SpaceX is focusing on another test of the Starship, the company's largest rocket. This flight, number 13, is scheduled for July 16 and will feature the unprecedented transport of Starlink V3 satellites in an experimental mission.
According to the company, the launch is scheduled to take place at 6:45 PM in U.S. territory (corresponding to 7:45 PM in official Brazil time). The main purpose of this operation is to evaluate the vehicle's latest systems.
The departure will occur from the Starbase facility, located in Texas, near Boca Chica beach. This will be the second flight of the new V3 version of Starship. In addition to testing the rocket itself, the mission will serve as a demonstration for new components of the Starlink network.
The 20 Starlink V3 satellites to be carried by the spacecraft will not reach orbit. Instead, they will follow a suborbital trajectory and will be destroyed during the atmospheric reentry process, allowing SpaceX to analyze various phases of the flight.
SpaceX has a 90-minute window to conduct the launch. The official broadcast of the event will begin 30 minutes before the launch, made available through SpaceX channels on the X network and the official flight page.
The flight is expected to last a little over an hour and does not aim to take Starship into Earth orbit. The main focus will be monitoring the system's operation during crucial stages, such as module separation, engine activation, and vehicle return.
Key expected moments include: the launch and initial ascent of the rocket; the separation between the Super Heavy booster and the Starship vehicle; tests of the Raptor engines; the release of the 20 Starlink V3 satellites; and reentry followed by controlled splashdown in the ocean.
A point of great observation will be the performance of the Super Heavy booster. In the previous flight, this stage failed to return adequately for a controlled landing, resulting in its fall into the ocean. SpaceX reported that hardware and software adjustments have been implemented to resolve the issues detected in that mission.
The introduction of the new satellites represents one of the biggest innovations of this flight. The Starlink V3 models are larger and are part of the company's efforts to expand the capacity of the satellite internet network.
In a detailed description of the flight, SpaceX stated that 'for the first time, Starship will carry Starlink V3 satellites into space, which aim to significantly increase the network capacity and speeds for users.' Six of these satellites will be equipped with cameras to capture images of the heat shield and Starship during the mission.
The satellites will also attempt to establish communication with the Starlink constellation using high-capacity lasers before returning to the atmosphere. If the launch needs to be postponed due to weather conditions or technical problems, SpaceX already has a new planned date of July 17, maintaining the same time.
SpaceX failed in its attempt to launch the Starship rocket into orbit on Thursday (the 16th). A malfunction occurred during the launch that was not detected at the time.
A few minutes after the issue arose, Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, announced on the social network X that the cause was the improper functioning of some engines, which led to the automatic termination of the flight. He also specified that the SpaceX team is unloading fuel, and the next launch attempt is scheduled 'in a few days.'
Astronomers have announced a historic achievement—the first direct detection of an atmosphere around a rocky planet located within its star's habitable zone. This breakthrough marks a significant step forward in the search for worlds potentially capable of supporting life.
The planet, named LHS 1140 b, is located approximately 48 light-years from Earth. According to the results of the new study, its atmosphere contains helium. In addition to being the first rocky planet with a directly detected atmosphere, it is also the first of its kind found in the so-called habitable zone—the region around a star where temperatures could allow for liquid water on the surface.
Researchers assert that among known exoplanets, LHS 1140 b possesses the greatest number of habitability indicators. The study's lead author, Collin Cherubim, told Space.com that the direct detection of helium in the atmosphere is unprecedented for rocky exoplanets, and its location in the habitable zone adds immense interest for astrobiology and the search for life.
LHS 1140 b is an exoplanet, meaning a planet outside our solar system. It was initially discovered by astronomer Jason Dittman's team in 2017, and he is also involved in the current research. According to Dittman, years of observation were required for scientists to confirm the presence of an atmosphere.
He noted that although the planet was found about ten years ago, the conclusion regarding the atmosphere was only reached now. Dittman emphasized that the planet has a solid surface and is composed of rock. Although the exact nature of this surface is not yet known, the team considers the presence of water on the planet highly probable.
LHS 1140 b orbits a red dwarf—a star smaller and cooler than the Sun. Despite the planet being significantly closer to its star than Earth is to the Sun, this distance is sufficient to maintain temperatures compatible with the 'Goldilocks zone,' which is considered suitable for the existence of liquid water. Researchers believe that the recently discovered atmosphere may help preserve these conditions.
Cherubim hypothesized that the planet likely contains a lot of water. He added that if the atmosphere provides a greenhouse effect, then the conditions we consider habitable on Earth are likely to exist there and could support liquid water.
