SpaceX, Space Force set to launch secretive X-37B space plane on Dec. 10 – Space.com

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

The U.S. Space Force's mysterious X-37B space plane is just about ready to take flight for the seventh time.

The Space Force and SpaceX "are making final preparations" for the planned Sunday evening (Dec. 10) launch of the robotic X-37B, Space Force officials said in an emailed update today (Dec. 7).

The space plane is scheduled to lift off atop a Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a 10-minute window that opens at 8:14 p.m. EST (0114 GMT on Dec. 11). If SpaceX webcasts the launch as expected, you'll be able to watch the action live here at Space.com.

Related: SpaceX will launch the Space Force's mysterious X-37B space plane on a Falcon Heavy rocket

The Space Force is believed to possess two X-37B vehicles, both of which were built by Boeing. The space planes look a lot like NASA's old space shuttle orbiters, but they're much smaller; both X-37Bs could fit inside the payload bay of a single space shuttle.

The two X-37Bs have flown a total of six missions to date, each one longer and more ambitious than the last. The most recent one, known as OTV-6 (Orbital Test Vehicle-6), touched down in November 2022 after circling Earth for 908 days.

It's unclear how long the coming flight, OTV-7, will last; the Space Force releases few details about X-37B missions, as most of their payloads are classified. Some of this gear is likely to be novel reconnaissance instruments; military officials have long said that the X-37B is used primarily as a testbed for new technologies.

But the X-37B carries up some civilian research cargo as well. For example, one of the unclassified experiments going up on OTV-7 is Seeds-2, a NASA project that will test how seeds are affected by long-term exposure to space radiation.

The first five X-37B missions launched atop United Launch Alliance Atlas V rockets, and the most recent one flew aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. OTV-7 will be the first to use the powerful Falcon Heavy.

The Heavy has eight missions under its belt to date. It last launched in October, sending NASA's Psyche spacecraft toward the bizarre metal asteroid of the same name.

Read the rest here:

SpaceX, Space Force set to launch secretive X-37B space plane on Dec. 10 - Space.com

SpaceX launches its 90th orbital mission of the year (video) – Space.com

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

SpaceX launched yet another batch of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit early Thursday morning (Dec. 7).

A Falcon 9 rocket topped with 23 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 12:07 a.m. EST (0507 GMT), on SpaceX's 90th orbital mission of 2023.

Related: Starlink satellite train: How to see and track it in the night sky

As to plan, the rocket's first stage came back to Earth for a vertical landing about 8.5 minutes after launch. It touched down on the SpaceX droneship "Just Read the Instructions," which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast.

It was the ninth launch and landing for this particular booster, according to the mission description.

The 23 Starlink satellites, meanwhile, were set to deploy from the Falcon 9's upper stage into low Earth orbit about 65 minutes after liftoff.

Starlink is SpaceX's huge and ever-growing broadband megaconstellation, which beams internet service down to people around the world. The network currently consists of more than 5,100 active satellites, according to astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell.

SpaceX extends its flight-cadence record with every liftoff these days. The company's previous annual mark, 61 launches, was set last year. But we should expect even more spaceflight action next year: SpaceX representatives have said they're shooting for 144 launches in 2024.

Go here to see the original:

SpaceX launches its 90th orbital mission of the year (video) - Space.com

NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts Program: Where Future Tech is Developed – Popular Mechanics

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

What will the future of

The NIAC program has a relatively tiny budget, just a few million dollars per year. Its a drop in the bucket compared to NASAs entire expenditure (which is itself just a fraction of a percent of the entire federal budget). But the purpose of NIAC isnt to build the next rocket or design the next mission. Its here to look 20, 30, 40 years into the future, and provide seed funding to anyone with a crazy, but still plausible, idea that can radically change spaceflight as we know it.

If you want a peek into the future of humanity in space, then NIAC is your window. (Full disclosure: I have served in NIAC review committees for several years, and recently joined the external advisory council. So if this reads like Im a big fan of the program, its because I am.)

As an example of the game-changing possibilities NIAC investigates, take FLUTE, the fluidic telescope. The largest telescope flown into space is the James Webb, a massive array with a width of 6.6 meters (21.7 feet). That sounds impressive (and it is), but ground-based telescopes dwarf itthe largest one stretches more than 30 meters (98.4 feet) across. And with telescopes, you care more about the total surface area than the diameter. Placed on Earth, the James Webb would be a decent, but not groundbreaking or world-class, telescope.

But space offers so many advantages for astronomers. It gets you away from light pollution, and, more importantly, from the distorting effects of Earths atmosphere. Thats why the James Webb is able to deliver such spectacular results. However, the telescope was also the most expensive scientific mission ever flown into space, because that large of a mirror couldnt fit within existing rockets. The engineers behind the James Webb devised a clever origami-like folding mechanism, something that had never been tried before with a telescope.

The FLUTE telescope would have a 50-meter (164-foot), unsegmented primary mirror based on fluid shaping in microgravity.

In astronomy, bigger is always better. Larger mirrors allow us to see further into the reaches of the distant universe, and they give better resolution of closer objects. If we want to go bigger, we dont have a lot of options unless we get clever. The FLUTE design envisions a radical new kind of telescope mirror, one made from liquid. The idea is to launch the observatory with tanks of some highly reflective compound. Once in space, the telescope would unfurl its support beams and begin rotating, allowing its own spin to stabilize the liquid in the shape of a mirror. The best part is that the only design limit is how much liquid you can pack on board. The reference design is for a jaw-dropping, 50-meter (164-foot) telescope, which would make the James Webb look like a hobbyists toy in comparison.

If astronomy isnt your main focus, the creative people NIAC funds have some other ideas for you, like utilizing fungi to build habitats on Mars. Thats right: fungi. Known as mycotecture, the projects aim is to solve one of the most basic problems facing any future Martian mission: building structures.

We take our building materials for granted. Cement, bricks, wood, plaster, drywall, all of it is readily accessible and relatively cheap. When you want to build something on Earth, you just grab your tools, load up your materials, and go for it. But on Mars there is no wood, no drywall, no plaster, no bricks. Just a lot of red dust and pavement-like desert floor, all at temperatures usually well below freezing. For the near term, NASA and other space agencies envision bringing all our building materials along with us for the ride, which increases the cost and complexity of any crewed mission to the Red Planet.

Building material wouldnt be made of mushrooms, but from specialized strains of fungi that grow tight, interwoven webs of material. This would yield cheap and effective Martian habitats.

But what if we could build our habitats directly on Mars? Unfortunately, the Martian soil isnt a great building material on its own, and its not like well have easy access to quarries. Enter the radical NIAC idea to use fungi instead. In this project, the researchers are developing specialized strains of fungi that grow tight, interwoven webs of material. The hope is that we just need to bring along the basic foodstuffs; we can grow the walls, ceilings, and even plumbing pipes that will enable the rapid infrastructure expansion needed to maintain a long-term presence on Mars.

Even if you just want to stay warm and cozy on planet Earth, NIAC is funding a project to help youliterally to save your life from a catastrophic asteroid impact. Simply called PI, the plan is to avert disaster by blowing up an asteroid before it ever reaches our planet.

Earth is constantly under cosmic bombardment. Thankfully, most of the material crossing our orbit is small, making no more than a delightful meteor shower. About every year or so, however, a large enough rock impacts our atmosphere with a velocity of 5070,000 mph. That releases enough pure kinetic energy to be the equivalent of a nuclear weapon, but usually these detonate safely in the atmosphere over some random patch of ocean. And then there are the big ones, like the asteroids that ended the reign of the dinosaurs about 66 million years ago. Those come every few million years, and its been a while since the last one.

The PI approach would use energy transfer to pulverize very large asteroids so that their pieces burn up in Earths atmosphere.

If we are to last as a species into the long term, then we need to protect ourselves. One way will be to settle on other worlds, giving us backup options. But even if we leave Earth, were still going to be nostalgic for it, and well probably want to prevent large space rocks from messing up the place.

Recently, NASA demonstrated the DART mission, which nudged the orbit of an asteroid. This can work for planetary defense, but only if we see the asteroid from far enough away that we can effectively deflect it. With PI, however, the game plan is different. The idea is to send a swarm of small, hypervelocity impactors straight for an incoming asteroid. Instead of trying to nudge it off course, the colliding objects would burrow themselves into the body of the asteroid, tearing it to shreds.

The resulting fragments would still be headed toward Earth, but our atmosphere is great at taking a punch. If we get the pieces small enough, we can all celebrate as we enjoy the fireworks in the sky.

All of these ideas, along with the dozens of other projects NIAC funds, are only in their initial stages of development, and have no guarantee of success. In fact, most of these projects will not pan out. But, if we want to take big swings, were going to have to accept some misses, because when we hit, we really hit! Take the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, which is currently setting records and laying the groundwork for an entirely new class of planetary exploration; NIAC inspired that project.

