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NASA’s Curiosity Rover takes valiant selfie as it weathers Mars’ huge storm
NASA’s Curiosity Rover recently took a selfie at it continues to weather a massive dust storm that has enveloped a massive area of the Red Planet. The spunky rover’s latest self-portrait was taken on Sol 2028, almost six years into its mission.
Immediately noticeable in the image was the thickness of the dust surrounding Curiosity, officially known as the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). As could be seen in the rover’s self-portrait, which was shared by Seán Doran, the whole background is covered by a thick haze, completely blocking out mountains in the distance. Despite being covered by Martian dust due to the storm, however, Curiosity remains fully operational, thanks to its Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG), which converts heat from plutonium into electricity, enabling it to work despite being devoid of sunlight.
NASAs Mars Curiosity Rover takes a selfie in the middle of a massive storm. [Credit: Seán Doran/Flickr]
Curiosity’s RTG is designed with a plutonium core that generates electricity with its heat. Curiosity’s RTG is capable of producing 120 watts, and based on rough estimates; it would take around 14 years of constant operation before the plutonium decays to such a point that it only produces 100 watts. Even then, Curiosity would still be able to function, making it likely that the power source will outlast the rover’s other components, such as its wheels.
The absence of sunlight has been a particular point of concern for another one of NASA’s Martian rovers — Opportunity — which was caught in the middle of the dust storm. Being solar-powered, Opportunity relies on solar panels to recharge its batteries. Due to the storm blocking out the sun, however, the 14-year veteran has lost contact with Earth, and in a recent press conference, NASA noted that the rover has probably entered low power fault mode, which shuts down all of its systems except its mission clock.
Curiosity, for its part, was fortunate enough to escape the center of the storm. Back on June 12, Curiosity took a photo suggesting that the massive dust storm was beginning to encroach in its area of operations, according to a Space.com report. During NASA’s recent press conference for Opportunity, the space agency noted that the storm had already covered 15.8 million square miles (41 million square kilometers), which equates to the size of North America and Russia combined.
Curiosity is currently operating in Mars’ Gale Crater; a 96-mile-wide (154 kilometers) area believed to have once been a vast Martian lake. Curiosity was deployed in the crater to study its geology, which contains both clays and sulfate minerals, which form in water under varying conditions and suggest that the Red Planet may have harbored conditions favorable for life in its distant past.
Curiosity was delivered to Mars beneath a hovering rocket-powered crane in August 2012 and began exploring Gale Crater soon after. While the rover began its mission studying the crater’s floor, Curiosity’s ultimate goal is is currently in the process of climbing Aeolis Mons (nicknamed Mount Sharp), a massive mountain rising 5.5 kilometers (18.000 ft) out of the crater’s center. Just like the walls of an Earthly canyon, Mount Sharp flank hosts layers of data-rich sediment that allow the rover’s science team to understand Mars more deeply than ever before.
Elon Musk
Tesla Megapack powers $1.1B AI data center project in Brazil
By integrating Tesla’s Megapack systems, the facility will function not only as a major power consumer but also as a grid-supporting asset.
Tesla’s Megapack battery systems will be deployed as part of a 400MW AI data center campus in Uberlândia, Brazil. The initiative is described as one of Latin America’s largest AI infrastructure projects.
The project is being led by RT-One, which confirmed that the facility will integrate Tesla Megapack battery energy storage systems (BESS) as part of a broader industrial alliance that includes Hitachi Energy, Siemens, ABB, HIMOINSA, and Schneider Electric. The project is backed by more than R$6 billion (approximately $1.1 billion) in private capital.
According to RT-One, the data center is designed to operate on 100% renewable energy while also reinforcing regional grid stability.
“Brazil generates abundant energy, particularly from renewable sources such as solar and wind. However, high renewable penetration can create grid stability challenges,” RT-One President Fernando Palamone noted in a post on LinkedIn. “Managing this imbalance is one of the country’s growing infrastructure priorities.”
By integrating Tesla’s Megapack systems, the facility will function not only as a major power consumer but also as a grid-supporting asset.
