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SpaceX successfully launches Starship rocket after hiatus

The success of the Starship rocket is essential to the company’s long-term goal of transporting humans to the Moon and Mars.

In a significant turnaround, SpaceX has successfully conducted a test flight of its latest Starship rocket, breaking a streak of unsuccessful attempts.

At 18:30 local time (00:30 BST), the massive rocket lifted off from its Texas launch site, embarking on a tense 60-minute journey.

During the flight, a portion of the engine experienced an explosion, and flames engulfed the flaps on the rocket's side, which oscillated violently.

NASA intends to utilize the Starship for its Artemis program, aiming to send humans to the Moon by 2027.

Following the successful test, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk expressed his appreciation on X, stating "Great work by the SpaceX team!!" Musk has invested billions in the Starship's development, with each launch estimated to cost around $100 million.

This achievement comes after three consecutive Starship launch failures and an explosion on the test stand in June, which had raised concerns about the program's future.

The Starship is the most powerful rocket ever constructed, comprising a Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft.

The test flight began positively, with all 33 booster engines igniting and the booster separating from the spacecraft after approximately seven minutes, splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Starship continued its ascent, reaching an altitude of nearly 200km above the Earth before entering a coasting phase around the planet.

As part of the test, SpaceX intentionally pushed the rocket to its limits, resulting in the flaps catching fire and swinging wildly during descent.

The company's long-term goal is to develop the Starship into a fully reusable transportation system capable of carrying humans to the Moon and Mars.

Dr. Simeon Barber, a planetary scientist at the Open University, commented, "This was a great day for SpaceX, executing its full mission for the first time and deploying test dummy satellites along the route."

According to Dr. Barber, the successful test provided SpaceX with a comprehensive set of data, marking a significant step forward for the company.

The initial version of the rocket had five successful launches, but attempts to launch the new version had previously ended in explosions.

In March, an explosion led to a temporary grounding of flights, resulting in debris scattered across the Bahamas and parts landing in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

However, SpaceX successfully executed the "chopstick" maneuver, using mechanical arms to catch the rocket booster upon its return to Earth.

The success of the Starship is also crucial for NASA, which has contracted SpaceX to use a modified version of the rocket for its Artemis program, aiming to send humans to the Moon by 2027, although most experts believe this deadline may be delayed.

A side by side comparison of Starship with notable former rocket models, including NASA's Saturn V
Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket system which has ever flown

Dr. Barber noted, "This is also a significant step forward for NASA's Artemis program, but considerable development work remains to be done to prepare the spacecraft for human travel and ensure safe transportation to the Moon."

Musk aims to certify the Starship for human travel as early as next year and plans to initiate un-crewed flights to Mars within the next 12 months.

SpaceX's approach has been to rapidly test and learn from failures, rather than adopting a cautious strategy, allowing the company to collect valuable performance data.

After three consecutive failures, questions arose about the future of SpaceX and whether Musk's involvement in US politics had distracted him from the company's goals.

As a key supporter of US President Donald Trump's 2024 election campaign, Musk's relationship with the president had sparked speculation about his priorities.

Although the Starship returned to Earth damaged, the successful test marked a significant milestone for the company, which must now demonstrate its ability to safely and reliably transport humans to the Moon.

Dr. Ken Kremer, research scientist and founder of Space UpClose, commented, "Tuesday's success gets the program back on track, but reaching the Moon is a separate challenge."

Kremer expressed skepticism about the US meeting its 2027 deadline, stating, "It's extremely unlikely, although not impossible."

As the US competes with China to return humans to the Moon, some scientists believe that China may ultimately succeed, despite the progress made by SpaceX with its Starship rocket.

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Tudor to take interim charge of Tottenham

Igor Tudor has reached an agreement to take the reins as Tottenham’s interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Tottenham has reached an agreement with Igor Tudor to take the helm as interim head coach for the remainder of the current season.

For the latest updates, in-depth analysis, and perspectives from fans, look to Tottenham's recent news and discussion.

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UAE Defeats Canada to Enhance Super 8s Qualification Chances

The United Arab Emirates boosted their slim chances of advancing to the T20 World Cup Super 8s, securing a narrow five-wicket victory over Canada, thanks in part to Aryansh Sharma’s unbeaten 74.

In a crucial match for the United Arab Emirates, Aryansh Sharma achieved his fifth T20 international half-century, contributing to the team's victory over Canada.

