One of The World’s Largest Cruise Ships Conducts Sea Trials

One of The World’s Largest Cruise Ships Conducts Sea Trials

Utopia of the Seas
Photo: Royal Caribbean
Utopia of the Seas
Photo: Royal Caribbean
Utopia of the Seas is set to carry passengers for the first time July 19 from Port Canaveral, Florida

When you think of a big ship, the first thing that comes to mind for many people is one of the US Navy’s massive aircraft carriers. Truly a floating air base with a full-length flight deck for aircraft to take off and land, aircraft carriers are indeed huge. Typically 1,092 feet (332.85 meters) long and with a beam of 134 feet (40.84 meters) , they are formidable symbols of naval power worldwide. At the same time, they’re not the only huge ships on the ocean, and in a few weeks, one of the largest afloat will call Port Canaveral home.

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, is roughly the same size, and even a bit longer from bow to stern than an aircraft carrier: at 1,188 feet (362 meters) long, 211 feet (64 meters), it is also a huge ship, one devoted to giving its passengers the ultimate vacation experience. While the Utopia is huge, she is edged out slightly by RC’s Icon of the Seas, it is only only 8 feet longer and therefore carries the title of “World’s largest.”

Carnival Now Has Starlink Service On All Their Cruise Ships

Carnival Now Has Starlink Service On All Their Cruise Ships

Carnival  MS Paradise cruise liner. Taken off the coast of Catalina Island, CA, USA.
Photo: Beau Hudspeth, Creative Commons

Carnival Corporation, operator of the world’s largest cruise line, has deployed SpaceX’s Starlink Internet service to all ninety of their ships across all of their brands.

Florida Off the Beaten Path – Silver Springs State Park

One of Silver Springs' world famous glass-bottom boats leaves the dock for a tour. Photo: Florida State Parks
One of Silver Springs’ world-famous glass-bottom boats leaves the dock for a tour. Photo: Florida State Parks

Nestled just east of Ocala, this park is a hidden gem filled with natural beauty and myriad activities that make it a perfect getaway from the usual tourist spots. Many list Silver Springs among the most beautiful springs in the entire State of Florida. If you like places “off the beaten path”, you’ll absolutely love it, so let’s dive into all the details.

Want To Get Off “The Beaten Path”? Consider These Florida Beaches

Want To Get Off “The Beaten Path”? Consider These Florida Beaches

Florida offers some beautiful secluded beaches for those who want to “get away from it all”. Photo: Florida State Parks

Florida boasts numerous serene and secluded beaches away from the typical tourist spots. If you want a memorable getaway, consider these five uncrowded beaches in Florida that offer tranquility and beautiful surroundings:

Axiom Space Plans To Test Orbital-Based Data Center Tech on ISS This Year

Axiom Space Plans To Test Orbital-Based Data Center Tech on ISS This Year

A typical data center on Earth.
Photo: Leonardo Rizzi, Creative Commons

In the modern world, data centers are everywhere. They house the IT infrastructure for building, running, and delivering applications and services over the Internet and also through private networks such as the ones that corporations have for their employees. This website — and almost every other website in existence — resides in a data center somewhere, where it is maintained and monitored by the folks that Florida Media Now has engaged to provide that service. “The cloud” is another term we use for data centers — your email, photo backups, and so forth are all in a data center too. And now, data centers are starting to move to orbit.

Jason Aspiotis, Director of In-Space Infrastructure & Logistics, Axiom Space.
Photo: Spacecom Expo 2024

Jason Aspiotis, Axiom Space’s Director of In-Space Infrastructure & Logistics, says this only makes sense as the space economy grows. “Earth’s orbital economy is evolving with the proliferation of thousands of commercial, U.S. government, and allied satellites addressing needs in Earth observation, next generation communications, positioning, and navigation, space domain awareness, and security.”

New EIS Suggests More Than One Starship Pad Planned For KSC/CCSFS

New EIS Suggests More Than One Starship Pad Planned For KSC/CCSFS

SpaceX Starship lifting off on the IFT-2 test from Boca Chica Texas.
Photo: Chris Leymarie, Florida Media Now
SpaceX Starship lifting off on the IFT-2 test from Boca Chica Texas.
Photo: Chris Leymarie, Florida Media Now

The Federal Aviation Administration, NASA and other parties have published a notice of intent to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for SpaceX Starship launches from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center, where it anticipates up to forty-four launches and landing at the facility.

Valvetech Urges NASA to Stop Second Starliner Launch Attempt

Valvetech Urges NASA to Stop Second Starliner Launch Attempt

This Story Was Updated at 4:38 PM On 5/9/24 to include a response from NASA.

Boeing's Starliner sits atop a ULA Atlas V hours before a scrubbed launch attempt on Monday, May 6, 2024. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
Boeing’s Starliner sits atop a ULA Atlas V booster hours before a scrubbed launch attempt on Monday, May 6, 2024. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

“As a valued NASA partner and as valve experts, we strongly urge them not to attempt a second launch due to the risk of a disaster occurring on the launchpad”.

Valvetech President Erin Faville – Wednesday March 8th.
Discover the Magic of Central Florida: 20 Essential Attractions You Need to Visit

Discover the Magic of Central Florida: 20 Essential Attractions You Need to Visit

From Tampa to the Space Coast, Central Florida offers an incredible array of attractions. There is something for everyone, ranging from theme parks to serene natural areas and educational museums. Here’s a detailed look at 20 attractions that make Central Florida a must-visit destination for all types of travelers.

Atlas V Valve Issue Scrubs Starliner; Launch Date Now NET May 17

Atlas V Valve Issue Scrubs Starliner; Launch Date Now NET May 17

Atlas V and Starliner sits on Launch Complex 41 Monday night.
Photo: United Launch Alliance

UPDATE: Several sources are now reporting that Starliner will have to be rolled back from the pad with a new launch date NET May 17th.

Cape Canaveral It was all going well until it wasn’t. That’s often the story with launch attempts: tens of thousands of things must work perfectly, perform as planned, and operate normally, and only one thing has to go wrong for the attempt to be called off.

Starliner Calypso Poised To Become NASA’s Second Certified Crew Vehicle Design

Starliner Calypso Poised To Become NASA’s Second Certified Crew Vehicle Design

The Crew Access Arm enables the astronauts to board the spacecraft. Photo by United Launch Alliance
The Crew Access Arm enables the astronauts to board the spacecraft. Photo by United Launch Alliance

NASA’s Commercial Crew program will take a big step forward on Monday, May 6th with the launch of the Boeing Starliner Calypso’s Crewed Flight Test (CFT-100). Scheduled for a 10:34 PM EDT liftoff, Starliner Calypso will carry its first-ever crew to the ISS on an important test flight. (The spacecraft was named in honor of the research vessel Calypso, used by famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau from 1950-1996.)

SpaceX Planning Starlink 6-55 Launch For Tonight

SpaceX Planning Starlink 6-55 Launch For Tonight

Another 23 Starlink satellites are set to be sent to orbit aboard a Falcon 9 this evening from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 09:49 PM EDT and extends until 01:17 AM EDT Friday.

If tonight’s planned liftoff does not happen, according to SpaceX, “If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Friday, May 3, starting at 9:03 p.m. ET.”