Category Archives: Boca Chica Texas

Almost unnoticed, tucked into the 2021 fiscal NASA funding section of the recently passed omnibus spending bill, is a provision that would seem to liberate the upcoming Europa Clipper mission from the Space Launch System (SLS).

According to Space News, the mandate that the Europa Clipper mission be launched on an SLS remains in place only if the behind-schedule and overpriced heavy lift rocket is available and if concerns about hardware compatibility between the probe and the launcher are resolved. Otherwise, NASA is free to search for commercial alternatives to get the Europa Clipper to Jupiters ice-shrouded moon.

Europa Clipper is slated to go into orbit around Jupiter and make multiple flyby maneuvers near Europa, an icy world that many scientists believe has a warm ocean under the ice layer. Life may exist in that ocean, the confirmation of which would be one of the greatest scientific discoveries of this or any other century.

The Europa Clipper being mandated to fly on an SLS to begin with was the result of an unseemly side of congressional budget politics. The space probe was championed by former Rep. John CulbersonJohn Abney CulbersonNASA's Europa Clipper has been liberated from the Space Launch System Texas Republicans sound post-2020 alarm bells 2020 Democratic Party platform endorses Trump's NASA moon program MORE (R-Texas), who at the time was the chair of the House appropriations subcommittee that funds NASA. In order to get support for the Europa Clipper, Culberson added the SLS mandate, which garnered support from Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyNASA's Europa Clipper has been liberated from the Space Launch System Republican infighting on election intensifies Bipartisan group of senators: The election is over MORE ( R-Ala.), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Shelbys state contains a number of aerospace contractors involved in developing the SLS.

Ironically, Culberson lost his seat in 2018, in part, because his opponent, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), accused him of being more concerned with space missions than local issues, such as flooding brought on by Hurricane Harvey. Nevertheless, the Europa Clipper continued without its key champion in Congress.

As Ars Technica points out, launching the Europa Clipper on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy saves the mission $1.5 billion. An advantage of using the SLS has been that it allows for a direct path to Jupiter without the time-consuming planetary flyby maneuvers that previous missions to the outer planets have required. The Falcon Heavy alone would not be able to get the Europa Clipper to Jupiter space directly, though it might be able to if equipped with a powerful Centaur kick stage.

Both the economics and physics of getting to Europa change if SpaceXs Starship, currently under development in Boca Chica, Texas, becomes available to launch the Europa Clipper in the mid-2020s. The Starship is meant to fulfill SpaceXs CEO Elon MuskElon Reeve MuskNASA's Europa Clipper has been liberated from the Space Launch System Will Axiom Space provide a commercial space station replacement for NASA's ISS? World's richest people added .8T to their combined wealth in 2020 MOREs dreams of settling Mars. But the massive reusable rocket would be available for other things, presumably including sending probes to the outer planets.

The massive cost savings by using a commercial launcher for the Europa Clipper creates other possibilities. The Europa Lander could be placed back on. A mission to Saturns frozen world Enceladus may also be greenlit.

The SLS is the result of a Faustian bargain struck between NASA and Congress in 2010. Congress was enraged by then-President Obamas cancellation of the Bush-era Constellation deep space exploration program. According to then-NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, NASA agreed to the SLS in return for Congress supporting the Commercial Crew program that recently came to fruition with the launch of astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) on a SpaceX Crew Dragon.

The SLS has since been a lead weight on Americas space ambitions. The SLS slated to launch the Artemis 1 uncrewed mission around the moon is currently stuck in a ground-based green run series of tests. The SLS is currently using up a great deal of the money allocated to NASAs Artemis program. The first flight is scheduled for November 2021 at the earliest.

In the meantime, SpaceX has been flying prototypes of the Starship, albeit only in the atmosphere and with occasionally explosive results. NASA is officially disdainful of the idea of replacing the SLS with the Starship. However, a version of the SpaceX massive rocket ship is in the running as a lunar lander for Artemis. It would not be too great a leap to cut out the SLS entirely and go directly with the Starship, if it were not for congressional budget politics.

