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For a company that prides itself on pushing the boundaries in space exploration , SpaceX just hit another major roadblock—literally. The highly anticipated test flight of its Starship mega rocket ended in disaster (again) after controllers lost contact with the upper-stage vehicle just minutes into the launch. This marks Starship’s second consecutive failure, raising serious questions: What’s causing these explosions? Has this happened before? And what is SpaceX doing to fix it? Let’s break it all down. Why Did This Happen? According to an NBC News report, the launch kicked off with promise. Near Brownsville, Texas, on Thursday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m. ET, Starship blasted off from SpaceX’s Starbase for its eighth test, soaring toward the skies with the power and spectacle you’d expect from the world’s most advanced rocket. But then—like déjà vu—disaster struck just over eight minutes in. Live video showed the upper-stage vehicle spinning uncontrollably, and within seconds,...
NASA, an independent agency of the U.S. government, will no longer be upholding DEI efforts. In a press release, NASA shared its plans to comply with executive order “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions,” which President Donald Trump issued when he was inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025. The order revoked Executive Order 13985 of January 20, 2021 (Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government). It also revoked Executive Order 14091 of February 16, 2023, which further advanced those initiatives, according to the White House. As a result of the recent order, federal agencies are now adhering to guidelines to dismantle diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts. Looking to set an example, the Trump administration placed its federal DEI employees on paid leave as “the agency takes steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs,” as AFROTECH™ previously reported. The NASA Science Mission...
Former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe continues to champion the future of STEM. In 2020, Bowe founded LINGO, a company that offers kits allowing individuals of all ages to engage with projects that promote problem-solving and coding. The goal is to increase exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) pathways. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lingo (@stemlingoco) What’s more, LINGO has been well received in the education sector and among Fortune 500 companies, its LinkedIn notes. It is also faring well among investors, raising $2.3 million in a November 2024 round led by Pinnacle Private Ventures, according to a news release. 1863 Ventures, Sequoia Capital via the Scout program, and Dr. Joy Johnson also participated in the round. “This funding round highlights LINGO’s potential to reshape the future of STEM education,” Sean McCurry , founder of family office-owned private investment firm Pinnacle Private Ventures, said in the news release. “We...
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ) spent time at the 2024 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Week Conference in Philadelphia, PA, showcasing its initiatives aimed at engaging underrepresented and underserved students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The conference — which started Sept. 15, 2024, and ends Sept. 19 — is part of an ongoing White House initiative that brings together the nation’s leading HBCU leaders to celebrate the vital role the institutions will continue to play in advancing workforce development, economic advancement, and higher education. According to NASA , one of the highlights of its participation at the event is the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Innovation and Tech Transfer Idea Competition (MITTIC), featuring a hackathon where students will develop innovative solutions that benefit humanity. This year, the focus was on using NASA technologies to tackle common...
Sisters Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen are considered national treasures to the culture, so it’s only right that they come from royalty! The Houston, TX, natives are best known for their contributions to the world of entertainment. Rashad gained notoriety in her role as Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” and went on to serve as a guest lecturer, faculty member, and dean in the arts at Howard University. Her sister, Allen, is known for transforming the choreography world in Hollywood as we know it today as well as having a hand in shows like “Fame,” “A Different World,” and more. Recently, their mother, Vivian Ayers Allen, was acknowledged by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for her contributions to the field of space. During a ceremony held in their hometown of Houston on July 19, the organization honored the women who assisted with the Apollo 11 mission, ultimately leading to Neil A. Armstrong’s legendary landing on the moon in 1969, Blavity reports. The...
Missy Elliott’s lyrics traveled all the way to space! According to a news release, lyrics from Elliott’s song “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” were transmitted about 158 million miles away to reach Venus through NASA’s DSN (Deep Space Network). NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California transmitted the lyrics at 10:05 a.m. PDT on Friday, July 12. “Transmitted at the speed of light, the radio frequency signal took nearly 14 minutes to reach the planet,” the news release reads. “The transmission was made by the 34-meter (112-foot) wide Deep Space Station 13 (DSS-13) radio dish antenna, located at the DSN’s Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, near Barstow in California. Coincidentally, the DSS-13 also is nicknamed Venus.” The rapper also acknowledged the significance of Venus, as it’s her favorite planet. “I chose Venus because it symbolizes strength, beauty, and empowerment and I am so humbled to have the opportunity to share my art and my message with the universe,”...
