

Space
United Arab Emirates enters Mars race with plans for summer mission
If all goes as planned, NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover will not be the only spacecraft headed to the red planet this summer. The United Arab Emirates Hope Mars mission, will join NASA’s newest Mars rover and a Chinese spacecraft, all set to launch in July.
“The Hope Probe project carries the hopes and ambitions of the Emirati nation and the aspirations of the Arab and Islamic people for a brighter future,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said in a statement. “We seek to send a message of peace and hope to the world, and envision a glorious future in which knowledge and scientific expertise are freely shared between nations.”
The Hope Mars Mission, also called the Emirates Mars Mission, is the country’s first interplanetary satellite as well as the first planetary science mission to be led by an Arab-Islamic country. Like it’s Chinese and U.S. counterparts, the Hope mission wants to take advantage of this summer’s Mars window and launch sometime in July. If any of these missions cannot make its planned launch, the next window will open in 2022.
The European Space Agency (ESA), had also planned to launch its own Mars rover in July, but parachute complications combined with the global pandemic forced the agency to postpone until 2022. As of now, NASA is proceeding full steam ahead with the launch of Perseverance.
When it does launch, it will take the craft approximately eight months to reach the red planet. Once it arrives, Hope will be tasked with four main science objectives to better understand the Martian climate and atmosphere.
The craft will scan the atmosphere in search of any connections between the upper and lower atmosphere of Mars. It will also examine the mechanisms behind the loss of Mars’ atmosphere. The loss of atmosphere is considered to be one of the main factors in now Mars transformed from a lush, wet planet similar to Earth to the barren, desert world we see today.
Researchers hope that the spacecraft will help them better understand how the Martian atmosphere evolved over time and allow them to create a global picture of the atmosphere. One of the mission’s goals is to document variations in the atmosphere both seasonally and yearly.
The mission is a collaboration between the UAE and researchers at the University of Colorado, Arizona State University, and University of California. It will launch from Japan and collect data for two years. If all goes as planned, its extended mission could last until 2025. The probe aims to revolutionize our understanding of the Martian atmosphere, by identifying layers within the planet’s atmosphere as measure how fast the atmosphere is being lost to space.
- The UAE finished construction on its Hope spacecraft, bound for Mars, earlier this year. Credit: Government of Dubai Media Office
- Artist rendition of the UAE’s Hope satellite in space. Credit: UAE Space Agency
Construction on the interplanetary probe was completed earlier this year. The spacecraft’s arrival at Mars will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the UAE’s formation. It will also mark another historic spaceflight milestone for the country. (The previous achievement came in September 2019, when the country’s first astronaut launched to the International Space Station.)
Hope will also serve as a first toward a larger goal of building a habitable settlement on Mars by 2117.
“Reaching Mars is not impossible for us,” Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a crown prince of Dubai and the chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, said in the same statement. “The word ‘impossible’ has no place in our dictionary.”
News
Starlink Direct to Cell to boost remote businesses in Chile
Entel teams up with Starlink Direct to Cell to power SMEs & industries in Chile’s remote regions. Remote businesses get a major tech upgrade.

Entel will provide Starlink Direct to Cell services to businesses in Chile and Peru, boosting connectivity in underserved regions.
Entel is Chile’s leading telecommunications provider. Its strategic collaboration leverages Starlink’s Direct to Cell service by offering advanced internet solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations.
The partnership targets industries like mining, agriculture, and forestry, which often face connectivity challenges in remote areas. By tapping into Starlink’s low-latency satellite constellation, Entel aims to bridge these gaps, driving innovation and competitiveness.
The collaboration with Entel follows Starlink’s April expansion in Brazil, where its internet was integrated into John Deere’s agricultural equipment. Through its mobile app, Starlink provided Brazilian farmers with live video feeds, sensor data, and real-time sharing.
Entel’s Starlink Direct to Cell service includes value-added features such as 24/7 network monitoring, proactive management, and dedicated technical support. An observability feature will allow businesses to track real-time connectivity performance through web or mobile applications, enhancing operational efficiency.
The service’s accessibility to SMEs is a key focus. Starlink Direct to Cell is expected to empower small businesses to engage in e-commerce, improve customer communication, and expand digital operations.
Starlink’s Direct to Cell expansion into Peru underscores Entel’s regional ambitions, positioning it as a leader in Latin America’s business connectivity landscape. While details of the Peruvian rollout remain forthcoming, the move aligns with the region’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery. Reliable internet is critical for businesses to adopt cloud-based technologies and access global markets.
Starlink’s growing influence in Latin America highlights its role in transforming connectivity for underserved areas. Entel’s partnership strengthens its portfolio and helps businesses navigate a digital economy. As industries in Chile and Peru leverage Starlink’s capabilities, the collaboration could set a precedent for regional telecom providers, fostering innovation and economic growth across diverse sectors.
News
SpaceX’s Starlink Router Mini targets home Wi-Fi dead zones for $40
The Starlink Router Mini tackles home Wi-Fi dead zones for just $40. Compact & mesh-compatible, it’s built for basic setups.

