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NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams spoke with media for the first time since arriving at the International Space Station on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner last month as they await more tests on the vehicle that suffered thruster and leak issues after launch.

NASA and Boeing teams continue to re-create the issues on the ground before giving the duo the OK to leave the station and return to Earth.

“This is the world of test,” Wilmore said. “This is a tough business that we’re in. Human spaceflight is not easy in any regime, and there have been multiple issues with every spacecraft that has ever been designed.”

Boeing’s Starliner launches on historic 1st human spaceflight for NASA

The pair launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station back on June 5 arriving to the ISS a day later for what was originally planned to be about an eight-day stay on board. They have now been on board 34 days.

Starliner is making its first crewed flight as part of Boeing’s efforts to join SpaceX and its Crew Dragon spacecraft to help transport astronauts to and from the ISS as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. read more

Wendell entertains during a meet-and-greet with guests before a preview performance of the new Country Bear Musical Jamboree at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. The revamped musical revue features the popular family of bear characters singing classic Disney songs and officially opens July 17. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

A young guest gets a bear hug from Big Al before a preview performance of the new Country Bear Musical Jamboree at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. The revamped musical revue features the popular family of bear characters singing classic Disney songs and officially opens July 17. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

The Five Bear Rugs perform during a preview performance of the new Country Bear Musical Jamboree at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. The revamped musical revue features the popular family of bear characters singing classic Disney songs and officially opens July 17. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) read more

Nearly half of Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney cast members could soon be on strike if the workers authorize a mass walk-out as union negotiations continue over a new contract for 40% of the 35,000 park employees.

Master Services Council, which represents 14,000 Disneyland employees from four unions, announced on Tuesday, July 9 that a strike authorization vote will be held next week.

The results of the strike authorization vote are expected to be announced by July 20 after voting ends.

“We won’t accept less than what we deserve because we know our value to Disney,” according to a joint statement released by the Disneyland unions. “The theme parks’ profits come from our hard work making a trip to Disneyland a magical experience for guests.”

Disney negotiators and union officials are scheduled to meet again on July 22, according to Disneyland officials.

“We respect and value our cast members and recognize the important role they play in creating happiness for our guests,” according to Disneyland officials. “We remain committed to continuing discussions and to reaching an agreement with the Master Services Council that focuses on what matters most to our current cast members, helps us attract new cast and positions Disneyland Resort for growth and the creation of more jobs.” read more

By Holden Lewis | NerdWallet

If you rent a house when you would rather own, pin some of the blame on corporate landlords.

The 10 biggest institutional investors owned more than 430,000 single-family rental homes at the end of 2023, and they continue to acquire houses to rent out to middle-class families. Corporate landlords seek to dominate the neighborhoods they target, simultaneously reducing the inventory of houses to buy while expanding the stock of houses to rent.

Members of Congress have introduced bills to force the largest institutional investors to dramatically cut their holdings.

Renting costs less than buying

The United States suffers from a housing shortage of between 1.5 million and 5.5 million units, depending on whom you ask. Institutional investors benefit from the shortage because it pushes prices higher, making homeownership unaffordable for many. The median home resale price rose to a record $419,300 in May, according to the National Association of Realtors. Mortgage rates have remained above 6.5% since May 2023. read more

2024 is lining up to be the year of rocket debuts as Arianespace performed the first launch of its heavy-lift Ariane 6 from French Guiana on Tuesday.

The 207-foot-tall, multistage rocket is the replacement for the retired Ariane 5, which last flew in July 2023 after a 27-year run as the go-to rocket for the European Space Agency. Liftoff from the Guiana Space Centre in Korou took place at 3 p.m. EDT.

Among new rockets to fly in 2024, it joins United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur that debuted in January from Cape Canaveral. It could be be followed by the first launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn later this year, also from Cape Canaveral. And technically, since SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy didn’t achieve orbit during its two 2023 launch attempts, Elon Musk’s powerhouse rocket could call 2024 a banner year as well after its two orbital test flights so far this year.

“Good luck my friend,” ULA President and Tory Bruno posted on X tagging Arianespace’s account.

For Arianespace, just like ULA and Blue Origin, though, it has taken longer than originally planned to get to the launch pad. Originally announced in 2014, Ariane 6 had an initial target debut of 2020 before a series of delays including COVID. read more