Private flight with 2 Saudi astronauts returns from space station with Gulf of Mexico splashdown
May 31, 2023 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A private flight carrying two Saudi astronauts and other passengers returned to Earth late Tuesday night after a nine-day trip to the International Space Station.
FAA gives OK for SpaceX’s Starship test flight from Texas
April 15, 2023 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX has cleared the final hurdle for launching its new giant Starship from Texas as early as next week on a first test flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued the long-awaited license on Friday.
New crew from US, Russia and UAE arrives at space station
March 3, 2023 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A new crew arrived at the International Space Station on Friday for a six-month mission, after overcoming trouble with one of the capsule’s docking hooks.
The SpaceX capsule and its four astronauts had to wait 65 feet (20 meters) from the orbiting lab, as flight controllers in California scrambled to come up with a software fix.
Last-minute problem keeps SpaceX rocket, astronauts grounded
February 27, 2023 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Last-minute technical trouble forced SpaceX to call off Monday’s attempt to launch four astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA.
The countdown was halted with just two minutes remaining until liftoff from Kennedy Space Center.
Japanese startup unveils balloon flight space viewing tours
February 21, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A Japanese startup announced plans Tuesday to launch commercial space viewing balloon flights that it hopes will bring an otherwise astronomically expensive experience down to Earth.
Company CEO Keisuke Iwaya said passengers do not need to be billionaires, go through intense training or have the language skills needed to fly in a rocket.
Musk deputy’s words on Starlink ‘weaponization’ vex Ukraine
February 9, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Ukrainians reacted Thursday with puzzlement and some ire to comments by a top Starlink official that their country has “weaponized” the satellite internet service, which has been pivotal to their national survival.
Ex-aide says Elon Musk had ‘handshake deal’ for Tesla buyout
February 1, 2023 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk's former chief of staff on Wednesday testified that the billionaire believed he had a “handshake deal" to take Tesla private in 2018 shortly before he tweeted he had the financing for an aborted buyout that is still haunting him in a high-profile trial.
Elon Musk’s mysterious ways on display in Tesla tweet trial
January 29, 2023 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk’s enigmatic personality and unconventional tactics are emerging as key exhibits in a trial revolving around one of his most polarizing pursuits — tweeting.
BBC film on Indian PM Modi, 2002 riots draws government ire
January 26, 2023 GMTNEW DELHI (AP) — Days after India blocked a BBC documentary that examines Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role during 2002 anti-Muslim riots and banned people from sharing it online, authorities were scrambling to halt screenings of the program at colleges and restrict clips of it on social media, a move that has been decried by critics as an assault on press freedom.
Elon Musk: Tweets about taking Tesla private weren’t fraud
January 23, 2023 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk returned to federal court Monday in San Francisco, testifying that he believed he had locked up financial backing to take Tesla private during 2018 meetings with representatives from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund — although no specific funding amount or price was discussed.
Elon Musk depicted as liar, visionary in Tesla tweet trial
January 19, 2023 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk was depicted Wednesday as either a liar who callously jeopardized the savings of “regular people" or a well-intentioned visionary as attorneys delivered opening statements at a trial focused on a Tesla buyout that never happened.
K-pop star among 8 to join Japan tycoon Maezawa’s moon trip
December 9, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa said Friday that K-pop star T.O.P will be among eight people who will join him on a flight around the moon on a SpaceX spaceship in the coming years.
Musk’s company aims to soon test brain implant in people
December 2, 2022 GMTTech billionaire Elon Musk said his Neuralink company is seeking permission to test its brain implant in people soon.
In a “show and tell” presentation livestreamed Wednesday night, Musk said his team is in the process of asking U.S.
Musk plans to relaunch Twitter premium service, again
November 25, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — Elon Musk said Friday that Twitter plans to relaunch its premium service that will offer different colored check marks to accounts next week, in a fresh move to revamp the service after a previous attempt backfired.
Space diversity: Europe’s space agency gets 1st parastronaut
November 23, 2022 GMTPARIS (AP) — The European Space Agency made history Wednesday by selecting an amputee who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident to be among its newest batch of astronauts — a leap toward its pioneering ambition to send someone with a physical disability into space.
