The U.S. was wary of China’s military having complete control over the space program, reflecting the escalating tech rivalry between the two nations.
The returned samples are expected to provide new insights into the moon’s geology and history. China aims to put a person on the moon by 2030.
China’s Chang’e-6 spacecraft heads to far side of the moon
China launched a Long March 5 rocket on Friday, May 3, carrying the Chang’e-6 spacecraft, aiming to be the first mission to return a sample from the far side of the moon. The spacecraft, named after the Chinese moon goddess, will take five days to reach the moon, with the mission spanning a total of 53 days.
“The Chang’e-6 aims to achieve breakthroughs in the design and control technology of the moon’s retrograde orbit, intelligent sampling, take-off and ascent technologies, and automatic sample-return on the far side of the moon,” Ge Ping, deputy director of the China National Space Administration’s (CNSA) Center of Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering said.
The Chang’e-6 mission includes four components: an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a reentry module. The lander will collect moon dust and rocks from the South Pole-Aitken basin, a large crater over 4 billion years old. Afterward, an ascender will carry the samples to the orbiter, which will transfer them to the reentry module for the return to Earth.
NASA worm returns as interest in space grows around the world
NASA’s logo from the ’50s to today have switched multiple times. First it was the meatball, then the worm, then back to the meatball, and now it’s both the meatball and the worm. The return of the worm comes as more countries and companies revive a space craze.
“It’s become a cult thing with a huge following,” Richard Danne, the man who designed the worm logo in the ’70s, said. “We had a lot of wonderful products, you know, rockets and space shuttles and the Hubble telescope. It’s sexy and exciting for people in that time. It was, but it’s still today. Aren’t people excited about manned space flight? Lunar missions coming up? I mean, it’s just revved up again.”
The meatball is NASA’s classic round multicolored logo with stars and a swoosh around the acronym. The worm is a smooth typeface in a warm red — different logos for different eras of space travel. The worm went out of fashion with the agency in the ’90s, replaced by the chunkier meatball.
But in 2017, the worm started cropping up on officially sanctioned T-shirts and merchandise. By 2022, the worm was emblazoned across the Artemis 1 rocket. The logo has only increased in use over the years since, with the worm appearing on souvenirs, uniforms and signs.
In 2023 a large statue of the worm appeared in front of the new Earth Information Center. This coincided with NASA bestowing the Exceptional Public Achievement medal upon Danne — the worm’s creator.
“It’s really wonderful for NASA,” Bert Ulrich, the multimedia liaison for NASA, said. “Because we’re able to express our message of going back to the moon in really fun, interesting ways and they incorporate the elegance of the worm or the more wow factor of the meatball in really, really wonderful ways.”
A change in look isn’t the only shift happening in recent years. A space craze comeback has also taken over the world, calling for a return to the classics as NASA plans its return to the Moon.
“It’s more popular today in the world than it was back then,” Danne said. “And that’s hard to explain, I think, but it’s just what it is. So there’s something at the core of the whole thing and the fact that it was serious but inspirational in a way. It’s hard to do with very simple things but that’s the way I’ve lived my life and career with simplicity so it works.”
Blind, visually impaired can hear April’s solar eclipse with new device
As the total solar eclipse crosses North America from Texas to Maine in April, blind or visually-impaired people will have the opportunity to experience this cosmic event through sound, thanks to a device called LightSound. Developed by the Harvard University Astronomy Lab and blind astronomer Wanda Diaz-Merced, LightSound translates ambient light into sound, offering a new way to experience an eclipse.
“We developed a device called the LightSound that essentially takes light and converts it to sound as a tool for the blind and visually impaired,” Allyson Bieryla, manager of the Astronomy Lab, explained.
This innovative technology will be available at public gatherings, enabling those who cannot see the eclipse to hear it instead.
The device works by converting the varying levels of light during an eclipse into different sounds: flute tones represent bright daylight, a clarinet sounds as the light dims during the eclipse and soft clicks signal the total eclipse phase when the moon completely obscures the sun.
“So one option, you can hook this up to a speaker, and then you can project the sound to an entire group,” Bieryla said, detailing how the device mimics the eclipse’s progression through sound. “As the sun is changing, this would be like the bright light of the sun. And then as it starts to dim, it goes away and the sound gets lower. And then the shadow comes in and it gets even lower and starts clicking.”