The best part: anyone can apply, from an established player in the space industry to a garage tinkerer. If you have an idea for the future, and you have a plausible path to getting there, then NIAC wants to hear from you. Its the only way we can make the science fiction dreams of the future become reality.

Paul M. Sutter is a science educator and a theoretical cosmologist at the Institute for Advanced Computational Science at Stony Brook University and the author of How to Die in Space: A Journey Through Dangerous Astrophysical Phenomena and Your Place in the Universe: Understanding Our Big, Messy Existence. Sutter is also the host of various science programs, and hes on social media. Check out his Ask a Spaceman podcast and his YouTube page.

Excerpt from:

NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts Program: Where Future Tech is Developed - Popular Mechanics

Astronaut Mary Cleave, the first woman to fly on NASA’s space shuttle after Challenger disaster, dies at 76 – Orlando Sentinel

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

Mary Cleave, the NASA astronaut who in 1989 became the first woman to fly on a space shuttle mission after the Challenger disaster, has died at the age of 76.

NASA did not give a cause of death, the space agency announced last week.

Im sad weve lost trail blazer Dr. Mary Cleave, shuttle astronaut, veteran of two spaceflights, and first woman to lead the Science Mission Directorate as associate administrator, said NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana in astatement. Mary was a force of nature with a passion for science, exploration, and caring for our home planet. She will be missed.

Cleave who died Nov. 27 in Annapolis, Maryland, according to the statement was a native of Great Neck, New York, but had lived in Annapolis since 1991. She studied biological sciences at Colorado State University before going on to earn her masters in microbial ecology and a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering from Utah State University.

Cleave had been inducted into the Maryland Womens Hall of Fame in 2022.

In addition to being one of the first American women in space, Cleave helped develop and lead projects to gather critical information about the effects of climate change.

Always fascinated by airplanes, Cleave said in a March interview with The Capital that she started flying lessons as a 14-year-old, which she funded with her babysitting money.

Although Cleave had a strong interest in aviation, she was too short to be a flight attendant at 5-foot-2 at the time. Instead, she applied to veterinarian school at Cornell University but was not accepted.

They used to discriminate based on gender at all the professional schools vet school, law school, medical school. When Title IX went through, they had to stop that, Cleave said in March. It made a huge difference.

She was accepted to Colorado State Universitys pre-vet program, but when it came time to apply for vet school, she ran into the same roadblock; the programs didnt accept women. She switched her focus to botany.

After Cleave obtained her bachelors degree in biological sciences at Colorado State and her masters degree from Utah State University, the schools dean of the College of Engineering asked her to consider a doctorate in engineering. With Title IX law, there was a new world of options for Cleave to explore.

Partway through her doctorate, a colleague told her about an advertisement at the local post office. For the first time, NASA was recruiting women, people of color and nonmilitary personnel for the astronaut class of 1978. It was a dream job for Cleave flying and science together.

NASA representatives told Cleave they wanted her to complete her doctorate first, which she did before joining the next astronaut class in 1980. The decision meant she missed out on joining the countrys first co-ed astronaut class and the chance to become the first American woman in space, a title held by Sally Ride, but she was glad she finished her degree.

On her first mission, flying on NASAs Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1985, Cleave became the 10th woman to travel into space. On the mission, she served as a flight engineer and helped operate the shuttles robotic arm.

Between her two flights, the Challenger disaster in 1986 had occurred, and Cleave went to work on crew equipment issues following the mission. On the second shuttle flight, as she looked down on the Amazon rainforest, she had a realization that she wanted to return to environmental research.

Cleaves second flight in 1989, STS-30, also on Atlantis, came after NASA had reverted to flying all-male crews for three missions in the wake of the Challenger explosion.

Looking at the Earth, particularly the Amazon rainforest, the amount of deforestation I could see, just in the five years between my two space flights down there, scared the hell out of me, Cleave said in March.

Jeffrey F. Bill/Capital Gazette

In 1991, Cleave moved to Annapolis to be closer to her aging parents, which led her to NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, home of the agencys environmental spacecraft programs.

At Goddard, Cleave managed a project to measure all the phytoplankton in the ocean via spacecraft, developing models to understand carbon dioxide building up in the atmosphere.

Cleave went on to do other work gathering data from space to help scientists better understand climate change. She also briefly worked on redesigning the proposal for the International Space Station, after which she was asked to work at NASA headquarters in Washington.

She retired from NASA in 2007. She was a member of the Annapolis Rowing Club and Anne Arundel County Bird Club, and volunteered with the Anne Arundel County League of Women Voters. She also mentored students through the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

Baltimore Sun Media journalists Dana Munro and Jay Judge, and CNN Wires Service contributed to this article.

Read the rest here:

Astronaut Mary Cleave, the first woman to fly on NASA's space shuttle after Challenger disaster, dies at 76 - Orlando Sentinel

Discovery of Space Tomato Relieves Record-Breaking Astronaut From Fracas Explorersweb – ExplorersWeb

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

The discovery of an extraterrestrially harvested tomato has finally exonerated the famous astronaut accused of losing it, multiple outlets report.

Yet details are glaringly sparse.

Astronaut Frank Rubio set a United States record when he accomplished a 371-day space flight this September (beating the old record by 16 days). Along the way, he found the time to cultivate a bright red tomato and lose it, somewhere on board the International Space Station (ISS).

NASA designated Rubios earthy mission the Veg-05 Experiment. Pick-and-Eat Salad-Crop Productivity in outer space was a focus. As part of it, the astronaut would grow a crop of tomatoes aboard the space station.

He succeeded, in the form of at least one Red Robin dwarf tomato that he proudly harvested in 2022.

To his dismay, he put it in a plastic baggie and promptly lost track of it.

I put it in a little bag, and one of my crewmates was doing a (public) event with some schoolkids, and I thought itd be kind of cool to show the kids Hey guys this is the first tomato harvested in space, Rubio said during an October media event. I was pretty confident that I Velcroed it where I was supposed to Velcro itand then I came back and it was gone.

Fresh food in space is not a light-duty topic among astronauts, who eat freeze-dried food out of technical necessity for their entire stay. As the mystery of the tomato lingered, popular opinion turned against Rubio.

Unfortunately because thats just human nature a lot of people are like, He probably ate the tomato, Rubio told CNN. And I wanted to find it mostly so I could prove I did not eat the tomato.

Rubio finally disembarked from his mission in late September, bound to reunite with his young family and happy in all appearances except for the tomato crisis.

Then finally, a Dec. 6 news conference commemorating the ISSs 25th anniversary depressurized the situation. Several members of the ships remaining seven-person crew told international audiences that they had finally located the tomato.

Rubio had been blamed for quite a while for eating the tomato, NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli said. But we can exonerate him.

But the crew offered no further information on the tomatos whereabouts, condition, or other details.

Rubio had previously offered the opinion that the tomato had shriveled and desiccated into an unrecognizable object.

For his part, hes just happy to be home. His record space flight was an accident to begin with a forced delay due to a malfunctioning Russian shuttle craft. As of this writing, Rubio has not publicly commented on the discovery of the controversial tomato.

Originally posted here:

Discovery of Space Tomato Relieves Record-Breaking Astronaut From Fracas Explorersweb - ExplorersWeb

Watch live as astronauts on the ISS celebrate the station’s 25th anniversary today (video) – Space.com

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

Astronauts on the International Space Station will celebrate 25 years of their vehicle in orbit on Wednesday (Dec. 6), and you can watch the event live.

The six astronauts of the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 70 crew will mark the 25th anniversary of the Russian Zarya and U.S. Unity modules meeting up Dec. 6, 1998. You can watch the event live here at Space.com, via NASA Television, at 12:25 p.m. EST (1725 GMT).

The Expedition 70 astronauts include commander Andreas Mogensen (European Space Agency), Jasmin Moghbeli (NASA), Satoshi Furukawa (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Loral O'Hara (NASA) and Russian cosmonauts Konstantin Borisov, Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub. The crew, by coincidence, represents all the largest ISS partners on the orbiting complex.

The Zarya module blasted to space on its own on Nov. 20 1998, using a Russian Proton rocket launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Unity came to space on board the STS-88 space shuttle Endeavour mission that launched on Dec. 4, 1998.

The commander of STS-88, Bob Cabana, will also join the event in his current role as NASA's associate administrator alongside Joel Montalbano, ISS program manager. Cabana was also the first American to enter the ISS, NASA officials said in a release about the anniversary event.

Related: Track the ISS: How and where to see it

The ISS has greatly expanded from its two-room origins into a six-bedroom complex that has hosted 273 individuals from 21 countries, according to NASA statistics. The complex has had nearly 270 spacewalks servicing or assembling the space station, including 198 on the U.S. side and 71 on the Russian side. Crews typically complete hundreds of experiments during missions that can last between six months and 12 months at a time.

