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NASA

Startups demonstrate in-orbit satellite autonomy

A small spacecraft earlier this year successfully demonstrated edge autonomy — or the capability of a satellite to analyze data and make decisions independently without waiting for instructions from ground control.The demonstration was conducted by Arlington, Virginia-based startups NOVI and Sedaro. NOVI, which specializes in edge computing systems that leverage AI and machine learning algorithms for satellite intelligence, built the spacecraft for an undisclosed U.S. government customer. The satellite launched to low Earth orbit on SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare mission Jan. 14, with most of the demonstration activities completed in February.To perform autonomous operations, the spacecraft’s onboard computer uplinked Sedaro’s mission and system simulation software, which f...

A cryptocurrency entrepreneur, a cinematographer, a robotics engineer and an Arctic explorer – Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX

A cryptocurrency entrepreneur, a cinematographer, a robotics engineer and an Arctic explorer – Spaceflight Now

The four astronauts of the Fram2 mission pose inside the suit up room near Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. From left to right: mission commander Chun Wang, vehicle pilot Rabea Rogge, vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen and mission specialist and medical officer Eric Philips. Image: Fram2 Four people united by their fascination with the Earth’s polar regions are embarking on a spaceflight that will allow them to experience those remote areas like no human before. Chun Wang, a 42-year-old entrepreneur and adventurer, chartered a free-flier mission with SpaceX aboard the Dragon Resilience spacecraft. Following eight months of training, he along with Jannicke Mikkelsen, a 38-year-old cinematographer and director; Rabea Rogge, a 29-year-old, arctic robotics researcher; and E...

Review: ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ #2 Is a Solid Adaptation With Nothing New To Offer

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Star Wars

Review: ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ #2 Is a Solid Adaptation With Nothing New To Offer

The Rise of Skywalker #2 arrived last week to an exceptionally quiet reception. Once again, this issue is a passable comic adaptation of the film with basically nothing in it to write home about. In its defense, most screen-to-comic adaptations are not going to wow you. And why should they? It’s a story we know and know well. The purpose of the exercise is to see the narrative in a new medium and, if it’s done particularly well, perhaps glean some new and surprising contextual details that weren’t privy to the audience in the story’s original form. Unfortunately, so far for The Rise of Skywalker, we haven’t learned anything new. I was somewhat critical of the writing in the first issue, bemoaning the predictable inner monologue of Rey and Kylo Ren. However, in a departure from that fir...

Universal Fan Fest Nights To Feature Quark’s Cafe And 10 Forward Bar; Watch New TV Spot With Star Trek Fans – TrekMovie.com

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Star Trek

Universal Fan Fest Nights To Feature Quark’s Cafe And 10 Forward Bar; Watch New TV Spot With Star Trek Fans – TrekMovie.com

On April 25 Universal Studios Hollywood hosts its first “Universal Fan Fest Nights,” a month-long after-hours fandom event featuring several brand-new branded experiences including “Star Trek: Red Alert.” We have a new TV commercial to share promoting the event plus more details on some of the Trek-ified food experiences planned for Fan Fest. Get ready for Fan Fest Fan Fest Nights is a sort of mashup of Universal’s popular “Halloween Horror Nights” with a Comic-Con experience which they say will “take fandom to a whole new level.” The first event kicks off on Friday, April 25 and continues with select nights through Sunday, May 18, 2025. The first Fan Fest Nights features new “uniquely curated experiences” from Star Trek as well as Back to the Future, Dungeons & Dragons, One Piece, ...

Fram2 astronauts begin historic polar orbit spaceflight following a launch from the Kennedy Space Center – Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX

Fram2 astronauts begin historic polar orbit spaceflight following a launch from the Kennedy Space Center – Spaceflight Now

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 39A to begin the Fram2 polar orbit mission. This was the 200th orbital launch from LC-39A. Image: Michael Cain/Spaceflight Now A historic mission took flight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Monday night. Against the backdrop of an off-shore band of thunderstorms, four first-time astronauts soared off the pad at Launch Complex 39A onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and headed into a polar orbit. Malta resident Chun Wang funded the orbital polar expedition and flew alongside Norwegian cinematographer, Jannicke Mikkelsen; German arctic robotics researcher, Rabea Rogge; and Australian polar guide, Eric Philips. Liftoff of the mission, dubbed Fram2, happened at the opening of the launch window at 9:46 p.m. EDT (0146 UTC). Heading into t...