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  • Starship V3: SpaceX's Next-Gen Giant Ready for Orbital Tests
    October 20, 2025, 7:58 PM EDT. SpaceX's Starship V3 is set to debut in 2026, promising orbital flights, lunar and Martian missions. Building on the current Version 2 run, the upgraded vehicle is about 5 feet taller and carries more propellant, with an all-new docking system for in-orbit propellant transfer. The rocket will employ third-generation Raptor engines and a wave of energy storage and avionics upgrades to enable longer missions. SpaceX already demonstrated in-flight tests with Starship, and the company notes a learning curve as the design pivots to full reusability and crewed or uncrewed missions. The project aims to enable Earth orbit to Moon and Mars operations, including ship-to-ship refueling for deep-space hops.
  • Rigetti Computing: Is It Too Late to Buy After a 5,100% Rally?
    October 20, 2025, 7:56 PM EDT. Rigetti Computing has surged more than 5,000% in a year as the quantum-computing hype intensifies. The rally reflects investor enthusiasm for innovative chipmakers and Rigetti's strategy to monetize quantum tech. The company designs QPUs, runs Quil, and offers QCS for cloud access, signaling a diversified approach beyond single-product bets. Yet commercialization is still in early innings: recent orders suggest growing demand, but profitability and unit economics remain uncertain. Industry advances-Google's Willow chip and error-correction progress-underscore the sector's potential, while competition and capital intensity pose risks. For potential buyers, key questions include scalability of quantum hardware, the pace of enterprise adoption, and Rigetti's ability to win larger, durable contracts before a pullback in speculative names. Investors should weigh risk tolerance against the long-run demand for quantum computing.
  • Sunlight on demand: satellites that could brighten our nights
    October 20, 2025, 7:54 PM EDT. Sunlight on demand explores how orbital mirrors and reflective satellites could brighten our nights without extra street lighting. The idea envisions lightweight, space-based illumination that redirects sunlight to urban areas, potentially reducing energy use, lowering emissions, and extending productive hours after dark. The piece surveys design routes (active reflectors vs passive surfaces), evaluates technical hurdles (orbital lifetime, alignment precision, skyglow), and sketches business models and policy questions. It weighs costs, launch logistics, and the need for international norms to manage spectrum, debris, and privacy concerns. While promising in theory, experts say success hinges on breakthroughs in materials, cost-effective launches, and robust governance to navigate safety and sustainability.
  • iOS 26.1 Beta 4 Adds Toggle to Disable Lock Screen Camera Swipe
    October 20, 2025, 7:52 PM EDT. Apple's iOS 26.1 Beta 4 adds a new Lock Screen toggle to disable the swipe-to-open Camera gesture. In Settings > Camera, users can turn off Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera, preventing the left-swipe from launching the camera on the lock screen. This addresses privacy concerns without disabling the camera app entirely. The beta also brings minor changes across other apps and features and expands support for Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods, with more tweaks likely as testing continues.
  • SpaceX reaches 10,006 Starlink satellites as launches continue
    October 20, 2025, 7:50 PM EDT. Two Falcon 9 missions from Florida and California added 56 Starlink satellites, pushing SpaceX's constellation to 10,006 in low-Earth orbit. The milestone is tracked by astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell. The network has more than 7 million global subscribers and eyes expansion to direct-to-smartphones. Early prototypes Tintin A/B launched in 2018; by 2019 the fleet shifted to 60-satellite campaigns, with modern missions delivering 28 satellites per flight. The latest deployment lifted ~160 miles up, with satellites aiming for ~332 miles operational altitude. Fleet totals show 8,680 in orbit, 8,664 functioning, and 7,448 in operational orbit as older satellites are decommissioned via reentry.