In addition to the station itself, the vehicles serving the ISS have changed a lot in the last quarter-century. The early days used the space shuttle and Russian Soyuz for crews, alongside government cargo vehicles from Russia, Japan and Europe. The space shuttle retired in 2011, and for nearly a decade, Soyuz was the exclusive ride to the space station. Soyuz continues to launch all Russian crews today, alongside some U.S. astronauts under an agreement with NASA.

Today, private SpaceX Dragon and Northrop Grumman cargo ships resupply the space station. U.S. companies also have two vehicles on offer for astronauts: SpaceX's Crew Dragon (in service since 2020) and Boeing's Starliner (expected to run its first mission with astronauts in 2024.) Meanwhile, Axiom Space is running independent private missions to the space station for commercial purposes, using paying customers to pay for seats.

Related: Private space station: How Axiom Space plans to build its orbital outpost

The ISS also aims to fly a diverse set of individuals in space, and has celebrated numerous societal milestones in the last five years. A few include the first all-woman spacewalk in 2019, the first long-duration missions by a Black man (NASA astronaut Victor Glover) and Black woman (NASA's Jessica Watkins) and the first long-duration mission by a Native American woman (NASA's Nicole Mann).

Also, this year Hispanic-American Frank Rubio accidentally set the record for longest NASA mission in space, 371 days, following an issue with his Soyuz spacecraft that doubled his stay in orbit. Astronauts from several countries outside the U.S. have set their own records for spacewalking, space station commands, long-duration missions and similar milestones, too.

Most partners of the ISS have committed to extending the partnership until at least 2030, and NASA has committed to funding several private space stations to keep a presence in low Earth orbit in the next decade. Russia will remain with the ISS until at least 2028, although it may be longer. (The ISS is one of Russia's few remaining space partnerships internationally after its unsanctioned invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which is ongoing.)

The moon is the new focus of the ISS partners. NASA has formed the Artemis Accords, a coalition of more than 30 countries that are aiming for peaceful space exploration together; a few of those partners are also working on moon missions with the NASA-led Artemis program. Russia has allied with China, and a few other countries, on its own moon-facing alliance in the coming years.

See original here:

Watch live as astronauts on the ISS celebrate the station's 25th anniversary today (video) - Space.com

The GAO Calls on the FAA to Improve its Mishap Investigation Process – Payload

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) says the FAA should improve its procedures when things go awry in spaceflight. The federal agency watchdog published a report yesterday that called on the FAA to develop tools to 1) define criteria for when a mishap report is operator-led, and 2) better evaluate the effectiveness of the process as a whole.

Without a comprehensive evaluation of its mishap investigation process, FAA cannot be assured its process is effective, especially given the expansion of commercial space operations in recent years, the GAO report said.

The FAAs Office of Commercial Space Transportation is responsible for issuing launch licenses and investigating flight mishaps.

12% mishap rate: Mishap investigations kick in when a flight is not completed as planned, like in the case of Starships two big kabooms this year. Out of 433 launches between 2000 and mid-January 2023, 50 were mishaps, according to the report.

In-house? Since all launch vehicles are specializedand literally rocket sciencethe FAA believes operators are best suited to sniff out root causes and identify corrective actions. The agency estimates that in-house investigations could take the agency 10-20 times longer.

After a September anomaly with Rocket Labs Electron, it took the FAA just 36 days to approve a Rocket Lab-led mishap investigation and Electron was cleared to fly again. According to the agencys estimates mentioned above, an FAA-led investigation could have taken north of a year.

GAO does not necessarily disagree with that logic; instead, they are requesting that the FAA better track effectiveness, share data, and develop a defined criteria for when the investigations should be operator-led.

The FAA concurs with the GAOs recommendations to evaluate and further improve the FAA commercial space mishap program, the FAA said in an email to Payload. Protecting public health and safety are at the core of the program.

Learning period: As for human spaceflight/tourism, the industry has been operating under an eight-year learning period, where the FAA is restricted from enacting regulations. The learning period is set to expire on Jan. 1.

The rest is here:

The GAO Calls on the FAA to Improve its Mishap Investigation Process - Payload

Stratolaunch’s huge Roc plane flies with fueled-up hypersonic vehicle for 1st time (photos) – Space.com

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

The world's biggest airplane took to the skies over the weekend with a new type of payload under its expansive wings.

Stratolaunch's Roc carrier plane conducted its first-ever captive-carry flight with a powered and fueled-up hypersonic test vehicle on Sunday (Dec. 3).

The main goal was to evaluate the propulsion system of that vehicle the first of Stratolaunch's robotic Talon-A craft, known as TA-1 and to see more generally how it behaves while being carried in flight, company representatives said.

"Talon-A's propulsion system supports a liquid-propellant rocket engine that provides the thrust needed for Talon-A to reach hypersonic speeds," Stratolaunch CEO Zachary Krevor said in a statement on Sunday.

"While we have conducted several successful ground tests fueling and igniting the system, we needed to evaluate how the system performs in the flight environment prior to release," he added. "Initial results from today's flight show that the system has performed as predicted, and we will determine our next steps pending the full data review of the test."

Related: Stratolaunch test photos: The world's largest plane in action

Sunday's flight was the 12th overall for Roc, which has a wingspan of 385 feet (117 meters). The huge, twin-fuselage plane had last flown in May of this year, when it performed its first-ever drop test with a Talon prototype.

Roc stayed aloft for three hours and 22 minutes on Sunday's sortie, which originated from the Mojave Air and Space Port in Southern California. TA-1 stayed attached to its carrier plane from liftoff to landing.

The flight "represented a significant step forward in the company's near-term goal of completing a powered flight with the Talon-A vehicle," company representatives said in the same statement.

Stratolaunch was founded by Microsoft's Paul Allen in 2011. The initial aim was to air-launch rockets from high in Earth's atmosphere, much as Virgin Galactic sends tourists aloft using its WhiteKnightTwo carrier plane and VSS Unity spaceliner.

But in 2019, a year after Allen's death, the company's focus shifted: It now intends to use Roc as a platform for hypersonic research and development. (Hypersonic vehicles are highly maneuverable craft capable of flying at least five times faster than the speed of sound.)

The reusable Talon-A craft will be Stratolaunch's first line of hypersonic vehicles, though others are in the offing; the company's website also teases a Talon+ vehicle, as well as a space plane.

Stratolaunch has already inked some customers for its hypersonic services. Last week, for example, the company announced that it had signed a contract with Leidos, the prime contractor for the U.S. Navy's Multiservice Advanced Capability Test Bed (MACH-TB). The deal funds five hypersonic flights with Talon-A vehicles.

Stratolaunch's huge Roc plane flies with fueled-up hypersonic vehicle for 1st time (photos) - Space.com

Seminole Tribe & Celebs launch gaming revolution: Craps, Roulette, Sports Betting at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & … – Travel And Tour World

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

Home AMERICA Seminole Tribe & Celebs launch gaming revolution: Craps, Roulette, Sports Betting at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casinos

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Favorite

The inauguration of craps, roulette, and sports betting at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, and Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood marks the dawn of a New Era in Florida Gaming, as proclaimed by leaders of the Seminole Tribe of Florida alongside prominent celebrities.

Celebrities such as Jon Bon Jovi, Bruno Mars, Tisto, Heather Graham, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Diplo, Cedric Gervais, Mike Tyson, Dwyane Wade, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Sarah Hyland, Willy Chirino, Max Weinberg, Bobbi Althoff, and SI Swimsuit Cover Model Brooks Nader graced the red carpet at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood. Many of them participated in the inaugural moments of craps, roulette, and retail sports betting.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is hosting a series of mega-events to celebrate the introduction of these new games, including a one-time pop-up dining experience featuring the renowned Carbone restaurant by chef Mario Carbone, paying homage to New Yorks great Italian-American culinary traditions.

Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr., other members of the Seminole Tribal Council, and Seminole Gaming CEO and Hard Rock International Chairman Jim Allen led a commemorative ceremony at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Similar ceremonies took place at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood.

The advent of these new games is attributed to the Gaming Compact signed and approved by the Seminole Tribe and the State of Florida in 2021. Craps, roulette, and sports betting now join blackjack, baccarat, and other casino card games, along with thousands of the latest slot machines, forming a comprehensive array of casino offerings across all six Seminole Casinos in Florida.

Chairman Osceola expressed pride in the Seminole Tribe of Florida, noting, With the addition of craps, roulette, and sports betting, we now offer a full complement of casino games and join the ranks of leading casinos around the world. Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen highlighted the positive economic impact on entertainment, travel, tourism industries, and beyond, anticipating increased tourism to Florida and boosted employment in the areas surrounding Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood and other Seminole Gaming-operated casinos throughout the state.