And that, as Shakespeare would say, is the rub.

Mark Whittington, who writes frequently about space and politics, has published a political study of space exploration entitled Why is It So Hard to Go Back to the Moon? as well as The Moon, Mars and Beyond. He blogs at Curmudgeons Corner. He is published in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Hill, USA Today, the LA Times, and the Washington Post, among other venues.

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NASA's Europa Clipper has been liberated from the Space Launch System | TheHill - The Hill

Elon Musk is now the world's richest person, according to Bloomberg.

Musk, the entrepreneur behind electric auto manufacturer Tesla and rocket company SpaceX, surpassed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index Thursday morning following a rise in Tesla's share price.

Musk's net worth Thursday afternoon was $194.8 billion, or $9.5 billion more than Bezos who had held the top spot since October 2017, Bloomberg said.

And with Musk recently confirming his move to Texas, that means the world's richest man now lives in the Lone Star State.

More on his relocation: Elon Musk confirms that he has moved to Texas

Musk suggested he moved to Texas (the exact location is unknown, but he's rumored to be looking in the Westlake area near Lake Austin) to be closer to two big projects: a Tesla Gigafactory outside of Austin to assemble electric-powered vehicles and a SpaceX facility near Brownsville that is developing and testing prototypes of the Starship spacecraft to carry people to the moon, Mars and beyond.

Tesla is building its largest "Gigafactory 15 minutes east of downtown Austin to assemble electric-powered Cybertruck pickups and Model Y SUVs. The more than 4-million-square-foot plant is seen as a sign of the accelerating energy transition that will have profound implications for Houston and Texas oil-dependent economy.

SpaceX tests every one of its rocket engines from McGregor. And in Boca Chica, a community outside of Brownsville, the company is testing prototypes of its Starship spacecraft. This vehicle is designed to launch atop the SpaceX Super Heavy rocket and carry people to the moon, Mars and beyond.

The company recently launched its SN8 prototype to roughly 40,000 feet, where it flipped itself around in midair and then landed vertically but hard, and in a ball of flames.

Musk had considered that flight a success -- Mars, here we come!! he said on Twitter -- and the company could soon launch its SN9 prototype.

Bloomberg said that Musk added more than $165 billion to his fortune over the past year, which is "probably the fastest bout of wealth creation in history."

His rise in net worth was fueled by Tesla's share price, which surged 743 percent last year due to consistent profits, the company's inclusion in the S&P 500 Index and overall enthusiasm from Wall Street and retail investors, Bloomberg said.

Bezos, who also founded a space company, Blue Origin, would still be the world's richest person if he had not gone through a divorce, where his ex-wife MacKenzie Scott received about a quarter of the family Amazon stake, and his philanthropy. Bezos donated shares worth about $680 million in November, according to Bloomberg.

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New Texan Elon Musk is now the richest person in the world, passing Amazon's Jeff Bezos - Houston Chronicle

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket thundered to life and streaked away from Cape Canaveral on Thursday night, boosting a Turkish communications satellite into orbit to kick off another busy year for the California rocket company.

The launching set the stage for the Monday return to Earth of an unpiloted Dragon cargo ship carrying research samples and equipment from the International Space Station and a presumed test flight by a prototype Starship upper stage from SpaceX's Boca Chica, Texas, launch site.

Last year, SpaceX launched 26 Falcon 9 rockets, including two piloted Crew Dragon missions that ferried six astronauts to the International Space Station, two unpiloted Dragon cargo ships to the lab and 14 Starlink flights that put 833 internet relay satellites into orbit.

The company is expected to attempt 40 or more Falcon 9 flights in 2021, including another NASA Crew Dragon flight to the station and, possibly, a fully commercial flight carrying four non-NASA astronauts.

The company kicked off its 2021 launch campaign at 9:15 p.m. ET Thursday when the nine Merlin engines powering a previously flown Falcon 9 first stage roared to life at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Generating 1.7 million pounds of thrust, the 229-foot-tall two-stage rocket blasted off from pad 40 and climbed away to the east, knifing through a mostly clear sky and putting on a spectacular show for area residents and tourists.

