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Elon Musk announced plans for SpaceX to launch five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars in 2026, with crewed flights potentially following in 2028. However, regulatory delays from the FAA threaten these timelines, raising concerns about the feasibility of Musk's ambitious goals for Mars colonization.
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The European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft has launched on a two-year mission to study the asteroid Dimorphos, which was impacted by NASA's DART mission in 2022. Hera aims to analyze the aftermath of the collision and improve planetary defense strategies against potential asteroid threats to Earth.
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NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will remain aboard the ISS until February 2025 due to safety concerns with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. They were initially scheduled to return in June but will now return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission, extending their stay to over eight months.
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Hurricane Milton struck Florida on October 9, 2024, causing significant destruction and fatalities. As recovery efforts begin, over 1.5 million residents remain without power, and fuel shortages complicate return efforts. Political ramifications are emerging as candidates address disaster response ahead of the upcoming election.
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NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft launched on October 14, 2024, aiming to explore Europa, a moon of Jupiter, for signs of life. The mission will cover 1.8 billion miles and arrive in 2030, conducting 49 flybys to study the moon's icy surface and potential ocean beneath.