Back to Page

See the article here:

Seminole Tribe & Celebs launch gaming revolution: Craps, Roulette, Sports Betting at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & ... - Travel And Tour World

Sports betting, craps and roulette to begin at Seminole casinos – South Florida Sun Sentinel

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

On Thursday, for the first time ever, South Floridians will be able to walk into a Seminole Tribe casino and gamble on sports, roulette or craps.

An all-day celebration of the new era at the Hollywood and Coconut Creek casinos will roll out multiple red carpets and draw celebrities such as Jon Bon Jovi, DJ Khaled, Mike Tyson and Dwyane Wade. Guests will participate in ceremonial spins of the roulette wheel and rolls of the dice before heading to a VIP pool party DJd by Diplo.

Both casinos will be open to the gambling public in the meantime.

The tribe is pulling out all the stops after what appears to be a pause in two years of legal battles. Two lawsuits before the U.S Supreme Court and Florida Supreme Court seek to challenge the 2021 gaming compact between the tribe and the state that authorizes sports betting as well as craps and roulette. Both courts have recently ruled against suspending the compact while the lawsuits continue.

We certainly recognize that anyone could file additional lawsuits, Hard Rock Chairman Jim Allen told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Tuesday. But you know, the compact of 2021 is in place. It is legal, and we move forward.

The festivities will begin around 9:30 a.m. at the Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood with a celebrity red carpet, followed by a first spin of the roulette wheel and roll of the craps dice about 10 a.m.

Celebrity participants for the morning event include Adamari Lpez, Willy Chirino, Adam Beach, Mannie Fresh, Jon Jay, Edgerrin James, Enrique Santos and Los Pichy Boys. They will join tribe and company leaders including Allen, Seminole Tribe Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr. and members of the Tribal Council.

The public will be allowed to gamble, roam the casino and sneak glimpses of celebrities during the events of the day. Once the inaugural ceremony is complete, they will also be able to play craps and roulette at the Hollywood casino.

Im sure a lot of people would have fun watching all the events that are going on, a Seminole Tribe spokesperson said Wednesday, but how close theyll be depends on how many people are there.

Both the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood and Coconut Creek casinos will look different with dozens of new tables and kiosks, as well as dealers and employees, a massive undertaking, Allen said.

More than 1,000 new employees have begun working throughout the states six Hard Rock casinos and at the gaming headquarters, Allen said.

The Hollywood casino will have 20 roulette tables, 10 craps tables and 38 sports betting kiosks, as well as 10 new sports betting agents so people can actually place bets with a human being, the tribe spokesperson said.

Some South Florida gamblers may think they have already played roulette and craps, but the casinos have only offered virtual alternatives that give the appearance of those games; they are technically slot machines using random number generators.

Those games will remain in addition to the new tables with real employees rolling the dice and spinning the wheels.

A similar schedule of events will take place at the Hard Rock Casino in Coconut Creek about 1 p.m. with a first spin of the roulette wheel and roll of the dice, which will mark the beginning of the games at that location.

Celebrities attending the Coconut Creek launch will include Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, Rob Riggle and Jacky Bracamontes. They will join Allen, Osceola Jr. and members of the Tribal Council.

The celebration will return for the grand finale at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood around 4:30 p.m. for the launch of sports betting and the arrival of A-list celebrities.

The list of celebrities currently includes Wade, Bon Jovi, Tyson, DJ Khaled, Tisto, Heather Graham, Fat Joe, Sarah Hyland, Willy Chirino, Max Weinberg, Bobbi Althoff, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model Brooks Nader and other surprise special guests.

The first in-person sports bet will take place sometime that evening, which will kick off sports betting throughout the casino. Attendees can also bet throughout the day on the mobile app.

Following the ceremony, Diplo will DJ a pool party for invited guests only. Bruno Mars will perform a sold-out show later in the night.

The celebrations will move to the giant Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa on Friday, though South Florida got them first because the guitar building is our most iconic, Allen said.

Beginning about 10:30 a.m. Friday morning, the Tampa location will have its own ceremony with Allen, Osceola Jr., other tribal leaders and celebrities including Thomas Rhett, Michael Carbonaro, Lele Pons, Marcus Allen and Joe Theismann.

On Monday, the games will begin at the Seminole casinos in Immokalee and Brighton.

Over the years, much attention good and bad has been paid to the return of mobile sports betting rather than in-person betting, craps and roulette. But Allen believes that the arrival of the in-person games will also excite people and serve as an inducement to tourism, especially from Latin America.

I know that our guests have been looking forward to them for many, many years, he said of the games, adding that roulette is extremely popular in areas of Central and South America, where many tourists come from.

Though the new additions likely will not transform Florida into the new Vegas, the news release said that the launch immediately puts Florida in the same league as the worlds great gaming destinations.

The tribe is continuing to advance its virtual business as well. The Hard Rock Bet app became accessible to all Floridians Tuesday, and on Thursday, local pari-mutuels will begin to offer their own sports betting apps as part of a hub and spoke system where a chunk of the revenues go to the tribe. Allen estimated about 16 companies seemed interested.

The legal battles, meanwhile, continue.

The lawsuit before the U.S Supreme Court will likely extend into spring, possibly longer if the court decides to review the case. Last week, the court granted a request for an extension to file a writ of certiorari, pushing it from Dec. 11 to Feb. 8, three days before the Super Bowl.

Also last week, attorneys for Gov. DeSantis filed a response motion asking the Florida Supreme Court to dismiss the second case. That case could conclude as soon as Christmas, only a few weeks after the launch of in-person betting and the expansion of the app.

Continue reading here:

Sports betting, craps and roulette to begin at Seminole casinos - South Florida Sun Sentinel

Seminole Tribe of Florida and Dozens of Celebrities Usher in a "New Era" in Florida Gaming as Craps, Roulette and … – PR Newswire

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

Celebrities at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Include Jon Bon Jovi, Bruno Mars, Tisto, Heather Graham, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Diplo, Cedric Gervais, Mike Tyson, Dwyane Wade, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Sarah Hyland, Willy Chirino, Max Weinberg, Bobbi Althoff, and SI Swimsuit Cover Model Brooks Nader

Introduction of new games is a historic milestone that immediately puts Floridain the same league as the world's great gaming destinations

Editor's Note:Download event images at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood HEREand video b-roll HERE

HOLLYWOOD,Fla., Dec. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --Leaders of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and major celebrities have ushered in a "New Era" in Florida Gaming with the launch of craps, roulette and sports betting at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood.

Jon Bon Jovi, Bruno Mars, Tisto, Heather Graham, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Diplo, Cedric Gervais, Mike Tyson, Dwyane Wade, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Sarah Hyland, Willy Chirino, Max Weinberg, Bobbi Althoff, and SI Swimsuit Cover Model Brooks Nader walked the red carpet at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, with many of the celebrities on hand for the first roll of craps dice, the first spin of the roulette wheel and the first retail sports bet.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is hosting a combination of mega-events to celebrate the new games. Among them is a one-time pop-up dining experience of the legendary Carbone restaurant. Created by renowned chef Mario Carbone, the pop-up restaurant pays homage to many of New York's great Italian-American restaurants.

Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr. and other members of the Seminole Tribal Council, plus Seminole Gaming CEO and Hard Rock International Chairman Jim Allen led a ceremony at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood to commemorate the start of the new games. Similar first roll and first spin ceremonies were held at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood.

The new games were made possible by the Gaming Compact signed and approved by the Seminole Tribe and the State of Florida in 2021. They join blackjack, baccarat and other casino card games, plus thousands of the latest slot machines, to round out a full complement of casino games at all six Seminole Casinos in Florida.

"The Seminole Tribe of Florida is proud to point to a new era in Florida gaming with the unveiling of our new casino games," said Chairman Osceola. "With the addition of craps, roulette and sports betting, we now offer a full complement of casino games and we join the ranks of leading casinos around the world."

"The entertainment, travel and tourism industries, and many more, will see positive economic impact caused by the new casino games," said Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen. "They will increase tourism to Florida and boost employment not only at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, but also at businesses in the areas surrounding this casino complex and others operated by Seminole Gaming throughout Florida."