The first stage, making its fourth flight, boosted the rocket out of the lower atmosphere before falling away and flying itself down to landing on a SpaceX droneship stationed several hundred miles from Cape Canaveral. It was SpaceX's 71st successful booster recovery and its 49th on an off-shore droneship.

The second stage, meanwhile, continued the climb to space, carrying out two firings of its single engines before releasing the Turksat 5A communications satellite 33 minutes after liftoff.

The 7,500-pound relay station, built by Airbus Defense and Space for Turksat, was deployed into a highly elliptical "transfer" orbit and will use on-board plasma thrusters over the next four months to reach its operational altitude 22,300 miles above the equator.

Orbiting in lockstep with Earth's rotation, the satellite's 42 transponders will provide commercial broadband data relay and direct TV broadcasting services across Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. A second satellite, Turksat 5B, is scheduled for launch later this year.

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SpaceX kicks off busy year with launch of Turkish relay station - CBS News

TIJUANA (Border Report) Baja California health officials had promised that all healthcare workers in Tijuana would be vaccinated for COVID-19 by Jan. 15, yet none have gotten it.

Now comes word the inoculations will begin on Tuesday.

Doctors, nurses and lab workers have been designated as the first to get the vaccine.

The plan is to bus medical personnel to an army base in Tijuana where they will receive their shots.

Well administer the vaccinations at the military installation, so we dont have any setbacks with the application and the protection of the vaccine, said Alonso Prez Rico, Baja Californias Secretary of Health.

Prez Rico said identification cards will be required for everyone getting the vaccine.

We have set up schedules, people will take turns, he said. As soon as theyre done they will board buses and return to their work sites before going home.

Officials expect to process 30,000 people by the end of the month.

As for vaccinating the public, Prez Rico said it will be done by the end of February or early March.

For that segment of the population we will not be in military installations, for those with chronic and/or degenerative illnesses we will have specific sites where they can go for the shots.

Visit theBorderReport.com homepagefor the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the United States-Mexico border.

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Tijuana healthcare workers told COVID-19 vaccine is on the way - WSYR

Morgan warns people against making 'dangerous journey' north

by: Sandra Sanchez

Honduran migrants carry their children as part of a caravan hoping to reach the distant United States, in Entre Rios, Guatemala, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. Hundreds of migrants arrived at the Guatemala border after walking and hitching rides from San Pedro Sula, Honduras in a bid to form the kind of migrant caravan that reached the U.S. border in 2018. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan is warning migrants not to join a caravan he says is headed to the United States from Honduras.

I would like to send a clear and firm message to those considering joining. Do not waste your time and money, and do not risk your safety and health. The dangerous journey both puts you in harms way and endangers the lives and health of those in the U.S. and regional countries through the potential spread of COVID-19, Morgan said in a statement issued Friday afternoon.

Migrant caravan groups will not be allowed to make their way north in violation of the sovereignty, standing public health orders, and immigration laws of the respective nations throughout the region, he said.

Morgan said the United States is working with the governments of Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Belize to stop illegal entry of those without proper travel documents.

I am proud to stand in solidarity with friends and partners throughout the region who are committed to uphold the rule of law, manage safe, orderly, and legal migration, and prevent a humanitarian and health crisis. Our message is clear if you enter a country illegally or violate public health orders, you will face immediate action, including being returned home immediately, detained or prosecuted, Morgan said.

His threats came a month after hundreds of migrants were turned away as they tried to caravan north from Honduras following a hurricane that struck the country.

He said that human traffickers and drug smugglers have no concern for the health and safety of those they bring in, or of communities affected. And he referenced the deaths of two migrants who died last week when they were abandoned in a winter storm that dumped two feet of snow near Big Bend National Park in a remote section of Texas.

Nearly 50 migrants were rescued who were abandoned around Dec. 30 during the snow storm, according to a CBP news release

This is a deadly journey, Morgan said. These smugglers are reckless with human life they do not care for the safety of migrants or law enforcement.

