Starlink

SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever built, is heading to orbit in a test flight carrying significant stakes for the company and for NASA's lunar plans. The outcome matters for future Starlink launches, NASA's Artemis moon missions, which rely on a Starship variant, and SpaceX's broader deep-space ambitions. Observers are watching closely to see whether the vehicle can reach orbit and complete its test objectives.

An astronomer is tracking how Starlink satellites sink in their orbits, using the drift as a 'planetary barometer' to measure changes in Earth's upper atmosphere. Because the satellites' orbits respond to atmospheric drag, their gradual descent can act as a gauge of density variations. The idea is drawing attention among space and science readers interested in whether mega-constellations could double as atmospheric monitoring tools.

Reports say Russian forces struck a Starlink data center in Ukraine, according to a Newsweek headline circulating on the platform. Starlink satellite internet, provided by SpaceX, has been a critical communications tool for Ukrainian civilians and military units since the invasion. The posts only share the headline, so details such as the location, damage, or casualties are not clear from the evidence. The story is drawing attention because of Starlink's importance to Ukraine's war effort.

Starlink is preparing to offer gigabit download speeds to its existing customers, with the upgrade expected to arrive as a service-wide improvement rather than requiring new hardware purchases. Reports indicate the faster speeds may come with higher fees, prompting discussion about how much subscribers will pay. The move would put the satellite internet service in closer competition with fibre providers.

Analysts covering SpaceX are divided over the company's value, with the most bullish price target at $800 and the most bearish at $75, while shares trade around $149. The wide spread reflects disagreement over how to weigh the company's launch business against longer-term bets such as Starlink and Starship.