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is the flagship-integrated resort of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination unveiled a $1.5 billion expansion in 2019, highlighting the debut of the world's first and only Guitar Hotel. Between three hotel towers, the resort boasts 1,271 luxury guestrooms. Amenities include a 42,000 square-foot Rock Spa & Salon; an 18-acre recreational water experience; private "Bora Bora" style cabanas; more than 20 food and beverage outlets; an expansive gaming floor with more than 2,700 slots, more than 200 table games and a 45-table poker room; 120,000 square feet of premier meeting and convention space; and a 26,000 square-foot retail promenade. Hard Rock Live, ranked No. 5 worldwide in 2022 gross revenue for both Pollstar Magazine and Billboard in its respective categories, highlights A-list entertainers and performers, sporting events and live broadcast productions in an intimate 7,000-person capacity setting. Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood is located on 87 acres of the Hollywood Seminole Reservation along State Road 7 (U.S. Highway 441). For more information, visit us online at seminolehardrockhollywood.comcall 1 (800) 937-0010 or follow us: Facebook: SeminoleHardRockHollywood, X: @HardRockHolly, Instagram: @HardRockHolly.

SOURCE Hard Rock International

Go here to see the original:

Seminole Tribe of Florida and Dozens of Celebrities Usher in a "New Era" in Florida Gaming as Craps, Roulette and ... - PR Newswire

Sometimes buses take the old route, sometimes the new one, so its roulette getting a bus at either stop right now. – PoPville

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

Dear PoPville,

I wanted to flag WMATAs clusterf**k of a rollout of the new (old) S2 and S9 routes and hopefully save people from waiting for a bus that may never come. This week, WMATA rolled the S2/9 routes back to 16th between K and M after about a year of running that strip on 15th. However, they didnt inform passengers or drivers clearly of this change. Sometimes buses take the old route, sometimes the new one, so its roulette getting a bus at either stop right now.

There are also no signs at the old stop to let people know where they should go now, so only people with smartphones could track the busses, and even then its not clear. For example, the current sign at 16 and L says only S2, but Google and Transit app say the S9 stops there too. Which is it?

My advice for bus riders is to go to Franklin Square or P Street (or just take the 50 busses) until WMATA figures this out in a week or two.

I remember similar chaos the last time this route changed, so it seems like this isnt just a fluke and better planning and communication from WMATA is needed.

Link:

Sometimes buses take the old route, sometimes the new one, so its roulette getting a bus at either stop right now. - PoPville

‘A long time coming’: Sports betting, craps and roulette debut in Florida, bringing gamblers, celebrities to Seminole … – South Florida Sun Sentinel

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

The first dice were rolled, wheels spun and wagers placed as craps, roulette and in-person sports betting officially launched in Florida on Thursday.

The day began with an elaborate ceremony at the Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood featuring drumming, feathered dancers and cockatoos, and ended with the inaugural sports bet at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, where Mike Tyson, Rick Ross and other celebrities announced their picks.

Tyson bet on the Dolphins, saying, theyre going to win because I said so.

But for the Seminoles, Thursday was also a serious affair. It marked a turning point amid ongoing legal battles and another example of the tribes continued prosperity despite the obstacles thrown in its path.

Theres been a lot of Seminole Wars, said Chris Osceola, a tribal councilman who represents Hollywood, in a speech in one of Classic Casinos slot machine-filled rooms Thursday morning. And to me this is no different.

He was referring to the lawsuits that have sought to stop the gaming compact between the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe since the agreement was signed in 2021. The agreement gave the tribe the authority to launch mobile and in-person sports betting, as well as craps and roulette, at all of its casinos.

After the agreement was signed, Osceola recalled leaving Tallahassee hooting and cheering over what was to come. Then the lawsuits arrived, forcing the tribe to a halt.

Finally, last month, both the U.S. Supreme Court and Florida Supreme Court ruled against suspending the compact while two cases continue, opening a tentative door for Thursdays launch. The Florida case could see a conclusion as soon as this month, but that didnt seem to deter anyone.

Once again, the tribe has prevailed, Hard Rock Chairman Jim Allen told the South Florida Sun Sentinel ahead of the ceremony Thursday. And we mean that with a very humble mindset.

Critics of the compact, including the betting companies challenging it in court, have argued that it gives the already powerful tribe an unfair monopoly on sports betting. The tribe and its executives, including Allen, have given millions of dollars to Gov. DeSantis, including tens of thousands towards his presidential campaign.

But on Thursday, tribe officials described their success as championing over adversity.

Were going to create dreams for our great grandchildren of tomorrow, to live a better life than we live, said Seminole Tribe Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr. in his speech. Thats a dream for each and every one of us in this world, is to have better for our children than what we had.

Local gamblers who also had waited for this day to arrive joined celebrities and members of the tribe at the Classic Casino about 10 a.m., then had to wait again for the ceremony to conclude before they could crowd around the new craps and roulette tables. Some said they had already begun sports betting on the new app; others were waiting for it to arrive in person.

Its been a long time coming, said Eric Sonnabend as he threw $400 on the newly inaugurated craps table Thursday, the first real game of the day.

Moments prior, Osceola Jr. had taken the first dice out of a white satin box at that table and rolled an eleven.

Sonnabend was waiting for craps to start in Florida so he didnt have to travel to Vegas to play, something he does often. As others joined him at the table, he became a sort of impromptu teacher, explaining the rules.

The convenience and lack of a need to leave Florida was a common theme among officials and attendees, including Miami Marlins coach Jon Jay, who echoed Sonnabends sentiments.

I dont have to go to Vegas anymore, he said.

The date of Thursdays launch was fitting, Osceola Jr. said. Nearly 44 years ago to the date, the tribes bingo hall opened where the Seminole Classic is today in December 1979 after the Broward Sheriffs Office threatened to shut it down, he said. The tribe had filed a lawsuit challenging the sheriffs authority and won.

For the Seminoles, guarding the monopoly on its most important income source might seem like a necessity as some Indian reservations have struggled to compete with major betting companies in other states.

Wed like to recycle the money here in the state of Florida with our people, Osceola said towards the end of his speech. Keep it here, not let it leave.

Other speakers included Holly Tiger, the vice-chairwoman of the tribal council and president of its board of directors, Mariann Billie, the councilwoman representing Big Cypress, and Larry Howard, the councilman representing Brighton.

Officials are optimistic that neither court case will force the tribe to reverse Thursdays launch, which involved hiring hundreds of new employees, rolling in dozens of roulette and craps tables and installing sports betting kiosks throughout all Seminole casinos.

We certainly believe in the legal theory that weve worked out prior to signing the compact, Allen said. We didnt just sign this on a whim; we did a lot of research.

The case before the Florida Supreme Court centers around mobile sports betting, he added, and even if the court decided against the tribe, he believes about 80 percent of the scope would remain, including all the new tables and dealers.

Thursdays crowds didnt only include gambling aficionados. Bill Condoulis moved to Hollywood from Brooklyn two years ago, so the casinos are in his neighborhood. He used to gamble in Atlantic City, though he doesnt consider himself a gambler, he said. He goes once a month because its nearby and allows himself to bet $500.

Similar launch ceremonies took place Thursday at the Coconut Creek casino about 1 p.m. and the Hard Rock in Hollywood about 4:30 p.m., concluding with the ceremonial sports bets, where select celebrities and tribe officials clutched golden tickets that read first bet.

Osceola Jr. bet on the Florida State Seminoles; Brooks Nader, a Sports Illustrated cover model, went with the Marlins for the World Series in 2024, and Ross went with the Miami Heat. By 6 p.m., the sports betting kiosks had fully opened to the public.

As players waited impatiently, dealers adjusted to the real-life game for the first time. Rebeca Ynde, who lives in Tamarac, became a dealer only a year ago. She handled the ceremonial roulette spin in the Classic Casino, also her first live game, doling thousands out to tribe officials as the crowd watched. Afterwards, she said she was a good nervous.

Later in the day at the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, a newly-minted craps dealer spoke casually with Gloria and Emilio Estefan, asking them if theyd stick around to play later, though they had to leave for the red carpet.

Other employees at the Thursdays ceremonies had been around for decades.

Sharon Carrero, 65, received a special shout-out in the morning for spending close to 44 years as an employee at the Classic Casino, beginning as a bingo clerk when it was just a bingo hall in the 1980s.

Carrero saw the Classic Casino go through all of its evolutions, but in some ways, Thursday was the last frontier, she said. Its come full circle.

'A long time coming': Sports betting, craps and roulette debut in Florida, bringing gamblers, celebrities to Seminole ... - South Florida Sun Sentinel

Seminole Hard Rock To Introduce Craps, Roulette, Sports Betting – Indian Gaming

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

HOLLYWOOD,FL Leaders of the Seminole Tribe ofFlorida are slated to welcome a new era in Florida gaming beginningThursday, Dec. 7, when craps, roulette and retail sportsbettingdebut at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel &CasinoHollywoodand otherSeminoleCasinos.