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Acting head of CBP says a new migrant caravan is bound for the U.S. from Honduras - WJTV

(NEXSTAR) If you got a kick out of watching Jupiter and Saturn cozy up last month in what some called the Christmas Star may want to look outside this weekend a little after sundown.

From Jan. 9-12, Jupiter and Saturn will be joined by Mercury in the southwestern sky.

The celestial event is known as a triple conjunction, which means three planets appear to meet each other in the sky for a short period of time. In reality, they are millions of miles apart. The formation of the planetary triangle is rare, but not as infrequent as the closer grand conjunction we saw last week, according to the Weather Channel.

Shortly after sunset on Jan. 9, look above the southwestern horizon and you will see Mercury to the left of Saturn and Jupiter positioned just above Saturn. The window to see the conjunction will be short.

From Friday evening to Monday evening, the planet Mercury will appear to pass first by Saturn and then by Jupiter as it shifts away from the horizon, visible each evening low in the west-southwest and setting before evening twilight ends, NASA wrote on its website.

The southwestern sky is where the sun sets this time of year, so following the path of the sunset will point you in the right direction. The reflected light from the planets should make them appear brighter than surrounding stars.

According to Space.com, all three planets will fit within the field of view of binoculars. Mercury and Saturn will be a challenge to see within the evening twilight except for skywatchers at southerly latitudes, where the sky will darken faster.

Viewers should find an unobstructed view of the horizon and begin stargazing no later than 45 minutes after sundown.

The planets will form a triple conjunction again on Feb. 13, according to NASA.

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Heres how to spot the rare conjunction of Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn in the sky tonight - KRQE News 13

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) Brothers Robert and Daniel Chavarria recovered large bundles of marijuana from the banks of the Rio Grande and orchestrated a scheme get to them to Laredo, Texas, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Monday.

On May 25, 2017, the brothers from El Cenizo loaded the pot onto a black truck at Roberto Chavarrias home, and Daniel Chavarria attempted to drive the truck to a stash house in neighboring Laredo.

Investigators said authorities had been conducting surveillance and attempted to stop the truck, but Daniel Chavarria led authorities on a chase and managed to get away.

Authorities said they found the vehicle abandoned in the middle of the road with the lights on and still running. They found five large bundles of marijuana weighing 169.5 kilograms with an estimated street value of $299,200.

Authorities eventually identified and located the brothers and took them into custody.

The brothers have admitted to organizing the smuggling of the marijuana, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick announced Monday. Roberto Chavarria, 38, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana on Monday. Daniel Chavarria, 35, entered his plea on Dec. 1, 2020.

The brothers face a minimum of five years in federal prison and a possible $5 million maximum fine. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana will impose sentencing at a date still to be determined.

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated with the assistance of the Webb County Sheriffs Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens is prosecuting the case, according to a news release.

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Brothers from South Texas admit to smuggling $300K worth of marijuana - KGBT-TV

CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) The U.S. Capitol is a major symbol of our democracy, and one kids may recognize from history class or movies and television. The NYS Office of Mental Health is offering up some guidance for parents to tell their kids about what happened.

They shared the following article from Child Mind Institute on Facebook:

A local school district is offering advice as well. Guilderland Central School District Superintendent Dr. Marie Wiles sent a letter to parents with commentary about the Capitol riot, calling it a dark day.

At school, we teach about our nations democratic processes and encourage students to be informed and good citizens. Yesterday those processes were violated by our own citizens, and its hard not to ask the question, How could this happen? This is a defining moment for our nation and a critical time to ask important questions like this, Wiles said in the letter.

Wiles included the following articles in the email to parents:

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Resources: Talking to your kids about the US Capitol riot - WWLP.com

Prosecutors refute claims made by Cesar Duarte in Florida courtroom, saying he's trying to avoid facing embezzlement charges

by: Julian Resendiz

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) Chihuahua officials on Thursday refuted claims by a former governor that he will be assassinated if a U.S. judge approves his extradition to Mexico.