Initially starting with three devices for the 2017 eclipse, the team aims to distribute at least 750 LightSound devices this year to locations in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. This effort is part of a larger goal to make astronomy more accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to see.
“This device isn’t just for a blind or low-vision person,” Bieryla said. “It could also be a tool for a person that engages with data differently.”
For those interested in creating their own LightSound device, the creators welcome individuals with soldering skills to take on the project, offering open-source code on their website.
Total solar eclipse means big business for US with Indy racing to be top spot
Indianapolis, Indiana, is known for many things: the Indy 500, being the birthplace of actor Brendan Fraser and talk show host David Letterman, and the home of the Peyton Manning-led Super Bowl XVI champion Colts. But now the town whose nicknames include Circle City and the Crossroads of America is seeking a new title: the Eclipse Capital of the Midwest.
For an entire weekend in April, Indiana’s capital will host a series of events all centered around one extraordinary show taking place millions of miles up. That’s right, America — a total solar eclipse is headed our way.
Well, total, only for people in Indiana or 14 other states.
“If you look at the path, [it] starts down in Austin, goes up through Dallas and all the way through Buffalo, but if you think about true mid-western cities, Cleveland is in the path but Indianapolis is smack dab in the crossroads of America and we are expecting 100,000 visitors at minimum to our city,” Clare Clark with Visit Indy told Straight Arrow News, speaking on the tourism the eclipse is expected to bring to the city.
On April 8, thousands will converge on Indy to join millions across the country looking up and gazing at the sky, as the sun, moon and Earth align in what’s called syzygy.
Dr. Kelly Korreck, the NASA program manager for the solar eclipse, said viewers will see the moon completely cover the sun, but that’s not all. Korreck said people will also see the sun’s outer corona — or atmosphere — which is “where our origins of space weather come from.”
A total solar eclipse is a rare event. It will be only the second time in seven years that the continental U.S. will experience one.
“There are 31.5 million people who are in that path and around 200 million who live within a few hours’ drive of that path,” Korreck said. “And the entire continental United States, as well as parts of Alaska and Hawaii, will be seeing a partial eclipse. So that’s over 300 million people will experience a part of this celestial event.”
Staying safe while viewing the eclipse
The same rules from the 2017 total solar eclipse apply here. Don’t look directly at the sun, at least for most of the eclipse. People will need solar viewing glasses or a handheld solar viewer to safely witness the eclipse and prevent eye damage. To view it using a camera, telescope or binoculars, people will need solar filters.
However, there is a time when it’s safe to look directly at the sun without any eye protection. People can take those shades off during the brief total phase.
“Now, during the totality itself, which can last up to four minutes in different parts of the U.S., you don’t need the glasses,” Dr. Alex Lockwood, NASA’s Eclipse Engagement lead, said. “You can actually look at the sun for the only time during the daytime. However, before and after, as the moon is eclipsing the sun, in order to witness this event and to see these spectacular Baily’s Beads that happen just as you see the craters of the moon, as the moon is fully covering the sun, in order to appreciate all of that phenomenon you need [to wear the eclipse] glasses.”
Those who don’t live in Indiana or any one of the 15 states in the 115-mile-wide path of totality are not out of luck, because a partial eclipse may still be visible. A partial eclipse happens when the moon covers most but not all of the sun. But even for a partial eclipse, people still need wear special glasses.
Sky’s the limit for eclipse-related offerings
However, if you are determined to see the total solar eclipse, how about viewing it at 30,000 feet?
Delta and Southwest are offering flights that pass through the path of totality. There was so much demand for it, Delta had to add a second path-of-totality flight after the first sold out.
Southwest partnered with Omni Hotels for a “Solarbration” sweepstakes. The lucky winner will fly on a plane predicted to be in the eclipse’s path and then stay in an out-of-this-world custom-designed hotel room inspired by the celestial event.
Businesses of all kinds are bringing the eclipse experience to customers in different ways.
Cleveland’s Market Garden Brewery created a hazy IPA called “The Totality.” The Donut Dude in Ohio is offering an eclipse special: seven donuts that display the different phases as the moon blocks the sun.
Fast-food spots are getting in on the fun, too. Sonic Drive-in released a limited-edition Blackout slush float that comes with a free pair of viewing glasses.
