Reuters Science News Summary
Following is a summary of current science news briefs.
German startup's space rocket explodes seconds after takeoff from Norway
A test rocket aimed at kickstarting satellite launches from Europe fell to the ground and exploded 40 seconds after takeoff from a Norwegian space port on Sunday, in what German startup Isar Aerospace had described as an initial test. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was billed as the first attempt at an orbital flight to originate from Europe, where several nations, including Sweden and Britain, have said they want a share of a growing market for commercial space missions.
Chinese brain chip project speeds up human trials after first success
A tie-up between a Chinese research institute and tech company said on Monday that it aims to implant its brain chip into 13 people by the end of this year, in a move that could see it overtake Elon Musk's Neuralink in collecting patient data. The Beijing-based Chinese Institute for Brain Research (CIBR) and NeuCyber NeuroTech has inserted Beinao No.1, a semi-invasive wireless brain chip, into three patients in the past month and has 10 more lined up for this year, said Luo Minmin, who is director of CIBR and NeuCyber's chief scientist.
Italy moves to phase 2 in satellite constellation plan
Italy is pressing ahead with a plan to set up its own low-orbit satellite constellation, a source close to the matter told Reuters on Monday. The dual use constellation - for civil and military uses - will be made up of over 100 satellites, which will be interoperable with all other existing constellations, the source said.
US FAA closes one of two SpaceX Starship probes as rocket remains grounded
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Monday said it closed out a review into SpaceX's explosive Starship test flight in January, while another investigation into the rocket's subsequent testing explosion in March remains open. SpaceX's last two test flights of Starship, a 400-foot-tall (122-meter-tall) rocket system at the center of Elon Musk's goal to colonize Mars, ended with explosions during similar phases of flight, representing a novel setback in SpaceX's flagship development program at a time when the tech billionaire has pushed for faster progress.