The Men's T20 World Cup, being held in Group D in Delhi, saw an intense competition between the two teams.

Canada's innings resulted in a total of 150-7 after 20 overs, with Harsh Thaker scoring 50 runs off 41 balls, while Junaid Siddique took 5 wickets for 35 runs.

The UAE team responded with a total of 154 runs in 19.4 overs, led by Aryansh Sharma's unbeaten 74 runs off 53 balls and Sohaib Khan's 51 runs off 29 balls, despite Bin Zafar taking 3 wickets for 14 runs.

The United Arab Emirates secured a five-wicket win over Canada, boosting their chances in the tournament.

Aryansh Sharma played a pivotal role in the UAE's win, scoring an unbeaten 74 runs to help his team overcome Canada's total.

With four overs remaining, Canada seemed poised to defend their total, but Sohaib Khan's aggressive batting reignited the UAE's chase, as he scored 17 runs off Dillon Heyliger's bowling.

In the final over, the UAE required eight runs to win, and Aryansh Sharma eased the pressure by hitting a six off Jaskaran Singh's first ball.

Sohaib Khan was dismissed after scoring a rapid 51 runs off 29 balls, including four sixes, leaving the scores level.

Muhammad Arfan then sealed the victory with two balls to spare, hitting a four off Jaskaran Singh, as Aryansh Sharma top-scored with 74 runs off 53 balls.

The UAE now stands third in Group D with two points, but they face an uphill task in their upcoming matches against full members South Africa and Afghanistan to advance to the next phase.

Although the UAE has never beaten a full member in any World Cup format, their performance in this match has given them some confidence.

Earlier in the match, Junaid Siddique achieved the best bowling figures by a UAE player in a T20 World Cup, taking 5 wickets for 35 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Harsh Thaker's 41-ball half-century, which included three sixes and two fours, provided a solid foundation for Canada's total.

Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal shared a 58-run partnership to help Canada recover from a difficult start, before Dhaliwal was run out for 34 runs.

After Thaker fell victim to Junaid Siddique's slower ball, Canada struggled to find boundaries against the UAE's tight bowling.

Shreyas Movva made a useful contribution of 21 runs off 21 balls, but Junaid Siddique took two wickets in the final over to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 internationals.

In a separate match, Zimbabwe's Brilliant Muzarabani played a key role in his team's stunning win over Australia.

For more updates, notifications, and social media coverage, visit the BBC Sport website.

In another development, Paul Stirling has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 World Cup due to injury.

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Guardiola Advocates for Cultural Embrace to Foster a Better Society

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has stated that accepting diverse cultures will lead to a more harmonious society, in reaction to comments made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe regarding immigration.

As a player, Pep Guardiola earned 47 international caps for Spain, showcasing his skills on the global stage.

Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, believes that embracing diverse cultures is essential for creating a more harmonious society.

Guardiola was questioned about his thoughts on comments made by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who stated that the UK had been "colonised by immigrants", sparking a debate.

Following criticism, Ratcliffe apologised for any offence caused, while still advocating for open discussion on the issue.

Ahead of Manchester City's FA Cup fourth-round match against Salford, Guardiola shared his perspective, saying that people seek better lives and opportunities, which can be found in their birthplace or elsewhere.

According to Guardiola, one's birthplace is not a determining factor in their potential or aspirations.

Many individuals are forced to leave their homelands due to problems in their native countries, rather than a desire to abandon their roots.

Guardiola emphasized that by genuinely embracing other cultures, society as a whole can improve, a notion he has no doubts about.

An examination of the facts behind Jim Ratcliffe's statements on immigration and benefits is also underway.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a billionaire, has made headlines, but who is he and how did he accumulate his wealth?

Born in Santpedor, Catalonia, Spain, Guardiola has had a diverse career, playing in Spain, Italy, Qatar, and Mexico, before transitioning to management.

As a manager, the 55-year-old has had stints in Spain, Germany, and England, taking the helm at Manchester City in 2016.

Guardiola views the issue of immigration as a global problem, stating that it is a concern that affects many countries.

He believes that immigrants are often unfairly blamed for problems in their adopted countries, highlighting the fact that one's birthplace is often a matter of circumstance.

Guardiola reiterated that people from all backgrounds strive for a better life, seeking opportunities that may be available in their birth country or elsewhere.

He stressed that factors such as skin colour or birthplace should not be barriers to achieving one's goals.

For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Manchester City, please refer to our dedicated section.

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