Indy becomes a top destination for total solar eclipse
Businesses and hotels in Indianapolis are buzzing in anticipation over the eclipse.
Clare Clark from Visit Indy touted the city is within a half-day drive to half of the nation’s population. Visit Indy is preparing for eclipse enthusiasts from Cincinnati, St. Louis, Madison, Wisconsin and other big cities to come and partake in the celebrations.
“If you want to take in the eclipse in the art and cultural lens you can go to Newfield which is our 152-acre museum,” Clark told Straight Arrow News.
Astronomy fans who also enjoy sports can camp out at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where NASA will be on hand to livestream the eclipse. NASA personnel will be joined by the family of Purdue alumnus Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon.
“We’re no stranger to hosting large scale events,” Clark said. “The Indianapolis 500 is the single largest sporting day event that brings 300,000 people to the Motor Speedway every May. This is what Indy does best. Our attractions, hotels, restaurants are all-hands-on-deck. We have 50 plus events that we are just monitoring right now in the city and more events are being added daily.”
Indy has company in wooing eclipse tourists
Indy is not alone in turning the eclipse into a memorable experience for tourists. All are hoping to see similar results to South Carolina in 2017, when that eclipse resulted in an economic impact of $269 million.
The Lone Star State, a major viewing hotspot for this eclipse, is hosting multiple events including the four-day Texas Eclipse Festival in Burnet. Morrilton, Arkansas, has an eclipse concert series and rising country music singer Dylan Marlowe is performing a post-eclipse concert in Rochester, New York.
The path of totality is certainly the place to be. Airbnb said it’s seen an increase of 1,000% in stays along the path. Expedia reported top cities are seeing massive spikes in hotel searches, up to 1,100%, and right there in the top 5 is that “Eclipse Capital of the Midwest” — Indianapolis.
“The eclipse won’t be coming through Indianapolis again until 2153, so this is truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Clark said. “And a proximity to all of those larger markets and how people can take a weekend or take a day trip to Indianapolis is what’s making us really hopeful about the influx of visitors we’re going to see on April 8.”
Russia says it may team with China to put first nuclear power plant on the moon
Russia and China are exploring a collaboration to revolutionize lunar habitation. The leaders of Russia’s Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration are considering the installation of the first nuclear power plant on the moon.
“Today we are seriously considering a project — somewhere at the turn of 2033 to 2035 — to deliver and install a power unit on the lunar surface together with our Chinese colleagues,” said Roscosmos Director General Yuri Borisov, highlighting the complexity of the endeavor.
The ambitious project seeks to make sustainable living on the moon and potentially other planets a reality by the mid-2030s, marking a significant advancement in space exploration. Russian officials have outlined plans to establish communication and power systems, and deploy advanced lunar landers, a jumping robot and smart mini-rovers for moon surface research.
China is scheduled to launch three moon missions, including the Chang’e 6 mission, in May.
Both countries have reiterated their opposition to the militarization of space, focusing instead on advancing space exploration.
President Biden meets with Alexei Navalny’s family ahead of major sanctions on Russia: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 23, 2024
President Biden meets with the family of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as the U.S. prepares to impose hundreds of sanctions on Russia. And AT&T reveals what was behind the massive outage that left thousands without phone service. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
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President Biden meets with Alexei Navalny’s family ahead of major sanctions on Russia
On Friday, Feb. 23, the United States is expected to announce more than 500 sanctions against Russia, just a day shy of the second anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The sanctions are also in response to the Kremlin’s role in the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. On Thursday, Feb. 22, President Joe Biden met with Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, and the couple’s daughter in California.
Aleksey Navalny was a fearless advocate for his beliefs who died unbroken by the tyranny he opposed. He fought corruption, inspired millions and never wavered in his insistence on free expression, the rule of law, and a Russia that is accountable to the people and not a dictator.…
“This morning, I had the honor of meeting with Alexei Navalny’s wife and daughter,” Biden told reporters after the meeting. “As to state the obvious, he was a man of incredible courage. And it’s amazing how his wife and daughter are emulating that. We’re going to be announcing the sanctions against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, who was responsible for his death.”
U.S. officials said some of the sanctions will target those directly involved in Navalny’s death. Reports say many of the sanctions will be aimed at Russia’s defense sector.
