SpaceX's Starship Faces Another Setback, Athena Achieves Partial Success in Moon Landing

SpaceX's ongoing challenges with its Starship program continue as the latest test flight resulted in another failure. After a promising launch, where the spacecraft demonstrated a flawless ascent under clear skies, the Starship experienced a loss of control shortly after separating from its booster. Although the booster successfully returned to Earth and was captured as intended, the Starship was ultimately abandoned in orbit, marking this as the second consecutive failure of this kind.

In contrast, Intuitive Machines has celebrated a notable achievement with its lunar lander, Athena, which successfully reached the Moon. Landing on Thursday at 17:32 MEZ, Athena made history by being the first human-made device to touch down on the Mons Mouton, the southernmost point explored on the lunar surface. While this landing was successful, reports indicate that Athena did not remain upright, further complicating the mission's outcome. The exact orientation of the lander remains undetermined, although it's believed it is not in an optimal position. Despite this, Athena's solar panels are operational, providing power, but several systems have been temporarily powered down to conserve energy.

On a different front, Ryanair has announced a delay in implementing its digital boarding pass initiative. Initially set to take effect this May, the rollout has been postponed to November. This decision requires passengers to utilize the Ryanair app for digital boarding passes, eliminating the need for printed versions. The airline aims to simplify the check-in process and reduce paper waste by over 300 tons annually. This shift is anticipated to also remove check-in fees at airports, making the Ryanair app essential for travelers.

In the field of navigation, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated plans to explore alternatives and enhancements to the Global Positioning System (GPS). As GPS technology has been integral for nearly 25 years, its widespread usage has also raised concerns about national security vulnerabilities due to dependency on this system. The FCC's investigation is aimed at addressing these risks, particularly in light of ongoing issues related to GPS signal interference.

Additionally, the latest episode of the c't data protection podcast discusses a controversial ruling from the Schleswig Higher Regional Court, which has caused unease among businesses that send invoices via email. The case involved a substantial invoice that was manipulated while being sent unencrypted, resulting in a significant financial loss for the sender. The court ruled in favor of the customer, indicating that the invoice should have been secured with end-to-end encryption, raising important implications for digital communication practices.

In other news, a Maserati MC20 equipped with artificial intelligence has set a speed record for autonomous production vehicles. The vehicle's performance marks a significant milestone in the realm of self-driving technology. Meanwhile, the NASA Voyager probes, which have been operational for over 50 years, are set to have additional instruments powered down to conserve energy for extended operation into the 2030s.

In Denmark, the postal service Postnord is set to cease its traditional letter delivery by the end of 2025 as part of a major digital transformation. This decision reflects a broader trend in the postal industry towards modernization. Furthermore, IBM has faced scrutiny as prices for its software have surged significantly, far outpacing inflation, causing financial strain for various sectors in Germany.

The German Nature Park Association has initiated legal action to prevent the establishment of a wind farm within the Fränkische Schweiz nature park, emphasizing the ongoing tensions between renewable energy initiatives and environmental conservation efforts. Lastly, the Chaos Computer Club has outlined key demands for the incoming government, advocating for the abolition of mass surveillance and the right to encryption.