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SpaceX Successfully ‘Catches’ First Megarocket Booster After Test Flight
SpaceX Successfully ‘Catches’ First Megarocket Booster After Test Flight. SpaceX successfully “caught” the first-stage booster of its Starship megarocket Sunday as it returned to the launch pad after a test flight, a world first in the company’s quest for rapid reusability.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The “super heavy booster” had blasted off attached to the Starship rocket minutes earlier, then made a picture-perfect controlled return to the same pad in Texas, where a pair of huge mechanical “chopsticks” reached out from the launch tower to bring the slowly descending booster to a halt, according to a livestream from Elon Musk’s SpaceX company.
“Folks, this is a day for the engineering history books,” a SpaceX spokesperson said in a voiceover on the company’s livestream, after the booster was safely in the tower’s grasp and company staffers had erupted in cheers.
“The tower has caught the rocket!!” SpaceX founder Musk posted on X.

Liftoff occurred at 7:25 am (1225 GMT) in clear weather. While the booster returned to the launchpad, the upper stage of Starship was due to splash down in the Indian Ocean within the hour.
During its last flight in June, SpaceX achieved its first successful splashdown with Starship, a prototype spaceship that Musk hopes will one day carry humans to Mars.
NASA is also keenly awaiting a modified version of Starship to act as a lander vehicle for crewed flights to the Moon under the Artemis program later this decade.

SpaceX said its engineers have “spent years preparing and months testing for the booster catch attempt, with technicians pouring tens of thousands of hours into building the infrastructure to maximize our chances for success.”
Teams were monitoring to ensure “thousands” of criteria were met both on the vehicle and at the tower before any attempt to return the Super Heavy booster.
Had the conditions not been satisfied, the booster would have been redirected for a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, as in previous tests.
Instead, having been given the green light, the returning booster decelerated from supersonic speeds and the powerful “chopstick arms” embraced it.
‘Fail fast, learn fast’
The large mechanical arms, called “Mechazilla” by Musk, have generated considerable excitement among space enthusiasts.
Starship stands 397 feet (121 meters) tall with both stages combined — about 90 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty.
Its Super Heavy booster, which is 233 feet tall, produces 16.7 million pounds (74.3 Meganewtons) of thrust, about twice as powerful as the Saturn V rockets used during the Apollo missions.
SpaceX’s “fail fast, learn fast” strategy of rapid iterative testing, even when its rockets blow up spectacularly, has ultimately accelerated development and contributed to the company’s success.