Although LHS 1140 b is not an exact copy of Earth, researchers point out two similarities: its composition is a rocky planet, likely with an iron core, and it is now known to have an atmosphere; and its temperature is suitable for liquid water on the surface, which is one of the key requirements for life as we know it on Earth.
Among over six thousand identified exoplanets, the direct confirmation of an atmosphere on a rocky planet in the habitable zone is a unique moment. One of the main challenges is that LHS 1140 b orbits a red dwarf—the most common type of star in the Milky Way, which is about one-third the size of the Sun. These stars remain active for a long time, emitting powerful bursts of radiation, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Typically, such radiation completely destroys the atmospheres of nearby planets, which raised doubts about the ability of rocky planets around red dwarfs to retain an atmosphere over long periods.
Cherubim noted that this discovery demonstrates that at least this rocky planet has managed to retain its atmosphere for billions of years, which is a 'well-founded and reliable way to say yes: atmospheres can survive on rocky exoplanets.' Scientists also suggest that other gases besides helium might be present in the atmosphere, some of which may have been lost in the past due to intense stellar radiation. However, since the star is about six billion years old—several billion years older than the phase of this intense activity—the team believes the planet will continue to retain its atmosphere. Dittman mentioned that while some helium slowly escapes into space, a similar process occurs with Earth's own atmosphere.
The confirmation of the atmosphere resulted from a theoretical prediction developed by Collin Cherubim during his doctoral dissertation. He explained that it all started with a mathematical model created to study the evolution of rocky planets, from which he made a very specific prediction about this planet.
The researcher decided to apply a method usually used to study gas giants to a rocky planet, which was an unprecedented step. The results fully aligned with his model prediction, allowing the scientific method cycle to be completed.
To test the hypothesis, the team used the Warm Infrared Echelle Spectrograph (WINERED), installed at the Magellan Observatory in Chile. During the same observations, they tracked the transit of LHS 1140 b and another planet in front of its star. Spectroscopic analysis allowed them to identify chemical signatures in the atmospheres of both worlds. While one did not yield results, LHS 1140 b demonstrated a direct and undeniable signal of helium's presence.
Despite the importance of the finding, researchers emphasize that it does not mean the planet is habitable. Cherubim clarified that he is not claiming there is life on the planet. In the team's view, future observations will allow for the detection of other gases in the atmosphere and the verification of water. Although new research may not confirm habitability or discover life forms, it will significantly expand knowledge about rocky planets of this type. Since LHS 1140 b is the first planet with these characteristics whose atmosphere has been confirmed, it represents an important step toward understanding the evolution of potentially habitable planets and may help answer one of humanity's oldest questions: are we alone in the Universe?
India's private space sector is preparing for significant steps as the startup Skyroot Aerospace is about to become the first private company in the country to design and develop its own orbital rocket on Indian territory.
Following the successful launch of the first private suborbital rocket, Vikram-S, to an altitude of 89.5 km in 2022, the Hyderabad-based company is ready to conduct its first orbital launch. The launch of the Vikram-1 rocket is scheduled for Saturday; it is named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program. According to a statement from Skyroot Aerospace on Thursday, the flight is set for 11:30 AM from the first launch pad in Sriharikota.
The Vikram-1 is entirely constructed from a lightweight carbon composite structure and is equipped with three solid-fuel stages and a liquid orbital correction module. This launch is part of the 'Aagaman Mission' and involves delivering demonstration payloads from companies Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed, and Skyroot's own development, SCOPE. Additionally, the artwork 'Cosmic Bloom' by Cosmos Diamonds will be sent into space, along with micro-sculptures of Sir C. V. Raman, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, and Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, crafted from 18-karat gold.
The mission is designed to place payloads weighing up to 350 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 450 km with a 60-degree inclination. The Vikram-1 rocket has already been integrated and placed on the pad, and final checks of the integrated vehicle have been completed at the Skyroot Mission Control Center. Checks of interfaces with ground telemetry stations and tracking radars were also conducted before the test flight.
Pawan Kumar Chandana, Founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, noted that Vikram-1 continues the work started with the company's first private rocket demonstration in 2022. He emphasized: 'This is our first test flight, and we will gain valuable data. It is the first rocket to fly into orbit, built entirely from carbon composite. Carbon fiber is five times lighter than the strongest steel, making the rocket lighter and more efficient.'
Naga Bharat Daka, Co-founder and COO of Skyroot, stated that the company was founded about eight years ago with the goal of creating affordable and reliable rockets from India for the world, as well as providing on-demand launch solutions. He added: 'All our efforts and the team's efforts culminate today in this historic milestone.'
