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Tag: Mike D'Alonzo

  • SpaceX is reportedly considering a land swap with the government

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    TEXAS — According to documents reviewed by The New York Times, the Trump administration is considering a land swap with SpaceX that would see Elon Musk’s company receiving over 700 acres of wildlife refuge in exchange for some of the company’s land approximately 20 miles away.

    The land will be used to expand SpaceX’s operations in Cameron County, including rocket launch and production.

    Opponents say that SpaceX’s use of the land could damage areas that are home to endangered species and Civil War-era artifacts. The company has already been the target of several environmentally based lawsuits regarding ecological damage near its launch sites.

    The agreement would give SpaceX 775 acres of land in the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which is a sanctuary for endangered species such as the ocelot and the jaguarundi. The land is also part of the Palmito Ranch Battlefield, home to the last land battle of the Civil War.

    In exchange, the government would receive 692 acres of land in Cameron County about 20 miles away, which would be added to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. Officials at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say that the swap would be a net positive for conservation.

    This is not the first time that SpaceX and the government have attempted a land swap, with a deal in place to trade nearly 43 acres in Boca Chica State Park in 2024. However, the company pulled out of the swap with no explanation of why.

    Land swaps of this nature, regardless of the political party in charge, are not uncommon. However, such exchanges are usually much smaller in nature.

    There is no word on whether SpaceX will be required to take steps to protect the affected wildlife habitats or cultural artifacts in the acquired area. 

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    Mike D’Alonzo

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  • Blue Origin successfully launches New Shepard NS-37 manned mission

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    TEXAS — After having to scrub its initial launch date on Thursday, Blue Origin successfully launched its New Shepard NS-37 mission from its Launch Site One pad in West Texas on Saturday morning.

    The launch had been rescheduled earlier in the week after Blue Origin’s launch team “observed an issue with built-in checks prior to flight,” Tabitha Lipkin, of Blue Origin’s communications team, said. 

    The mission sent up six new astronauts into space going beyond the Kármán line, the internationally established edge of space at 62 miles/100 kilometers above Earth’s surface.

    Blue Origin released the mission patch prior to the launch, which includes a nod to each of the travelers. 

    According to the Blue Origin website, a few of the symbols embedded include:

    • The DNA symbolizes the importance and impact of science to Neal Milch. 
    • The hippo represents Michaela (Michi) Benthaus’ favorite animal. Her plush hippo, which comforted her in the hospital after an accident, will join her in space. The tennis ball symbolizes another of Michi’s competitive passions. She is set to be the first wheelchair-bound person in space. 
    • A baobab tree, iconic to South Africa, represents Adonis Pouroulis’ roots. 
    • A spiral galaxy symbolizes Joey Hyde’s astrophysics research. 
    • A dog-bone shape, stars in the crew capsule windows representing the number 201 and “K” are in all memoriam of Jason Stansell’s brother. 
    • The shards are intended to illustrate Blue Origin’s commitment to breaking down the barriers to accessing space, including cost, nationality and ability.  

    Mission NS-37 marked the first manned mission since Oct. 8. 

    The New Shepard spacecraft, named for pioneering Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard who was the first American in space, is a fully reusable, suborbital rocket system that takes passengers on an 11-minute journey to the Kármán line.

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    Mike D’Alonzo, Anthony Leone

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  • Blue Origin launches New Shepard NS-37 mission

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    TEXAS — Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space exploration company, will launch New Shepard mission 37, or NS-37, on Thursday, Dec. 18.

    The mission is set to launch at 10 a.m. CDT and will send six new astronauts into space.

    Blue Origin has also released the mission patch, which includes a nod to each of the travelers. 

    According to the Blue Origin website, a few of the symbols embedded include:

    • The DNA symbolizes the importance and impact of science to Neal Milch. 
    • The hippo represents Michaela (Michi) Benthaus’ favorite animal. Her plush hippo, which comforted her in the hospital after an accident, will join her in space. The tennis ball symbolizes another of Michi’s competitive passions. 
    • A baobab tree, iconic to South Africa, represents Adonis Pouroulis’ roots. 
    • A spiral galaxy symbolizes Joey Hyde’s astrophysics research. 
    • A dog-bone shape, stars in the crew capsule windows represent the number 201 and “K” are in memoriam of Jason Stansell’s brother. 
    • The shards represent Blue Origin’s commitment to breaking down the barriers to accessing space, including cost, nationality and ability.  

    Mission NS-37 will mark the first manned mission since Oct 8. 

    The New Shepard spacecraft, named for pioneering Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard who was the first American in space, is a fully reusable, suborbital rocket system that takes passengers on an 11-minute journey to the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. 

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    Mike D’Alonzo

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  • Blue Origin launches New Shepard NS-32 mission

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    TEXAS — Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space exploration company, will launch New Shepard mission 32, or NS-32, on Saturday, May 31.

    What You Need To Know

    • The NS-32 mission will feature six new astronauts
    • The manned mission includes a high school teacher from Galveston, Texas
    • Also included are a number of entrepreneurs and adventurers
    • This mission follows NS-31, which launched pop star Katy Perry and talk show host Gayle King into space, among others

    The mission is set to launch at 8:30 a.m. CDT, and will send six new astronauts into space.

    The passengers on this manned flight include:

    • Aymette (Amy) Medina Jorge – High school and middle school STEM teacher at Odyssey Academy in Galveston, Texas
    • Dr. Gretchen Green – Radiologist specializing in women’s imaging
    • Jaime Alemán –  Panamanian attorney, businessman and former ambassador to the U.S.
    • Jesse Williams – Canadian entrepreneur and adventurer
    • Mark Rocket – Entrepreneur and technology leader from Christchurch, New Zealand

    Blue Origin has also released the mission patch, which includes a nod to each of the travelers. 

    According to the Blue Origin website, a few of the symbols embedded include:

    • The microchip, gears and Pi symbols represent Amy Medina Jorge’s commitment to elevating Hispanic representation in STEM fields. 
    • Dr. Gretchen Green is represented by the caduceus, recognizing her career as a radiologist specializing in women’s imaging. 
    • The planets inside the mission number represent Paul Jeris’ passion for space and exploration. 
    • The kea parrot represents Mark Rocket’s home country of New Zealand.
    • Jesse Williams is represented by the bike gears and Mt. Everest, showcasing his passion for cycling and climbing mountains. 
    • The blue sky represents Jaime Alemán’s philosophy behind pursuing his own goals—and supporting others in reaching theirs.

    Mission NS-32 will mark the first manned mission since Bezos’s company sent pop star Katy Perry and talk show host Gayle King, along with a number of notable women astronauts, into space. 

    The New Shepard spacecraft, named for pioneering Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American in space, is a fully reusable, suborbital rocket system that takes passengers on an 11-minute journey to the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. 

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    Mike D’Alonzo

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