Rocket Lab delays its Venus atmospheric probe mission

Last year, Rocket Lab announced that it would embark on an ambitious mission to send a small probe to Venus to hunt for organic molecules in its atmosphere. The launch was supposed to happen in May 2023, but now Rocket Lab has confirmed that it’s “not imminent,” TechCrunch has reported. While company didn’t provide a new date, a research paper published in July 2022 states that a “backup launch window is available in January 2025.” 

News of the mission flew under the radar, as it were, but it’s rather ambitious. Rocket Lab plans to use its Electron booster and Photon spacecraft, sending a small probe into Venus’s cloud layer about 30-37 miles up, where temperatures are Earth-like. (Thanks to the planet’s greenhouse effect, temperatures on the surface are greater than 900 degrees F and pressure more than 75 Earth atmospheres.)

Rocket Lab

Once there, the tiny 40 centimeter diameter probe will search for organic molecules or other clues that the atmosphere could support life. Venus came into the news back in 2020 after researchers claimed to spot signs of phosphine, a chemical that’s typically produced by living organisms. While controversial, the findings sparked a new interest in the Venus atmosphere as a possible source for life, and Rocket Lab’s mission is centered around just that. 

At the same time, it’s a way for the company to show off its Photon spacecraft designed to go beyond Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars. Last year, Rocket Lab successfully launched Photon on NASA’s CAPSTONE mission, designed to verify the orbital stability of the planned Lunar Gateway space station. The lunar satellite spent nearly six months in orbit and flew within 1,000 miles of the Moon’s North Pole in a so-called near-rectilinear halo orbit. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/rocket-lab-delays-its-venus-atmospheric-probe-mission-090847239.html?src=rss 

VW unveils the larger ID.Buzz electric van headed to North America

Volkswagen has finally unveiled the version of the ID.Buzz electric van that’s destined for North America, and there’s more to it than you might think. The three-row design with two extra seats is clearly the main draw for roadtrippers and growing families, but this isn’t just a stretched version of the modern Microbus. It boasts a larger 91kWh battery (versus 82kWh for the two-row), a more powerful 282HP motor for the rear-wheel drive trim (versus 201HP) and a higher 99MPH top speed (versus 90MPH). While there are no range estimates yet, there will also be an optional all-wheel drive configuration with a 330HP dual-motor system.

The interior tech hasn’t changed much from the two-row model, although that’s not necessarily a bad thing. You’ll still face a 5.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.9-inch infotainment display. The larger ID.Buzz now has the easier-to-use interface from the ID.7, though, and you’ll find a total of eight USB-C ports — helpful when friends in the back want to charge their phones. The three-row EV also comes standard with Level 2 driver assistance (including lane centering), and the customizable cabin lighting doubles as a status indicator for everything from charging levels to navigation directions.

Volkswagen

The North American van also touts the largest panoramic roof of any car in the VW group at 67.4 inches long, and uses electrochromic glass to turn opaque when it’s not needed. You’ll also find a 110V outlet under the passenger seat area, and a 12V port in the cargo space can charge more of your gear. A nine-speaker audio system is standard, but you can upgrade to a 14-speaker Harman Kardon unit.

VW still hasn’t outlined pricing for the North American ID.Buzz ahead of its 2024 debut. Don’t expect it to be the people’s van like the Microbus was, however. The closest comparable two-row model, the Buzz Style, sells for £63,715 (about $79,240) in the UK with tax included. This is for nostalgic drivers who want an eco-friendly revival of a classic ride, and well-heeled EV fans who want more capacity than the ID.4 crossover can provide.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/vw-unveils-the-larger-idbuzz-electric-van-headed-to-north-america-070132379.html?src=rss 

‘Manifest’ Season 4 Part 2 Ending Explained: Who Survives The Death Date & More Answers

All the answers about Flight 828 were revealed in the emotional and gripping ‘Manifest’ series finale as the Death Date approached. Let’s break down that shocking ending twist. Spoilers!

All the answers about Flight 828 were revealed in the emotional and gripping ‘Manifest’ series finale as the Death Date approached. Let’s break down that shocking ending twist. Spoilers! 