Sofia Vergara,Jon Bon Jovi, Tisto,Heather Graham, DJ Khaled,Gloria and Emilio Estefan,Mike Tyson,Dwyane Wade,Bobbi Althoff,Sarah Hyland, Fat Joe,Ja Rule,Prince Royce,Willy Chirino,Max Weinberg, Xandra, Blaise Matuidi and others are scheduled to walk the red carpet. Festivities will also include special celebrity guests participating in the first roll of the craps dice, the first spin of the roulette wheel and the first retail sports bet at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood. Tickets are also available to the public for special performances by award-winning artists that weekend as well.

In addition to hosting celebrities and influencers on the red carpet and celebrating the launch of the newcasinogames, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel &CasinoHollywoodis planning a combination of events over the course of several days. Among them is a four-day residency of Carbone restaurant at the resorts Italian-American restaurant Cipresso fromThursday, Dec. 7throughSunday, Dec. 10. Created by renowned chefMario Carbone, the restaurant pays homage to many ofNew Yorksgreat Italian-American restaurants.

Special guests will join Seminole Tribe of Florida ChairmanMarcellus Osceola Jr.and other members of the Seminole Tribal Council, plus Seminole Gaming CEO and Hard Rock International ChairmanJim Allenin a ceremony to commemorate the start of the new games, which were made possible by the gaming compact signed and approved by the tribe and theState of Floridain 2021.

The Seminole Tribe ofFloridais proud to point to a new era inFloridagaming with the unveiling of our newcasinogames, said Chairman Osceola.With the addition of craps, roulette and sportsbetting, we now offer a full complement ofcasinogames and we join the ranks of leadingcasinosaround the world.

The entertainment, travel and tourism industries, and many more, will see positive economic impact caused by the newcasinogames, said Seminole Gaming CEOJim Allen. They will increase tourism toFloridaand boost employment not only at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, but also at businesses in the areas surrounding thiscasinocomplex and others operated by Seminole Gaming throughoutFlorida.

See more here:

Seminole Hard Rock To Introduce Craps, Roulette, Sports Betting - Indian Gaming

Seminole Tribe & A-List Celebs Transform Florida Gaming Landscape with Craps, Roulette, and Sports Betting – stupidDOPE.com

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

In a historic move that propels Florida into the echelons of premier gaming destinations worldwide, the Seminole Tribe of Florida and a constellation of A-list celebrities have officially marked the dawn of a New Era in Florida Gaming. The unveiling of craps, roulette, and sports betting at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has set the stage for an unprecedented gaming experience.

The red carpet at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa witnessed a star-studded ensemble, including luminaries such as Thomas Rhett, Hulk Hogan, John Daly, Ric Flair, Michael Carbonaro, Lele Pons, Adamari Lopez, Tim Brown, Gente De Zona, and Rudy Mancuso. These icons werent just there for the glamour; they actively participated in the inaugural roll of craps dice, the premiere spin of the roulette wheel, and the commencement of retail sports betting.

The festivities at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa are nothing short of spectacular. The weekend celebrations include a Friday night concert headlined by country sensation Thomas Rhett, a Sunday Tempo Daylife Pool Party featuring the Chainsmokers, and a thrilling $300,000 high limit table games hot seat promotion on Saturday night.

Spearheaded by Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr., the Seminole Tribal Council, Seminole Gaming CEO, and Hard Rock International Chairman Jim Allen, a ceremony at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa commemorated the historic launch. Similar ceremonies unfolded at other Seminole Casinos in South Florida, including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.

The introduction of craps, roulette, and sports betting became possible through the Gaming Compact inked between the Seminole Tribe and the State of Florida in 2021. These additions join an impressive array of casino offerings, including blackjack, baccarat, and a plethora of slot machines, across all six Seminole Casinos in the Sunshine State.

Chairman Osceola expressed pride in this groundbreaking moment, stating, The Seminole Tribe of Florida is proud to point to a new era in Florida gaming with the unveiling of our new casino games. With the addition of craps, roulette, and sports betting, we now offer a full complement of casino games and join the ranks of leading casinos around the world.

Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen emphasized the far-reaching economic impact, stating, The entertainment, travel, and tourism industries, and many more, will see positive economic impact caused by the new casino games. They will increase tourism to Florida and boost employment not only at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa but also at businesses in the areas surrounding this casino complex and others operated by Seminole Gaming throughout Florida.

As the dice roll, the wheel spins, and bets are placed, Florida embraces a gaming renaissance that promises not just entertainment but also economic prosperity for the region. The Seminole Tribe and their star-studded companions have truly ushered in a New Era for gaming enthusiasts in the Sunshine State.

Elevate your project. Advertise with stupidDOPE today!!

Visit link:

Seminole Tribe & A-List Celebs Transform Florida Gaming Landscape with Craps, Roulette, and Sports Betting - stupidDOPE.com

Pragmatic Play expands Live Casino portfolio with Lucky 6 Roulette – Yogonet International

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

iGaming content supplier Pragmatic Play has launched a new product, Lucky 6 Roulette, as part of its Live Casino portfolio. The release adds "a thrilling twist" to the classic casino roulette game.

The Live Casino game show maintains the familiar elements of Roulette, providing players with their favorite betting types, while introducing six Lucky Numbers with each game round.

After bets are closed, each Lucky Number is given a unique Lucky Multiplier between 50x to 2,088x the player's bet, boosting the winning potential.Any players who have placed a straight-up bet on a winning Lucky Number will be awarded the Lucky Win with its assigned multiplier prize.

Lucky 6 Roulette joins Pragmatic Play's suite of Live Casino games, which includes the recently released adventure-themed game show Treasure Island.

Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: "Lucky 6 Roulette takes the excitement of live Roulette to the next level. It's set in a stunning studio that serves up rich visuals to complement the premium elements of Roulette, while delivering players six chances to win boosted prizes with each game round.

"Pragmatic Play is always looking to offer new ways to enjoy Live Casino. Lucky 6 Roulette joins many other favorites in a portfolio that continues to power up new possibilities of play for operators and their players," she added.

Originally posted here:

Pragmatic Play expands Live Casino portfolio with Lucky 6 Roulette - Yogonet International

NASA says Hubble Telescope will resume science operations after gyroscope glitch – Space.com

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Danzig

Following a string of setbacks concerning one of its directional instruments, the Hubble Space Telescope will get back to its job of capturing deep space images soon enough, NASA says.

It all began on Nov. 19, when one of the iconic observatory's three gyroscopes (a trio that live on from an original set of six) began providing faulty readings. In general, gyroscopes are devices that use either circulating beams of light or rapidly spinning wheels to help scientists make sure an object is facing the direction they want it to face. Incorrect gyroscope readings on the Hubble Telescope, as you might imagine, can therefore drastically affect science measurements. To image a specific spot in deep space with this Earth-orbiting telescope, you'd have to make sure it's actually facing that spot in deep space.

Thus, Hubble entered safe mode on Nov. 19 something that's programmed to happen automatically when certain issues arise with the observatory. The team, however, was able to bring it back online the following day. But things weren't looking good shortly after, when gyro issues sent Hubble into yet another safe mode situation on Nov. 21. The team brought Hubble back once more shortly after that, only for the beloved telescope to retreat into its dark corner once again on Nov. 23.

Related: Hubble Telescope revisits gorgeous spiral galaxy, offering a newly filtered view (photo)

That most recent safe mode entrance was slightly worrying as it persisted for longer than the previous two dips. It wasn't too worrying though because, first of all, this isn't the first time Hubble's gyros have raised issues leading to a shutdown. And secondly, maybe most importantly, the observatory can actually function with only one gyroscope. The team just uses three because it maximizes efficiency.

But perhaps all of this is moot at this point, because as of Dec. 7, NASA confirmed that it plans on restoring Hubble for science operations once more. With all three gyros too!

"Based on the performance observed during the tests, the team has decided to operate the gyros in a higher-precision mode during science observations. Hubbles instruments and the observatory itself remain stable and in good health," NASA officials wrote in a statement.

Though it's been over three decades since Hubble began exploring the vibrant reaches of our universe and though a new observatory in town has been catching most of the spotlight recently this Reynolds-wrap-looking telescope is surely not finished yet.

NASA says Hubble Telescope will resume science operations after gyroscope glitch - Space.com

Ten Years of the Singh Center for Nanotechnology – University of Pennsylvania

Posted on December 10, 2023 by Danzig

Ten Years of the Singh Center for Nanotechnology

2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Singh Center for Nanotechnology, a building that exemplifies cutting-edge scientific research by virtue of its sleek geometry and meticulous attention to detail by all those involved in its development.

Heralded by many as an architectural gem, not only at the University of Pennsylvania but in Philadelphia. The iconic, glass-clad, cantilevered 78,000 square-foot structure is nestled between the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter and David Rittenhouse Laboratory on the eastern edge of campus. It was also Penns first collaborative building between two schools: the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Arts & Sciences.

Over the last decade, the center has opened its doors to students, academics, industry professionals, and many more who seek out the facilitys state-of-the-art equipment geared at serving two high-precision objectives: to build and measure.