Europe seeks bigger piece of space market with new launchers
November 22, 2022 GMTPARIS (AP) — France, Germany and Italy announced an agreement Tuesday for a new-generation European space launcher project as part of apparent efforts to better compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX and other rocket programs in the U.S.
Fired SpaceX employees accuse company of violating labor law
November 17, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Several SpaceX employees who were fired after circulating an open letter calling out CEO Elon Musk’s behavior have filed a complaint accusing the company of violating labor laws.
NASA capsule on way to moon after launch by giant new rocket
November 16, 2022 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A space capsule hurtled toward the moon Wednesday for the first time in 50 years, following a thunderous launch of NASA’s mightiest rocket in a dress rehearsal for astronaut flights.
Musk testifies in lawsuit over Tesla compensation package
November 16, 2022 GMTWILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Tesla CEO Elon Musk took the witness stand Wednesday to defend himself in a shareholder lawsuit challenging a compensation package he was awarded by the company’s board of directors that is potentially worth more than $55 billion.
Musk says he expects to find a new Twitter CEO “over time”
November 16, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Billionaire Elon Musk, who just took over as the chief executive at Twitter after buying the company, said he does not want to be the CEO of any company.
Musk took the witness stand Wednesday in a Delaware court to defend himself in a shareholder lawsuit challenging a compensation package he was awarded by Tesla's board of directors that is potentially worth more than $55 billion.
EXPLAINER: NASA’s new mega moon rocket, Orion crew capsule
November 16, 2022 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is kicking off its new moon program with a test flight of a brand-new rocket and capsule.
Liftoff was slated for early Wednesday morning from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Musk touches on Twitter criticism, workload at G-20 forum
November 14, 2022 GMTNUSA DUA, Indonesia (AP) — It’s not easy being Elon Musk.
That was the message the new Twitter owner and billionaire head of Tesla and SpaceX had for younger people who might seek to emulate his entrepreneurial success.
Twitter Blue signups unavailable after raft of fake accounts
November 11, 2022 GMTTwitter's relaunched premium service — which grants blue-check “verification” labels to anyone willing to pay $8 a month — was unavailable Friday after the social media platform was flooded by a wave of imposter accounts it itself had approved.
Cesspool or civility? Elon Musk’s Twitter at a crossroads
November 6, 2022 GMTThe discourse was never all that civil on Twitter. The loudest voices have often drowned out softer, more nuanced takes. After all, it's much easier to rage-tweet at a perceived enemy than to seek common ground, whether the argument is about transgender kids or baseball.
Musk’s past tweets reveal clues about Twitter’s new owner
November 5, 2022 GMTHe may be good with rockets and electric cars, but don't turn to Elon Musk for public health predictions.
“Probably close to zero new cases in US too by end of April,” the world's richest man tweeted about COVID-19 in March 2020, just as the pandemic was ramping up.
Influencers debate leaving Twitter, but where would they go?
November 5, 2022 GMTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pariss Chandler built a community for Black tech workers on Twitter that eventually became the foundation for her own recruitment company.
Now she's afraid it could all fall apart if Twitter becomes a haven for racist and toxic speech under the control of Elon Musk, a serial provocateur who has indicated he could loosen content rules.
Ukrainian official: Musk to keep funding key satellite links
November 2, 2022 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Elon Musk has given assurances to Ukraine that he will keep funding its access to a crucial satellite network providing Kyiv with battlefield and humanitarian communications in its war with Russia, a senior Ukrainian official said Wednesday.
SpaceX nails booster landings after foggy military launch
November 1, 2022 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX launched its mega Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time in more than three years Tuesday, hoisting satellites for the military and then nailing side-by-side booster landings back near the pad.
Fresh off Twitter acquisition, Musk suits up for Halloween
November 1, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Elon Musk didn't let the responsibilities of becoming CEO at a third major company curb his Halloween spirit this year.
SpaceX launches 53 satellites into orbit from California
October 28, 2022 GMTVANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lit up the California sky on Thursday evening as it carried 53 Starlink satellites into orbit.
The rocket blasted off from coastal Vandenberg Space Force Base at 6:14 p.m.