SpaceX’s Starlink Router Mini recently launched to enhance home Wi-Fi connectivity by addressing dead zones at home, offering a budget-friendly option for customers. The Starlink Router Mini is a $40 mesh-compatible device.
The Router Mini targets users seeking affordable solutions to extend coverage in smaller spaces. SpaceX describes the new Starlink router as a lower-performance device suited for “basic Wi-Fi needs” in compact setups.
“It works well in most basic residential setups and is a good option for extending coverage. However, in homes where rooms have multiple barriers between them (mirrors, multiple walls, brick or stone walls), you may notice a drop in performance unless you use wired connections,” the company noted.
In contrast, the Gen 3 router, now priced at $120 after dropping from $199, delivers stronger performance for larger homes with multiple devices. The Router Mini complements the Gen 3 router, which comes bundled with the standard Starlink dish and supports mesh networking.
“If you need simple, reliable Wi-Fi and want to keep costs down, the Router Mini is a solid option. But if you’re looking for stronger, more consistent performance across a larger or busier home, the Gen 3 Router is the way to go,” SpaceX explained.
Both routers support Wi-Fi 6 speeds and can operate in wired or wireless mesh modes, though the dual-band Starlink Router Mini has fewer antennas (“2×2 2.4 GHz, 2×3 5 GHz MU-MIMO”) compared to the tri-band Gen 3’s four-plus antenna setup.
The Router Mini’s debut follows its appearance in an FCC filing and a Starlink app update referencing a “mini mesh” device. It also connects to the Starlink Mini dish, boosting its limited Wi-Fi range. The device’s affordability and mesh compatibility make it an attractive option for customers looking to optimize their Starlink setup without investing in additional Gen 3 routers.
As Starlink continues to expand its global broadband network, the Router Mini addresses growing demand for flexible, cost-effective home connectivity solutions. By offering a cheaper mesh device, SpaceX strengthens its ecosystem, catering to diverse user needs while maintaining its lead in satellite internet innovation.
News
SpaceX secures FAA approval for 25 annual Starship launches
SpaceX scored FAA approval for up to 25 Starship launches annually. The agency found no major environmental impact, but critics remain skeptical.

SpaceX secured Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to launch and land Starship rockets and Super Heavy boosters from its Starbase spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas, up to 25 times a year. The FAA’s decision was announced on Tuesday, marking a pivotal step for SpaceX’s ambitious space exploration goals.
The FAA’s SpaceX approval is part of its ongoing license review. The agency noted that “there are other licensing requirements still to be completed,” including evaluations of policy, payload, safety, financial responsibility, and environmental impacts.“Once the evaluation process is complete, the FAA will make a determination to approve or deny the license application,” the agency added.
The FAA’s final environmental assessment concluded that SpaceX’s expanded launch plans would have “no significant impact” on the surrounding environment, defying a history of legal disputes with environmental groups.
The ruling follows a significant weekend for Starbase, where residents—mostly SpaceX employees—voted to incorporate the area as a city. Starbasee City includes a mayor and two commissioners from the aerospace company’s ranks. The FAA’s decision amplifies SpaceX’s momentum but has sparked concerns among environmentalists.
Christopher Basaldu of the South Texas Environmental Justice Network called the environmental assessment premature.
“You’re bragging about the big slot rocket in history, and then you’re also trying to claim that it makes no environmental impact; that’s impossible. So they’re lying. So what the FAA needs to do is they need to go all the way back to square one,” Basaldu said.
Basaldu highlighted potential harm to marine life, pollution risks to the nearby Rio Grande, and disruptions from noise and night operations coming from SpaceX launches.
“A lot of noise pollution. That’s not a lot of night pollution, because they try to continue working through the night, while SpaceX is going to shut down the road for half of the year.”
As SpaceX pushes to scale Starship operations, the FAA’s approval underscores Starbase’s growing role in space exploration. However, ongoing environmental reviews and local concerns signal challenges ahead, balancing innovation with ecological and community impacts.
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