“The facility will be capable of absorbing excess electricity when supply is high and providing stabilization services when the grid requires additional support. This approach enhances resilience, improves reliability, and contributes to a more efficient use of renewable generation,” Palamone added.
The model mirrors approaches used in energy-intensive regions such as California and Texas, where large battery systems help manage fluctuations tied to renewable energy generation.
The RT-One President recently visited Tesla’s Megafactory in Lathrop, California, where Megapacks are produced, as part of establishing the partnership. He thanked the Tesla team, including Marcel Dall Pai, Nicholas Reale, and Sean Jones, for supporting the collaboration in his LinkedIn post.
Elon Musk
Starlink powers Europe’s first satellite-to-phone service with O2 partnership
The service initially supports text messaging along with apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps and weather tools.
Starlink is now powering Europe’s first commercial satellite-to-smartphone service, as Virgin Media O2 launches a space-based mobile data offering across the UK.
The new O2 Satellite service uses Starlink’s low-Earth orbit network to connect regular smartphones in areas without terrestrial coverage, expanding O2’s reach from 89% to 95% of Britain’s landmass.
Under the rollout, compatible Samsung devices automatically connect to Starlink satellites when users move beyond traditional mobile coverage, according to Reuters.
The service initially supports text messaging along with apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps and weather tools. O2 is pricing the add-on at £3 per month.
By leveraging Starlink’s satellite infrastructure, O2 can deliver connectivity in remote and rural regions without building additional ground towers. The move represents another step in Starlink’s push beyond fixed broadband and into direct-to-device mobile services.
Virgin Media O2 chief executive Lutz Schuler shared his thoughts about the Starlink partnership. “By launching O2 Satellite, we’ve become the first operator in Europe to launch a space-based mobile data service that, overnight, has brought new mobile coverage to an area around two-thirds the size of Wales for the first time,” he said.
Satellite-based mobile connectivity is gaining traction globally. In the U.S., T-Mobile has launched a similar satellite-to-cell offering. Meanwhile, Vodafone has conducted satellite video call tests through its partnership with AST SpaceMobile last year.
For Starlink, the O2 agreement highlights how its network is increasingly being integrated into national telecom systems, enabling standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites without specialized hardware.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Starbase, TX included in $84.6 million coastal funding round
The funds mark another step in the state’s ongoing beach restoration and resilience efforts along the Gulf Coast.
Elon Musk’s Starbase, Texas has been included in an $84.6 million coastal funding round announced by the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The funds mark another step in the state’s ongoing beach restoration and resilience efforts along the Gulf Coast.
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham confirmed that 14 coastal counties will receive funding through the Coastal Management Program (CMP) Grant Cycle 31 and Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) program Cycle 14. Among the Brownsville-area recipients listed was the City of Starbase, which is home to SpaceX’s Starship factory.
“As someone who spent more than a decade living on the Texas coast, ensuring our communities, wildlife, and their habitats are safe and thriving is of utmost importance. I am honored to bring this much-needed funding to our coastal communities for these beneficial projects,” Commissioner Buckingham said in a press release.
“By dedicating this crucial assistance to these impactful projects, the GLO is ensuring our Texas coast will continue to thrive and remain resilient for generations to come.”
The official Starbase account acknowledged the support in a post on X, writing: “Coastal resilience takes teamwork. We appreciate @TXGLO and Commissioner Dawn Buckingham for their continued support of beach restoration projects in Starbase.”
The funding will support a range of coastal initiatives, including beach nourishment, dune restoration, shoreline stabilization, habitat restoration, and water quality improvements.
CMP projects are backed by funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, alongside local partner matches. CEPRA projects focus specifically on reducing coastal erosion and are funded through allocations from the Texas Legislature, the Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax, and GOMESA.
Checks were presented in Corpus Christi and Brownsville to counties, municipalities, universities, and conservation groups. In addition to Starbase, Brownsville-area recipients included Cameron County, the City of South Padre Island, Willacy County, and the Willacy County Navigation District.
Tesla Megapack powers $1.1B AI data center project in Brazil
Starlink powers Europe’s first satellite-to-phone service with O2 partnership
