When Elon Musk became involved with Twitter, concerns were rife over whether he would be able to maintain the attention he devoted to SpaceX.
With Falcon 9 rockets in high demand and Starship’s development continuing, the company needed its chief engineer.
But SpaceX’s launch rate continued to grow last year, with a record-breaking 61 orbital launches from Florida’s Space Coast and some from California averaging one each week.
And work on a pad that would enable Starship launches — the world’s most powerful rocket that would take humans to the Moon and Mars — continues on the Space Coast.
'Unprecedented' launches
Eric Berger, author of Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX, said the rate set by SpaceX was “unprecedented”.
“SpaceX acquired the lease to Space Launch Complex-40 in Florida in 2007,” he said.
“Since that time its operations have grown to encompass two launch pads and three launch towers (including the new Starship tower at LC-39A).
“There are hundreds of employees. The company has gone from averaging about two launches a year from 2010 to 2014, to more than 50 launches from Florida in 2022.
“This increase in launch cadence is both remarkable and unprecedented.”
There has not been such a launch rate in Florida since the 1960s, when most were missile test flights.
Gary Dahlke, a volunteer at the Sands Space History Centre in Florida, said companies such as SpaceX were setting new records in this era.
“I can remember working in the Space Shuttle programme and if we had 12 to 15 launches in a year, that was an extraordinary number,” he said.
“And then all of a sudden these new companies come along — SpaceX probably in particular — that have increased the launch rate a phenomenal rate.”
SpaceX offers rideshare missions for small satellites that allows governments and companies to send payloads to space at a much lower cost.
The company is also part of Nasa’s Commercial Crew programme, which has allowed American astronauts to launch from US soil after relying on the Russians for nearly a decade.
The reusable rockets have also helped SpaceX’s business model significantly and have paved the way for the private space industry.
“SpaceX has shown that innovation and privately raised capital can be both disruptive and profitable in the space industry,” said Mr Berger.
“Since SpaceX first flew its Falcon 9 rocket in 2010, the amount of private money being invested in US space companies on an annual basis has increased by a factor of 10.
“The success of SpaceX has lifted the entire commercial space industry in the United States.
“As other countries have taken notice, they too have invested in commercial space. China, India, Europe and yes, countries in the Middle East, are using public money to spur innovation by private companies by offering launch contracts, service contracts, competitions, grants and more.”
Starship launches
Mr Berger believes the company would continue to grow its operations in Florida in the coming years.
But progress could be affected by limited range at the Kennedy Space Centre and Cape Canaveral — the two launch sites in Florida — as they also have to serve other customers such as Nasa, United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin.
SpaceX’s next bold move is launching its Starship rocket. Facilities for the rocket are based in Texas, with an orbital test flight yet to take place.
But a pad dedicated for the powerful rocket is also under construction in Florida to allow SpaceX to set a high launch rate.
“To truly scale its operations to allow for daily Starship missions, SpaceX will need to fly a regular cadence of missions from South Texas as well as offshore platforms,” said Mr Berger.
Mr Musk has already sold seats on the Starship, including to American billionaire Jared Isaacman who has purchased the first crewed orbital flight on a Starship. He then commissioned another three flights.
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will fly on a crewed flight to the Moon and will take eight artists with him as part of his DearMoon programme.
Boeing, United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin and others
While SpaceX is leading the way in the commercial space industry, other companies are hoping to establish regular launches at the Space Coast.
The United Launch Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rockets could be regularly launching Boeing Starliner crew capsules once they become operational.
Boeing is also part of Nasa’s Commercial Crew programme, with the US space agency hoping to launch astronauts on both SpaceX’s Dragon and Boeing’s Starliner.
A Starliner test crew flight is scheduled to take place later this year.
Blue Origin has also set up enormous facilities in Florida, where it hopes to launch its next-generation New Glenn rockets, allowing the company to send cargo and crew to orbit.
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More on Quran memorisation:
How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?
If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.
Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.
Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.
Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).
Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.
Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.
By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.
As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.
Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.
He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”
This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”
Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The biog
From: Ras Al Khaimah
Age: 50
Profession: Electronic engineer, worked with Etisalat for the past 20 years
Hobbies: 'Anything that involves exploration, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, the sea, hiking, scuba diving, and adventure sports'
Favourite quote: 'Life is so simple, enjoy it'
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RACECARD%20
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
Disposing of non-recycleable masks
Use your ‘black bag’ bin at home
Do not put them in a recycling bin
Take them home with you if there is no litter bin
- No need to bag the mask
