SpaceX Dragon 2

• "The space capsule is like nothing the world has ever seen," said MacCallum, who is also Space Perspective's CTO, noting the capsule's massive windows, iconic design, and spacious interior.
• We are redefining the category and paving the way for accessible space travel for years to come."
• Space Perspective also long considered repeated vertical windows, which allow for contiguous panoramic views (vs. horizontal windows, which would bifurcate the view to the human eye – a phenomenon resulting from stereoscopic vision).
• Space Perspective is on a mission to bring more humans to space than ever before.

• Some, such as Houston-based Axiom Space, eventually want to build their own space stations in orbit, where commercial astronauts could make extended stays.
• This could also provide more money and opportunities for science to be carried out in low Earth orbit.
• But it also raises a host of safety concerns, because it will add to the already troublesome issue of space junk.
• There are also implications for the environment, because rockets produce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
• As such, it recently signed an agreement with the UK Space Agency for an all-UK astronaut mission to the ISS.

Space junk concerns

• There are also major concerns about risks posed by the increase in the general number of space missions, particularly because space junk is already a major problem in low Earth orbit.
• Since 1999, the ISS has had to manoeuvre to avoid large pieces of space junk 32 times.

However, less than 0.5% of internet traffic is currently carried by satellite communications. Despite the potential benefits to unconnected people in rural areas, upfront and subscription costs mean that Starlink’s current subscribers, make up less than 0.02% of the global population. They include many cruise ships, private jets and luxury yachts.

Environmental concerns

• The other area of great concern is the environmental effect of sending more people to space.
• There are other serious environmental concerns.
• They provide us with environmental and disaster monitoring systems, weather and climate monitoring, vegetation and crop growth measurements, geolocation and navigation (such as GPS) as well as communications.
• And we cannot just ignore the implications for the climate and environmental justice.

Mike Lockwood receives funding from UKRI/Science and Technology Facilities Council and UKRI/Natural Environment Research Council

• GÖTEBORG, Sweden, Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Minesto, leading ocean energy developer, has completed the manufacturing of the Dragon 12 wing and started system integration at quayside in Uddevalla port, Sweden.
• The quayside completion of the kite enables an efficient shipment directly to Minesto's tidal energy production site in Vestmannasund, Faroe Islands.
• Final system integration at quayside is logistically cost effective and reduce the need for complex and expensive transport of the large wing.
• The wing, spanning 12 metres, is a key component in the Dragon 12 system to which all other modules connect.

• CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The two astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni started their scientific mission AX-2 on board the International Space Station today.
• The team also comprise in addition to Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, two astronauts, Peggy Whitson and John Shoffner.
• The two Saudi astronauts will also do four cell science experiments to investigate the inflammatory response of human immune cells in microgravity.
• This mission to the International Space Station of two Saudi astronauts, launched by the Saudi Space Commission is part of the Kingdom's program to space.