Entertainment
Astronauts watch SpaceXs Starship explode in space during flight test
Astronauts orbiting 250 miles above Earth got a front-row seat to destruction on Thursday.
During a SpaceX flight test of Starship, the world’s most powerful rocket and spacecraft system, NASA‘s Don Pettit snapped photos from the International Space Station of the ship blowing up. The images, which he posted on X, the social platform owned by SpaceX founder and President Donald Trump’s right-hand man Elon Musk, show the astonishing accident from space.
“We saw the Starship 8 breakup in the upper atmosphere and fall back to earth from the ISS,” said Pettit, known for his photography from the lofty perch.
Starship, a 400-foot-tall, super-heavy-lift rocket and spaceship, blasted off shortly after 5:30 p.m. CT on March 6 from the aerospace company’s private spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas. The test flight was the rocket system’s eighth. This is now the second consecutive test, coming off the heels of a mishap in January, in which the ship exploded less than 10 minutes into flight — long before its intended splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
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During the January test, two flashes occurred near one of the ship’s engines shortly after booster separation. SpaceX has said strong vibrations led to fuel leaks that were too much for the ship’s vents to handle, leading to fires that eventually triggered the flight termination system. Spacecraft debris rained down over Turks and Caicos, resulting in one report of property damage.
Despite that investigation remaining open, the Federal Aviation Administration allowed the company to conduct this week’s test. FAA spokesman Steven Kulm told Mashable the agency determined that no system, process, or procedure related to the mishap affected public safety or SpaceX’s license.
“A return to flight operations of the vehicle-type involved in the mishap is ultimately based on public safety,” he said in an email.
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As for Thursday’s test, Starship again began experiencing vibrations just before finishing its ascent. Several engines failed, leading to the ship losing control. Flight controllers lost communication with Starship about 9.5 minutes after launch. Shortly after, people began taking and posting pictures and videos online of debris raining over the Bahamas, and flights were temporarily grounded in Florida to avoid the wreckage.
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SpaceX said the rocket stayed within a designated safety zone, and the company quickly worked with air traffic and safety officials after the failure.
“Any surviving debris would have fallen within the pre-planned Debris Response Area,” the company said in a post-flight statement. “There are no toxic materials present in the debris and no significant impacts (are) expected to occur to marine species or water quality.”
Anyone who finds a chunk of Starship or has property damage from the event should contact the company’s debris hotline (Yes, they have one.), at 1-866-623-0234, or email [email protected], officials said.
SpaceX has faced criticism for its previous Starship test failures. Its executives insist that building fast, destroying expensive hardware, and learning quickly from mistakes are all part of the company’s philosophy — in stark contrast with NASA‘s much slower approach.
A SpaceX Starship launched on its eighth flight test from Boca Chica, Texas, on March 6, 2025.
Credit: SpaceX
Musk has previously complained that federal regulations have a chokehold on his company, impeding its progress and ability to conduct rapid testing. Industry watchers have speculated that his new close ties with Trump will remove some of that bureaucratic red tape.
NASA will depend on the rocket company to ferry astronauts to the lunar surface on a modified Starship for the Artemis III and IV moon missions under a $4.2 billion contract. To do that, SpaceX first has to master refueling its spaceship in space. For Musk, Starship is also a passion project to eventually send people to Mars and build a self-sustaining city on the Red Planet.
“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn,” the company said on X, “and today’s flight will help us improve Starship’s reliability.”
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
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Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