Function Guiding Form: The Planning Phase

Eduardo Glandt, emeritus dean of Penn Engineering, played a crucial role in establishing the iconic structure. He jokes that he was quite literally at the ground floor of the $93 million-dollar centers construction, as he led the charge in securing funding, scouting faculty and staff members, and meeting with architects to make the dream a reality. Dr. Glandt recalls that finding the right architects was no small feat, saying, The demands on the designers were steep. So, we were in contact with about 10 different firms, and we had to go to Helsinki, Tokyo, and Basel to find the right people who were up for the challenge.

Ultimately, the firm suited to the task was closer to home than expected: Weiss/Manfredi, a firm co-founded by Marion Weiss, the Graham Professor of Practice in Architecture at Penns Weitzman School of Design.

Dr. Glandt explains that the Singh Centers design, with its distinctive U-shaped floor plan, was born out of necessity, as it needed to be seamlessly integrated around the pre-existing Edison Building. Later, the Edison Building, once an integral part of the Singh Center complex, would be razed and the land turned into a garden, adding yet another layer of serenity to the landscape.

Another set of significant constraints the architects faced was that the internal environment needed to be pristine: free from vibrations to accommodate an electron microscope in the characterization facility and absent from certain ultraviolet light used in the fabrication room. The latter resulted in another unique identifier, namely, the buildings marigold dcor.

Dr. Glandt notes that the glass that separates the common areas from the photolithographic activities, which is essentially using light to transfer patterns to materials, is amber to prevent UV contamination. The architects ran with this constraint and used it as a motif for the interior, said Dr. Glandt. Its incredible to see what they were able to do, and how thats given the building such a distinct look.

Dr. Glandt also expresses admiration for the buildings aesthetic and believes it is part and parcel of the centers success over the years.

Beauty tends to attract beauty, and I think the centers emblematic of this in many ways, he said. Before opening, Dr. Glandt and others worked hard to resurface Tony Smiths We Lost, a famed sculpture that used to sit on College Green, because they knew its cubic geometry would greatly complement the centers.

Following this, members of the community reached out, suggesting and offering more artworks to be showcased in the center, one of which includes some of the first microscopy artistic photographs. This set of photos can be seen at the entrance of the electron microscopy facility. Dr. Glandt also notes that the architects added We Lost to their renderings and recalls that when he presented the plans to scientific director Mark Allen during his recruitment, Dr. Allen marveled at the notion of art at a fabrication lab.

A Hub for Innovation

Dr. Allen said he has witnessed the centers facilities play an important role in a multitude of projects over the last 10 years. From pioneering drug delivery mechanisms targeting cancerous cells on a molecular scale to formulating energy-efficient batteries and next-generation semiconductors, the centers multidisciplinary approach has been a strength, enabling researchers from varying disciplines to come together in one space. Although the Singh Center was initially a joint venture between Penn Engineering and Arts & Sciences, scientific director Mark Allen said it has also proven useful to researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, Weitzman School of Design, and schools of Dental Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.

Its quite a nexus of collaboration, which I believe is the essence of innovation, said Dr. Allen, who is also the Alfred Fitler Moore Professor in Penn Engineering. Our ethos revolves around converging varied fields of study, pushing the boundaries of whats conceivable, and fortunately, we see that happen at an exciting time for nanotechnology.

In reflecting on the centers growth and what continues to draw people in, Dr. Allen said, the efforts by the deans involved have been tremendously helpful in allowing us to achieve our science goals.

Dr. Allen praises the current deans, Vijay Kumar of Engineering and Steven J. Fluharty of Arts & Sciences, for picking up the mantle in expanding the centers capabilities through supporting initiatives for hiring faculty with diverse backgrounds in the nanoworld.

The Singh Center has driven revolutionary advancements at the nano- and microscale- across many applications, said Dean Kumar. This includes novel micro-electromechanical systems, the invention of new catalysts and storage technologies to combat climate change, and the development of new biomaterials and drug delivery systems for health care.

Dean Fluharty, who is also the Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Professor of Psychology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, added that the center embodies a spirit of collaboration that over the past decade has paved the way for significant advancements in a wide range of research areas.

One of our research teams harnessed the centers state-of-the-art tools and materials to develop a new drug delivery device that can transport microparticles against cardiovascular flows, and another group created patterned photoelectrodes that use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide to energy-dense chemical fueland these are just two examples of the innovative work we are seeing, he said. I look forward to many more exciting discoveries in the years to come.

Gerald Lopez, the Singh Centers associate director and director of business operations, adds that under Dr. Allens leadership, the facility has been at the forefront of research, boasting more than 1,000 scientific publications, enabling more than 200 work years, and has been crowned the Mid-Atlantic Nanotechnology Hub.

Helping to Shape the Nanotech Future

Dr. Allen notes that it has been an exciting time for nanotechnology these last few years, citing the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act as recognition of the impact this field has on many spheres of modern life and science. More recently, how the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to researchers who pioneered a method to use nanocrystals for a range of activities related to light transmission.

Dr. Allen explained that the center has also inspired the next generation of nanotech practitioners by lowering the barrier of entry to some of the most sophisticated machining tools in this space.

The center has really become a testbed that welcomes people with ideas. We provide an environment that teaches and fosters practices that challenge those ideas and potentially use that information to build something, he said. We will continuously partner with other institutions in and around Philly, like the Community College of Philadelphia, to give more students hands-on experience with the cutting-edge tools that will transform the future.

This is an especially meaningful partnership since Dr. Allen noted that the employment workforce in many large semiconductor fabrication places is highly diverse.

Its roughly 50% bachelors level engineers, which is usually the technical staff, maybe 25% graduate degrees, and the other quarter, people with either no college or associates degrees because there is a need at all levels. Dr. Allen said. So, if were going to have an effective workforce development activity, we need to engage at all levels. And I think thats one of the wonderful things being done at places like the Singh Center.

Looking forward, Drs. Glandt and Allen are filled with anticipation. Nanotechnologys role in our daily lives is burgeoning, Dr. Allen said. The Singh Center, with its unparalleled infrastructure and dynamic research community, is geared to spearhead this transformation and were excited to see whats next and to keep sharing what we have coming down the pike.

Adapted from a Penn Today article written by Nathi Magubane, November 20, 2023.

Read more from the original source:
Ten Years of the Singh Center for Nanotechnology - University of Pennsylvania

AI and Nanotechnology: A Revolutionary Synergy in Healthcare – Medriva

Posted on December 10, 2023 by Danzig

With the rapid advancements in technology, the healthcare industry is on the verge of a paradigm shift. The promising union of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology is opening up a world of possibilities in medical treatments. This transformative synergy can revolutionize healthcare by emulating human intelligence, performing complex tasks, and manipulating matter at atomic and molecular levels with precision. However, while the potential is vast, the actualization of AI-nanobots in healthcare is still on the horizon.

AIs role in healthcare is already significant with its capability to quickly interpret data, find patterns, and make predictions to support medical decision making. An example of this can be seen in India, where radiologists are using deep learning algorithms to automate image processing, interpretation, and report generation. One groundbreaking application is the screening of diabetic retinopathy (DR) by eliminating the need for pupil dilation and using AI to detect the presence of DR in retinal photographs. This use of AI significantly reduces screening time and improves early detection of DR.

On the other hand, nanotechnology is paving the way for significant breakthroughs in medicine. With the ability to control and manipulate matter at an atomic and molecular level, nanotechnology brings unprecedented precision to medical treatments. For instance, DNA robots are currently being tested in animals to seek out and destroy cancer cells, demonstrating the potential of nanobots in healthcare.

It is predicted that by 2030, nanobots will be flowing through human bloodstreams, bringing a host of potential applications in healthcare. These range from treating cancer and conducting cell research, to delivering drugs with a high degree of accuracy, reducing plaque in veins, and addressing dietary issues. Furthermore, nanobots could constantly monitor our bodies for maladies and transmit this information to a cloud for close monitoring by medical staff, leading to a greater state of connectivity and proactive healthcare.

Despite the promising potential, the application of AI-nanobots in healthcare presents certain challenges. One of these is the issue of delivering drugs to specific target tissues and cells in the brain. A study using predictive models based on large datasets suggests that factors such as the release rate and molecular weight have a negative impact on brain targeting. Nevertheless, the study also found a slightly positive impact on brain targeting when the drug is a P-glycoprotein substrate, indicating potential pathways for overcoming these challenges.

Moreover, while the idea of nanobots transmitting our thoughts to the cloud is intriguing, it is still a far-fetched concept. As we move forward, it is crucial to approach these developments with curiosity and responsibility, fostering progress while navigating the ethical and practical implications of these technologies.