In the absence of legal arguments, the ex-governors defense is resorting to unfounded arguments what we commonly call grasping at straws, said Jorge Espinoza, special counsel for the state of Chihuahua. His life is not at risk in any way here at whatever prison he is sent to once he is extradited.

Cesar Duarte Jaquez remains in a South Florida prison after being arrested July 8 outside a car shop near Miami International Airport. A federal magistrate in New Mexico issued an arrest warrant against Duarte last April for the purpose of his extradition to Mexico on aggravated embezzlement and aggravated conspiracy charges.

According to the complaint, Duarte used the power of his office to funnel some $100 million in state funds to his personal businesses, employees and associates while he was governor from 2010-2016.

Lauren F. Louis, U.S. federal judge for the Southern District of Florida, is presiding over the extradition request and has scheduled a Jan. 14 hearing.

Espinoza said Duartes lawyers have told the judge their client fears for his life if hes sent back to Mexico, citing last years murder of former Jalisco Gov. Aristoteles Sandoval and violence against other political figures.

Border Report reached out by telephone and email to the law firm of Bell, Rosquete, Reyes, Esteban in Coral Gables, the attorneys of record for Duarte, but did not receive a response.

He is portraying himself as a victim, hes trying to avoid extradition, said Luis Fernando Mesta Soule, the Chihuahua secretary-general. Of all the persons who have been arrested in this (case), none have lost their lives. [] Theres nothing to justify his claim; nothing is going on in the prisons to arrive at that conclusion.

He said 30 former state officials and other individuals have been arrested so far in connection with embezzlement and conspiracy charges going back to the Duarte administration.

Chihuahua officials last year seized 10 properties linked to Duarte, including homes, farm tractors, motor vehicles and a ranch.

Visit theBorderReport.com homepagefor the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the United States-Mexico border.

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Former Chihuahua governor fears assassination if returned to Mexico - WJTV

One unexpected development from Meghan Markle's post-royal life has been her involvement in US politics.

The Duchess of Sussex made history by voting in the US election, something royals don't typically participate in as they are supposed to remain politically neutral.

The spokesperson added that the coupe will continue to speak about politics after the election.

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However, the duchess likely wouldn't have spoken about the election if she had remained a senior working member of the royal family, according to royal experts.

Royal experts believe that Markle would have been able to vote in the US election even if she had never resigned. However, she wouldn't have been allowed to speak about it publicly.

"If Meghan and Harry hadn't stepped back from the royal family, it would have been very tough for her," Nigel Cawthorne, author of "Prince Andrew: Epstein, Maxwell and the Palace," told Insider. "The palace would not under any circumstances have allowed her to take a public stance on the US elections, given the hyper-sensitive role of the Queen as Britain's head of state and Britain's special relationship with the US."

"This time of year would have been extremely difficult for Meghan and she would have had to bite her tongue on many occasions," he added.

Markle's comment about the US election being "the most important election of our lifetime" was criticized by the British tabloids, and spurred President Trump to say that he is "not a fan of hers" back in September.

"The neutrality that the British sovereign and the HRHs have in the UK is for the British government. Voting in the US election does not violate that neutrality," Koenig said.

"The duchess believes that it is important to take part in the democratic process, that includes promoting civic engagement and voting in elections. That's what inspired her to encourage others, especially women, to make sure their voice is heard by casting their ballot," the source said.

A source close to Harry and Markle previously told Insider that they didn't endorse a political candidate because they are aware of "a line" that could be crossed as members of the royal family.

"It would be a change in the way the family has always operated," the source said.

It is unknown if the Duke of Sussex has plans to vote in the next UK election. Either way, royal expert Sydney Zatz believes Harry will keep his decision private.

"I think Harry will do the same as Meghan and continue to use his platform to be an activist. I think out of respect for his family, he will keep things hush but I do believe in his private life that he is going to have a more active role since he has stepped back," Zatz, a reporter at Royal Central, told Insider.

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Meghan Markle is encouraging women to get involved with politics but she had to step back from royal life fo - Business Insider India