Founded only in 2002, it quickly leapfrogged aerospace industry giants and is now the world leader in orbital launches, besides providing the only US spaceship currently certified to carry astronauts.
It has also created the world’s biggest internet satellite constellation — invaluable in disaster and war zones.
But its founding vision of making humanity a multiplanetary species is increasingly at risk of being overshadowed by Musk’s embrace of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his alignment with right-wing politics.
In recent weeks, the company has openly sparred with the Federal Aviation Administration over launch licensing and alleged violations, with Musk accusing the agency of overreach and calling for its chief, Michael Whitaker, to resign.
“He’s trying to position himself for minimal regulatory interference with SpaceX once Donald Trump becomes president,” said Mark Hass, a marketing expert and professor at Arizona State University. “But it’s a calculated gamble if things go the other way.”
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Kogi Police Probe Horrific Incident As Officer Allegedly K!lls Girlfriend Before Taking Own Life.
The Kogi State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the deaths of two individuals in Ajaokuta amid reports of a suspected murder-suicide involving two police officers.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Afusat Saliu, confirmed the development during an interview with Sunday Punch on Saturday.
According to an earlier report by SaharaReporters, a corporal attached to the Ajaokuta Division, identified as Amos, allegedly shot his girlfriend, Grace, who was also a corporal, before shooting himself with his AK-47 rifle.
A source disclosed that Amos reported for night duty as a station guard at about 6 p.m. on Friday but allegedly left his duty post a few hours later.
He was said to have gone to Grace’s quarters at around 9 p.m., where he allegedly fired three shots at her, striking her shoulder, lower abdomen and leg, before turning the weapon on himself.
The source attributed the incident to an ongoing crisis in the couple’s relationship.
Reports indicated that the two officers had been dating for several years, but their relationship reportedly became strained in recent months following allegations of infidelity and a breakdown of trust.
Their disagreements allegedly escalated into physical altercations and threats, leading the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) to detain them at one point and advise them to end the relationship.
“The two junior police officers had been dating for some years now, but a few months ago, they started having trust issues and cheating allegations. There had been physical fights and threats to the extent that they were detained at some point by the DCO, who later advised them to end the love relationship for the sake of peace,” the source said.
The source added that the couple’s disagreements continued despite the DCO’s intervention.
Speaking to Punch, Saliu confirmed that the command was aware of the incident and said the findings would be made public after the investigation had been completed.
“We are aware of the incident, and the case is currently under investigation; we will update members of the public after the investigation is concluded,” she said.
However, the police spokesperson declined to immediately confirm whether the deceased were members of the command.
“I cannot confirm that to you right now, but we are investigating the circumstances that led to their death,” she stated.
Saliu also refused to confirm whether the incident was a case of suicide, stressing that the police were yet to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“I cannot also tell you if the couple committed suicide or not until the investigation is concluded. We will release an official statement once I get a conclusive report on the matter,” she added.
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Ronaldinho Stuns Football Fans With Shock Return Plans At 46.
Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho is set to make a surprise return to the pitch at 46, more than a decade after stepping away from professional football.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The former Barcelona and AC Milan star is expected to feature for Italian third-division club Ravenna in their derby encounter against Forli on Sunday, November 15.
Ravenna announced the date on Saturday, several months after revealing in June that the 2002 FIFA World Cup winner would be joining the club.
In a statement, the Italian side said, “The wait now has a date: Sunday, November 15.
“The Brazilian legend will wear the Ravenna FC shirt in the derby against Forli.
“An event that will turn the eyes of the world toward the Bruno Benelli Stadium.”
Ronaldinho, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2005, officially retired from professional football in 2015 following an illustrious career with several top European clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan.
Beyond his planned appearance, the Brazilian legend is also a shareholder in Ravenna. His return to action could provide another opportunity to pursue his ambition of reaching 300 career goals.
Ravenna currently occupy second place in Group B of Italy’s third division, six points behind league leaders Spezia.
The club are targeting promotion to Serie B for the first time since 2008, and Ronaldinho’s anticipated appearance is expected to generate further excitement around their campaign, Naija News reports.
entertainment
‘Don’t Rush Into Marriage!’ – Ruth Kadiri Warns Young Couples Against Societal Pressure
Nollywood actress Ruth Kadiri has advised young couples to avoid spending excessively on wedding ceremonies, warning that elaborate celebrations can place unnecessary pressure on marriages.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
News reports that the mother of two shared her advice in a video posted on her Instagram page, where she discussed the mental and emotional challenges couples may face when preparing for marriage.
Kadiri explained that while some people enjoy dating and spending time with their partners, they begin to develop fears about marriage when confronted with the responsibilities, expectations and pressures associated with it.
According to the actress, expensive wedding ceremonies can add to these anxieties and make the transition into married life more difficult for couples.
She said, “I do think that big weddings put pressure on couples; it puts pressure on the marriage itself. Big weddings, it puts pressure on people, and they don’t seem to have realised that. They don’t seem to have realised that because I’m not just talking about spiritually or what; I’m talking about mentally.
“Do you know that people have a phobia, a fear? People naturally have a fear of what marriage is. But they could date, they will date this girl, love her, be with her every day, every day, every day and then after this whole damn ceremony, have you asked yourself what changed? Married, that wedding is part of what changed.”
The actress encouraged young couples to embrace simpler wedding arrangements, suggesting that they could fulfil traditional marriage requirements, pay the bride price, conduct a court wedding and hold a modest celebration with close family and friends.
She argued that couples should prioritise their relationship and future together rather than feel compelled to organise expensive ceremonies to satisfy societal expectations.
Kadiri also observed that some couples only begin to fully appreciate the reality of marriage months after their wedding celebrations have ended.
Reflecting on her own experience, she said she believed avoiding excessive wedding pressure had contributed to her successful marriage, which she said had lasted about seven years.
She added that she had seen couples separate only two months after getting married, warning young people against allowing societal expectations to dictate their decisions.
The actress further criticised the pressure Nigerian society places on couples to organise engagement ceremonies, traditional weddings, white weddings and court weddings, noting that some people wrongly believe their marriages will fail if they do not complete every stage.
Kadiri also raised concerns about the potential risks of inviting people into private family affairs, cautioning couples against exposing themselves to unnecessary scrutiny.
Beyond marriage, she urged the younger generation to challenge other societal expectations, particularly the pressure parents place on their children to succeed financially and bring money home.
She maintained that young Nigerians need to rethink these expectations and make choices that prioritise their emotional well-being and long-term happiness.
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