4 charged in connection to raid of boat where 2 Navy SEALs died
Four foreign nationals have been charged in connection to a U.S. raid last month that resulted in two Navy SEALs losing their lives. According to the Justice Department, the four men, all with Pakistani identification on them, were allegedly transporting Iranian-made weapons on Jan. 11 when the Navy intercepted their small, unflagged vessel in the Arabian Sea near the coast of Somalia.
U.S. officials said one of the SEALs slipped into the water while boarding the vessel, and the other jumped in to try to save him. Both were declared dead ten days later after an extensive search. In a press release announcing the charges, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the flow of weapons from Iran to Houthi rebel forces in Yemen threatens Americans and partners in the region.
CENTCOM Status Update on Missing U.S. Navy Seals
We regret to announce that after a 10-day exhaustive search, our two missing U.S. Navy SEALs have not been located and their status has been changed to deceased. The search and rescue operation for the two Navy SEALs reported… pic.twitter.com/OAMbn1mwK8
“Two Navy SEALs tragically lost their lives in the operation that thwarted the defendants charged today from allegedly smuggling Iranian-made weapons that the Houthis could have used to target American forces and threaten freedom of navigation and a vital artery for commerce,” Monaco said.
Prosecutors have dismissed Trump’s immunity claim as “frivolous,” stating the alleged conduct occurred after he left the White House. They also accuse him of actively obstructing government efforts to recover the documents. In June, Trump pleaded not guilty to 40 criminal counts. His trial is set to start in May.
Thousands of AT&T customers affected by major cellular outage Thursday
Calls, texts, and even 911 calls were not going through for AT&T customers in a major cellular outage that swept across cities, including San Francisco, on Thursday, Feb. 22. During the confusion, emergency services in some cities reported being overrun with calls of people testing whether they had service or not.
We are aware of an issue impacting AT&T wireless customers from making and receiving any phone calls (including to 911).
We are actively engaged and monitoring this.
The San Francisco 911 center is still operational.
“Please do not do this. If you can successfully place a non-emergency call to another number via your cell service then your 911 service will also work,” Massachusetts State Police said in a post on X.
The cellular company reported some customer outages mid-morning; by noon, some turned into 58,000 incidents being reported, according to a CNBC report. AT&T said it restored service to all affected customers on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 22.
Many 911 centers in the state are getting flooded w/ calls from people trying to see if 911 works from their cell phone. Please do not do this. If you can successfully place a non-emergency call to another number via your cell service then your 911 service will also work. #outage
But with the increasing threats of cyberattacks, everyone is wondering what happened. In a statement on the company’s website, AT&T said not to worry; the outage was not the result of a cyberattack; instead, it was caused by “the application and execution of an incorrect process used,” as the company said it was trying to expand its network.
Vice cutting hundreds of jobs, no longer publishing content to website
The changes came less than a year after Vice filed for bankruptcy and was then sold for $350 million to a group of lenders. Vice’s CEO said the digital outlet will now look to partner with established companies to distribute its content while emphasizing its social channels.
Odysseus becomes first U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon in over 50 years
“All stations, this is mission director on IM-1,” Mission Director Tim Crain said. “We’re evaluating how we can refine that signal and dial in the pointing for Odysseus. What we can confirm without a doubt is our equipment is on the surface of the moon, and we are transmitting. So congratulations IM team. We’ll see how much more we can get from that.”
Today, for the first time in half a century, America has returned to the Moon 🇺🇸.
On the eighth day of a quarter-million-mile voyage, @Int_Machines aced the landing of a lifetime.
The spacecraft Odysseus became the first moonlander launched by a private company to make the 239-thousand-mile trip successfully.
“What an outstanding effort,” Intuitive Machines CEO Stephen Altemus said. “I know this was a nail-biter, but we are on the surface, and we are transmitting. And welcome to the moon.”
Though, as expected, mission control initially lost contact with the spacecraft as it descended, Intuitive Machines was then able to detect a faint signal later confirming Odysseus was upright and starting to send back data. The team is now working to receive the first images from the moon.
NASA, which paid the company $118 million to deliver several experiments, hailed the landing a major achievement as it looks once again to send astronauts to the moon later in the 2020s.
There were no technical issues this time as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off around 1:05 a.m. EST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida— the rocket carrying a robotic lunar lander developed by the private company Intuitive Machines. A second “major milestone” was recorded shortly into Falcon 9’s flight when Intuitive Machine’s moon lander separated from the rocket’s second stage, according to NASA.
