Friday☕️

01 Mar 2024 — 5 min read

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SpaceX launches:

Yesterday at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time, a Falcon 9 rocket successfully deployed 23 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission's first stage booster, marking its 11th flight, had previously been used in several key missions, including CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, O3b mPOWER, Ovzon 3, and five other Starlink launches. Following this event, SpaceX, in collaboration with NASA, has scheduled the next Falcon 9 launch for no earlier than Saturday, March 2.
This upcoming mission will carry the Dragon spacecraft on its eighth operational crewed flight to the International Space Station, lifting off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The planned launch time is 11:16 p.m. EST, with a backup slot on Sunday, March 3, at 10:53 p.m. EST. The Dragon spacecraft assigned to this mission has a notable history, having previously supported Demo-2, Crew-2, Ax-1, and Crew-6 missions.
After separating from the second stage, the Falcon 9’s first stage is set to return to Earth, aiming for a precision landing at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) on the Cape Canaveral grounds. The Crew-8 team aboard the Dragon will undertake more than 200 scientific studies and technology demonstrations during their stay in space. These activities are designed to advance human exploration beyond Earth's vicinity and yield benefits for people on Earth.

Reaper Drone Advancements:

On February 14, 2024, a milestone was achieved at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, when an MQ-9 Reaper was successfully landed using satellite control for the first time. This operation was a collaborative effort between the 50th Attack Squadron's Airmen and the Air National Guardsmen from the 163rd Attack Wing. The use of satellite control for landing represents a significant advancement over traditional methods that required more ground support and personnel.
The introduction of satellite-based control for the MQ-9 Reaper marks a transformative development in how these drones are operated. Previously, the launching and landing of these aircraft required on-the-ground aircrews, ground control stations, and extensive maintenance support, limiting their operational flexibility and range.
Now, with satellite-based control, MQ-9s can be piloted remotely from anywhere in the world, significantly reducing the logistical challenges and enabling rapid deployment in diverse environments. This technological evolution represents a significant step forward in military aviation, offering unprecedented operational versatility and the ability to swiftly respond to global needs without the constraints of traditional ground-based infrastructure.

Stripe Valuation:

Stripe has reached a $65 billion valuation following an agreement that permits its current and past employees to sell a portion of their shares. As part of this deal, Stripe, along with some investors, plans to purchase over $1 billion worth of stock from its employees.
During the pandemic, Stripe invested heavily in expanding its team and exploring new markets, benefiting from increased transaction volumes. However, as the pandemic's impact lessened and growth decelerated, these expansions began to challenge the company. In a statement, Stripe mentioned that the share purchase using its own funds is intended to mitigate the dilutive effect of its employee stock compensation schemes.
Stripe is a technology company that specializes in online payment processing for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises. Founded in 2010, it provides a suite of payment processing solutions and financial infrastructure for the internet, enabling companies to accept payments, send payouts, and manage their businesses online.

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