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WATCH | Richard Branson safely back to earth after touching edge of space
"Congratulations to all those who created such a beautiful space," he said from space. Branson flew aboard his Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity spaceplane, along with three company employees to the edge of space on Sunday a little after 10.30 a.m. ET (8 p.m. India time). The 70-year-old arrived on a bike at the Spaceport America, the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport located in southern New Mexico.
Bandla takes off for space on board Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity 22
The Virgin Galactic's spacecraft took off from Spaceport America in New Mexico lofted by a twin-bodied carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, that would release it at 15.5 km to fly onward into space. Astronaut 004 Bandla, accompanied by Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and two other crewmates and two pilots, is reaching for the 100-km altitude that marks the entry into space.
Virgin Galactic sends Richard Branson to edge of space
Branson flew aboard his Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity spaceplane, along with three company employees to the edge of space a little after 10:30 a.m. ET (8.00 pm India time). The 70-year-old arrived on a bike at the Spaceport America, the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport located in Southern New Mexico. Virgin Galactic's twin-fuselage WhiteKnight carrier aircraft carries the rocket-powered spaceship VSS Unity.
India frustrated with situation in Afghanistan: Pak military
Referring to the oversized Indian footprint in Afghanistan, the Pakistan military has said New Delhi's investment was aimed at establishing influence in an effort to damage Islamabad's interests. "The prevailing situation has caused huge frustration on the Indian side," The Express Tribune quoted Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), as saying in a television interview on Saturday.
Musk living in $50K tiny prefab house in Texas: Report
Musk could afford to live anywhere, in any sort of lavish abode he desires. But he seems to have delivered on a vow to exit California and "sell almost all physical possessions" -- including six Californian mansions -- in the pursuit of "freedom," according to website i.stuff.co.nz. "My primary home is literally a $50k house in Boca Chica/Starbase that I rent from SpaceX. It's kinda awesome though," Musk said earlier in a tweet.
2 US firefighters killed while battling wildfire
The firefighters were killed on Saturday in a plane crash while conducting aerial reconnaissance over the fire near the Prescott National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said in a statement. The fire, which broke out on July 3, forced more evacuations from many small towns in California's Lassen County, Plumas County and Nevada's Washoe County.
'Regional stakeholders expect responsible US drawdown from Afghanistan'
The US army is in the process of leaving Afghanistan and the withdrawal is expected to be completed by August 31, following which all regional stakeholders have to sit together and find a solution to the Afghan issue in consultation with the Afghan leadership, he added.
G20 FMs agree to go ahead with global tax reform
After a two-day meeting in Venice, the Ministers and central bank governors on Saturday reaffirmed the common will to reform the international business tax system, reports Xinhua news agency. In the final communique, they wrote that they achieved "a historic agreement on a more stable and fairer international tax architecture" after several years of talks and building on the progress made last year.
Pak tries to gain sympathy by playing victim card in Afghan melee
Internal communication within Pakistan government circles is to play on this narrative as aggressively as possible and try and gain sympathy from the global community. The objective is to gain ingress into the larger civilised world and be accepted as a nation that is striving to keep the world safe. They would thus draw in economic aid, long-term financial aid, get off FATF, establish closer association with the EU and US.
Branson-Bezos space tourism race begins, world on the edge
If successful, the mission, called Branson-Bezos space tourism, will mark Virgin Galactic's fourth flight to space carrying humans, with its largest crew yet. Four people, including Branson, will test the astronaut cabin experience with two pilots in the cockpit. After Branson, Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos is expected to take off in his own space tourism Blue Origin rocket on July 20.
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