Ed Dwight has officially made history! On May 19, Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-25 launched its first human flight in nearly two years, which Dwight was onboard for — making him the oldest person to go to space at age 90, according to ABC News. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, the former Air Force captain made history in 1961 after being selected by President John F. Kennedy as the first Black astronaut candidate in the U.S. But after completing the Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS) and receiving a recommendation from the U.S. Air Force to move forward, he wasn’t selected for the NASA Astronaut Corps — missing out on the opportunity to fly to space. However, now over 60 years later, Dwight has reached the monumental milestone. “You’ve waited a long time for this opportunity and all of us who stand on your shoulders could not be happier,” Charles Bolden, the first Black NASA administrator, told the outlet. As an astronaut, Bolden himself served on four missions to space. “I...
Aisha Bowe is an inspiration for Black women who aspire to work in the space industry. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Bowe is a former rocket scientist for NASA and received the National Society of Black Engineers award for Outstanding Technical Contribution. However, before earning accolades, the aerospace engineer struggled to find her footing in her academic journey. In an interview with the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast, Bowe recalled not doing well during her time at community college. “I bombed the first semester,” Bowe told hosts Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings. “I think I’m going to be a business student and study economics.” Ultimately, struggling in community college led her to pursue a dream that she thought was once unachievable — becoming a rocket scientist. So, she transitioned into aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan, although people around her didn’t understand why she was pursuing the career. “They literally thought that I had lost it,” she said....
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) hopes to inspire people to look into the skies and to their communities. Recently, Black individuals in NASA’s workforce took social media by storm after sharing their headshots from the independent agency. The heartwarming posts reminded everyone of the importance of representation and fostering inclusivity, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Joining #BlackAtNASA . After 15 years this is my headshot. pic.twitter.com/qDTMbGprZ2 — K Renee Horton,PhD (@Reneehortonphd) March 17, 2024 Despite the fleeting nature of viral moments, NASA’s efforts for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are far more than just a snapshot. In 2023, the agency released an equity action plan supporting a presidential executive order focused on dismantling “inequitable barriers and challenges facing underserved communities.” “We at NASA, as an administrator, never tell our story,” Shahra Lambert, NASA’s...
Even in another galaxy, the late Nichelle Nichols’ legacy reigns supreme! Following the passing of the renowned “Star Trek” actress and STEM icon, it has been announced that her remains will be spread beyond just the United States, thanks to Celestis. The Texas-based company provides “memorial spaceflight services” for individuals looking to celebrate the life of their loved one outside of just the Earth realm. According to Space.com, the assignment for Nichols marks the company’s first-ever deep space mission.
Jaden Hunter had a stellar finish, graduating with a 4.5 GPA from Crenshaw Arts Tech Charter High. Now, Hunter will be on his way to study mechanical engineering at Berkeley. He plans to work for NASA or SpaceX when he completes his higher education. “I felt good because my hard work paid off. All the long sleepless nights I took in, stuff like that, it finally paid off,” Hunter told ABC7.
What’s being called “the world’s most powerful telescope” was made possible with the help of a Jackson State University alum. WLBT reports Douglas Williams helped launch the James Webb Space Telescope named after former NASA administrator James E. Webb. The groundbreaking optical instrument caught the attention of the 26-year-old in high school. “It was all over YouTube, and it was mentioned in a few television documentaries. From that moment, I found myself eager to learn more about the advanced capabilities and engineering going into the first space deployable telescope ever to be sent into space,” said Williams, according to WLBT. Douglas Williams later attended Northop Grumman for orientation. Here, the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) alum was informed the company was working on building a telescope. The manager informed Williams he could view the telescope from the observation deck, but he had no idea it would be one of science’s most ambitious projects. “She...
Space is for everyone and this artist is here to prove it! Movies can be instrumental in planting seeds that will eventually lead to purpose. This was the case for emerging artist and author Jesse Forte (Jforte), who became fascinated by Buzz Lightyear’s character from “Toy Story.” With a nudge from a fifth-grade teacher, Forte believed he could reach “Infinity and Beyond!” Decades later, the multi-talented creative finally secured his big start in July 2021. After applying to various analog astronaut missions around the world, Jforte became a part of the Lunares Research team in Poland in 2021. Now, Jforte is preparing for his second analog training and hopes to be amongst the stars within the next 18 to 20 months. “Letting the young kids from around the world — especially little Black girls and boys that look like me — see that it’s possible for a brother with melanin dripping from his veins with dreads and gold chains to go to space. I want them to say ‘If he can do it, I can...