Twitter’s head of safety and content moderation has left the company

Twitter has lost another head of trust and safety after Elon Musk purchased the company last year. According to Reuters, Ella Irwin, the website’s top executive for content moderation has resigned. Fortune has also reported earlier that her company Slack account has already been deactivated. While Irwin has confirmed her resignation to both organizations, she didn’t elaborate on the reason for her departure. The executive took over the role as head of trust and safety after Yoel Roth left the same position in November 2022, publicly walking back on his previous statement that Twitter would be safer under Musk. 

Like Roth, Irwin seemed to be supportive of the Twitter owner — who sees himself as a “free speech absolutist” — and defended him from critics of his approach to content moderation. She said in the past that Musk gave her team the go-ahead to prioritize safety and not to worry about affecting user numbers. The Center for Countering Digital Hate recently reported that Twitter has been failing to properly and quickly address 99 percent of hate speech, including neo-Nazi, racist, homophobic and transphobic content, posted on the website by Twitter Blue users. 

Although Irwin hasn’t revealed why she left the company, her departure seemed to have taken place right after conservative publication The Daily Wire said Twitter canceled their deal to premiere its What is a Woman? film on the website. The outlet’s co-founder said Twitter offered it the opportunity to “buy a package to host the movie on a dedicated event page and to promote the event to every Twitter user over the first 10 hours.” However, the website reportedly withdrew its offer after reviewing a screener and told the outlet that it could no longer purchase the package. Twitter also apparently told the outlet that it will limit the reach of the film, as well as label it with “hateful conduct” due to “misgendering.”

To note, Twitter’s hateful conduct policy states that it considers “hateful imagery to be logos, symbols, or images whose purpose is to promote hostility and malice against others based on their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or ethnicity/national origin.” Anything “depicting hateful imagery is not permitted within live video, account bio, profile or header images.”

As a response to The Daily Wire co-founder’s post, Musk tweeted that the decision was a “mistake by many people at Twitter” and that the film was “definitely allowed.” He added that not using someone’s pronouns is “at most rude and certainly breaks no laws” and that he objects “to rude behavior, ostracism or threats of violence if the wrong pronoun or name is used.”

This was a mistake by many people at Twitter. It is definitely allowed.

Whether or not you agree with using someone’s preferred pronouns, not doing so is at most rude and certainly breaks no laws.

I should note that I do personally use someone’s preferred pronouns, just as I…

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 1, 2023

In follow-up tweets, Musk said Twitter is updating its system so that The Daily Wire’s followers will see the film in their feed. However, it will not be recommended or advertised to non-followers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitters-head-of-safety-and-content-moderation-has-left-the-company-053113054.html?src=rss 

Ms Jacky Oh’s Kids: Everything To Know About The ‘Wild N’ Out’ Star’s 3 Children

‘Wild N’ Out’ star Ms. Jacky Oh & her longtime partner, D.C. Young Fly welcomed three beautiful children together. Amid the news of her passing, here is everything to know about their family.

‘Wild N’ Out’ star Ms. Jacky Oh & her longtime partner, D.C. Young Fly welcomed three beautiful children together. Amid the news of her passing, here is everything to know about their family. 

Ms Jacky Oh’s Husband: Everything To Know About Her Partner, ‘Wild N’ Out’ Star D.C. Young Fly

TV personality Ms. Jacky Oh’s death was revealed on Jun. 1. Amid her sudden passing, here is everything to know about her longtime partner, D.C. Young Fly.

TV personality Ms. Jacky Oh’s death was revealed on Jun. 1. Amid her sudden passing, here is everything to know about her longtime partner, D.C. Young Fly. 

Zendaya Has Heart Eyes For Boyfriend Tom Holland In Sweet 27th Birthday Tribute: See Photos

The ‘Euphoria’ actress took to Instagram stories with a telling emoji and photo to honor Tom Holland on his birthday.

The ‘Euphoria’ actress took to Instagram stories with a telling emoji and photo to honor Tom Holland on his birthday. 

Bradley Cooper & Irina Shayk Hold Hands With Daughter Lea, 6, In New York City: Photos

Actor Bradley Cooper & model Irina Shayk were the picture-perfect family as they held hands with their daughter, Lea, in New York City on Jun. 1.

Actor Bradley Cooper & model Irina Shayk were the picture-perfect family as they held hands with their daughter, Lea, in New York City on Jun. 1. 

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