Ukraine envoy hopeful about fate of Musk’s satellite network
October 16, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — A Ukrainian diplomat expressed optimism Sunday about securing the money needed for the continued operation of a satellite network funded by billionaire Elon Musk that has provided key battlefield and humanitarian contacts in the war with Russia.
Musk has a ‘super app’ plan for Twitter. It’s super vague
October 16, 2022 GMTElon Musk has a penchant for the letter “X.” He calls his son with the singer Grimes, whose actual name is a collection of letters and symbols, “X.” He named the company he created to buy Twitter "X Holdings." His rocket company is, naturally, SpaceX.
Musk: SpaceX might keep funding satellite service in Ukraine
October 15, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Billionaire Elon Musk suggested in a Saturday tweet that his rocket company SpaceX may continue to fund its satellite-based Starlink internet service in Ukraine.
Officials: Musk seeks US funds for Ukraine satellite network
October 15, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Defense Department has gotten a request from SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk to take over funding for his satellite network that has provided crucial battlefield communications for Ukrainian military forces since almost the beginning of its war with Russia, U.S.
World’s 1st space tourist signs up for flight around moon
October 12, 2022 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The world's first space tourist wants to go back — only this time, he’s signed up for a spin around the moon aboard Elon Musk’s Starship.
For Dennis Tito, 82, it’s a chance to relive the joy of his trip to the International Space Station, now that he's retired with time on his hands.
SpaceX delivers Russian, Native American women to station
October 7, 2022 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A Russian cosmonaut who caught a U.S. lift to the International Space Station arrived at her new home Thursday for a five-month stay, accompanied by a Japanese astronaut and two from NASA, including the first Native American woman in space.
Twitter under Musk? Most of the plans are a mystery
October 5, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A super app called X? A bot-free free speech haven? These are some of Elon Musk's mysterious plans for Twitter, now that he may be buying the company after all.
Russian launches to space from US, 1st time in 20 years
October 5, 2022 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.. (AP) — For the first time in 20 years, a Russian cosmonaut rocketed from the U.S. on Wednesday, launching to the International Space Station alongside NASA and Japanese astronauts despite tensions over the war in Ukraine.
Musk’s plan to end Russian war infuriates Ukraine on Twitter
October 4, 2022 GMTElon Musk has gotten into a Twitter tussle with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the tech billionaire floated a divisive proposal to end Russia’s invasion.
The Tesla CEO, who on Tuesday revived a $44 billion deal to take control of Twitter, argued in a tweet that to reach peace Russia should be allowed to keep the Crimea Peninsula that it seized in 2014.
Kurdish exiles back Iran protests but deny organizing them
September 30, 2022 GMTSULIMANIYAH, Iraq (AP) — Dara Qureshi scrolls through the contacts on his phone, each name an alias for activists across the border in neighboring Iran, where protests have been raging for two weeks.
Musk to seek exemption from Iran sanctions for Web access
September 20, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk's hope to operate his satellite internet firm in Iran requires permission from the Treasury Department, which said Tuesday it welcomes applications to support internet freedom in the country that is largely isolated from Wwestern economies.
United Arab Emirates to launch first lunar rover in November
September 19, 2022 GMTDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates will launch its first lunar rover in November, the mission manager said Monday.
Hamad Al Marzooqi told The National, a state-linked newspaper, that the “Rashid” rover, named for Dubai's ruling family, would be launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida sometime between Nov.
SpaceX launches 46 satellites into orbit from California
August 31, 2022 GMTVANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket streaked across the California sky as it carried 46 Starlink satellites into orbit late Tuesday night.
The rocket blasted off from coastal Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:40 p.m.
SpaceX, T-Mobile try to connect remote areas with satellites
August 26, 2022 GMTElon Musk's SpaceX and T-Mobile are teaming up in an attempt to connect mobile devices through a network of satellites, providing coverage to even the most isolated places.
Under the plan, T-Mobile’s wireless network would be routed through SpaceX Starlink satellites that are in low Earth orbit.
EXPLAINER: NASA tests new moon rocket, 50 years after Apollo
August 24, 2022 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Years late and billions over budget, NASA’s new moon rocket makes its debut next week in a high-stakes test flight before astronauts get on top.
