In a week filled with tech news, two stories are grabbing headlines: the latest setback for SpaceX's Starship program and a potential breakthrough in the TikTok saga. Plus, X is making its AI model, Grok, more accessible.
Another Starship Explosion
SpaceX's Starship suffered another dramatic explosion during its eighth test flight. The launch from Starbase in Texas started smoothly on March 6th, with the Super Heavy booster successfully captured by the launch tower. This marked the third successful booster capture, a significant milestone for the program.
However, about eight minutes into the flight, the Ship, the upper stage of the rocket, experienced a catastrophic engine failure. Multiple Raptor engines were lost, causing the vehicle to lose altitude rapidly before exploding over the Caribbean. "Just saw Starship 8 blow up in the Bahamas," tweeted Jonathon Norcross, underscoring the dramatic nature of the event.
This isn't the first time Starship has met an explosive end. The seventh test flight also ended in an explosion, attributed to propellant leaks. SpaceX implemented several measures to prevent a recurrence, including adding vents and a new purge system. Despite these efforts, the eighth test flight suffered a similar fate.
SpaceX acknowledged the "rapid unscheduled disassembly" on X and confirmed an "energetic event in the aft portion of Starship" led to the engine loss. Contact with the Ship was lost completely shortly after. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a "mishap investigation," and SpaceX is reviewing flight data to determine the root cause. The FAA even temporarily halted flights in and out of several Florida airports due to falling debris.
TikTok's U.S. Future?
Amidst concerns about data security and national security, there's a glimmer of hope for TikTok's continued operation in the United States. China is reportedly signaling a willingness to negotiate a deal that would allow the popular video-sharing app to remain available to American users. A key indicator of this shift is a meeting between the founder of ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, and Elon Musk last year.
While details of a potential deal remain scarce, this represents a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding TikTok's future in the U.S. The outcome could have major implications for the app's millions of users and the broader social media landscape.
X Expands Grok Access
In other news, X (formerly Twitter) is expanding access to its AI model, Grok. Users can now query Grok by simply mentioning it in replies, asking for explanations or insights about a particular post. This builds upon existing access methods and aims to make the AI tool more readily available to the platform's users. Previously, access to Grok was available through a dedicated button.
This move highlights X's commitment to integrating AI into its platform and enhancing user experience. Time will tell how this new feature is adopted and how it impacts conversations on X.
From explosive rockets to potential TikTok deals and AI integration on X, the tech world continues to deliver a constant stream of news and developments.