SpaceX Starlink Mission

SpaceX is targeting Friday, July 7 at 12:29 p.m. PT (19:29 UTC) for a Falcon 9 launch of 48 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Saturday, July 8 at 12:06 p.m. PT (19:06 UTC).

This is the 12th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, Iridium OneWeb, and seven Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-5-13

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdfKyxdSJBk

>>19140885

Tesla Signs Pledge to Promote 'Core Socialist Values'

Friday, 07 July 2023 01:03 PM EDT

Elon Musk's Tesla, along with Chinese automakers, pledged to enhance "core socialist values" in an agreement that came after China demanded that the electric vehicle industry control its ongoing price war, according to the Financial Times.

Bloomberg, citing translated details of the agreement, said the agreement calls on those who signed to "promote core socialist values, actively fulfill social responsibilities, and take on the heavy responsibility of maintaining steady growth, strengthening confidence and preventing risks."

Bloomberg said the pledge is non-binding.

Tesla was among 16 EV manufacturers to make the commitment in a letter signed at a conference in Shanghai on Thursday. It came after a battle among makers of electric vehicles when Tesla cut prices on its Model 3 and Model Y cars in October, the Financial Times reported.

Mediaite noted Chinese authorities had demanded that electric vehicle automakers alter their behavior after Tesla and others attempted to choke out smaller competitors, which Chinese officials characterized as "reckless."

The Financial Times reported that Tesla declined comment immediately on the pledge. The Chinese market accounts for nearly one-third of the company's annual sales.

Meanwhile, Tesla rolled out a new program globally allowing buyers to earn extra incentives through referrals from existing customers, a strategy long used by traditional automakers to boost sales, Reuters reported.

The incentive, which Tesla dubbed as "Refer and Earn" on its websites, is equivalent to about $500 in cashback for buyers in the U.S., who purchase Model 3 and Model Y. The U.S. incentives also include three months of its Full Self-Driving feature.

The program was rolled out in Tesla's largest markets, including the U.S., China, Germany, France, Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Singapore, according to the company's regional websites on Friday.

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/musk-tesla-china/2023/07/07/id/1126336/

Electrical fire at Owings Mills Metro station causes systemwide shutdown

Updated: 5:05 PM EDT Jul 7, 2023

OWINGS MILLS, Md. —

A fire at the Owings Mills Metro station on Friday caused a systemwide shutdown of the subway system in Baltimore.

According to Baltimore County Fire Department, fire and hazardous crews were called to an electrical-related fire at the Owings Mills Metro Station. The fire has caused a systemwide shutdown of subway service.

Firefighters said once they put out the fire, they gave Baltimore Gas and Electric and the Maryland Department of Transportation control of the area.

"Local fire stations responded, found significant smoke coming from an electrical room under a bridge that goes below the subway tracks," Baltimore County fire Lt. Travis Francis said. "Upon entry into that room, they had electrical components that do affect transit lines."

Shortly after 5 p.m., the Maryland Transit Administration released a statement, saying Metro subway service will remain closed as crews inspect equipment.

A bus bridge making all station stops between Owings Mills and Johns Hopkins will remain in service during the shutdown.

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/electrical-fire-owings-mills-metro-subway-system-wide-shut-down/44472927#