The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket will attempt to send an empty crew capsule into a far-flung lunar orbit, 50 years after NASA's famed Apollo moonshots.
SpaceX launches 46 satellites into orbit from California
August 13, 2022 GMTVANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — SpaceX launched 46 more Starlink satellites into orbit from California on Friday.
The satellites were carried aboard a Falcon 9 rocket that blasted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on the central coast at 2:40 p.m.
South Korean spacecraft launched to the moon, country’s 1st
August 5, 2022 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — South Korea joined the stampede to the moon Thursday with the launch of a lunar orbiter that will scout out future landing spots.
Russia to drop out of International Space Station after 2024
July 26, 2022 GMTMOSCOW (AP) — Russia will pull out of the International Space Station after 2024 and focus on building its own orbiting outpost, the country's new space chief said Tuesday amid high tensions between Moscow and the West over the fighting in Ukraine.
SpaceX launches more Starlink satellites from California
July 22, 2022 GMTVANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — SpaceX launched 46 more Starlink satellites into orbit from California on Friday.
The satellites were carried aboard a Falcon 9 rocket that blasted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:39 a.m.
NASA asteroid mission on hold due to late software delivery
June 24, 2022 GMTNASA put an asteroid mission on hold Friday, blaming the late delivery of its own navigation software.
The Psyche mission to a strange metal asteroid of the same name was supposed to launch this September or October.
Space chief hopes for ‘Kennedy moment’ from European leaders
June 22, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Josef Aschbacher recalls gazing at the night sky above his parents' Alpine farm when he was 7, trying to comprehend what he had just seen on the family's black-and-white TV set: the landing of NASA's Apollo 11 on the Moon.
SpaceX launches German recon satellite from California
June 18, 2022 GMTVANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — A reconnaissance satellite for Germany was launched from California on Saturday.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SARah-1 satellite lifted off from foggy Vandenberg Space Force Base at 7:19 a.m.
SpaceX reported to fire employees critical of CEO Elon Musk
June 17, 2022 GMTHAWTHORNE, Calif. (AP) — SpaceX, the rocket ship company run by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has fired several employees involved in an open letter that blasted the colorful billionaire for his behavior, according to media reports.
SpaceX closer to launching giant rocketship after FAA review
June 13, 2022 GMTCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX cleared a key hurdle Monday for its plan to launch a gigantic, futuristic rocketship into orbit from Texas.
The Federal Aviation Administration concluded an environmental review of Elon Musk’s Starship base.
Texas AG strides into Twitter takeover drama to bolster Musk
June 7, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — State officials across the nation have taken on Big Tech companies in the courts and state legislatures, and federal regulators have nipped at Twitter over alleged violations of users’ data privacy.
Musk threatens to walk away from Twitter deal
June 6, 2022 GMTDETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk is threatening to walk away from his $44 billion bid to buy Twitter, accusing the company of refusing to give him information about its spam bot and fake accounts.
EXPLAINER: Is Elon Musk’s deal to buy Twitter falling apart?
June 6, 2022 GMTElon Musk on Monday threatened to walk away from his $44 billion bid to buy Twitter, the latest sign that his plan to overhaul the social media platform may really be starting to fray.
Business Highlights: Twitter deal doubts, stocks end higher
June 6, 2022 GMT___
Musk threatens to walk away from Twitter deal
DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk is threatening to end his $44 billion agreement to buy Twitter, accusing the company of refusing to give him information about its spam bot accounts.
Bolsonaro using medals to celebrate allies, family, himself
June 5, 2022 GMTSAO PAULO (AP) — Elon Musk arrived in Brazil for his first-ever visit, not knowing his cachaca from his churrasco, and within hours had a prestigious medal draped around his neck as he clasped the hand of President Jair Bolsonaro.
Mexican-born engineer pushing for more diversity in space
June 3, 2022 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Growing up in Guadalajara, Mexico, Katya Echazarreta was encouraged to abandon her dreams of traveling to space.
“Everyone around me — family, friends, teachers — I just kept hearing the same thing: That’s not for you,” Echazarreta told The Associated Press.