“Today’s Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission will provide insights into the lunar surface environment paving the way for Starship’s Human Landing System putting the first NASA Artemis astronauts on the Moon,” SpaceX posted on X.
Houston-based Intuitive Machines hopes its lander, Odysseus, will be the first U.S. spacecraft to touch down on the moon in over five decades. NASA is paying the company $118 million to carry six items, including a camera to observe the dust upon landing and a radio receiver system to study charged particles on the moon’s surface. Odysseus is scheduled to land on the moon’s south pole on Feb. 22.
Other items taken on the trip include insulation material from Columbia Sportswear and a sculpture from artist Jeff Koons.
“Just a couple hours away from the launch at 1AM EST Feb 14 of my artworks Moon Phases on Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission,” Koons wrote on X ahead of Falcon 9’s launch. “The images capture the Nova-C lunar lander being encapsulated on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. I am honored to have the first authorized artwork on the Moon.”
Just a couple hours away from the launch at 1AM EST Feb 14 of my artworks Moon Phases on Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission. The images capture the Nova-C lunar lander being encapsulated on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. I am honored to have the first authorized artwork on the Moon. pic.twitter.com/RpuSjbr7de
1 dead, 22 injured in Super Bowl parade shooting: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 15, 2024
One person is dead and more than 20 are wounded after shots are fired at a parade for the Super Bowl champions. And the lander looking to be the first U.S. spacecraft to touch down on the moon in five decades lifts off into space. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024.
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1 dead, 22 injured in shooting at Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade
At least one person was killed and 22 others were injured, including at least eight children, after shots were fired following following the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade on Wednesday, Feb. 14, sending fans running for cover outside Union Station. Video shows police holding down an apparent suspect.
Police confirmed three people have been detained but have not announced their identities or said if they will face charges. Authorities are looking into reports that bystanders tackled one of the three people being detained.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves told reporters she was angry over what had taken place.
“The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment,” Graves said. “We had over 800 law enforcement officers, Kansas City, and other agencies at the location to keep everyone safe. Because of bad actors, which were very few, this tragedy occurred.”
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered for the parade in downtown Kansas City to cheer on the Chiefs after their victory at Super Bowl LVIII. Police said all members of the Chiefs’ organization were safe. The NFL and several players issued statements following the shooting, including Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who posted on X, “Praying for Kansas City.”
Warning of ‘serious national security threat’ prompts alerts on Russia
More details are coming to light after a cryptic message by Congressman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, who warned of a “serious national security threat.” Turner, the Republican Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, called on President Biden to declassify all information related to the threat but did not elaborate further.
Multiple news outlets, citing sources, said Turner was referring to Russia, specifically its attempts at developing a nuclear-capable weapon in space that could take down satellites. The sources added that it is not currently an active threat. Connecticut Congressman Jim Hines, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told reporters that while the issue is serious, people should not panic.
Leaders in the Senate Intelligence Committee issued a statement saying they have the intelligence in question and have been tracking the issue. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said he had already scheduled a briefing for Thursday, Feb. 15, with congressional leaders and administration intelligence professionals to discuss the matter.
Houston-based Intuitive Machines hopes its lander, Odysseus, will be the first U.S. spacecraft to touch down on the moon in over five decades. NASA is paying the company $118 million to carry six items, including a camera to observe the dust upon landing and a radio receiver system to study charged particles on the moon’s surface.
Other items taken on the trip include insulation material from Columbia Sportswear and a sculpture from artist Jeff Koons. Odysseus is scheduled to land on the moon’s south pole on Feb. 22.
FDA approves first drug to treat severe frostbite
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug to treat severe frostbite in adults and reduce the risk of finger or toe amputation. The drug, Aurlumyn, injects affected areas and treats frostbite by opening blood vessels and preventing clots. It is expected to be available in the spring of 2024.
Frostbite happens when the skin and tissue get damaged by cold temperatures and occurs in stages, with painkillers and antibiotics typically used to treat mild frostbite. Severe frostbite, which happens when the skin and underlying tissue freeze, stopping blood flow, sometimes requires amputations.
Lyft admits to typo in earnings report
One company just found out how important it is to check for typos. The rideshare company Lyft saw its stock soar over 60% following the release of its quarterly earnings report late Tuesday, Feb. 13. The report said Lyft was expecting one of its profit margins to expand by 500 basis points, meaning five percentage points. Still, in reality, it was only expected to expand by 50 basis points or 0.5%.
