TWiS 219: SpaceX Goes to War! - And Other Space Headlines

This week we're jumping into the space headlines for the past few weeks. It's been busy, and some exciting things are happening! A couple of companies are moving into the space solar power arena--something we've long advocated--and that's welcome progress. Starship is set to fly Starship test number 13, and a lot is riding on this--the system is overdue for some proof of concept to keep up with NASA's HLS contract. An exoplanet spotted a decade ago has shown signs of a potentially habitable atmosphere; there are landslides--big ones--on Pluto, and evidence of "space candy" sugars in an interstellar cloud are in the news. Finally, SpaceX is doubling down on their big defense contracts with a well-funded US Space Force. Join us for all the latest!

Headlines:

• SpaceX Starship Flight 13 Launch Aborted Due to Engine Issue
• Meteorite Crashes Into New Jersey, Preserved Sample Fuels Origins of Life Research
• Discovery of Atmosphere Around Habitable-Zone Exoplanet LHS 1140 b
• NASA Moon Tree Planted After Artemis 1 Mission
• Reflect Orbital to Launch Mirrors in Space, Sparking Astronomer Backlash
• Landslides Found on Pluto Could Bury Entire Cities
• Rare Sugar Found in Interstellar Cloud Hints at Building Blocks of Life
• SpaceX's Growing Military Launch Contracts and Pentagon Ties
• Space Development Agency's Expanding Satellite Constellation for Space Force
• Starship's Dual Focus: NASA Moon Landings vs. Mars and Satellite Deployment
• Artemis 3 Updates: New Renderings, Docking Plans, and Starlink HD Laser Payloads
• Defense Innovation Unit's Push for Space-Based Power Beaming Technology
• Pulse Space and Laser-Based Satellite Power and Communication
• New Satellite Concept to Detect Nuclear Devices in Orbit Amid Global Security Concerns

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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