BICEP-Keck telescopes at the South Pole could prove crucial to getting a better view because conditions at the two telescopes are different.
“We’re looking for variations in what we can think of as the temperature of the CMB that are billionths of a fraction of a degree,” Dunkley said. “The polarized signal is a very subtle departure from something uniform. The Simons Observatory will help because it has tens of thousands of detectors, which is 10 times more than previous generations of telescopes such as the ACT.”
“There’s so much richness of information in the CMB,” Dunkley enthused. “I remember a few years ago people thinking we had measured the CMB, and that was it, done. Then we realized how much there is to know, not only in its polarization, but as a backlight through the whole universe. It just keeps producing more exciting stuff.”

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