Search results for Federal Aviation Administration
Industry
FAA says SpaceX aims for 10,000 launches a year within five years
SpaceX has set a goal of carrying out 10,000 rocket launches a year within the next five years, a figure far above the current global total. Gwynne Shotwell recently explained the target to U.S. Federal Aviation Administration chief Brian Bedford, who said bottlenecks are not within SpaceX. The FAA currently authorises 195 launches a year across four sites. Industry calls are growing to shift from per-launch approvals to a system similar to airline operating licences.
General News
Southwest Airlines bans humanoid and animal-shaped robots on flights
Southwest Airlines has banned humanoid and animal-shaped robots from being carried onboard or transported as checked baggage, regardless of size or purpose. The airline updated its website rules after a series of incidents involving robots on flights, including one that delayed takeoff while staff decided how to secure a device. Southwest said its concern is the aviation safety risk posed by large lithium-ion batteries used in such robots.
AI & Enterprise
SpaceX to launch 1 million solar-powered data centres into space
SpaceX is stepping up efforts to build space-based data centres for the AI era. The Verge reported that the company submitted a plan to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to deploy 1 million solar-powered data centres in low Earth orbit. SpaceX says the concept could cut processing costs and reduce environmental burdens. The plan faces technical and environmental challenges, and FCC approval is uncertain amid concerns about orbital debris and collision risks.
