Ariane 6 has lift off! Historic rocket launches Europe back into space

Jul09
by on July 9, 2024 at 7:21 pm
Posted In: Insider


Finally, Europe has regained independent access to space. The continent reestablished a sovereign launch capacity on Tuesday with the maiden flight of the Ariane 6 rocket. Built to take satellites into orbit, Ariane 6 lifted off from the European Spaceport in French Guiana at 16:00 local time (21:00 CEST). The rocket is now soaring into the cosmos with a payload of satellites and experiments. Once the cargo is dropped off, Ariane 6’s upper stage will burn up to reduce space trash. The demonstration mission aims to prove the launcher’s capabilities. It alsos close a dismal chapter for the European Space Agency…

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Europe’s Ariane 6 ready for launch: Here’s how the rocket will reach orbit

Jul08
by on July 8, 2024 at 12:32 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


Europe is set to regain independent access to space tomorrow, July 9, when the long-awaited Ariane 6 rocket lifts off for the first time. The heavy-lift satellite launcher — commissioned by the European Space Agency (ESA) and made by ArianeGroup — was supposed to replace its predecessor, Ariane 5, right after its retirement a year ago. But a series of delays in developing Ariane 6, problems with the Vega-C small-lift launcher, and the loss of access to Russia’s Soyuz rockets following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, left Europe with no launch system of its own. As a result, for the…

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ITER troubles expose need for fusion between startups and governments

Jul05
by on July 5, 2024 at 3:31 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


ITER, set to be the world’s largest experimental fusion reactor, has been delayed yet again. The €25bn megaproject will only switch on in 2034, and start producing energy in 2039. That’s almost a decade later than originally planned.  Thirty-five nations including the UK, US, China, and Russia launched ITER in 2006 to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power. But startups may end up beating them to it.  As private companies race to commercialise fusion energy, it’s increasingly clear that ITER will take on a more supporting role. But that doesn’t mean it’s obsolete. We chatted to some…

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This tiny autonomous sailboat is charting a new course for marine science

Jul05
by on July 5, 2024 at 9:52 am
Posted In: robots


Amar Shar, the co-founder of British AI unicorn Wayve, has backed Oshen, a budding startup building miniature autonomous sailboats. The little robots could transform the way scientists monitor everything from ocean temperatures and waves to biodiversity. The Plymouth, UK-based startup was founded last year by Anahita Laverack and Ciaran Dowds, two young engineering graduates at Imperial College London.     The startup is building small solar-powered “seaborn satellites” that sail around the ocean gathering data. The little robots could make marine data acquisition more accessible than ever before.     “We want to do for the sea what smallsats did for space: revolutionise access…

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AI transformation: Here’s what it actually means for a company

Jul05
by on July 5, 2024 at 7:30 am
Posted In: artificial intelligence


Remember when during the 2017 crypto-craze a beverage company renamed itself  “Long Blockchain” and saw its stock price quintuple?  Today, much like back then, you’d be hard pressed to find a company that isn’t shouting from the rooftops about adopting the transformative technology du jour, i.e. artificial intelligence.  Those building AI tools and hardware are basking in investor and media attention, whereas those using them are quick to boast about driving evolution, optimisation, and productivity through cutting-edge technology.  In terms of impact on business and the world at large, AI is in a category of its own. Its seismic potential…

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