The company admitted to the error during a call with investors on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Its CEO told CNBC he hopes the missed extra zero doesn’t take away from Lyft delivering its best financial quarter in its history. And despite the error and correction, the company’s stock was still up on Wednesday, Feb. 14.
University of Pennsylvania to be first Ivy League offering AI program
The rise of artificial intelligence is bringing change to almost every aspect of our lives, which means companies are looking for engineers with AI skills. Now, students at one Ivy League university can earn a degree in AI, and it’s not a fake.
The University of Pennsylvania will become the first Ivy League school to offer an engineering degree in AI when the undergrad program starts in the fall of 2024. Penn said the program will allow students to unlock AI’s potential as they learn the ethics of AI, legal matters surrounding the technology, and other topics. Penn will be the first Ivy League to have an artificial intelligence program, but other U.S. colleges, including Carnegie Mellon and Purdue, also offer bachelor’s degrees in AI.
House GOP impeaches Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 14, 2024
In their second attempt, House Republicans vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. And a driver is killed after crashing into the emergency room of a Texas hospital, leaving others critically injured. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.
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The GOP had the votes Tuesday night, Feb. 13, after failing to pass the measure on Tuesday, Feb. 6, thanks to the return of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who had been absent while seeking blood cancer treatment. The articles of impeachment passed by a vote of 214-213, with three Republicans siding with Democrats to oppose impeaching Mayorkas. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said that Mayorkas fueled “the worst border catastrophe in American history.”
While a spokesperson for DHS said the impeachment was done “without a shred of evidence or constitutional grounds.” The issue now heads to trial in the Democrat-controlled Senate, which is unlikely to vote to remove Mayorkas from office.
Tuesday’s vote marked only the second time in U.S. history that the House has impeached a cabinet member. The last time was in 1876.
Democrat Tom Suozzi wins NY election to replace George Santos
Voters battled through a winter storm to make it to the polls. With 93% of the votes in, Suozzi won 54% compared to 46% for Pilip.
Suozzi is returning to the House after giving up his seat in 2022 to run for Governor. He previously served three terms.
Driver dead 5 others injured after vehicle crashes into Austin ER
The driver was killed after crashing into an Austin, Texas, emergency room, while five others were left injured in the incident. Footage taken by a bystander right after the crash happened shows hospital staff and responders clearing the lobby and moving the injured through a cloud of smoke while the sounds of screeching tires continue in the background.
According to police, the crash occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, and does not appear to have been intentional. The crash left five people hurt. Two children and one adult were transported to a local children’s hospital. One of the kids is said to be in critical condition. Another adult was taken to a different area hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries. The fifth person injured was treated on-site at the emergency room.
According to the chief medical officer at the Austin hospital, eight others in the emergency room who were not injured in the crash were transported to other hospitals in the area so the emergency room could regroup after the incident.
Uber, Lyft, Doordash drivers to walk off job, hold rallies at airports
SpaceX postpones launch of private company’s moon lander
If you are looking to see a video of the latest launch of a private company’s moon lander, you’ll have to wait at least one more day. SpaceX is postponing Wednesday morning’s Feb. 13 launch of its Falcon 9 rocket carrying Intuitive Machines of Houston’s robotic lunar lander, Odysseus. SpaceX said a liquid methane temperature issue was the cause of the delay.
The launch is now scheduled for early Thursday morning, Feb. 15, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A Friday, Feb. 16 launch is also possible if another issue arises.
Should this mission be successful, unlike last month’s attempt by another private company, it will be the first American spacecraft to land on the moon’s surface since 1972.
Record spending on significant others expected this Valentine’s Day
It’s Valentine’s Day 2024. While The Beatles famously sang, “money can’t buy me love,” that won’t stop many from spending on their loved ones today. According to the National Retail Federation, people are expected to spend a record $14.2 billion this year on their significant others, or $101.84per person. Total spending is expected to reach $25.8 billion, with an average of $185 per person.
The top gift of choice? Candy, followed by greeting cards, flowers, and an evening out. Over half of Americans said they plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, while about a third of those who aren’t still said they want to mark the occasion by either getting together with single friends or treating themselves to something special.
