Covering All Things Florida
L-R Open AI CEO Sam Altman, President Donald Trump, Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison Photos: Wikipedia/Oracle
President Trump announced late today a $500 billion multi-national private investment in a new US company known as Stargate. According to Trump, Stargate will consist of several Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers to be built around the US and create more than 100,000 jobs nationally.
Cocoa, FL – This afternoon, the intersection of Wickham Road and Pineda Causeway in Brevard County, Florida, was alive with the spirit of patriotism as local Republicans came together for a “Trump Wave.” Organized by the Brevard Republican Executive Committee, the event was a vibrant demonstration of support for the newly inaugurated President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Florida, known for its sunny beaches, theme parks, vibrant wildlife, and nightlife, has a rich tradition of eccentric lore of ghostly legends and even cryptids — animals that resemble humans but often have ape-like characteristics as well.
The 2024 U-Haul Growth Index report is out, and it reveals some interesting numbers. The company uses their cargo vehicle rental data to determine annually what states people are leaving, and where they are heading. While not all-encompassing, the report has been a fairly reliable indicator of overall migration trends in the continental United States.
In an unprecedented move against a social media platform, the United States has officially banned TikTok, effective from today, due to concerns over national security, privacy, and foreign influence. The TikTok ban decision marks the culmination of years of scrutiny and legislative action against the Chinese-owned app, which boasts over 170 million American users, including those in Florida.
As expected, the FAA is requiring an investigation into Blue Origin’s New Glenn’s first stage failure during its descent towards an attempted landing in the Atlantic Ocean, and SpaceX’s Starship breakup over the Caribbean Seas. Both events occurred on January 16, 2025.
Orlando – (Tue., Jan. 14, 2025) – The Orlando Solar Bears secure their sixth consecutive victory beating the Jacksonville Ice Icemen 2-0 Tuesday evening in the Orlando KIA Center!
Space X’s Starship (L) and Blue Origin’s New Glenn (R) both had success full launches but faced challenges during Thursday’s flight tests. Images: Richard P Gallagher-FMN / Blue Origin
January 16th proved to be an emotional roller coaster for private space exploration. Both Blue Origin and SpaceX achieved notable successes tempered by huge challenges during their respective rocket launches from Florida and Texas.
Just after 2 AM on January 16, 2025, Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, successfully launched its first New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This inaugural flight marks Blue Origin’s entry into the heavy-lift launch vehicle market, positioning it as a competitor to established players like SpaceX and the SpaceX Starship.
NASA’s latest Commercial Lunar Payload Program (CLPS) mission, “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” developed by Firefly Aerospace (Cedar Park, TX), was successfully launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Centers’s Launch Complex 39A in the early morning hours of January 15, 2025. This spacecraft, named Blue Ghost, is the first of three planned Ghost Riders spacecraft destined for lunar landings.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 roared off the launch pad at 1:11 AM EST this morning from Kennedy Space Center carrying two lunar landers into orbit and on their way to the moon.
Cocoa, FL – January 14, 2025
Looking for something to see or do while in Florida this week? You’re in luck! This week is witnessing a flurry of space exploration activities at Cape Canaveral and KSC, with multiple launches and historic feats by private aerospace giants. The excitement began with SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to complete their Starlink constellation and will culminate in the much-anticipated launches of the Blue Ghost lunar lander, Blue Origin’s first New Glenn Heavy booster launch, and hopefully SpaceX’s Starship IFT-7.