In conclusion, the future of healthcare is bright with the promising potential of AI-nanobots. While we are still on the cusp of this technological revolution, the journey towards it is filled with exciting possibilities and challenges. As we continue to explore and innovate, the synergy of AI and nanotechnology holds the promise of a transformative impact on healthcare.

Link:
AI and Nanotechnology: A Revolutionary Synergy in Healthcare - Medriva

Revolutionizing Nanotechnology: Photonic Cavities that Self-Assemble at the Atomic Level – SciTechDaily

Posted on December 10, 2023 by Danzig

Illustration of the core of the photonic cavity that was fabricated as two halves that assembled themselves into one unit. The cavity confines light inside the gap, which is only a few atoms wide as indicated in the field of view of the magnifying glass. Credit: Thor A. S. Weis

In a new Nature paper, two nanotechnology approaches converge by employing a new generation of fabrication technology. It combines the scalability of semiconductor technology with the atomic dimensions enabled by self-assembly.

A central goal in quantum optics and photonics is to increase the strength of the interaction between light and matter to produce, e.g., better photodetectors or quantum light sources. The best way to do that is to use optical resonators that store light for a long time, making it interact more strongly with matter. If the resonator is also very small, such that light is squeezed into a tiny region of space, the interaction is enhanced even further. The ideal resonator would store light for a long time in a region at the size of a single atom.

Physicists and engineers have struggled for decades with how small optical resonators can be made without making them very lossy, which is equivalent to asking how small you can make a semiconductor device. The semiconductor industrys roadmap for the next 15 years predicts that the smallest possible width of a semiconductor structure will be no less than 8 nm, which is several tens of atoms wide.

The self-assembled cavity can be integrated into larger self-assembled components for routing light around an optical chip. The figure shows the optical cavity embedded in a circuit containing multiple self-assembled elements. Credit: Thor A. S. Weis

The team behind a new paper in Nature, Associate Professor Sren Stobbe and his colleagues at DTU Electro demonstrated 8 nm cavities last year, but now they propose and demonstrate a novel approach to fabricate a self-assembling cavity with an air void at the scale of a few atoms. Their paper Self-assembled photonic cavities with atomic-scale confinement detailing the results is published today (December 6) in the journal Nature.

To briefly explain the experiment, two halves of silicon structures are suspended on springs, although in the first step, the silicon device is firmly attached to a layer of glass. The devices are made by conventional semiconductor technology, so the two halves are a few tens of nanometers apart. Upon selective etching of the glass, the structure is released and now only suspended by the springs, and because the two halves are fabricated so close to each other, they attract due to surface forces. By carefully engineering the design of the silicon structures, the result is a self-assembled resonator with bowtie-shaped gaps at the atomic scale surrounded by silicon mirrors.

FACT BOX: Surface forces

There are four known fundamental forces: Gravitational, electromagnetic, and strong and weak nuclear forces. Besides the forces due to static configurations, e.g., the attractive electromagnetic force between positively and negatively charged particles, there can also be forces due to fluctuations. Such fluctuations may be either thermal or quantum in origin, and they give rise to surface forces such as the van der Waals force and the Casimir force which act at different length scales but are rooted in the same underlying physics. Other mechanisms, such as electrostatic surface charges, can add to the net surface force. For example, geckos exploit surface forces to cling to walls and ceilings.

We are far from a circuit that builds itself completely. But we have succeeded in converging two approaches that have been traveling along parallel tracks so far. And it allowed us to build a silicon resonator with unprecedented miniaturization, says Sren Stobbe.

One approach the top-down approach is behind the spectacular development we have seen with silicon-based semiconductor technologies. Here, crudely put, you go from a silicon block and work on making nanostructures from them. The other approach the bottom-up approach is where you try to have a nanotechnological system assemble itself. It aims to mimic biological systems, such as plants or animals, built through biological or chemical processes. These two approaches are at the very core of what defines nanotechnology. But the problem is that these two approaches were so far disconnected: Semiconductors are scalable but cannot reach the atomic scale, and while self-assembled structures have long been operating at atomic scales, they offer no architecture for the interconnects to the external world.

The leading authors at work in the lab: Ph.D.-student Ali Nawaz Babar, postdoc Guillermo Arregui, and Associate Professor Sren Stobbe. Credit: Ole Ekelund

The interesting thing would be if we could produce an electronic circuit that built itselfjust like what happens with humans as they grow but with inorganic semiconductor materials. That would be true hierarchical self-assembly. We use the new self-assembly concept for photonic resonators, which may be used in electronics, nanorobotics, sensors, quantum technologies, and much more. Then, we would really be able to harvest the full potential of nanotechnology. The research community is many breakthroughs away from realizing that vision, but I hope we have taken the first steps, says Guillermo Arregui, who co-supervised the project.

FACT BOX: How it was done

The paper details three experiments that the researchers carried out in the labs at DTU:

Supposing a combination of the two approaches is possible, the team at DTU Electro set out to create nanostructures that surpass the limits of conventional lithography and etching despite using nothing more than conventional lithography and etching. Their idea was to use two surface forces, namely the Casimir force for attracting the two halves and the van der Waals force for making them stick together. These two forces are rooted in the same underlying effect: quantum fluctuations (see Fact box).

The researchers made photonic cavities that confine photons to air gaps so small that determining their exact size was impossible, even with a transmission electron microscope. But the smallest they built are of a size of 1-3 silicon atoms.

Even if the self-assembly takes care of reaching these extreme dimensions, the requirements for the nanofabrication are no less extreme. For example, structural imperfections are typically on the scale of several nanometers. Still, if there are defects at this scale, the two halves will only meet and touch at the three largest defects. We are really pushing the limits here, even though we make our devices in one of the very best university cleanrooms in the world, says Ali Nawaz Babar, a PhD student at the NanoPhoton Center of Excellence at DTU Electro and first author of the new paper.

The advantage of self-assembly is that you can make tiny things. You can build unique materials with amazing properties. But today, you cant use it for anything you plug into a power outlet. You cant connect it to the rest of the world. So, you need all the usual semiconductor technology for making the wires or waveguides to connect whatever you have self-assembled to the external world.

The paper shows a possible way to link the two nanotechnology approaches by employing a new generation of fabrication technology that combines the atomic dimensions enabled by self-assembly with the scalability of semiconductors fabricated with conventional methods.

We dont have to go in and find these cavities afterward and insert them into another chip architecture. That would also be impossible because of the tiny size. In other words, we are building something on the scale of an atom already inserted in a macroscopic circuit. We are very excited about this new line of research, and plenty of work is ahead, says Sren Stobbe.

Reference: Self-assembled photonic cavities with atomic-scale confinement 6 December 2023, Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06736-8

Futurist Transhuman News Blog

Author Archives: Danzig

SpaceX, Space Force set to launch secretive X-37B space plane on Dec. 10 – Space.com

SpaceX launches its 90th orbital mission of the year (video) – Space.com

NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts Program: Where Future Tech is Developed – Popular Mechanics

Astronaut Mary Cleave, the first woman to fly on NASA’s space shuttle after Challenger disaster, dies at 76 – Orlando Sentinel

Discovery of Space Tomato Relieves Record-Breaking Astronaut From Fracas Explorersweb – ExplorersWeb

Watch live as astronauts on the ISS celebrate the station’s 25th anniversary today (video) – Space.com

The GAO Calls on the FAA to Improve its Mishap Investigation Process – Payload

Stratolaunch’s huge Roc plane flies with fueled-up hypersonic vehicle for 1st time (photos) – Space.com

Seminole Tribe & Celebs launch gaming revolution: Craps, Roulette, Sports Betting at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & … – Travel And Tour World

Sports betting, craps and roulette to begin at Seminole casinos – South Florida Sun Sentinel

Seminole Tribe of Florida and Dozens of Celebrities Usher in a "New Era" in Florida Gaming as Craps, Roulette and … – PR Newswire

Sometimes buses take the old route, sometimes the new one, so its roulette getting a bus at either stop right now. – PoPville

‘A long time coming’: Sports betting, craps and roulette debut in Florida, bringing gamblers, celebrities to Seminole … – South Florida Sun Sentinel

Seminole Hard Rock To Introduce Craps, Roulette, Sports Betting – Indian Gaming

Seminole Tribe & A-List Celebs Transform Florida Gaming Landscape with Craps, Roulette, and Sports Betting – stupidDOPE.com

Pragmatic Play expands Live Casino portfolio with Lucky 6 Roulette – Yogonet International

NASA says Hubble Telescope will resume science operations after gyroscope glitch – Space.com

Ten Years of the Singh Center for Nanotechnology – University of Pennsylvania

AI and Nanotechnology: A Revolutionary Synergy in Healthcare – Medriva

Revolutionizing Nanotechnology: Photonic Cavities that Self-Assemble at the Atomic Level – SciTechDaily