Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp capped a record-setting year on Sunday when it launched a rocket carrying a new GPS III satellite for the US Air Force, after delaying the mission several times because of a technical issue involving its rocket sensors and bad weather.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 8.51am local time carrying the Lockheed Martin-built satellite. SpaceX first won US Air Force certification for national-security space missions in spring 2015, breaking the lock on sensitive satellite launches long held by the United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin Corp.
This GPS III will go into medium Earth orbit roughly 1 hour and 56 minutes after lift-off, according to the SpaceX.
It was SpaceX’s 21st launch of the year, up from a record 18 in 2017. The company has been able to cut costs and win market share by designing its rockets to be reused. This time, however, SpaceX will not attempt to land Falcon 9’s first stage after the launch.
ULA flew eight missions in 2018, and a ninth is scheduled for no earlier than December 30 from Vandenberg Air Force Base on California’s central coast.
“SpaceX has had a phenomenal year no matter how you slice it,” Luigi Peluso, an aerospace and defence consultant at AlixPartners, said. “In 2019, the big race is who is going to be the first company to put humans into space and bring them back. You’ve got SpaceX, Boeing, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin all vying.”
SpaceX, along with Boeing, has a contract to take American astronauts to the International Space Station as part of what is known as the Commercial Crew programme with Nasa, but the timetable for the first flights slipped repeatedly. The agency’s current schedule has SpaceX’s first demonstration flight set for January 17 and its first flight with astronauts on board in June.
Hawthorne, California-based SpaceX's valuation climbed as it has racked up successful missions, making it the third-most valuable venture-backed startup in the US after Uber Technologies and Airbnb. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that SpaceX is poised to raise another $500 million (Dh1.83m) by selling stock at a $30.5 billion valuation.
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
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Translated by Paul McCarthy
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Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
Teams in the EHL
White Bears, Al Ain Theebs, Dubai Mighty Camels, Abu Dhabi Storms, Abu Dhabi Scorpions and Vipers
Williams at Wimbledon
Venus Williams - 5 titles (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008)
Serena Williams - 7 titles (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016)
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