Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin takes 80-year-old adventurer on flight into space
The space tourism mission, known as NS-34, was the 34th flight for the New Shepard programme.
The 10-minute journey, which also included cryptocurrency billionaire Justin Sun, launched on Sunday.
Sun had previously bid $28 million for his seat on the flight.
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Sky News
43 minutes ago
- Sky News
Permission granted for first-of-its-kind British rocket launch
Permission for the first vertical space launch from UK soil by a British rocket company has been granted by the air safety regulator. The licence from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) gives Glasgow-based Skyrora the green light to launch its Skylark L rocket from the SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands. "Skyrora is proud to be leading efforts that enable launch activity from the UK, and we look forward to achieving a reliable commercial launch programme that benefits us all," said Volodymyr Levykin, CEO of Skyrora. "It is essential that the UK has sovereign launch capabilities." Image: A Skyrora engineer builds a rocket in the company's factory near Glasgow While it's a step towards that goal, the licence doesn't mean the Shetlands will rival America's Cape Canaveral any time soon. Although the CAA licence allows Skyrora up to 16 launches a year, SaxaVord isn't expected to be able to facilitate a launch until early 2026. The current licence is also limited to sub-orbital launches of the 11m tall rocket. Skyrora expects its rocket to reach an altitude of between 120 and 130km - well over the 100km-high "Karman Line", which is the internationally-agreed boundary of space. But Skylark L lacks the heft to access low-earth orbit, the ultimate goal for the emerging "micro launch" industry. Image: A Skyrora engineer works on one of the company's rockets 'Important milestone' Like many of its competitors, Skyrora is using this smaller rocket to test various technologies - and the regulatory environment - before attempting an orbital flight with its larger vehicle, Skyrora-XL. Launching from northern latitudes like the UK offers easier access to satellites in polar or sun-synchronous orbits. Smaller rockets potentially mean cheaper and faster launches, offering a "responsive" launch capability to service or support the increasing number of satellites in orbit. "I am thrilled we've reached this important milestone in the UK space sector, and I congratulate Skyrora for being the first UK company to receive a rocket launch licence," said aviation and space minister Mike Kane. The UK, however, has been criticised for being slow to develop a domestic space capability since the Space Industry Act made it possible back in 2018. The first licence for a UK space launch wasn't granted until 2022, but the attempt by Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic for a horizontal rocket launch from an aircraft failed. Read more on Sky News: Hunt for smugglers fuelling meth explosion Sky reporter returns to scene of riots confrontation Another licence was granted earlier this year to German micro-launch company RFA but an explosion during testing of their rocket at SaxaVord delayed its plans for a suborbital launch this year. Modifications being made to the SaxaVord spaceport mean it may not be ready to accommodate a launch until 2026. Skyrora told Sky News that if there are significant delays to its plans to launch from SaxaVord, it may look into transferring its CAA licence to Australia's regulator. If so, it expects it could launch SkylarkL from Australia's Woomera test range before the end of 2025. No doubt that would be a disappointment for the UK government and thousands of space enthusiasts in the UK, but it would see history repeat itself. The first (and last) British-built rocket to put a satellite into orbit, Black Arrow, launched from Woomera in 1971. Related Topics
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
US to build nuclear reactor on the moon
The US is planning to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon as it seeks to push ahead in the space race. Sean Duffy, the new Nasa head, is preparing to announce plans to install a small reactor on the moon to allow astronauts to undertake lengthy missions on the lunar surface and pave the way for future Mars expeditions. A directive from the space agency, seen by The Telegraph argues that a reactor is necessary to stop rival superpowers effectively colonising the Moon and establishing US 'keep-out' zones. China and Russia previously announced a joint effort to put a reactor on the Moon by the mid-2030s, it notes. 'The first country to do so could potentially declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit the United States from establishing a planned Artemis presence if not there first,' the directive says, referring to existing plans to explore the Moon and prepare for missions to Mars. Nasa needs to 'move quickly' to 'support a future lunar economy' and 'strengthen our national security in space', it adds. Solar panels are ineffective because nights on the Moon last the equivalent of two weeks on Earth. A Nasa official said: 'If we are going to have a habitable system on the Moon then we have to bring power.' He said small reactors were already in use on submarines and aircraft carriers. 'They solve the problem,' he added. Mr Duffy, who is also the US transport secretary, has directed Nasa to seek industry proposals for a minimum 100 kilowatt reactor to launch by 2030. The agency had already been working on a 40-kilowatt reactor to use on the moon by the early part of the next decade. Mr Duffy was named interim head of Nasa after Donald Trump abruptly withdrew the nomination of Jared Isaacman, a tech billionaire and commercial astronaut. The move deepened a rift between Mr Trump and Elon Musk, the SpaceX billionaire and until that point one of the president's closest political allies. Mr Musk, who had pushed for Mr Isaacman to be named to the top job, wrote on social media in May: 'It is rare to find someone so competent and good hearted'.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
Vertex's trial failure, scrapped study cloud pain drug push; shares slump
Aug 4 (Reuters) - Vertex Pharmaceuticals will stop developing its experimental non-opioid painkiller as a solo treatment after a mid-stage trial failure and will not start a study for expanded use of its approved pain drug, sending its shares down 14.4% after the bell. The company (VRTX.O), opens new tab has been diversifying into gene therapies and non-opioid painkillers as it looks to reduce its reliance on cystic fibrosis drugs, a market it dominates. Unlike opioids, which trigger the brain's reward centers, making them an addiction risk, Vertex's drugs block pain signals at the origin, providing a lucrative opportunity for the company. The next-generation non-opioid painkiller, called VX-993, reduced pain by 74.5 points over 48 hours, compared with 50.2 points in the placebo group, but the difference was not statistically significant, Vertex said. The company tested acute pain reduction in patients who had bunionectomy, a surgery to correct deformed bones of the big toe and foot. The drug was found to be generally safe, with most side effects being mild to moderate and no serious problems linked to the painkiller, the company said. Wall Street analysts and investors have been keenly watching the results of the trial, as Vertex seeks to expand beyond Journavx, its non-opioid approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January for acute pain. Separately, Vertex also said it would not start a study for Journavx to treat a type of nerve pain in the lower back and legs following discussion with the FDA. Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger said Vertex's pain portfolio updates were "disappointing," despite reporting second-quarter results that were above expectations. Vertex plans to prioritize testing of, and later seeking approval for, Journavx to treat a type of nerve pain in diabetic patients. It will also seek to secure approval for other types of nerve pain, the company said in its earnings press release.
